Migration and the Singaporean diaspora

Yxxxone SG

Of migration and the Singaporean diaspora
By Kelvin Teo ⋅ April 14, 2009

SINGAPORE – A survey conducted by the Singapore Polytechnic revealed one sobering statistic – more than 50% of youths aged between 15 and 29 years old want to migrate overseas if given the chance. Another ironic piece of statistic is that despite going through National Education in their schools, 37% admitted that they are not patriotic. Another interesting number is that despite 60% of the youth not being interested in local politics, half of them want to see more opposition in parliament.

And this migration statistic is worrying our leaders. Senior Minister (SM) Goh Chok Tong admitted in a meeting with Iranian leaders that Singapore is leaking talents, especially the top notch ones. And this leakage of talents extended to the civil service as well. This was ironic considering the fact that SM Goh fired a rhetorical salvo in challenging Singaporeans’ resolve to stay to fight for the nation instead of taking flight at the first sign of trouble, ending with a famous question – “are you a quitter or a stayer?”

Admittedly, this rhetorical question triggered an emotional response. The quitter reference didn’t go down well amongst a number of Singaporeans, especially those who have migrated or have already considered migrating. A variety of reasons were offered to explain their unhappiness. Be that as it may, sometimes it would be interesting to dwell on the causes behind Singaporeans’ decision to migrate rather than the furore over the stayer-quitter remarks.

Mr Seah Chiang Nee, in an article published in the Sunday Star, attributed one of the causes to a self-centred generation with no personal bond to the nation. Half of it is figured by Mr Seah. The other half is possibly attributable to the fact that Singaporeans are rarely offered a part to play in the running of the nation. Singapore has always been run in a top-down approach, the catch phrase for that is a paternalistic form of governance. Basically, Singaporeans have not much say in the running of Singapore.

Thus, there is a need to engage Singaporeans in the sense that they should be given a say in the direction that Singapore should take, and in doing so, shoulder more responsibilities. When citizens are given more responsibilities in running the country within a decentralized system of governance, the national bond naturally comes. In fact, this engagement should be extended to Singaporeans who have left our shores.

The case study of India has taught us that despite the brain drain, the Indian diaspora worldwide has benefitted India in terms of cash injection and technology transfer. It would be tragic if the Singapore government fails to engage the Singaporean diaspora worldwide.

One solution to the brain drain in SM Goh’s words is “to turn to talented people from other countries, get them to work here and eventually turn them into Singaporeans”. That in itself is a gamble because not all foreigners would end up taking up Singapore citizenship.

However, the pertinent question is – has the government completely forgotten the former sons of Singapore? It appeared that SM Goh’s reference to them as “quitters” will only further alienate them. One really wonders if it has ever occurred to the Singapore government that the Singapore diaspora worldwide can still be considered a valuable resource in terms of knowledge and finance. Even SM Goh conceded that these talented former Singaporeans are “harvested straightaway by top companies and institutions”. Thus, wouldn’t a friendly engagement allow Singapore to tap on their expertise or benefit from their cash injection? Alienation would only burn the bridges for eternity.

When there was talk about building up a knowledge-based economy, the government rolled out the red carpet in welcoming foreign luminaries. Perhaps, the same red carpet should also be rolled out to welcome overseas-based Singaporean or ex-Singaporean experts too.

Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong envisioned Singapore as “an inclusive society where no one will be left behind”. It is a beautiful vision worth attaining. However, former Singaporeans should also be included in this vision. Even as they have left our shores, they are still a part of us nonetheless. Instead of burning bridges, more bridges should be built to reach out to such Singaporeans.

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6. Of migration and the Singaporean diaspora

Stevenson101 SG

Wished i could see more of such posts from the opposition.

Ah Chia SG

A survey conducted by the Singapore Polytechnic revealed one sobering statistic – more than 50% of youths aged between 15 and 29 years old want to migrate overseas if given the chance. Another ironic piece of statistic is that despite going through National Education in their schools, 37% admitted that they are not patriotic.

The problem is systemic.

When you impose an alien language on the local population and supress local culture and promote alien culture, the local identity, the roots, the bond is weakened, thus it is easier for someone to throw away his roots and migrate to foreign country, since the alien language was there from the beginning to undermine the local culture and identity.

All thanks to the dog's political agenda.

Fang Chuang Pi is very wise to point it out:

SINGAPORE is a "freak", because it is lacking in terms of geopolitics, economics, size, population and culture, said former communist leader Fang Chuang Pi, dubbed the "Plen" by Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

He added that, in his assessment, the country had "narrow room for manoeuvre in various areas and will run into difficulties in future".

He gave this assessment of Singapore as an unnatural country, a freak of history, in an interview with Malaysia's Chinese-language newspaper, Nanyang Siang Pau, in which he disclosed that he had discussed the Republic's prospects with the Senior Minister when they met in Beijing in August 1995.

He told Mr Lee: "I said that Singapore was a 'freak', but a 'freak' was often a genius, and most geniuses died young. For in terms of geopolitics, economics, size and population, Singapore is congenitally deficient."

The two men also discussed the issue of culture, he added.

