Professionals are Leaving for Singapore

Yesterday, I had a conversation with another engineer who has decided to resign after more than four years in our office. When I pressed further, he confided that he and his architect girlfriend (with Innotech) are planning to move to Singapore to pursue better opportunities.

It is becoming increasingly clear that many young professionals are discontented with the pay situation in Sabah. Sadly, professional salaries here remain noticeably lower than those offered in West Malaysia and Singapore. I cannot fully explain why this disparity persists. Some argue that it is due to Sabah’s smaller market, where the volume and value of professional services generated from local projects are simply insufficient to sustain competitive wages in the long run. Others suggest that employers may be reluctant to allocate a larger share of their earnings toward staff remuneration, preferring instead to retain the greater portion for themselves.

This is not a trivial matter. It is a critical issue that needs to be addressed if local professional practices are to remain viable in the long term. The current trend is troubling: many engineers, after only a few years of experience in Sabah, eventually leave for Singapore, where their skills are valued more highly. The result is predictable - the beneficiary is Singapore, while the loser is Sabah.

We are then left in a perpetual cycle of training fresh graduates, only to see them move on once they become experienced enough. It is both frustrating and unsustainable.

As for me, perhaps fortunately - or unfortunately - I am nearing the end of my journey in full-time professional practice. But the questions remain: unless this issue is addressed seriously, how can we expect the next generation of professionals to stay and build their future here?