More than 57,000 Malaysians gave up their citizenship to become citizens of Singapore over the last five years, according to Malaysian news media Harian Metro.
Harian Metro reported that according to the National Registration Department director-general Badrul Hisham Alias, about 94 per cent, or 57,315 applicants, became Singapore citizens, out of a total of around 61,116 Malaysians in the five-year period ending Dec. 17 last year.
Some Malaysians emigrated to Australia (about 2 per cent) and Brunei (about 1%.) Around 3% chose to become citizens of other countries.
Most of the Malaysians (62.4 per cent) who relinquished their citizenship are below 40 years of age.
Those aged between 31 and 40 formed the largest group to renounce their citizenship at 31.6 per cent or about 19,300.
30.8 per cent or about 18,900 Malaysians who chose to leave the country were between 21 and 30 years old.
23.1 per cent or around 14,200 were aged 41 to 50 while 14.5 per cent or about 8,900 were above 50 years of age, according to the news media
More than half of those renouncing their Malaysian citizenships were women, with roughly 35,400 such applicants.
An average of 10,000 people apply to give up their Malaysian citizenship annually.
In another report by the Immigration Bureau Consulting released in August last year, 99,000 Malaysians became Singapore citizens in the last decade.
“Economic incentives, merit-based policies, and better employment prospects in Singapore fuel the migration wave,” it reported.
Those who left Malaysia are mostly Chinese and Indians “seeking fairer opportunities.”
“Malaysia’s pro-Malay affirmative action and racial dynamics contribute to the exodus, especially among skilled professionals.”
The report also said that the “Malaysians face challenges integrating into Singapore’s society.”
“For many, the shift from Malaysia to Singapore is less about financial gains and more about escaping ceilings imposed by Malaysia’s policies.”
Experts predict the number of Malaysians seeking Singapore citizenship is likely to remain stable or increase if these economic disparities and social policies continue to persist, it added.
