As a personal opinion, I strongly believe that Singapore is still running on the meritocracy system.
Though I'm exactly not clear on why there are more of our Indians counterparts in the legal profession, I believe that could probably be written off as just another common coincidence.
On the basis of this issue, the typical focus would probably see the the moulding this debate from the perspective of the local occupational scenario.
However, due to the diverse and complex array of other inherent factors such as societal norms present in the mega environment, any explaination would not be made available thru simple examples.
Hence, alternatively, prehaps we may also consider the evaluation and critique of the meritocracy issue from a less complex and homogeneous sector of society.
Taking the educational system here as an example, I believe that it is clear to all of us that much of our progress up the ranks from kindergarden all the way up to university are in large, if not completely determined by our grades.
While the initial entrance of a primary school child is determined by the balloting process, the primary driving force of any subsequrent and further progress of the child would be determined with majority reliance, on the official indicator of preformance, namely grades.
The same transparent system is universal and applicable upon all who are subjected, irregardless of race, language or religion.
And irregardless of the later secondary, pre-university, JC, poly, ITE or other subsequent higer levels that one may attain, the common denomination for advance and posting is based primarily on self effort and self achievement which are mostly independent and exclusive of any third parties' unnatural influence.
Although this system may thus bring upon yet another area of concern, 'Elitism', which on surface may appear to cast doubt onto the transparency of the Merotocracy System and values, the undeniable fact still lies in the unseverable relationship that Elitism is only the observed 'top' most level of the entire Meritocracy hierarchy.
And thus is a mutually complementing manner, the evidence of 'Elitism' which is present strongly within the local context may hence, be also viewed upon as proof of the Meritocracy System still sustaining on strong and transparent, in place and in check.