INSIGHT DOWN SOUTH
By SEAH CHIANG NEE
While Singapore has been successful in luring many of the brightest brains in the region, more and more of its own young professionals want out.
A BAFFLING aspect of affluent Singapore, with all its economic finery, is the large – and growing – exodus of its citizens over the past 10 years.
While the hot economy has attracted more than a million foreigners to its shores, its own citizens have been leaving in record numbers to settle down abroad.
Their exit seemed to have taken on a new life in recent years, ironically when the economic growth and the job market were at their best.
In fact, one survey has placed Singapore’s outflow at 26.11 migrants per 1,000 citizens – the second highest in the world. Only Timor Leste (51.07) fares worse.
The explanation is, of course, globalisation, the new borderless economy, which is offering more job options for skilled Singaporeans who want a better life in bigger countries.
But the reason doesn’t end there.
Other comparable city-populations have similarly been affected, but Singapore seems to have been hit hardest of all.
The explanation must involve a higher non-economic priority strong enough to propel Singaporeans away from a stable, comfortable living towards the uncertainties of a new life elsewhere.
Yet this is what is happening, as new statistics have shown.
More educated Singaporeans – many taking their children with them – are leaving or are planning to leave their country, which is itself a traditional haven for outsiders fleeing from trouble.
A recent indication of the scope of the dilemma was the rising number of Singaporeans who asked for a document needed to apply for permanent residency overseas.
It has exceeded 1,000 a month to reach 12,707 last year from 4,996 in 1998, or a rise of 170% over 10 years, said Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng.
These people, over the age of 16, could be leaving for good, but they also included students and businessmen, who may eventually return.
In 10 years, they totalled 97,990 Singaporeans (a far greater number if children were included).
The government says about 140,000 Singaporeans are studying, working or in business in foreign countries, which by itself is not a bad thing, given Singapore’s global ambitions. The trouble is many of them may not return.
All the current statistics point to an upward emigration among Singaporeans who apply for PR or citizenship abroad. Some of the PRs, it is feared, may keep their citizenship but have no intention of returning home.
“After coming back, I find that other countries have much more to offer than Singapore, which is very boring,one youth remarked.
The number of Singaporeans who gave up their citizenship, Wong said, averaged 1,000 a year in the last three years.
Other negative trends that reflect the tenuous link between many citizens and their country are:
Two-thirds of Singaporeans (aged 21-34) said in a survey that they had considered retiring in another country with a slower pace of life and lower cost of living.
Among youths (15-29 years of age), 53% are considering emigration. Despite having gone through national education, 37% say they are not patriotic. (Indian youths are the most ready to emigrate – at 67%, compared with 60% of Malays and 49% of Chinese).
Six out of 10 undergraduates said they wanted to go abroad to live or work, mostly to enjoy a higher quality of life with less stress.
An ACNielsen poll showed 21% of Singaporeans, mainly professionals, were considering emigration, half opting for Australia and New Zealand.
For this small state with a short history, the steady exit is not just a ‘numbers’ problem which can be – and is being – resolved by substituting Singaporeans with foreigners.
It has a serious security dimension, since the island is defended by its own reservist soldiers after a two-year mandatory national service (NS).
Fewer true-blue Singaporeans means fewer soldiers because permanent residents are not required to serve NS (only their 18-year-old sons are).
A bigger impediment to nation-building is the looser physical bond between today’s generation of Singaporeans and their country. Nearly half of them do not think they need to reside here to be emotionally rooted to the country.
It is estimated that half the Singaporeans who annually apply for foreign PRs – 6,000 to 7,000 – eventually settle down overseas.
The brain drain is serious. On a lighter note, more China-citizens are coming into the country, if you get what I mean.
Even if 0.5% of its brightest minds were to leave, it would hit Singapore hard, said Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.
“These are bright young people, children of very well-educated Singaporeans. They study overseas now, and the very good ones are right away green harvested by companies,” Goh said.
So why is Asia’s second wealthiest state losing its youths at a higher rate than its poorer neighbours?
“Many Singaporeans leave because of the stifling atmosphere of the country and the political and intellectual lock-step enforced by the government,” said one analyst.
“It would reverse if the government would begin to democratise, and to allow its people to develop their talents – in Singapore, not abroad.” And I thought S'pore is a democratic country, what am I missing?
Importing large numbers of migrants from China and India, most of whom treat it as a study or transit point, is not a solution.
Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew once admitted: “They come in here, they get an English education ? and they're off to America.”
However, he seems resigned to it. Recently he told his political party youth members: “As a government, and personally for me and my colleagues, my responsibility is to look after those who cannot migrate.”
With one-third of the population now making up of foreigners, that task is becoming harder to achieve.
Wow, PAP regime really ruined Singapore society.
No one wants to stay if they can migrate.
That is why I say the education system has been a failure.
They impose an alien language on the people, make it dominant in society, thus weakening the local cultural roots and identity and demoralise the people.
Game over Lee Kuan Yew.
You have been exposed.
I want to watch how you die.
You can fool others Lee Kuan Yew.
Yes, you can go and fool others.
But you can't fool me.
There is no way in a cold hell that you are going to fool me Lee Kuan Yew.
Originally posted by Poh Ah Pak:I want to watch how you die.
You can fool others Lee Kuan Yew.
Yes, you can go and fool others.
But you can't fool me.
