would one leave for the sake of leaving?
the situation with netting more pr is forced. the
govenment do not have a choice. it is a matter of survival if
inflows do not match the outflow to sustain its economic
relevance.
in any given situation, i don't think any singaporean will leave
if they have a choice or take to their leaving lightly.
things aren't necessary better on the other as we all
know. the `push' factor has got to be pretty potent.
Nobody would say they leave for the sake of leaving. I've heard
people migrating because they don't want their children to be
subjected to the tough competition in the education system here,
especially learning Chinese. Some parents believe with the
education here, their children can go anywhere in the world after
that.
Migrating today is much easier than it was before, from
the point of preparation, not in terms of acceptance by the
host countries. Last time many people migrated to the UK or
Australia only after 1 visit. Today people can do all kinds of
preparations before they go. I would say earlier migrants were
taking much greater risk than we do today.
In the past, people migrated with no plan to return. Today
people leave their CPF money behind, leave their HDB flat or other
properties behind, just in case.
Singapore is never a place to be migrated to, because it is
small and vulnerable. This factor alone is making many people think
hard if they should convert their PR to citizenship. The question
is how far Singapore can continue to go. Political stability, its
ability to survive among the neighboring countries (don't tell me
this is PAP propaganda), just a few questions. In Australia, if the
local whites and the lebonese riot on the streets in the
gold coast, you go to Sydney, and when the bush fire come, you move
to Perth. In Singapore, a major incident in Geylang, we go on the
boat if the situation is not contained. Don't tell me this is PAP
propaganda.
But what me and my family experienced so far is that my parents
made the right choice. The people (those older ones) of Singapore
were united and determined to build a nation, my parents trusted
them and decided to be part of this nation building.
Leaving is indeed a difficult decision requiring complicated
deliberation, it is not just about LKY.