Tuesday, 19 February 2008
A day at the beach in China...
OMG...when I saw this I was like...errr... just when one needs to relax and get away from it all!
Thursday, 14 February 2008
First world country having 'brain drain problem'
This report from channelnewsasia.comMM Lee says Singapore facing brain drain problem, did it came as a surprise? To Singaporeans, foreigners or even our Ministers?
I'm sure most of us are pretty aware of this danger and had wanted the government to address it indirectly previously in especially these two cases; foreign workers and education.
MM Lee said in this article that 'every year, there are more people going abroad for their first or second degree'.... why is that so?
Why are people opting to go overseas for studies when they can study in Singapore where their friends, family and relatives are? Why would they want to choose to go to a foreign country to start all over again?
The answer is in this article? Or is there other causes?
Why is Singapore only attracting Chinese and Indians? MM Lee said that the draw for the Chinese is that their children can learn both English and Chinese, while the Indians like Singapore because it is close to home....
Yes, the Chinese can learn both English and Chinese in Singapore, but they can do it in Malaysia as well. And the Indians like Singapore because it is close to home???? I don't understand, why does the Indians feel that Singapore is close to home. Was it because there are Indians in Singapore too? If we are talking about distance wise, there are other, better places that are nearer to India than Singapore.
I remembered one particular interview I had conducted with a Chinese who can speak very good English because she had studied in Canada before. I asked her why did she choose Singapore... the answer was... she had tried getting citizenship from Australia, Canada, States, New Zealand and even Malaysia but she could not get any of it. Hence her last resort was to try Singapore and she got it.
MM Lee also pointed out that ... American firms recruited bright Singaporean students straight out of universities... Again why are our people choosing them over Singapore firms? Why are they willing to start afresh in a new, unfamiliar place?
Are Singaporeans threatened by the 'Foreign talents' that the government had been encouraging?
Or they can no longer stay in Singapore because of the way the country is run?
Could it also be the fact that they felt that Singapore is just too stressful to work and stay in with inflation higher than pay increment, etc...
MM Lee had highlighted the 'Pull' factor of this problem but had he ever wondered what the 'Push' factor was??? What is forcing Singaporeans to seek better shelter elsewhere and the need to look for greener pastures.
I think our biggest failure is the inability to make our citizens feel their love for the Nation. Besides our education has to play a part in it, the emphasis by our government and of course the society on material gains has to be blamed.
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
CPF Life
The new thing in town is 'CPF Life'.... have not heard of it?
Here it is:
Govt accepts Longevity Insurance Committee's recommendations
And what exactly are the recommendations?
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/annex/NLIC%20Report%20chapter5.pdf
CPF members to choose Lifelong Income Scheme packages at age 55
Take some time to absorb... which is what I'm doing....
Here it is:
Govt accepts Longevity Insurance Committee's recommendations
And what exactly are the recommendations?
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/annex/NLIC%20Report%20chapter5.pdf
CPF members to choose Lifelong Income Scheme packages at age 55
Take some time to absorb... which is what I'm doing....
Saturday, 9 February 2008
Singaporeans in Istanbul
I spent nearly a month in Istanbul and is now going to write on my experience as a Singaporean roaming around in Istanbul. Yes, I'm back :) I'm curious, just how much do people know about us.
Wherever I went, I was often ask...from Japan, Korea? Or sometimes even China or Malaysia? But never Singapore. I don't think I look like a Chinese from China, Korean or even a Japanese. Well, hmm... maybe a bit of Malaysian because we are so near to each other.
My first instinct was there must be Korean and Japanese tourists flocking to Istanbul every year hence triggering the locals to ask qusetions as such.
Of course, I will deny all and said that I am from Singapore.
And this is when you know just how world-class our government think we are. Locals who knew Singapore, replied politely and some quite curtly.
"Oh, the very fine city, strict government..."
"No, chewing gum right?"
"Very small?"
"Asia?"
"No outdoor smoking..."
"So where is your hometown in Singapore?".... ermm.. Singapore is a country, State and city..so my hometown is Singapore.
Some will give you puzzling stares, I guess that indicates they have no idea what or where is Singapore. However, there were also some that try to look like they know but I kind of sense that they don't. Of course there were some who genuinely knew where Singapore is.
I will never forget this reply... "Oh Singapore, a small country trying to be big but has everything."
There were some positive replies too.... very clean country, very obedient people, shopping paradise...
I was wondering how come the answers were not such as...the one with the busiest port, good governance, great financial centre, etc...Nope, none of these... not what our government had painted or wanted Singapore to be to other countries.
Well, maybe Turkey is too far? But I understand that the Singapore government had got some projects with the local government there. Such as acting as a Consultant to the yet-to-built underground metro that will link the west side of Istanbul to the east.
I also met 2 Singaporeans who were working in Turkey. They were sub-cons of LTA and had been working there for the past 8 months with no idea when their job is going to finish.
Guess what? A group of Singaporeans and that includes me, went 'go karting' in Istanbul and just at the entrance of the karting centre were flags of various countries mounted on the gate. A Singaporean lady, aged 60, had been in Istanbul for the past 17 years, pointed out to us in amazement that there is no Singapore flag.
This is not a surprise if we cannot see other Asian flags too. However, we saw with our eyes very clearly that there were Japan, Korea, Indonesia and even Malaysia flags and no, no Singapore flag. I scanned through the area with my eyes once again when we leave the centre and true enough no Singapore flag. To be frank, I was slightly disappointed.
As I mentioned, Turkey could be too far for them to know or understand us... how about Indonesia then?
