Adam Khoo: The expats will rule Singapore

[Parent1]

insider:

Adam has many things that he should be proud of himself (his childhood, his failures, successes, etc) and I think it is a good thing that he can share those (though his fees are steep). However, Adam himself should know that his success rate probably is less than 1 to 2% among the children whom he is trying to inspire. So, the decision then lies on the parents as to see whether they want to pay that kind of steep price for that less than 1 to 2% chances of success in seeing their children realizing their inner self and thereby be internally motivated (child wants to achieve coz he/she thinks she wants to do it for herself and not for anybody else nor for any external carrots dangling in front of them…)

I am not here to promote what Adam Khoo is selling. Just to share his article which is quite thought provoking.

In fact, we can pick up many good parenting tips from his website and radio talk show, without sending our kids to his expensive talk/camps. It's probabaly cheaper to get a book on parenting !

[Blobbi]

Cheval:

Blobbi:

My experience is that they send their kids to the international schools.

This is not true. Only few very well paid guys can afford that. I came to Singapore in 1996. At that time, in addition to my salary, I had a housing subsidy just because I have studied in Europe (I feel grateful). My colleagues with a PhD of India and China had less or nothing. But that's all the privilege I had. And along the years, the subsidies decrease. And I have say we are the majority. I don't know how it is with NUS now. In the late 90s, NUS paid foreign lecturers and professors to send their kids to international schools.

Blobbi:

It's only been in recent years, with the clamour for more privileges (ie, places in highly coveted local schools), that PRs became more noticeable.

Sorry, this is not true either. Most PRs send their kids to neighborhood schools because they do not have any links (parents, sisters, brothers etc.). Because of this many of these neighborhood schools have seen their level 'raised'. Last year's PSLE results is a good proof. I know the kids of quite a few friends in the case: getting into RI and Hwa Chong from a neighborhood school, or getting into a 'good' primary school thru GEP.

Blobbi:

That to me, is strange, because they are PRs (ie, despite the name, they're *impermanent* residents), not citizens with vested interests in the country. Like the Little Red Hen says, if they're not willing to help bake the cake, then they're not entitled to eat it.

In general, one cannot expect an adult to change mindset easily. THe same regarding the sentiment toward a country not of their own. That is understandable. But believe me, many PRs do stay, for long, and money is not the only reason. I even know a few working in China or HK but leave their families here. There are good reasons for their choice.

Good night!

I went to bed last night thinking about this. It's certainly within my experience that expats are extremely well paid, but you have a point - perhaps it's not the broader experience. Reading through the posts so far, it seems like many expats come on lesser terms, even lower than that of the local.

Cheval, I see your point. The hard reality is that Singapore with a limited pool of resources needs the talent, and in exchange, we do have to make life at least comfortable for those who contribute in the meanwhile, perhaps make it attractive even, so that they choose to come here versus another more attractive place.

So perhaps there are two needs that have to co-exist - the need of the citizen, and the need to continually attract talent, which in reality, is also ultimately serving the need of the citizen. We all do want a successful and thriving nation.

[corneyAmber]

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???

[tamarind]

Parent1:

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?

Do you actually know any PRs ?

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.

[tamarind]

Cheval:

I was China PR becoming citizen.

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.

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.

[Parent1]

tamarind:

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?

Do you actually know any PRs ?

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.

[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.


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 ?

[Parent1]

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.

[Parent1]

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:

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 ?

Ask the Singaporeans who left for greener pastures.

[Cheval]

tamarind:

Cheval:

I was China PR becoming citizen.

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.

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.

* 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.

* 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.