In the past five years, 57,000 Malaysians have chosen to become citizens of Singapore

Malaysia, Thekabarnews.com—In the past five years, about 57,000 Malaysians have chosen to become citizens of Singapore. This shows an increasing trend of people moving across borders for economic and family reasons. The event has brought back public discussion in Malaysia on talent mobility, workforce competitiveness, and long-term demographic problems.

Malaysia’s National Registration Department (JPN) says that between 2021 and December 17, 2025, 61,116 Malaysians handed up their citizenship. Moreover, 57,000 people, or 93.78% of that number, chose to become citizens of Singapore. Most of the others moved to Australia and Brunei Darussalam.

Migration is driven by economic opportunities

A lot of the people who relocated had already lived and worked in Singapore for years. People think the pay, job opportunities, and economic stability are better there.

“Most of them already had jobs in Singapore. When the opportunity to obtain citizenship arose, they chose the option that would ensure long-term safety for themselves and their families,” Badrul Hisham Alias, Director General of Malaysia’s National Registration Department, said.

Singapore’s status as a regional economic and financial center continues to draw trained and semi-skilled people from nearby countries. Its attractiveness has grown, especially among professionals in their prime working years, because of excellent pay, a strong job market, and clear paths for career advancement.

Marriage and family ties are important factors

Family-related factors, especially marrying someone from another country, are also crucial. This is in addition to economic factors. Badrul said that many Malaysians who married Singaporean citizens or other foreigners preferred to follow their husbands’ citizenship. They do this to make things clearer legally, keep the family together, and get social benefits.

For these people, getting citizenship in another country makes things like resident status and children’s schooling easier. It also simplifies healthcare access and inheritance rules. In these situations, giving up Malaysian citizenship is seen less as a political move and more as a practical way to keep the family together.

Most affected are people in their prime working age

The JPN’s demographic data show that most of the people who gave up their citizenship are between the ages of 31 and 40. This group had 19,287 people in it, making it the biggest group of all ages.

Experts say that this age range is usually a crucial time for moving forward in your job and starting a family. Decisions concerning citizenship are generally based on long-term factors. These include how much money someone makes, how well their children do in school, and how positive their overall quality of life is.

Long-standing cross-border mobility

Malaysia and Singapore are close, so people have moved between them for a long time. This is especially true in southern Malaysian states like Johor. For decades, people have been commuting to work every day, working long-term, and moving permanently over the causeway.

Experts argue that Singapore’s close ties to Malaysia make it a natural place for Malaysians to seek employment abroad. This is especially true compared to countries that have more complicated immigration processes. Over time, living and working in Singapore makes it more likely that you will settle down permanently and become a citizen.

Concerns about brain drain come back

The rising number of Malaysians giving up their citizenship has raised fears about a possible “brain drain.” This is especially concerning if many of those leaving are competent professionals. Economists say that if the problem of talent leaving the country is not fixed by internal reforms, it might hurt productivity, innovation, and long-term economic growth.

There have been more and more calls for stronger policies to keep local talent. These include higher pay, better career paths, and a more dynamic job market. Some people say that Malaysia has to focus on making the country attractive for skilled workers. This includes encouraging them to stay or come back after working abroad.

The government stresses legal protections

However, the Malaysian government has made it clear that national law guarantees the right to renounce citizenship.

The JPN highlighted that all applications go through thorough checks. These include making sure that applicants have or are guaranteed another citizenship to stop people from being stateless.

Authorities assert that the increasingly integrated regional economy necessitates global labor mobility. Instead of limiting movement, officials should work to make the economy more competitive at home.

A trend that will probably continue

Officials say that the trend may continue because more than 57,000 Malaysians became Singaporean citizens in just five years. As long as there are significant differences in wealth, many jobs available, and family links across borders, citizenship changes will keep changing Malaysia’s population and workforce.

In the future, this issue will probably still be a major topic of conversation about national development, labor policy, and population planning in Malaysia. This discussion will also be relevant throughout Southeast Asia.