A company in need of a roti canai maker placed an ad in Malaysian paper New Straits Times, offering a monthly salary of RM5,000 (S$1,420) to work in Singapore.

A debate then ensued over the competitiveness of such an offer.

Meals and accommodation included

In addition to the salary, which was RM5,000 (S$1,420) "and above", the position also includes the offer of a prayer room, meals and accommodation.

The ad asked interested applicants to contact a Singapore-based WhatsApp number.

New Straits Times, writing about their own ad, spoke to Jeremy Lim, vice president of the Malaysian Restaurant and Bistro Owners Association.

"The offered salary may sound substantial in ringgit terms, but when converted to Singapore dollars and considering the cost of living on the island, it might not provide the desired quality of life," he said.

Brain drain

However, Lim added that retaining talent in Malaysia is "challenging" as workers sought jobs elsewhere, enticed not only by the salary but other opportunities available.

Back in March 2023, Malaysia's then-human resources minister V Sivakumar revealed that of the 1.86 million Malaysians who emigrated overseas in 2022, 1.13 million of them went to Singapore.

Sivakumar called the "brain drain" issue a "heavy burden" for Malaysia.

Top image from Kumki Indian and Thai cuisine Facebook