100k more foreign workers!

[uhohh]

'Fuelled by the record growth the government is forecasting for the economy this year, more than 100,000 foreigners are set to enter Singapore’s workforce, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told The Straits Times.'

Seems like SG is booming now...

[Sunrayser]

The 100K 'foreign workers' criteria has a lot more to do with GDP figures and the summations that can be manipulated and derived therefrom rather than economic trends. Any statitician can tell you that!

[Ho Lee Shi]

The 100K 'foreign workers' criteria has a lot more to do with GDP figures and the summations that can be manipulated and derived therefrom rather than economic trends. Any statitician can tell you that!

Oi! You say what? 

[crowds]

If its true then Singapore will get even more crowded. In the five years I have been here the change has been dramatic and for the worse. It seems every day the traffice gets more congested, the buses and MRT become more and more unpleasant, the queues at the supermarket get longer and areas like Orchard become more unbearable. And is there a single beach or area of green that isn't swarming with people on weekends and holidays and probably the rest of the time too? In my opinion crowds and sweaty tropical heat don't mix well.

I used to like Singapore but I don't anymore and don't plan to stay much longer. The taxes aren't actually as low as people say (I pay 20%) and no longer justify staying here now that the quality of life has fallen. My guess is this place will burn itself out, all of the factors that once made it attractive and competitive will be eroded over time.

Sure, the crowds will cause property to boom, then crash, then boom again, but the quality of life wil deteriorate and personally I believe that is what actually matters.

[dubai mark two]

Parallels are obvious.

So are the suck up pap believers. How many of the palm (read sail) buyers would have predicted what happened.

[not dubai]

Theres a huge difference between Dubai & here. 

Singapore has infrastructure, highly skilled and educated workforce, regulated real estate market, a forward thinking government who constantly re-invent the place.  They have massive reserves and no debts.  All in all its one of the wealthiest countries in the world.

In Dubai its a whole different scene.

Right now, the world is in deep recession but Singapore is booming and more first time western expats, new migrants from China and India arrive daily.  Yes the population has increased a lot and will keep on doing so. And the little red dot prospers and keeps growing.

This will just continue for the forseeable future and their property will only go up in value.

Most Singaporeans have far more buying power than most of us western people and have a much higher standard of living than we are used to.

I just wish people would stop bashing the place and be proud of what they have achieved since 1965.  I for one feel very proud to live here in such a happening vibrant city playing my part in its growth.  I know someday like the rest of us, I will have to go home to earn crap money, pay tax to support a failing system in the nanny state, work with small minded people, join the rat race in London etc etc

So for now, why not just kick back, sit by the condo pool with my lovely local girlfriend sipping chilled white wine and eating fresh watermelon thinking how nice it is to be here.

[Hi there!]

Hello "not Dubai"!

Wow, someone's had a brain-washing session recently haven't they? Using phrases such as "us western people" gives you away as a local. If you want to make a point, regardless of how daft and bereft of fact, do just admit to it. Otherwise you just sound like you're trying to sneak in a silly post which, goodness knows why, you think people will read and thing "yeah, our fellow westerner has a point!".

Silly post, far from the truth.

[Vulcanl]

not dubai,

I am with you  .  Singapore is a great place to be at the moment.  I am struck by this part of your post:

"... I know someday like the rest of us, I will have to go home to earn crap money, pay tax to support a failing system in the nanny state, work with small minded people, join the rat race in London etc etc..."

For I am doing a lot of soul searching precisely about staying here long term and even perhaps taking up citizenship at some point. 

[Hi There!] sounds like your typical frustrated Western 'expat' whose World back home has collapsed and has a problem with facing the reality that things have changed - so ignore them.

I think your approach is very sensible...this coming from experience (as I too met and eventually married a lovely local girl!!)

[crowded]

not dubai,

I am with you  .  Singapore is a great place to be at the moment.  I am struck by this part of your post:

"... I know someday like the rest of us, I will have to go home to earn crap money, pay tax to support a failing system in the nanny state, work with small minded people, join the rat race in London etc etc..."

For I am doing a lot of soul searching precisely about staying here long term and even perhaps taking up citizenship at some point. 

[Hi There!] sounds like your typical frustrated Western 'expat' whose World back home has collapsed and has a problem with facing the reality that things have changed - so ignore them.

I think your approach is very sensible...this coming from experience (as I too met and eventually married a lovely local girl!!)

You are the moron that lives in an HDB right and leaches off his "girlfriend"? So, how are you benefiting from Singapore's high GDP growth rate? How does a high GDP make this a great place for you to be? Is that cos your "girlfriend" hasn't lost her job?

I probably make 100 times the average wage in Singapore. I probably pay 20 times in tax alone what your girlfriend earns a year before tax.

And if i want I can retire right now and live very well anywhere in the world, here, Tokyo, London, New York or not in any of these rat race cities. Or I can carry on earning what for you would be an unimaginable sum here or I can upsticks and do the same thing elsewhere.

Just because someobody says Singapore is getting really crowded and that the quality of life is going down hill doesnt make them an unsuccessful person. Only an idiot would think that, but my sense is that you are an idiot, which explains why you live in an HDB and leach off your "girlfreind" and don't have the skills/intelligence/creativity to succeed in life. Your "girlfriend" must be an idiot too for staying with such a loser.


