February 7, 2010 - Temasek Review
By Lawrence Pek
As I am writing this article on my way from Shen Zhen (where I
am based now) to Shanghai, my heart is heavy. Too much has
transpired in the last 18 to 24 months. Almost every conversation
that I have with my family, my friends is about where this country
is going and how things have changed. Besides the usual rant on
immigration policies, what troubles me is not how and why the PAP
has formulated these slew of policies with considerations but
without deliberations with their electorate. Rather what we can do
about it with these “given conditions”.
My thoughts turn to what we can do about the current scenarios.
In the short run, we are faced with pro-foreigner policies and in
the long run, how we can change ourselves, to be better to be more
value added. My thoughts are about what we can do ourselves, take
actions ourselves rather than wait for more policies, rather than
continuing to believe that we will be taken care of.
If you are 25 to 40
I would like to take this opportunity to propose a radical idea
– If you are between 25 and 45 (male or female), just leave
Singapore and make your careers, your money and livelihood outside
of Singapore. Yes, if an opportunity exists, just take it and leave
– if there is a biz opportunity and it makes sense to you, just
seize the day and take the plunge. If your employer offers an
opportunity to work overseas, just go (may it be in Dubai,
Shanghai, London or Chicago), may it be a Local or Expat
package.
My reasoning is simple – with the current economic climate
(internally and externally) – I will make the following assumption
– My value, your value, our value is higher overseas than staying
back in Singapore. With the huge influx of cheap and cheerful labor
force, we need to consider where and how to maximize our value.
Given Singapore’s limitations of size and natural resources, given
that local jobs are getting cheaper and cheaper (hence so many
cheap and cheerful foreigners), staying back and sighing over a cup
of tea-c is hardly productive, for yourself, your family or for
your country.
For the Local Born and Bred Students
If your sons and daughters are entering or finishing college,
please do consider to send them overseas to further their
education. Having lived in China for so many years, I am clear that
besides the language barrier, the local Chinese lacks the single
most important element – Exposure. You cannot read this in any
tertiary institution, you cannot buy this off the shelves; you need
to be mentally and emotionally be ready to invest in your
children’s future. They will learn to interact, to speak a
different language; they will see the world and hence react
differently.
I never liked the local tertiary institutions for 2 reasons.
Firstly, their curriculum does not foster cutting edge technology
R&D nor Creative Arts and Design talents. 2ndly, upon
graduation, these graduates will be herded “factory like” into the
Singapore local workforce and be instilled with local paradigms and
culture. The funny reference to “kiasu and kiasi” – these may be
funny reference to local mentalities, but it is not funny after a
while, if you need to compete globally.
Yes, I am sensitive to several issues that my idea will
encounter, working parents will need to bear with temporary
separations, and the all important family unit will be temporarily
disrupted. Spouses will pine for each other and parent will miss
their children. Even though there will be tears and pain but there
will also be joyous reunions every holidays and family visits.
However, please consider the long term value add to our people
and our country (above and beyond the ruling PAP). We will have
seen, experienced and become more exposed to the world beyond
Changi Airport. With our opened eyes, we will know what is right
and wrong, what should and what should not be.
My vision is to see locals returning to Singapore not just with
value added global exposure, which will propel our economy forward.
Furthermore, they will be more willing, able and capable to take
their destinies into their own hands. To decide what the issues
are, what the policies should be, who they want to see as
administrators for their neighborhoods, their districts and their
country.
My conclusion is a simple summary, if you can go, please go. If
your kids want to go, let them, There will be risks, there will be
pain and tears. However, by doing this, we evolve and we will
better take charge of ourselves, we will be better equipped to
vision and administer ourselves.
The Winds of Change are Blowing….Singapore for Singaporeans!
Other articles by Lawrence Pek:
>> A deeper understanding
of the “Foreign Talent” issue
>> Where is my country
going
>> Strategies for the
next election 2010/11