"The focus on foreign talent has provoked a backlash.."
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Singapore goes back to its roots
John Burton
Financial Times
2 Aug 07
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/ad489ffc-4045-11dc-9d0c-0000779fd2ac.html
Gautam Banerjee is the type of foreigner Singapore wants to attract. The Indian-born accountant left London after university in the early 1980s and moved to the city-state, where he became a citizen in 1990.
Now the head of PwCAsia, he was appointed by the government to serve as a non-voting parliamentary member to promote the interests of Singapore's growing immigrant population. "We need to get overseas talent to sink roots here," he says.
Singapore wants a lot more people like Mr Banerjee. Its birth rate, once one of world's highest, is flagging. Young, educated Singaporeans are emigrating to seek better-paying jobs or more freedom from restrictive rules at home. If present trends continue, the local population could begin to shrink by 2020.
Singapore's leaders view the situation with alarm. A declining population would result in economic stagnation. Their solution is to admit many more foreigners with the goal of increasing the population to 6.5m from 4.5m in the next 20 years.
The main focus: attracting skilled workers from China and India, the countries that provided the waves of immigrants who helped to turn Singapore from a 19th-century swamp into the financial centre it is now.
If foreign-born permanent residents are included, Singapore has Asia's largest population of foreigners as a proportion of its residents. They make up more than a quarter of its population and a third of the workforce. Since 1990 the foreign population has expanded by 7.4 per cent annually to 1.2m against a 1.1 per cent rise for all Singaporeans.
While Singapore seeks to lure skilled workers with an eye to the future and competing with rival Hong Kong, the reality is that most of those who have arrived in recent years are a rotating underclass of cheap labour from the Philippines, Indonesia and Bangladesh.
Of the 670,000 foreigners working in Singapore, 87 per cent are employed in low-paid jobs as construction workers or domestic maids.
As the government chases skilled workers, "state policy is opposed to long-term immigration [of unskilled foreign workers] and directed at ensuring that this category of migrants remains a transient workforce", says Brenda Yeoh, a geographer at the National University of Singapore.
Maids and labourers normally receive work permits for one or two years, cannot bring in spouses or children, are forbidden from marrying Singaporeans and are deported if they are pregnant.
The government is hoping to change the foreign population mix by attracting more educated workers needed to fill jobs in service sectors such as private banking and finance, biotechnology and education. It wants many of them to become citizens or permanent residents, with the goal of having 240,000 of them gain this status in the next five years.
To do so, the government is trying hard to shed Singapore's dull image in favour of a global city with buzz. It has eased strict rules governing nightlife and will soon open two of the world's most expensive casinos. The development of cultural activities, is receiving attention after years of neglect. "Singapore is selling itself as a lifestyle centre" to attract more middle-class workers, says Christine Ong, the Singapore country head for UBS, the investment bank.
The focus on foreign talent has provoked a backlash, with the income gap widening to its greatest since independence in 1965. A newspaper poll found 43 per cent of Singaporeans believed the government cared more about foreign professionals than the local population, with their biggest worry the loss of jobs to outsiders.
Officials say the influx will help job creation by developing service industries and start-up companies that can hire local workers. But some economists suggest that Singapore should cut the number of low-skilled foreigners to promote local hirings and higher wages. As one of the most densely populated countries, the addition of 2m people threatens to strain resources.
It is likely to increase Singapore's dependence on imported food and water, while raising prices for housing, transport and public services that would undermine the government's strategy of making the city-state cost competitive. Housing prices, for example, are already expected to go up 30 per cent this year while rents for office space in the prime business district have doubled in the past year.
The biggest challenge that Singapore may face in the long term is to maintain the social stability that the government has always prized. "Foreign labour policies might be tightened if political stress emerges in the future," says Chua Hak Bin, regional economist at Citigroup in Singapore. "Such a risk cannot be dismissed as foreigners could reach half of the total population." -
The same foreign talents will give up Singapore Citizenship as the original Singaporeans did, the moment they discover that the human psychological need for ''Politic Space'' is not available in Singapore.