There is no way in a cold hell that you are going to fool me Lee Kuan Yew.
The topic here is about migration, why you want others to die and talk about fooling around... aiyo Uncle, be more objective lah.
Anyway, as per topic, we are facing another influx of immigration and emigration process, a change of hand, if i am not wrong, in the begining of the 20th century, our fore fathers and mothers are also immigrant here and chased quite a substantial others out of Singapore. So, history is repeating itself. However the problem today for leaving Singapore is not the same as yesterday, last time, you can just pack your sarong and cheongsam, book a sampan and cross over without any documents. Today, if you want to leave this country, make sure you got money, qualification and education. Otherwise you go other country be beggar.
And if you cannot leave this country like my Uncle Poh, half death species with no money and much qualification, carry on with your cursing of the Govt.
Anyway, as per topic, we are facing another influx of immigration and emigration process
That's not the point.
Coming and going is normal.
This is the point:
"In fact, one survey has placed Singapore’s outflow at 26.11 migrants per 1,000 citizens – the second highest in the world."
Originally posted by Poh Ah Pak:That's not the point.
Coming and going is normal.
This is the point:
"In fact, one survey has placed Singapore’s outflow at 26.11 migrants per 1,000 citizens – the second highest in the world."
but they forgot to survey those who repatriate back to Singapore after kenna bully or cannot make it in foreign land.
but they forgot to survey those who repatriate back to Singapore after kenna bully or cannot make it in foreign land.
That's still not the point.
"In fact, one survey has placed Singapore’s outflow at 26.11 migrants per 1,000 citizens – the second highest in the world."
Originally posted by Poh Ah Pak:That's still not the point.
"In fact, one survey has placed Singapore’s outflow at 26.11 migrants per 1,000 citizens – the second highest in the world."
Is that one survey approved by ICA or Ministry of home affair??
if no, then i said that one survey has placed Singapore's inflow at 28 emigrants per 1,000 citizens- the highest in the world
Originally posted by Poh Ah Pak:That's still not the point.
"In fact, one survey has placed Singapore’s outflow at 26.11 migrants per 1,000 citizens – the second highest in the world."
wooo, got survey... source please..
Originally posted by wheelcamp:20 years down the road, expect foreign-born “Singaporeans” to fill up the National Stadium for National Day.
What a sight.
Isn't those national day held in the 60's are filled up by foreign born imigrants
Originally posted by skythewood:wooo, got survey... source please..
soya source or tomato source??
Originally posted by angel7030:Isn't those national day held in the 60's are filled up by foreign born imigrants
Originally posted by wheelcamp:20 years down the road, expect foreign-born “Singaporeans” to fill up the National Stadium for National Day.
What a sight.
you mean they will have "born outside Singapore" stamped on their forehead huh? or local born Singaporeans will now come with pink hair to differentiate themselves from those born outside?
Originally posted by wheelcamp:
Back to square 1 for national identity.
There has always been one identity, Singaporean, in four different versions, the Chinese, the Malays, the Indians and the Others.
Originally posted by wheelcamp:
Back to square 1 for national identity.
yes, it cyclical, the wheels of life, wheels of fortune, wheels of saddness and happiness will continue to rotate, non stop..until realisation is achieved.
Originally posted by sgdiehard:
you mean they will have "born outside Singapore" stamped on their forehead huh? or local born Singaporeans will now come with pink hair to differentiate themselves from those born outside?
Originally posted by sgdiehard:
There has always been one identity, Singaporean, in four different versions, the Chinese, the Malays, the Indians and the Others.
This is sad, sad news.
For our ministers anyway.
Maybe it isn't so bad since they like FTs so much.
You need $$$ to flow out. This infer many singaporean could afford to do and there are opportunities for one to live oversea. It is actually good in a way. However, it also pose some problems but i don't think it is that serious.
Originally posted by wheelcamp:
I don't know about you but I can see the difference between China and local face.
Of course there are differences between Chinese from China, HK, Taiwan and Singapore, but are the foreign born Chinese Singaporean coming from China only? there are those from Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, HK,...and there are those non Chinese...?
you think you can tell the difference between China and local face, but can you tell the difference between the northern and southern Chinese faces? can you tell the differences between HK Chinese and Singaporean Chinese, without listening to how they speak?
Originally posted by wheelcamp:
Identity is more than just looks. Include accent, cultural level, mindset etc.
even among Singaporean there are much differences among ourselves, may be not so much in our accent, but a lot in our culture, and mindset too.
we have come a long way to accept that there is going to be many hundred years for a unique Singaporean culture to evolve, in the mean time we understand, and respect the differences, especially among different races and religion, which are all part of our different culture.
Originally posted by sgdiehard:Of course there are differences between Chinese from China, HK, Taiwan and Singapore, but are the foreign born Chinese Singaporean coming from China only? there are those from Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, HK,...and there are those non Chinese...?
you think you can tell the difference between China and local face, but can you tell the difference between the northern and southern Chinese faces? can you tell the differences between HK Chinese and Singaporean Chinese, without listening to how they speak?
Originally posted by sgdiehard:even among Singaporean there are much differences among ourselves, may be not so much in our accent, but a lot in our culture, and mindset too.
Originally posted by sgdiehard:we have come a long way to accept that there is going to be many hundred years for a unique Singaporean culture to evolve, in the mean time we understand, and respect the differences, especially among different races and religion, which are all part of our different culture.