Where to Singapore?

[southern cross]

Much as I would like to say otherwise, what I see is that my children will face more and greater challenges in the future.

Singaporeans of my generation, growing up with the founding government enjoyed unprecended growth and achievement these past 30 odd years.

Can we do as well in the next 30 years?  I don't think so.  Other economies are competing with Singapore not from a zero position.

A good example is the loss of Maersk to Tanjong Pelepas.  With a few hundred million investment, the port has become a genuine threat to the status of Singapore.

Can we find another Lee Kuan Yew?  I hope so, but I doubt so.  Even so, I don't think it is all gloom and doom.  The government has responded and is trying to remake Singapore.  Given the competitive nature of Singaporeans and the urge to excel, we should be able to get through but at a much lower level than what we have been used to.

And the story about the Q & A  with DPM Lee makes me sad that the questioner does not feel a sense of pride and a feeling of  "coming home".  Where did we go wrong?

I am a Singaporean, lived here all my life and would probably die here too.

[cs]

southern cross

I appreciate the sad sentiment of how everything seems to have been turned upside down overnight. I suppose it will be pple from your generation that witnessed first hand the rise of Singapore that will be the most traumatised in the coming years.

Don't know whether you followed that speech by Simon Tay at the ISEAS seminar. He pointed out that while we can try to restructure and remake Singapore, we should not ignore the fact that there is the very real chance that we will fail. Expanding on this, while the Singapore economy might shows some signs of recovery, we might also go the way of Japan and endure 10 years and  more of slow growth. During this time, we see our industries and our talent slowly but surely hollowed away.

Which brings me back to the point abt pride in being Singaporean. For 30 years, the pride that so many have felt is because Singapore was praised the world over as a miracle economy. We were all happy because there were high paying jobs for all; we all owned property that could only go up; and we all could afford to go on holidays and act like birds (cheap cheap).  

What happens now if you take that all away?

I mentioned that becoz of the changes, we are begining to see a change of mindset. More are now making plans to work abroad, emigrate or set up businesses to exploit opportunities. Given Singaporean pragmatisim and the drive to succeed, there is a good chance that many will make it and emerge perhaps even better off than before. By forcing us out of our comfort zone, these changes are therefore not a bad thing. Antoine however pointed that it will not be everybody that will be able to do this and make it. Which is of course true.

What then happens to those who are left behind?

[This message has been edited by cs (edited 22-03-2002).]

[RC]

Dev
- you wish?

[southern cross]

cs

I hope I did not give you the impression that I have pride as a Singaporean only because of the achievements and accolades that Singapore has been getting these years.

But beyond pride, there is the old fashion loyalty to one's country.  I do not need my country to be number 1 to feel proud of my country; it is after all home to me.

I have never considered migration as an option (although to be honest, I don't think I would be able to move financially speaking)

But if my children were to make that decision, I would not hold them back.

Some years ago, SM did look into the crystal ball and he mentioned that there may be a danger that Singapore may seek to rejoin Malaysia but on Malaysia's terms.  I think he mentioned this in the context of urging Singaporeans to wake up.

It sounds very unpalatable, but I think that thought is not an impossibility.  If this were to happen, it might happen in 2 generations' time not sooner.  I doubt I will sing the Negara Ku again.

[vinal]

to CS
"What then happens to those who are left behind?"

good question, difficult answer.

i feel that this is a moral issue more than anything else. for those who left, having benefited (?) from their days in S'pore, should there be a moral duty for them to return and help their former-countrymen?

digging deeper, this only becomes a moral issue to those who left IF the system instilled the right values in them OR if they have a sense of duty to country (for whatever reason). duty beyond mere citizenship, but rather a duty that dwells in the core of their existence. forgive the rambling, it is late =)

i'm sure that there are many who left who still feel that S'pore is more than just their birth nation. the problem though, lies in the government's attitude towards its people. many who left probably felt stiffled (i'm generalizing) etc. if the gov changes its attitude and stops mothering or fathering its people so much, i'm sure some will return and work towards S'pore's future.

quality, not quantity matters. those few who choose return will have the drive and vision to shape the future of S'pore. the Old Man himself chose to return from UK. perhaps the next old man will come from similar circumstances. *sigh* if only the gov will start dismantling s'pore INC and start creating s'pore partnership.

[cs]

It comes across to me as strange to see a posting abt loyalty and moral obligations in a board that is for expats.

Are we saying all who venture abroad to live and work have no loyalty and have dodged the moral obligations of the country that nurtured and cultivated them?

It is a contradiction to one hand have a policy that welcomes foreigners with open arms and yet at the same time, attach a stigma to Singaporeans emigrating for a better life.

[This message has been edited by cs (edited 10-04-2002).]

[BoardManager]

After yesterday's 'Business Times' headline article about Phillips Singapore relocating their regional office to Hong Kong, a lot of shivers are being felt by many of us - certainly by many in my cohort.

Emigrating from Singapore has become a reality. The sg.gov knows about the aspirations of these people they are losing. There is no longer any stigma any more, I think. The pressure now is to slow down the numbers leaving, as well as to keep those who have left.

[KatyF]

What an interesting thread!  My personal take is that the PAP must loosen its reins and let people have much more of a say in their own government.  And let the people think!  By encouraging them at school to use their minds and even more importantly, to recruit the teachers who can show them that they can have fun while using their minds. To question things. I feel that Singapore's only real hope is in its own natural resource - its people.  At the moment, they are treated as babies - even to the extent that if they don't vote for the right party, their HDB flat won't be upgraded.  This policy has got to backfire somewhere down the line.  We love Singapore, and wouldn't dream of living anywhere else, but there must come a time when the people have more freedom - personally and politically.