'Politics' is not strictly concerning the affairs of 'government and governance' of a Country.
'Politics' has to do with the development of ourselves as Humans, as a Community, about the Present and Future.
With a Government fearful of independent thinking that result in challenges to their jealously guarded leading positions, how much political space will this Government and the MIW concede to the ability of Singaporeans to contribute - in our own ways - outside of the prescribed boundaries that are artificially imposed by the MIW ?
The Foreign Talents that appear on our shores have fled from their imagined or real staleness of the situation in the countries of their origin.
How sure can Singapore depend on these Foreign Talents to find Singapore not to be stale into the future ?
If educated Singaporeans have migrated - especially those who had the privileged positions to experience and make comparisons of Life Overseas - what makes the MIW believe that these Foreign Talents will not take flight as soon as the imagined situation in their original homeland has improved ?
Meanwhile, as part of the passage of time, why should Singaporeans bear the brunt of new migrants without any consultation from us, and with such policys causing Singaporeans to suffer addtional competition from those who are merely seeking temporary refuge ?
Is it any wonder that Sweden enjoy higher natural birth rates than Singapore, and with Switzerland being a desired place for migrants despite the higher cost. -
Problem with government is that they think they can never go wrong - just like with so many other policies right from the beginning till now...Originally posted by Atobe:The same foreign talents will give up Singapore Citizenship as the original Singaporeans did, the moment they discover that the human psychological need for ''Politic Space'' is not available in Singapore.
'Politics' is not strictly concerning the affairs of 'government and governance' of a Country.
'Politics' has to do with the development of ourselves as Humans, as a Community, about the Present and Future.
With a Government fearful of independent thinking that result in challenges to their jealously guarded leading positions, how much political space will this Government and the MIW concede to the ability of Singaporeans to contribute - in our own ways - outside of the prescribed boundaries that are artificially imposed by the MIW ?
The Foreign Talents that appear on our shores have fled from their imagined or real staleness of the situation in the countries of their origin.
How sure can Singapore depend on these Foreign Talents to find Singapore not to be stale into the future ?
If educated Singaporeans have migrated - especially those who had the privileged positions to experience and make comparisons of Life Overseas - what makes the MIW believe that these Foreign Talents will not take flight as soon as the imagined situation in their original homeland has improved ?
Meanwhile, as part of the passage of time, why should Singaporeans bear the brunt of new migrants without any consultation from us, and with such policys causing Singaporeans to suffer addtional competition from those who are merely seeking temporary refuge ?
Is it any wonder that Sweden enjoy higher natural birth rates than Singapore, and with Switzerland being a desired place for migrants despite the higher cost. -
Well, what can we say?
Majority of singaporeans have made the decision who they support.
The next GE will not be different.
Time again, what can change this ?
From what I see in this forum, many want CHANGE.
CHANGE can be interpreted as Balancing the Ying and YANG.
CHANGE as I interpret, need not be to OVERHAUL.
More BALANCE rather than to OVERHAUL.
I hope this interpretation is correct.
Why does the MAJORITY choose not to BALANCE a little bit more? This is what I am interested to find out for my 'thesis', a kind of research.
My only worry is this :
Are these Majority Singaporeans aware and understand concerns and frustrations expressed in this forum?
OR
Are these Majority Singaporeans who, time and again, never fail to support them to win again and again, share the same concerns and frustrations but somehow still support?
I really do not see any change to status quo in the next 2 GEs given also the way boundaries can be changed.
Only these majority can change what they have not changed.
I feel like the Frog, enjoying the slowly but surely heating up jacuzzi.
All the developments we see, who are they trying to attract ? No wonder I feel so 1st world. -
Personally, although I'm ALREADY leaving SG, it will take some time but certainly changes will come....Originally posted by reddressman:Well, what can we say?
