"not racist, just nationalist"

[that's crap]

Interesting article in ST today; about an advertising company who's CEO proudly declares he has never hired a caucasian and 'champions' people from his own land.

All good an well, but if the shoe was on the other foot i wonder how the article would be presented.

Most amusing was his reply to being asked if he was racist, he said he was just 'nationalistic'

That's the same argument used by many of the worlds greatest racist figures.  I don't buy it.

Would be interesting to see if someone asked him point blank:

"If you advertise for a job and a caucasian applies and is the strongest candidate, would your hire him?"

I think it's easy to tell the answer from his track record, and thus suggest he is actively racially discriminatory in his hiring practices.   Pity the ang-moh locals.

And what's even more disgusting is that he is given a large amount of press space and promoted for it.

That's crap.

[Slim Pickins]

So hes saying that hes not racist but nationalist because he wont hire 'caucasians'?

Note that. "Caucasians".

Not NON-CITIZENS - but a specific RACE - CAUCASIANS. What? - he thinks that no Singaporean is caucasian?

Hes just another stupid racist piece of s***.

Damn straight its crap mate.

[SoSo]

Nationalistic = racism

Nationalism has all too often been the cause of horrendous acts against humanity in the past and should be barred as part of the United Nations constitution.

[that's crap]

Yeah but what is so frustrating about it is that he doesn't even see that he is racist.

But i've come to realise that's quiet common in Singapore.  The reaction i get when i start speaking japanese to my wife at functions is always interesting, espeically from those who didn't know i was japanese.

[rubicond]

I think an employer can hire whom he wants.

If he wants to hire only people from the same `race`, whether it is to avoid conflicts in the workplace, to reduce unemployment among singaporeans, or whatever, that`s his problem.

Not happy? Apply for a job elsewhere.

[Billy Bob Banker]

I'm with the crapper (sorry, couldn't help it) on this one.  It's blatant racism disguised as something else.  Unfortunatley, this attitude seems to be pervasive in this part of the world.

Rubicond, i really hope you meant that comment in jest; discrimination of any kind on the basis of race is just plain immoral (from my cultural perspective) and i think it's a bit of a double standard for individuals and culturers such as the one in question to openly admit to what has been interpreted as racist behaviour by many (hence the question the reporter asked) and then raise hell and call racism when an 'ang moh' (it's self a racist term) company wants to hire only ang-mohs, even in Europe or elsewhere.

The best person should get the job, race should not be an issue.

[Tricky Ricky]

I used to have a Chinese boss here in SG who claimed that he was not racist and would always choose the right person for the job as he felt it made a stronger team.
This was despite the fact that he wanted to get rid of me as too much of an expense for the company (even though he earned twice what I did, which was a very generous local salary) and Ang Mohs were not needed, and that he told a Malay colleague to not hire anymore Malays or Indians as it gave people the wrong impression.
Thankfully we fired him!

[This message has been edited by Tricky Ricky (edited 21-11-2005).]

[Addadude]

TC, I think Adrian Tan is simply reacting to what he perceives to be white-centred chauvinism displayed by international agencies. While he is very outdated in this regard, he would have 'come of age' in an era when ang mohs were hired over local talent even though the local guys were obviously more talented. A number of other local agencies have the same philosophy. (Ironically, one of the champions of local-only talent of the past, Monsoon, happily sold itself to a 'white' MNC agency, Lowe, as soon as it could.)

As far as I'm concerned, genuine creative talent is so hard to find, you need to grab it whenever you can regardless of what colour, race, sex or religion it comes in. Any businessman who looks at race first is ultimately going to go out ofr business.

[BP]

"While he is very outdated in this regard, he would have 'come of age' in an era when ang mohs were hired over local talent even though the local guys were obviously more talented"

What bleedin era was this then. Why do you think ang mo's are here in the first place! earning large salaries with condo car etc etc. It's not cos there's better local talent now is it.
Can you imagine an Ang mo company head stating he'd only hire "Ang mo's" in the press !!! Go figure.
Man! the guy should be put against the wall with all the other racisits.

[Addadude]

Actually BP, it very much was a reality that talented locals faced up until the mid-late nineties. There were a number of well known and highly regarded agencies who would never dream of hiring locals for their senior positions. In fact, many local agencies wanted to have a white face as a senior staff member because it gave them that much prized 'ang moh factor' and they could boast to all their friends and business aquaintances that they were doing really well 'cos they had an ang moh working for them. In the last decade, this outlook has changed dramatically, thank goodness.

To be honest, I have no objections to a businessman hiring whoever he wants to hire on whatever basis he decides. It's his (or her) money after all. So if Adrian Tan insists on only hiring locals and closing his eyes to talented people from other places, I wish him the best of luck. He's going to need it.

[rubicond]

Most of you, seem to believe that there is no "local talent" and that you are smarter than the locals (for example Addadude " I wish him the best of luck. He's going to need it", BP "Why do you think ang mo's are here in the first place!"). Aren't you racist?

In any case, what's wrong with being racist?

You prefer people who look like you (similar color of the skin, color of the hair, color of the eyes, whatever...), or who believe in a similar god as yours, or who speak a similar language as yours, or whatever?

It's your right!!!!

There is nothing wrong with it!!

[This message has been edited by rubicond (edited 21-11-2005).]

[Betty Swollocks]

Rubicond's been at the whisky bottle...

[rubicond]

Just beer, mate. But I am at the last can. Vin rouge is next.  

[charlieb]

"Nationalistic = racism"

That would make Japanese one of the most racist peoples in the world, wouldn't it?

[SoSo]

Charlie
Shows how little you know. They are fiercely anti-nationalistic now.