As for the poster who thinks the "resort living" of Singapore condos is the pinnacle of what life can offer, you sound like another idiot.

[Vulcanl]

crowded,

You come off as very angry (and I could care less as to why this is so). 

Some facts need to be clarified however, as in your haze you have made some statements that are incorrect.  I do indeed live in HDB (along with approximately 80% of the population here) and that does not make me a 'moron.'  I do not have a 'girlfriend' as I am married (and just told you that in my previous post).  I do not 'leach' [sic] off of anyone, and take pride in being the breadwinner of my household.

"...Just because someobody says Singapore is getting really crowded and that the quality of life is going down hill doesnt make them an unsuccessful person..."

Who in the World said this?!?!??!     Certainly not me

You have also decided that insulting me is a perfectly acceptable action to take and this confirms that you are not thinking clearly.  You LOSE.

[hubbabubba]

crowded:

Hey man..not to be critical or anything..but your post did come off as a bit..  pointless?

[not dubai]

not dubai,

I am with you  .  Singapore is a great place to be at the moment.  I am struck by this part of your post:

"... I know someday like the rest of us, I will have to go home to earn crap money, pay tax to support a failing system in the nanny state, work with small minded people, join the rat race in London etc etc..."

For I am doing a lot of soul searching precisely about staying here long term and even perhaps taking up citizenship at some point. 

[Hi There!] sounds like your typical frustrated Western 'expat' whose World back home has collapsed and has a problem with facing the reality that things have changed - so ignore them.

I think your approach is very sensible...this coming from experience (as I too met and eventually married a lovely local girl!!)

Yes buddy, I love it here. The place I come from is, cold, wet, full of chavs, sponging immigrants who I have to pay my taxes to support.  I am almost at the point where I too see that staying here long term just may be better than returning to the man-hating nanny state of political correctness, street muggings, beer louts and crap weather.  I may also go for my citizenship as well.

So my day by the pool only just reinforced how good life here is !

[wazzzis]

not dubai,

I am with you  .  Singapore is a great place to be at the moment.  I am struck by this part of your post:

"... I know someday like the rest of us, I will have to go home to earn crap money, pay tax to support a failing system in the nanny state, work with small minded people, join the rat race in London etc etc..."

For I am doing a lot of soul searching precisely about staying here long term and even perhaps taking up citizenship at some point. 

[Hi There!] sounds like your typical frustrated Western 'expat' whose World back home has collapsed and has a problem with facing the reality that things have changed - so ignore them.

I think your approach is very sensible...this coming from experience (as I too met and eventually married a lovely local girl!!)

You are the moron that lives in an HDB right and leaches off his "girlfriend"? So, how are you benefiting from Singapore's high GDP growth rate? How does a high GDP make this a great place for you to be? Is that cos your "girlfriend" hasn't lost her job?

I probably make 100 times the average wage in Singapore. I probably pay 20 times in tax alone what your girlfriend earns a year before tax.

And if i want I can retire right now and live very well anywhere in the world, here, Tokyo, London, New York or not in any of these rat race cities. Or I can carry on earning what for you would be an unimaginable sum here or I can upsticks and do the same thing elsewhere.

Just because someobody says Singapore is getting really crowded and that the quality of life is going down hill doesnt make them an unsuccessful person. Only an idiot would think that, but my sense is that you are an idiot, which explains why you live in an HDB and leach off your "girlfreind" and don't have the skills/intelligence/creativity to succeed in life. Your "girlfriend" must be an idiot too for staying with such a loser.


As for the poster who thinks the "resort living" of Singapore condos is the pinnacle of what life can offer, you sound like another idiot.

I think I am the guy that this idiot is trying to get at.  Yes I live in my wifes HDB and yes initially I came here without a job but because my then girlfriend wanted me to. Yes she supported me initially - its a thing called love, someone believed in me and wanted me here beside them no matter what.  Is that hard to understand ?

I do have a job now, not a very highly paid one (local package) but I am happy, quite settled and doing fine in my job thanks.  We dont have a fancy house just a small HDB but then again, we dont need one.

I would rather live in a small place with a great person at my side than live in luxury with some slug.  I have everything I need and very grateful for what I have. 

You may well earn 100 times more than what I earn, but you know what ?  I couldnt really care because from the angle I see things, you are one very angry bitter sad little man and your money is not going to change that.  Not ever.

[angry]

crowded,

You come off as very angry (and I could care less as to why this is so). 

Some facts need to be clarified however, as in your haze you have made some statements that are incorrect.  I do indeed live in HDB (along with approximately 80% of the population here) and that does not make me a 'moron.'  I do not have a 'girlfriend' as I am married (and just told you that in my previous post).  I do not 'leach' [sic] off of anyone, and take pride in being the breadwinner of my household.

"...Just because someobody says Singapore is getting really crowded and that the quality of life is going down hill doesnt make them an unsuccessful person..."

Who in the World said this?!?!??!     Certainly not me

You have also decided that insulting me is a perfectly acceptable action to take and this confirms that you are not thinking clearly.  You LOSE.

[Crowed and loud]

But not every expat comes from cold, wet and nasty England!
For you Singapore might feel like paradise, for us it is just a way to make great amounts of money. Once we are done with that, I will return home, where the ocean is wild and beautiful.

Perhaps I would feel the same way as you do if I would be from GB.