Majority of singaporeans have made the decision who they support.
The next GE will not be different.
Time again, what can change this ?
My only worry is this :
Are these Majority Singaporeans aware and understand concerns and frustrations expressed in this forum?
OR
Are these Majority Singaporeans who, time and again, never fail to support them to win again and again, share the same concerns and frustrations but somehow still support?
I really do not see any change to status quo in the next 2 GEs given also the way boundaries can be changed.
Only these majority can change what they have not changed.
I feel like the Frog, enjoying the slowly but surely heating up jacuzzi.
All the developments we see, who are they trying to attract ? No wonder I feel so 1st world.
As is visibly apparent by the lack of flags being hung in estates around Singapore... you can be sure, many of those 66% have changed their minds already...
Bear in mind; NOTHING lasts forever... no kings, no queens, no ruling parties...
and even this planet may one day be decimated by a meteor and thus Resetting everything... -
Originally posted by reddressman:
That is why I have always said time and again that the best solution is to join us and migrate...
Well, what can we say?
Majority of singaporeans have made the decision who they support.
The next GE will not be different.
Time again, what can change this ?
From what I see in this forum, many want CHANGE.
CHANGE can be interpreted as Balancing the Ying and YANG.
CHANGE as I interpret, need not be to OVERHAUL.
More BALANCE rather than to OVERHAUL.
I hope this interpretation is correct.
[b]Why does the MAJORITY choose not to BALANCE a little bit more? This is what I am interested to find out for my 'thesis', a kind of research.
My only worry is this :
Are these Majority Singaporeans aware and understand concerns and frustrations expressed in this forum?
OR
Are these Majority Singaporeans who, time and again, never fail to support them to win again and again, share the same concerns and frustrations but somehow still support?
I really do not see any change to status quo in the next 2 GEs given also the way boundaries can be changed.
Only these majority can change what they have not changed.
I feel like the Frog, enjoying the slowly but surely heating up jacuzzi.
All the developments we see, who are they trying to attract ? No wonder I feel so 1st world.
[/b]
Yes you can bring more people in and hope they become citizens....but seriously how many.....Frankly they know they will not be successful at attracting but nevertheless hope they will spread the message to enough people so that sufficient numbers will want to sink roots here..
I am usually anti and that is why I left but in this case...I have to say Sillypore has no choice but to get as many Chindians in.....its a fact of life that locals will have to accept whether they like it or not....the only alternative is for the local to have sex every night and become baby making machines....but frankly it will not work cause we do not like gahmen to intrude on our private lives...
So I say bring in more Chindians to get 6.5 million and to hell what the locals say....
Like I say...there is always more security in a bigger country
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I am sure you are not alone nor will you walk alone.
At least 33.3% are with you, emphatising with you.
I just to remind singaporeans in this month where we celebrate nat'l day,
Singaporeans, YOU REAP What you SOW. You DESERVE it.
And hope you Enjoy it for more GOOD YEARS to come.
There is nothing more Deserving than Deserving what you KNEW you gonna get when you made the decision. -
Hey Focal...Hi 5 man....where are you going...I'm headed to North America....Originally posted by HyperFocal:Personally, although I'm ALREADY leaving SG, it will take some time but certainly changes will come....
As is visibly apparent by the lack of flags being hung in estates around Singapore... you can be sure, many of those 66% have changed their minds already...
Bear in mind; NOTHING lasts forever... no kings, no queens, no ruling parties...
and even this planet may one day be decimated by a meteor and thus Resetting everything...
Yup...totally agree that nothing lasts forever....I always remembered that no city state has ever lasted for very long.....and Sillypore is no exception....better to hedge yoru bets in a more established country...even China looks like a good bet now... -
IDR is just 1 'MRT' stop away.Originally posted by Coquitlam:That is why I have always said time and again that the best solution is to join us and migrate...
