Adam Khoo: The expats will rule Singapore
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Honestly, Singapore is an economic haven, ie, a good place for making money. So we need both foreigners n locals to co-exist to thrive in the environment.
The main difference is our goals are different, foreigners are figuring out how to ensure Singapore is a good landing ground whereas the locals are thinking how to break out into the global world. So if the goals are different, the outcome will be different. Our children may not top that one single position in the education chart but I have seen quite a number of all rounders among the local kids, with good academic n other talents. Also those who top, do they stay top from primary to JC??? No, no one has ever achieved that so far. So??? -
Parent1:
Do you actually know any PRs ?tamarind:
I think the kids of PRs can continue to study in Singapore from primary school up to universities and still remain as PRs. This is what I know from my ex-colleagues who are Malaysians.
How many parents would leave their kids with baby sitters, daycare centre, or expensive boarding schools in Singapore & go back to Malaysia to \"live like a King\" ?
Would you?
I mean they will go back when they retire, not when their kids are still young. Note that most people will retire at 60 and live until 80 to 90 years old, so that is a very long time.
Most PRs will work in Singapore until they saved up enough to retire comfortably back in their home countries. By then, their kids would have completed university in Singapore, and will continue to work in Singapore as PRs. The old PRs bring all the money back to Malaysia, China, etc and live like kings, while their children PRs stay in Singapore and repeat the same cycle.
The only problem I have with PRs, is that when times are bad, do you think that they will stay back and help rebuild Singapore ?
For example, if a major earthquake or tsunami hit Singapore and wipe out the major infrastructure, do you think that PRs will stay in Singapore instead of going to another country that can offer them a high paying job ?
Or if there is a war. How many PRs do you think will pledge their loyalty to Singapore ?
My son will be going to National Service. I have nothing against NS. In fact, I will send my daughter to NS if the government asks me to. I am only worried that there are not enough loyal Singaporeans to fight together with them.
Please do not expect Singapore to always enjoy the good times. -
Cheval:
I really hope that there are more PRs like you. The government is not releasing any official figures, but I think the % of PRs becoming citizens is very small.I was China PR becoming citizen.
My next door neighbour, a mommy from mainland China, said that it costs only RMB300(SGD60) to employ a full time nanny in China to take care of her child. So she sent her baby back to China to live with the grandparents, while the mommy stays in Singapore to work. The cost of living in China is still very low compared to Singapore. -
tamarind:
Do you actually know any PRs ?Parent1:
[quote=\"tamarind\"]I think the kids of PRs can continue to study in Singapore from primary school up to universities and still remain as PRs. This is what I know from my ex-colleagues who are Malaysians.
How many parents would leave their kids with baby sitters, daycare centre, or expensive boarding schools in Singapore & go back to Malaysia to \"live like a King\" ?
Would you?
I mean they will go back when they retire, not when their kids are still young. Note that most people will retire at 60 and live until 80 to 90 years old, so that is a very long time.
Most PRs will work in Singapore until they saved up enough to retire comfortably back in their home countries. By then, their kids would have completed university in Singapore, and will continue to work in Singapore as PRs. The old PRs bring all the money back to Malaysia, China, etc and live like kings, while their children PRs stay in Singapore and repeat the same cycle.
The only problem I have with PRs, is that when times are bad, do you think that they will stay back and help rebuild Singapore ?
For example, if a major earthquake or tsunami hit Singapore and wipe out the major infrastructure, do you think that PRs will stay in Singapore instead of going to another country that can offer them a high paying job ?
Or if there is a war. How many PRs do you think will pledge their loyalty to Singapore ?
My son will be going to National Service. I have nothing against NS. In fact, I will send my daughter to NS if the government asks me to. I am only worried that there are not enough loyal Singaporeans to fight together with them.
Please do not expect Singapore to always enjoy the good times.[/quote]Would you prefer the foreigners to come here on employment pass (EPs)to fill the jobs that we don't want, \"don't qualify\" or don't have enough citizens to fill, and go home after completing their job contracts?
The EPs & the SPass holders will come & go like our domestic maids, labourers, etc. Would they become loyal citizens & keep their savings here? In the mean time, some of them live like kings and their kids go to intenational schools, with little interaction with the locals.
At least, PRs tend to stay on, give back to the economy & society. They send their kids to local schools. Many PRs end up marrying Singaporeans & sink their roots here. PR sons must serve NS in order to stay on. PR kids must work in Singapore for at least 3 years after going to local Polys & Universities. -
Staying in Singapore to work does not mean "giving back to society". They are milking the benefits from our economy, earning high pay so that they can bring back the money to their own country and retire comfortably.
I know many PRs studying in local universities and polytechnics. I think it is possible for the sons of PRs to continue to study here without serving NS. For Malaysians it is very easy, they just have to stay in JB and commute here everyday to attend school. Highly paid PRs will probably send their kids to universities in Australia, USA, or UK after they completed A levels in Singapore.
I have no problem with PRs taking whatever job.As I wrote before, I am only worried that in times of war or disaster, who will be left behind to rebuild Singapore ? Looks like most Singaporeans think that our good times will last forever. Is there anyone else who worries about bad times in the future ? -
tamarind:
Staying in Singapore to work does not mean \"giving back to society\". They are milking the benefits from our economy, earning high pay so that they can bring back the money to their own country and retire comfortably.
Cheval:
I guess Singaporeans should have more open attitude toward PRs. Some come and stay but some others leave. THere's nothing unusual with it. With foreigners, at least for one thing: they bring different ways of thinking. This is an asset not a fault.
