I was reading Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong article [CNA] earlier today about the need to “nurture a homing instinct”. Will it actually alleviate our current concern where some of our best talents are packing their bags for greener pasture.
Will it “help them stay rooted and make them feel proud being Singaporeans” as mentioned in the speech. Well in my opinion looking at the current statistics, it’s a losing battle.
SM Goh also spoke about naming streets after our founding father, more recognition o the pillar pioneers of Singapore yesteryears and changing our history syllabus to target the younger ones, well basically to keep our future brightest hopefuls rooted.
It might make a difference for a few of these kids to stay put when crunch time comes but people will still leave I believe. Reading the article reminds me of me of a previously written entry by KTM of Singapore Angle [Link].
It’s strikingly similar to what KTM proposed and reflected in SM Goh speech. To focus on the ‘family’ and in particular our children. According to SM Goh, if the children are taught well, “they will feel Singaporean wherever they are in the world”.
Yes, emigrating is a big issue currently and I think we’re doing it the wrong way. The problem is staring straight at us and we’re not well bothered to do anything about it previously. Well we kinda did but in totally the wrong way.
It’s only when the problem starts to hurt the economy, does the intervention comes in. The intervention comes in the form of dangling a carrot stick in front of a donkey to make it move, but it our situation, our carrot is facing the ass’s ass. No pun intended.
We’re doing it ‘terbalik’ reversal way and we should ‘kebelakang pusing’ or simply a 360 degree turn about solution to face this issue itself.
As KTM has mentioned in his entries, what SM Goh should address is the issue of availability of jobs with matching benefits that the counterpart is offering, to find a solution for the saturated opportunities in Singapore whereas there’s plenty of it overseas and adopt a change in attitude.
Labeling those emigrating ‘quitters’ will upset them and no matter how loyal you are, after being branded that, I’m sure you’ll think twice coming back. How about the “rising costs of living”.
If it’s any indicator, the rise in our ever increasing GST is in proportion with the cost of living. Hah! The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. The gap ever widening. And yes also, focusing on the children to form a “tight-knit family” as SM Goh mentioned.
I don’t know where this is heading. I just hope our voices will be heard by the government and hopefuly they will make the wise ‘informed’ decision. I’m no economist nor political analyst, what’s written here is just my honest view of our current concerns.
Just a little disclaimer eh. I don’t want to get into the black book with the gahmen mah ;-)
hi,
my name is amran and i do feel the same way sir.
well i got got my one way ticket to melbourne with my dear wife and never wanted to come back to sg only the day when i will cut my nric for an Australia citizen.
just want to say to all the malays in singapore dont be afraid there are really greener grass out there and think for your next generation either u want them to suffer or better life.
for your info in sg i work in a mailroom and my wife is a nurse still we make the effort to migrate out.
cheers!