Yes you can bring more people in and hope they become citizens....but seriously how many.....Frankly they know they will not be successful at attracting but nevertheless hope they will spread the message to enough people so that sufficient numbers will want to sink roots here..
I am usually anti and that is why I left but in this case...I have to say Sillypore has no choice but to get as many Chindians in.....its a fact of life that locals will have to accept whether they like it or not....the only alternative is for the local to have sex every night and become baby making machines....but frankly it will not work cause we do not like gahmen to intrude on our private lives...
So I say bring in more Chindians to get 6.5 million and to hell what the locals say....
Like I say...there is always more security in a bigger country
Lets hope IDR in JB turns out well so that more can retire there in case they get congested by 6.5mil people in future, which will come.
Such a big change, many unknowns, we better make a backup plan or else we are planning to fail. Make plans for Retirement now. If IDR turns out well, that will be where I retire. I may even sell my house in singapore, live there and here with my relatives and commute between the 2 town, sgp and jb and STILL keeping my citizenship. Giving it up is admitting defeat.
we can still live outside singapore AND keep the cert for convenience purposes, whatever that is. So, lets hope IDR turns out well.
I wonder in time to come, will singapore be made up of 50% foreigners-PRs as the pop goes to 6.5 ? -
Sometimes I am thinking. The government and the pro-PAP cronies ask us why we choose to move out of Singapore and be a second-class citizen in another foreign land.
Sometimes I feel that we are the second-class citizen in Singapore. -
heeheheehe..Originally posted by Coquitlam:Hey Focal...Hi 5 man....where are you going...I'm headed to North America....
Yup...totally agree that nothing lasts forever....I always remembered that no city state has ever lasted for very long.....and Sillypore is no exception....better to hedge yoru bets in a more established country...even China looks like a good bet now...
sorry.. me a wrong guy to talk to about China...
Well I can't reveal where I am going to.. but its where I am allowed by permit to collect hand guns as a hobby...! -
Let them ask all they want Joe....most important thing you can do in your life is to think about your won welfare..and not of the country's...if they can bring in more people and actually encouraging others in Chindia to abandon their own countries..you can also do the same and abandon Sillypore...it works both ways.....Originally posted by bigmouthjoe:Sometimes I am thinking. The government and the pro-PAP cronies ask us why we choose to move out of Singapore and be a second-class citizen in another foreign land.
Sometimes I feel that we are the second-class citizen in Singapore.
They talk about dual citizenship as bad but what they don't realize is that the other countries gives them a way back even if they want to leave...this is what I call compassion and foresight....and for that I thank my new country
Over in red dot island...they tell you that you must forsake your previous country.....they want to talk about loyalty? hehehe I say that it exists but it does not exist in all of us in this day and age....like the local program by Diana Ser says....GET REAL! -
I always said; the government is trying to hold a fist full of sand too tightly..Originally posted by Coquitlam:Let them ask all they want Joe....most important thing you can do in your life is to think about your won welfare..and not of the country's...if they can bring in more people and actually encouraging others in Chindia to abandon their own countries..you can also do the same and abandon Sillypore...it works both ways.....
They talk about dual citizenship as bad but what they don't realize is that the other countries gives them a way back even if they want to leave...this is what I call compassion and foresight....and for that I thank my new country
Over in red dot island...they tell you that you must forsake your previous country.....they want to talk about loyalty? hehehe I say that it exists but it does not exist in all of us in this day and age....like the local program by Diana Ser says....GET REAL!
have you ever tried holding a fistful of sand tightly?
What happens? The sand oozes out from between your fingers...
leaving you empty handed... -
totally agreed....problem is they have a big mouth but a small handOriginally posted by HyperFocal:I always said; the government is trying to hold a fist full of sand too tightly..
have you ever tried holding a fistful of sand tightly?
What happens? The sand oozes out from between your fingers...
leaving you empty handed... -
Originally posted by Coquitlam:totally agreed....problem is they have a big mouth but a small hand
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Their solution?