As to 'benefits', what benefits are you talking about? They make a living with their skills and pay everything from their pocket. -
tamarind:
I know many PRs studying in local universities and polytechnics. I think it is possible for the sons of PRs to continue to study here without serving NS.
Please check your facts.tamarind:
Ask the Singaporeans who left for greener pastures.I have no problem with PRs taking whatever job.As I wrote before, I am only worried that in times of war or disaster, who will be left behind to rebuild Singapore ? Looks like most Singaporeans think that our good times will last forever. Is there anyone else who worries about bad times in the future ?
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tamarind:
* Overall, the % of PRs becoming citizens is very small, as you said. The reason is that the government exercises a strict control. But for people with high qualification, to take up citizenship is easy because this is encouraged. As a result, roughly among people I know, mostly working in A*STAT research institutes and NUS/NTU, 60-70% of PRs from PRC become citizens finally (after 6+ years of stay). Some left; some others prefer staying PR, thinking one day to return to China.
I really hope that there are more PRs like you. The government is not releasing any official figures, but I think the % of PRs becoming citizens is very small.Cheval:
I was China PR becoming citizen.
My next door neighbour, a mommy from mainland China, said that it costs only RMB300(SGD60) to employ a full time nanny in China to take care of her child. So she sent her baby back to China to live with the grandparents, while the mommy stays in Singapore to work. The cost of living in China is still very low compared to Singapore.
* China is too big and its economic development is heterogeneous. It does not make any sense to raise a figure to represent China. Shanghai, for example, is almost as expensive as Singapore, if not more. In my home town in Northeast China, 1000 yuans/month is considered a good salary. But in Shanghai, with 10000 yuans/month you can hardly make any saving. -
Parent1:
Here are the facts. My uncle is a PR. He did not want his son to become a Singapore citizen, because he did not want him to go NS. The son retained his Malaysian citizenship. He continued to study in local university, paying foreigner's tuition fees. After he found a job, he was offered permanent residence.tamarind:
I know many PRs studying in local universities and polytechnics. I think it is possible for the sons of PRs to continue to study here without serving NS.
Please check your facts.
Here are the facts :
http://ica.gov.sg/page.aspx?pageid=151&secid=150
Under the Enlistment Act, all male Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents are liable to register for National Service (NS) upon reaching 16Ā½ years old. They are required to serve 2 years of full-time NS at 18 years old, followed by 40 days of Operationally Ready National Service per year till the age of 50 years (for officers) or 40 years (for other ranks).
Main applicants who are granted PR status under the first generation Professionals/Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers (PTS) Scheme and the Investor Scheme are exempted from NS. Male children who are granted PR status under their parents' sponsorship are liable for NS under the Enlistment Act.
When my uncle's son found a job, he was granted PR status under the first generation Professionals/Technical Personnel Scheme. That exempts him from NS.
Have you checked your facts ? What is the source of your facts ?
[quote]tamarind:
Ask the Singaporeans who left for greener pastures.[/quote]What is the point of asking those who left ? It makes better sense to ask those who are still here. So is anyone worried ?I have no problem with PRs taking whatever job.As I wrote before, I am only worried that in times of war or disaster, who will be left behind to rebuild Singapore ? Looks like most Singaporeans think that our good times will last forever. Is there anyone else who worries about bad times in the future ?
Parent1:
\"Giving back to society\" means giving money to charity or doing volunteer work. It is the wrong term to use. I have written a few times that I have nothing against PRs earning money here. The issue is concerning their loyalty in times of war or disaster.tamarind:
Staying in Singapore to work does not mean \"giving back to society\". They are milking the benefits from our economy, earning high pay so that they can bring back the money to their own country and retire comfortably.
Cheval:
I guess Singaporeans should have more open attitude toward PRs. Some come and stay but some others leave. THere's nothing unusual with it. With foreigners, at least for one thing: they bring different ways of thinking. This is an asset not a fault.
As to 'benefits', what benefits are you talking about? They make a living with their skills and pay everything from their pocket. -
Cheval:
* Overall, the % of PRs becoming citizens is very small, as you said. The reason is that the government exercises a strict control. But for people with high qualification, to take up citizenship is easy because this is encouraged. As a result, roughly among people I know, mostly working in A*STAT research institutes and NUS/NTU, 60-70% of PRs from PRC become citizens finally (after 6+ years of stay). Some left; some others prefer staying PR, thinking one day to return to China.
I really hope that there are more PRs like you. The government is not releasing any official figures, but I think the % of PRs becoming citizens is very small.tamarind:
[quote=\"Cheval\"]I was China PR becoming citizen.
My next door neighbour, a mommy from mainland China, said that it costs only RMB300(SGD60) to employ a full time nanny in China to take care of her child. So she sent her baby back to China to live with the grandparents, while the mommy stays in Singapore to work. The cost of living in China is still very low compared to Singapore.
* China is too big and its economic development is heterogeneous. It does not make any sense to raise a figure to represent China. Shanghai, for example, is almost as expensive as Singapore, if not more. In my home town in Northeast China, 1000 yuans/month is considered a good salary. But in Shanghai, with 10000 yuans/month you can hardly make any saving.[/quote]
Perhaps people in Shanghai will go and live in the countryside after they retire ?
My hubby said that his colleague will return to China in the future, because she is afraid that medical fees will be too high in Singapore when she is old.
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