I got to know an Indonesian guy who had worked there for 8 months too. We were at the topic of Suharto's death and then of course that brought us into politics. He was aware of who Lee Kuan Yew is, the man who was PM for too long which was very exceptional. His next question was, who is our current PM?...Lee Hsien Loong, LKY's son, I replied.
He was stunned...LKY's son? Oh, ermmmm... can it be done like that?
Oh by the way, his response towards Suharto's death was...yes he has done good for the country but he should be penalised as well for this wrong-doings. It would be good to declare him bankrupt or at least repay the money which he had laundered, its only fair.
And back to the group of Singaporeans whom I had went go karting with. Most of them were ladies who got married to Turkish guys and hence is now staying in Turkey. We talked about Singapore; how early the kids got to wake up to go to school and how late they end their day, before coming to Turkey they had never voted before, missing Singapore food, the stop at 2-child policy was something that everyone cannot forget, and of course who else but LKY :)
During the last week of my visit, we were treated to a fine Turkish restaurant for dinner. The restaurant Manager then asked where we were from and he attempted to find our flag among the numerous flags that they have collected.
Alas! After some time, he brought us the Singapore flag :) Our host then looked at it with interest and started pointing out the similarities that it has with the Turkey flag.
Lastly, I noticed that the job opportunities in Istanbul is wide-spread. There were at least 5 types of public transport available. Small bus, cabs, dolmus, metro, ferry, city bus, etc. In Singapore, only the high-end retail boutiques then one will find a security guard. Right here, most retail outlets have one and that includes all fast-food restaurants.
Well, of course they need to have more job opportunities given the large population it has.
Nevertheless, it was good experience and it made me realised once again that we still have a long way to go.
Wherever I went, I was often ask...from Japan, Korea? Or sometimes even China or Malaysia? But never Singapore. I don't think I look like a Chinese from China, Korean or even a Japanese. Well, hmm... maybe a bit of Malaysian because we are so near to each other.
My first instinct was there must be Korean and Japanese tourists flocking to Istanbul every year hence triggering the locals to ask qusetions as such.
Of course, I will deny all and said that I am from Singapore.
And this is when you know just how world-class our government think we are. Locals who knew Singapore, replied politely and some quite curtly.
"Oh, the very fine city, strict government..."
"No, chewing gum right?"
"Very small?"
"Asia?"
"No outdoor smoking..."
"So where is your hometown in Singapore?".... ermm.. Singapore is a country, State and city..so my hometown is Singapore.
Some will give you puzzling stares, I guess that indicates they have no idea what or where is Singapore. However, there were also some that try to look like they know but I kind of sense that they don't. Of course there were some who genuinely knew where Singapore is.
I will never forget this reply... "Oh Singapore, a small country trying to be big but has everything."
There were some positive replies too.... very clean country, very obedient people, shopping paradise...
I was wondering how come the answers were not such as...the one with the busiest port, good governance, great financial centre, etc...Nope, none of these... not what our government had painted or wanted Singapore to be to other countries.
Well, maybe Turkey is too far? But I understand that the Singapore government had got some projects with the local government there. Such as acting as a Consultant to the yet-to-built underground metro that will link the west side of Istanbul to the east.
I also met 2 Singaporeans who were working in Turkey. They were sub-cons of LTA and had been working there for the past 8 months with no idea when their job is going to finish.
Guess what? A group of Singaporeans and that includes me, went 'go karting' in Istanbul and just at the entrance of the karting centre were flags of various countries mounted on the gate. A Singaporean lady, aged 60, had been in Istanbul for the past 17 years, pointed out to us in amazement that there is no Singapore flag.
This is not a surprise if we cannot see other Asian flags too. However, we saw with our eyes very clearly that there were Japan, Korea, Indonesia and even Malaysia flags and no, no Singapore flag. I scanned through the area with my eyes once again when we leave the centre and true enough no Singapore flag. To be frank, I was slightly disappointed.
As I mentioned, Turkey could be too far for them to know or understand us... how about Indonesia then?
I got to know an Indonesian guy who had worked there for 8 months too. We were at the topic of Suharto's death and then of course that brought us into politics. He was aware of who Lee Kuan Yew is, the man who was PM for too long which was very exceptional. His next question was, who is our current PM?...Lee Hsien Loong, LKY's son, I replied.
He was stunned...LKY's son? Oh, ermmmm... can it be done like that?
Oh by the way, his response towards Suharto's death was...yes he has done good for the country but he should be penalised as well for this wrong-doings. It would be good to declare him bankrupt or at least repay the money which he had laundered, its only fair.
And back to the group of Singaporeans whom I had went go karting with. Most of them were ladies who got married to Turkish guys and hence is now staying in Turkey. We talked about Singapore; how early the kids got to wake up to go to school and how late they end their day, before coming to Turkey they had never voted before, missing Singapore food, the stop at 2-child policy was something that everyone cannot forget, and of course who else but LKY :)
During the last week of my visit, we were treated to a fine Turkish restaurant for dinner. The restaurant Manager then asked where we were from and he attempted to find our flag among the numerous flags that they have collected.
Alas! After some time, he brought us the Singapore flag :) Our host then looked at it with interest and started pointing out the similarities that it has with the Turkey flag.
Lastly, I noticed that the job opportunities in Istanbul is wide-spread. There were at least 5 types of public transport available. Small bus, cabs, dolmus, metro, ferry, city bus, etc. In Singapore, only the high-end retail boutiques then one will find a security guard. Right here, most retail outlets have one and that includes all fast-food restaurants.
Well, of course they need to have more job opportunities given the large population it has.
Nevertheless, it was good experience and it made me realised once again that we still have a long way to go.
Friday, 1 February 2008
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