Kuala Lampur, Feb. 27 -- Long before the dam breaks, few notice the cracks and many ignore them. History notes this regardless if the histrionics at the end compete with the banshees from yore.

Warning bells are set off like dog whistles when earlier this week MEF president Syed Hussain Syed Husman said the country's talent migration rate in 2024 was 5.5 per cent, outpacing the global average of 3.3 per cent.

Strange considering the scene set on stage.

Malaysia wants to reinvent itself, draw new industry in, piggy-back on data centres and AI craze and leverage China-US trade war, yet worries abound whether its manpower backs the intended renaissance.

It buys the props, and prepares the script without the actors. No shortage of directo...