PENANG: About 1.86 million Malaysians have left the country over the past 50 years, says Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo.

The figure, which makes up 5.6 percent of Malaysia’s total population, is higher than the global average of 3.6 percent.

“Malaysia has been facing the issue of brain drain for a long time. The Madani government does not only need to train talents but also draft strategies to strengthen the talent ecosystem in order to retain talents,” he said at the launch of 42 Penang Campus here on Tuesday.

The 42 Penang Campus in George Town is the newest coding school that aims to nurture a new generation of tech talent, the result of collaboration between the Penang state government, Digital Penang and 42 Malaysia.

Launched by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, the 42 Penang Campus adopts the globally renowned 42 education model, which is peer-to-peer, project-based, and fully tuition-free for students aged 17 and above.

The campus will train students in software development, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, with a focus on real-world projects and mentorship from industry leaders.

Visit 42 Penang website, Facebook or Instagram for details.