Becase of our past academic education and economic policies and
the emphasis on attracting MNCs and foreign investments, we have
produced many problems and have lost out in the real world of
economic competitions.
We are now seeing many educated unemployed who cannot find jobs
despite their higher education. These people are not trained enough
to get new ideas or projects started to lead in starting new
business.
In addition, our local businesses have been neglected and yet our
leaders are seen giving more and more excuses why we cannot do well
because of lack of resources or higher wages of the workers which
are of course pure bull. They are also postponing solutions when
they are only asking workers to retrain and our businesses to go
overseas.
It is time to change such academic or generalist assumptions that
by getting more people to be educated or attracting foreign
investments, we will create jobs.
EDB must set new directions and do things in totally different ways
to support businesses and creating new technology start-ups.
Getting more and more scholars is not enough. Talking and talking
about generalities like leadership, talents and doing a bit here
and a bit there will only make them look good to the citizens
without creating jobs.
Real leadership in this age is equal to ability to create new
viable businesses and new jobs. New telecommunication systems,
drugs, robotics, energy, transportation, mobile handphones and
softwares for all sorts of purposes. There will be certain new
products and services that need new injections of finance, finding
of proising entrepreneurs and practioners to start new production
capabilities. These are practical things that must be done as part
of government in order to lead to new technology start-ups.
EDB should not keep talking about their glories or past success or
just about attempts to attract investments alone but be proactive
in grooming new generations of knowledge applicators and get them
to identify new areas of technology to go in and build on them to
sustain employments.
Look at our SMEs very few of them are thinking of going into
value-add new technologies as mentioned. They are just doing the
same thing while other Asian Tigers are flying high in new areas of
technology.
Be proactive and humble to recognise shortcomings and quickly make
new moves to go for putting passionate people to start up new areas
of growth. If they want new jobs and higher standards of living
then this is their challenge. Do not give excuses or keep talking
about difficulties in this or that. Just do it !!! Find more
action-oriented people like Dr. Goh Keng Swee to do it.