A STRONGER ringgit against the Singapore dollar alone may not be enough to persuade Malaysians working in Singapore to return to employment in Johor.

State investment, trade, consumer affairs and human resources committee chairman Lee Ting Han said many Malaysians employed in the republic were likely to stay put for now, despite the stronger ringgit.

He said professionals working overseas considered several factors before deciding to return to Malaysia permanently.

“Besides an attractive salary, they also look at long-term career prospects, conducive living environment for their families, children’s education as well as well as good healthcare and infrastructure,” Lee said when contacted.

He added that professionals typically evaluated the overall package including salary, bonuses and other benefits, with pay also reflecting a candidate’s skills and experience.

Lee said companies could attract more returning Malaysians if they offered competitive remuneration.

“We already have multinational corporations in Iskandar Malaysia hiring Malaysians with years of overseas working experience,” he said, adding that Johor must continue producing competent and highly skilled workers to attract investments.

National University of Singapore’s lecturer in South-East Asian Studies Dr Serina Rahman said some Malaysians who commuted daily to Singapore would consider working in Johor if opportunities arose, especially in Iskandar Malaysia.

“However, those who started commuting when the exchange rate was about S$1 to RM2.50, may choose to stay on in Singapore, particularly if their salary remains stable.”

Serina added that commuting conditions had improved since the Covid-19 pandemic, with more buses and faster immigration clearance.

“Only those who experienced the commute before the pandemic would know how much it has improved,” she added.

However, she noted that newcomers to the cross-border commute often found it challenging and might prefer to work in Malaysia, particularly those in lower salary brackets.

Serina said some young Malaysians chose to work in Singapore temporarily to save money.

“Some plan to work for a few years to earn enough to buy a house, while others aim to pay off housing loans or save for marriage.”

She added that the relocation of some companies to Malaysia, particularly with the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), could also create new opportunities.

“When companies move operations to Iskandar Malaysia, it could open up better job prospects for Malaysians here,” she said.