More civil servants to be groomed for China-related work

QX179R SG

SINGAPORE: The Public Service Division in the Prime Minister's Office is introducing a one-year Overseas Development Programme for China to groom public servants for China-related work.

This was announced at the Public Service Commission (PSC) scholarships award ceremony on Saturday.

Fresh graduates or mid-career professionals can apply for the programme where they will get to spend up to nine months working in a Singapore company or government agency located in China. When they finish their stint, they will be doing China-related work in the Civil Service in Singapore.

This year, 87 PSC scholars were selected from over 2,500 applicants. And a record number will be going to China for their undergraduate studies.

The PSC has been sending scholars to China since 1993 but the numbers have been small in the past.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, speaking at the award ceremony, said: "We need to send more students to study in China because it has become a major player in Asia and in the world.

"Its influence has grown and will continue to grow. Its relevance to us is increasing.

"And we need people who can understand the Chinese, interact with them, be comfortable in that milieu, be able to read how they think, how they act, what their preoccupations are, and to know some of them personally so there are personal ties to link you up."

Ten students were awarded the inaugural PSC China Scholarship, seven are from the Bicultural Studies Programme and one from the Chinese Language Elective Programme.

Lau Yuan Zhi, a recipient of the PSC China Scholarship who is headed to Peking University, said: "China and Singapore currently already have very strong bilateral ties. Through more of us going over there, we hope that when we come back, we can serve the government, serve the people, to strengthen such ties."

This year, two undergraduates were also awarded the PSC Mid-Term Scholarship, the purpose of which is to widen the points of entry into the public service. Since its inception in 2007, six such scholarships have been given out.

Faiz Mohd Irwan Law was one of the PSC Mid-Term Scholarship recipients this year. The Honours-year student at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) said: "When I finished my 'A' Level, I haven't decided what I wanted to do as a career. It was only after my experiences in NS (National Service) and a few years of my university that I realised that I have a passion to serve the people."

For the future, Mr Lee said the PSC will have to work harder to bring in good people, as more scholarships become available and more parents have the resources to send their children abroad.

Meanwhile, those interested in the Overseas Development Programme for China can attend an information session on 15 August. More information is available at this website: www.psd.gov.sg/odp

- CNA/ir

sbst275 SG

Sometimes I find myself wondering.

Back when PRC was really very poor, Nanyang Uni was made to close down for fear of communist influence.

Now they're so called rich, suddenly you wanna make ppl to learn Chinese when lots of parents are alrdy influenced by old days policy.

Anyway, the issue of guanxi, you sure tat it's really a good way of communication? I point to them, the recent Rio's case. A failed accquisation by cardboard can lead to retailation by cardboard

Ah Chia SG

Back when PRC was really very poor, Nanyang Uni was made to close down for fear of communist influence.

I think that was due more to suppress opposition to PAP regime, nothing to do with PRC.

sbst275 SG

I think that was due more to suppress opposition to PAP regime, nothing to do with PRC.

it was coincidental, the main founder of Nanyang Uni Mr Tan Lark Sye was also a leftist siding w/ e BS

I remembered hearing his citizenship kena revoked, tat's why today only Dr Lien was honoured w/ a road named after him in NTU's campus and not Mr Tan Lark Sye.

Ah Chia SG

it was coincidental

What thing coincidental?

sbst275 SG

What thing coincidental?

actually there's too much politics behind e closure

Ah Chia SG

actually there's too much politics behind e closure

The chinese culture all destroyed by Lee Kuan Yew.

He is very insecure because he is not chinese, so keep on suppress chinese schools, dialects.

sbst275 SG

The chinese culture all destroyed by Lee Kuan Yew.

He is very insecure because he is not chinese, so keep on suppress chinese schools, dialects.

Tat's one side.. In fact initially NTI was not even proposed

Also because of the English policy, a generation of kids were grown w/o much Mother Tongue - leading to a bigger problem for kids today as those kids then become parents, thinking MT not impt.

Afterall, Mother Tongue is our roots

Ah Chia SG

leading to a bigger problem for kids today as those kids then become parents, thinking MT not impt.

That is due to the policies of Lee Kuan Yew.

He is banana, so people turn to banana he doesn't mind.

He is a bastard.

sbst275 SG

dun forget "Stop at 2"

Now ask ppl to have more

Ah Chia SG

Also casino.

Arapahoe SG

The chinese culture all destroyed by Lee Kuan Yew.

He is very insecure because he is not chinese, so keep on suppress chinese schools, dialects.

sorry to inform you the chinese culture destroy by communist themselved. Individual do not kill cultures of 5000 yrs old. ideologies does.

Arapahoe SG

only concern i have....... are we learning the right stuff from China? they are opening up and developing so fast that they don't even know what they are doing at times.....