"I said that using a certain language to create a culture, the culture created can at best be a commercial culture, or technology culture, or we may call it pasar culture. It has no roots, and identifies itself with a certain material interest. It is the product of expediency.

"It is like duckweed, floating at the harbour. When it absorbs fertilisers, it will flourish very quickly. But once it rains and floods set in, it will perish," he said in an interview conducted in a restaurant in Haadyai, near the Thai-Malaysian border...

http://ourstory.asia1.com.sg

You can't construct a state based on alien language, alien culture and suppress the local culture.

That was a very big mistake of the anglo dog.

Ah Chia SG

He is true to his roots as an anglo dog.

Want to carry on his master's policies and suppress local culture and turn us into anglo dogs like him.

Once a dog always a dog.

I hope no one that values their culture would go and follow that dog's advice.

The results would be disastrous.

Fucking dog.

Worldlybusinessman SG

As early as the 1970s, economists have predicted that singapore will run into trouble. We lack national integration and if u noticed, the various races, rather prefer to go to India, China or other countries.

AndrewPKYap SG

Curse the baba siao..... he is only interested in making a few dollars more on top of the tens of millions in public money he and his family take... even if it means selling the country to foreigners.

Kick his cancer afflicted in the anus son out of of ang mo kio GRC

udontknowme SG

ok. i didnt exactly read the 'article' or other people's replies. but i was having this conversation with my dad a while ago.

Singapore is a unique country in the sense that it's created because of colonialism. Colonialism only created 'bad stuff' in the places that has been colonialized. Especially once the colonializers leave. Not that staying would have made anything better....

I personally don't think Singapore will last for very very long. Of course, there has not been any society that has lasted forever, but some will last for hundreds of years. Singapore will never be able to.

glanced up a bit and i have this to say: Present day Singapore has no 'local' culture. Colonialism has killed whatever there was in Singapore before they came. almost everything about present day Singapore is based on colonialism.

and no, i don't support the PAP. in fact, i dont give a hoot about Singapore politics.

charlize SG

ok. i didnt exactly read the 'article' or other people's replies. but i was having this conversation with my dad a while ago.

and no, i don't support the PAP. in fact, i dont give a hoot about Singapore politics.

You are just the type of people they want.

People who don't give a hoot about politics.

udontknowme SG

But i dont want them.

Stevenson101 SG

ok. i didnt exactly read the 'article' or other people's replies. but i was having this conversation with my dad a while ago.

and no, i don't support the PAP. in fact, i dont give a hoot about Singapore politics.

Way i see it, Singapore is a product of a particular age in history much like the ancient cities that were built along the Silk Road.

It just doesn't have the conditions neccessary to have an enduring civilization. I would think the reasons are more economical and geological, rather than some vague notions of culture or politics.

AndrewPKYap SG

Singapore can survive and survive well. It will not survive if what is going on presently, where a bunch of despots grab the the resources of the country for themselves / put the resources under their control, continues indefinitely.

The damned cursed baba siao knows it but he is not willing to give up his greed and dishonorable character, even with a zombie wife, a cancer afflicted in the anus son, a mongoloid granson.... and go for the short term "solution" which is to flood the country with foreigners.

will4 SG

This is the second survey done on locals wanting to migrate n there is another survey n also shown similar results on local wanting to migrate.

udontknowme SG

to those who keep on criticizing the way Singapore is currently being 'run', tell me then what YOUR 'solution' is to 'fixing' Singapore.
IF you were given the opportunity to run the country, how then will you do it.

Stevenson101 SG

Ancient civilizations have prospered and grow under "despotic" reign far longer than any democractic ones thus far.

AndrewPKYap SG

..................................................................................

AndrewPKYap SG

Ancient civilizations have prospered and grow under "despotic" reign far longer than any democractic ones thus far.

In "Ancient " history, Democracy was not in the vocabulary yet and that is the reason for what you claim. If it is that good, then the system would not have died out and be replaced by Democracy!!!

Democracy can only work well when you have honorable people in power, though, but checks and balances can if not eliminate, then mitigate the effects when dishonorable people come into power.

The baba siao, cursed despot, removed that checks and balances while Silliporeans looked on.

angel7030 SG

It had been known since history that cursing and cursing dun wins anything, instead it will deepen one mental health. Take care lah Uncle, dun keep cursing, no good for your health, try to erase your hatre and be contended. Afterall, life is short.

AndrewPKYap SG

Yours are the words of an insane person.....

"After all, I am an Angel of God" 05 Feb `09, 6:04PM

"for God, Angel, on behalf of Gabriel" 16 Apr `09, 10:42AM

The words of an insane ass

angel7030 SG

hving the executive power to rule over singapore is not something that can be fix or layout here, if you want to know, i can arrange a 3 days seminar at a luxury outshirt studio room to give you a better understand.

The main speaker will be my Uncle Dr. AndrewPKyap. Followed by his perm sec Mr. Ah Chia. Ended with a Dialogue session with some prominent peoples.

In case you are interested, the venue will be somewhere near Buangkok, admission is Free

AndrewPKYap SG

By the way, are you checking your breast everyday? The curses on evil doers get rub off on their dogs. But then again, because you are insane, maybe not. Insane people cannot be held accountable, they are just pitiful.