tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081742307252789733.post6690451360736810899..comments2024-02-14T04:53:18.295-08:00Comments on Singapore Dissident: Singapore's draft dodgers, adding to it's brain drain.Gopalan Nairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15399145588654603667noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081742307252789733.post-2785726367756511532013-01-23T17:11:46.842-08:002013-01-23T17:11:46.842-08:00I think you are missing the point here. The migrat...I think you are missing the point here. The migration out is a pressure release valve to enable people who are dissatisfied with the status quo to leave but not to return. The same thing is done in Palestine by the way. Yes the brain drain is ultimately bad for the economy. Yes they are trying to compensate by attracting FTs. But the government simply does not celebrate an ex-Singaporean say the way Korea does. The mentality is ok so we lose another talented Singaporean will just make a new one by taking on a new immigrant. After all, we were all descended from immigrants.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081742307252789733.post-50542328591503259422008-03-11T20:48:00.000-07:002008-03-11T20:48:00.000-07:00"...he began to passionately appeal to their consc..."...he began to passionately appeal to their consciences, reminding them that it was Singapore that educated them; enabling them to immigrate to Australia." <BR/>Did somebody missed something? How can LKY have the bloody cheek to tell ex-Sporeans that Spore educated them when the truth is the Spore govt had denied them all possibilities of a local tertiary education. For many years, the Spore govt have been lavishing scholarships to 1st, Malaysians & now, PRCians (Chinamen) & Indians (from India) instead of giving it to local Sporeans. All of us local Sporeans, myself included had to go overseas - Australia, NZ, UK, US & Canada for our tertiary education at our OWN COST mainly with help from our parents. During the course of working, I've came across many Msian PRs in Spore whom admitted they studied in NUS/NTU with full scholarships & living expenses provided by govt. Academically, they are not better than local overseas-university graduates - in fact, their English proficiency and basic knowledge are worse. The only reason I can think of is that they were politically pliable (..easily influenced, persuaded, or swayed; tractable.), economically dependent on govt's whims (scholarship bond) & control (PR terms)and having little alternatives - thus providing a buffer to the PAP-govt against the local Sporeans. The joke is that this discrimatory education policy of giving scholarships to foreigners backfired badly on the govt when Msian PRs after working many years in Spore either opted to go back to Msia (where they could live comfortably - in a big house with a luxury car given the currency disparity - M$ vs S$) or migrate to Australia or NZ where their Spore educational qualification & work experience gave them higher points in their migration application. Very few Msian PRs converted to Spore citizens. A long standing dispute between Msian & Spore govts was the continued retention of Msians' CPF monies who have left Spore for good. <BR/>Now, the policy has switched to PRC & India students as the supply of good Msian students have dried up as there are now many good private colleges in Msia which have twining relationship with overseas universities. Because of the NEP education racial quota policy, Msia actually developed an excellent network of private colleges where non-Bumis can study for their degrees which are granted by renowed overseas universities. The really good students are cherry picked by the foreign universities and are given full scholarships without strings attached unlike Spore ones which include a 6-yr working bond. In fact, their International Baccalaureate (IB) Colleges are so good yet affordable that many middle class Sporeans send their children to KL to have an education out of the pressurized Spore system and for gaining direct access to US universities. Unlike the recent fuss about the failed UNSW-EDB project in Spore, Msia has quietly gone on to develop a higher educational hub without govt assistance - mainly between local private enterprise groups & overseas education providers.<BR/>The current system prevails in Spore because no one know any better & no one can offer their input. LKY is a micro-manager & he cannot see outside of his own box where global trends are forming to make his own pitiful vision redundant.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081742307252789733.post-58580675541277512512008-03-11T00:02:00.000-07:002008-03-11T00:02:00.000-07:00The Old Man has basically destroyed Spore with his...The Old Man has basically destroyed Spore with his silly policies & rigid laws & regulations to inhibit public dissidence. Spore is his own personal fiefdom to which he has enriched his own family & friends. No one with a basic intelligence would want to be in a society where the FamiLee inner circle gets all the rewards and privileges while the outer have to scrap for their throw-aways. Eg. Ministers' children are often beneficiaries of prestigious govt scholarships while the average joe's kids have to go to ITE/Poly. Even in National Service, the inner circle children entering NS were earmarked as White Horses. What does that mean? I wouldn't know but such a practice clearly shows a 2-tier society.<BR/>Anyway, Spore's education is over-rated for what it's worth. The educational system is only good up to Secondary level as it teaches discipline & basic academic skills. However, the thought process & creativity is lacking - this hinder the next step towards tertiary education. Bilingualism hurts our language & literacy skills as you cannot be master of both languages. In fact, the sharp focus on Chinese language has reduced Spore's English speaking proficiency that Sporeans when they speak english - they can barely make themselves understood by foreigners. Written communication skills are equally poor - I came across an university graduate who couldn't even compose a simple letter properly.<BR/>Spore education is extremely narrow in focus - the arts, music & creative elements are given low priority whereas engineering, medicine, law and business administration are highly valued. The incredible irony is that with the digital internet age - creativity is everything to this new industry. Cybergaming/MMORPG, Youtube, Myspace, Facebook, Blogging - these are avenues with which to create new values & growth economies. The backhand to these new trends is that liberal values, tolerance & a permissive open attitude are necessary - Do anyone see Spore heading towards that direction? ABSOLUTELY NO!<BR/>Spore is still grounded with censorship, intolerance & just poor micro-management control. Even Old Man's grandchildren could see that the grass is definitely greener on the other side. Old Man's insistence on micro-managing the economy has caused Spore to miss out on many opportunities. High tech industries as Semi-conductors, Bio-technology & Pharmaceuticals - Spore has got no foothold in these industries. They are here because of tax breaks and govt incentive, cheap land, etc. In another few years, they would migrate to elsewhere.<BR/>Old Man's own vision of his economy is akin to a Slave-driven economy. Eg. Bus companies now have to recruit PRC drivers as local/Msians find it unattractive due to low pay, poor irregular working hours, etc. While the Public Transport Bus companies are making huge profits, they can't pay their bus drivers a decent wage. Of course, it is no coincidence that the govt owns these companies & receive huge dividends in order to pay their Ministers their huge salaries. At the end, Spore is just a slave economy working for the benefit of just a few.<BR/>No wonder many people are packing their bags & leaving Spore for good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081742307252789733.post-66514905037495263892008-03-10T12:42:00.000-07:002008-03-10T12:42:00.000-07:00I just discovered your blog a few days ago and I m...I just discovered your blog a few days ago and I must admire you for being brave enough to stand up and speak the truth to power.<BR/><BR/>I am in the same situation here. My son will be eligible for NS in a few years time although he has spent 90% of his life living in the US. I am awaiting my green card, and will be applying for US citizenship soon after that. But the problem still remains. Even if my son is a US citizen he will still be liable for NS and can be incarcerated in Singapore if he were to return and not fulfill his obligation...<BR/><BR/>One other thing, you mentioned, "he began to passionately appeal to their consciences, reminding them that it was Singapore that educated them; enabling them to immigrate to Australia."<BR/><BR/>I seriously doubt it. Or has the old man gone soft in his advancing years? I believe he would have chided and scolded these students, berating them as spoiled ingrates etc. etc. Maybe the reporter used the word "passionate" to gloss over this. You know what moral cowards our reporters are.<BR/><BR/>As Voltaire might have said, I don't agree completely with what your views (although actually I do), but I defend to the death your right to say it.<BR/><BR/>Please keep speaking up!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18235524176183300289noreply@blogger.com