Pour more sand to replace the displaced sand... -
...that's why.. now they end up no Sand from Indonesia..Originally posted by bigmouthjoe:Their solution?
Pour more sand to replace the displaced sand... -
haha...then now got to buy sand from Myanmar or Vietnam at higher price....Originally posted by HyperFocal:...that's why.. now they end up no Sand from Indonesia..
now we know where all our money goes to...losers man -
Tis what they get for INFLEXIBILITY...Originally posted by Coquitlam:haha...then now got to buy sand from Myanmar or Vietnam at higher price....
now we know where all our money goes to...losers man
and with Malaysia they end up not allowed to fly over their airspace for military training...
Play Hardball, you'll get Hardball back too... -
Why is the proverbial frog always presented in a heating up situation?
The Singapore frog has been provided airconditioners to cool down, and passports to leave. And increasingly middle and upper-lower income Singaporeans are owning cars. And have substantial spare cash. Note the millions donated to charities time and again, and to scams too.
Why should Singapore surprise you?
The PAP have its supporters and voters.
There are those who did not vote. (A significant number of the pop. need not vote.)
There are those whose choice is to choose the best of all clowns.
The next GE the results is a foregone conclusion.
It surprise me that anyone would be surprised.
Me. This National Day I am going just laze about. Just not interested the national success.
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nice outlookOriginally posted by mancha:Why is the proverbial frog always presented in a heating up situation?
The Singapore frog has been provided airconditioners to cool down, and passports to leave. And increasingly middle and upper-lower income Singaporeans are owning cars. And have substantial spare cash. Note the millions donated to charities time and again, and to scams too.
Why should Singapore surprise you?
The PAP have its supporters and voters.
There are those who did not vote. (A significant number of the pop. need not vote.)
There are those whose choice is to choose the best of all clowns.
The next GE the results is a foregone conclusion.
It surprise me that anyone would be surprised.
Me. This National Day I am going just laze about. Just not interested the national success. -
Malaysia and Singapore has similar cultures. If Malaysia is compassionate enough, is willing to relax itÂ’s emigration laws, she can open up some space and attract SingaporeÂ’s senior citizens to retire there, with hospitals set up to specialize in treating old peopleÂ’s ailment at a fraction of the cost being charged in Singapore. I think our senior citizens wonÂ’t mind renouncing their Singapore citizenship. ItÂ’s going to be a boom town!
Money in Maybank! -
Long time back... kids in secondary schools studied and grew up with a dream in their hearts and minds... and they eventually DID realized their dreams and lived it... today, they are the desperate Older folks either jobless or are intensely worried over "retirement" years... which by the way, is getting pushed further and further away from their sight...
Todays kids, they are growing up with a Living Nightmare to deal with when they eventually make an entrance into the working world... dreams are considered a luxury to fulfil, only for those who chosed and planned from childhood to realize them abroad - and subsequently never return or, return as Foreign Talents flaunting Dual Citizenships which our almighty government prohibits...
I forsee this overly zealious Foreign Policy becoming another Casino U-turn... -
I foresee, as some may have too, that singapore cost of living is ok for the rich but not going to be ok for those less well off.
As the saying goes, the rich will be getting richer while the poor poorer.
I posted in another thread that I also observe all semi-Ds hung the flag while flat dwellers, only a few do.
Not sure if there is any coincidence with Rich-Poor divide. -
I was driving around yesterday, and largely in the west (particularly Jurong area), there are hardly any flags on display... and even landed property owners aren't displaying any...Originally posted by reddressman:I foresee, as some may have too, that singapore cost of living is ok for the rich but not going to be ok for those less well off.
As the saying goes, the rich will be getting richer while the poor poorer.
I posted in another thread that I also observe all semi-Ds hung the flag while flat dwellers, only a few do.
Not sure if there is any coincidence with Rich-Poor divide.
What does this say about Public Sentiments?
I think one day, they may have to hire people to go watch NDP hust to fill up the empty seats ...