Ministry of Population Highlights Phenomenon of Indonesian Citizens Moving to Live in Singapore

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Population and Family Development/National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) highlighted the phenomenon of Indonesian citizens (WNI) who choose to settle abroad. One of the phenomena that occurred was the transfer of Indonesian citizens to become citizens.

Deputy Minister Dukbangga Ratu Isyana Bagoes Oka cited data from the Directorate General of Immigration of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights which recorded that from 2019 to 2022, 3,912 Indonesian citizens became Singaporean citizens. According to her, most of the citizens in that number are in the productive age range, namely 25-35 years.

Isyana said that her party continues to coordinate with a number of institutions to handle this problem. One of them is to ensure a link and match between the availability of jobs and university graduates. One of the causes of brain drain is the problem of jobs and better job opportunities abroad.

"Regarding brain drain, we will continue to collaborate and coordinate with Bappenas. "We can map the potential or available jobs or those that need to be provided and held later," said Isyana on Saturday, January 18, 2025, quoted from her official broadcast.

According to Isyana, the brain drain phenomenon is a challenge for Indonesia which is facing a demographic bonus and its peak will occur in 2030. In fact, she said, the demographic bonus is an opportunity for Indonesia to implement a strategy to become a developed country.

"This is not homework that can be completed immediately, this is a long-term job but it must start now," she said.

Meanwhile, the Deputy for Humanitarian Affairs of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Amich Alhumami, said that the current brain drain must be seen from a positive perspective. According to him, if those who live abroad can return, they can have valuable competencies for Indonesia.

The reason is, according to him, those who go abroad generally have higher education and experience in certain fields. So, it is necessary to develop relevant jobs domestically to accommodate them.

"It is necessary to develop relevant scientific fields and this is linked to the regional development strategy," said Amich.

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