KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA plans to lift a ban preventing foreign retirees living in the country from seeking employment, to allow local and international companies to tap a potentially large pool of highly educated professionals.

Senior government officials told The Straits Times that the relaxation on employment rules for foreigners who live in the country under the Malaysia My Second Home programme could be finalised before year end.

The plan to relax the rules marks a major economic policy shift for Malaysia.

Read Leslie Lopez's full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.