Adam Khoo: The expats will rule Singapore

[tankee]

Thanks CMF

[skunk]

Parent1:

As a Singaporean, I am not complaining. I think that in a meritocratic
society like Singapore , it is only fair that the very best get rewarded,
no matter their race, religion or nationality. Like Lee Kwan Yew said, I
rather have these talented and driven people be on our team contributing to
our nation than against us from their home country.

Another load of meritocratic crap. Meritocracy is not everything, which unfortunately, our country has come to worship.

Why not sack your own parents and get someone better qualified to be your parents? There are always better people out there mah LOL

I rather have moderately adequate true-blue Singaporeans running our own Motherland, than highly capable foreigners ruling our own homes. The guest, no matter how highly qualified, remains a guest, and can only sleep in the guest room, not beside my wife.

[winth]

Whatever Adam Khoo is saying, though it doesn’t sound very palatable, this trend is true.


It’s sad to know but this is really happening.

[MMM]

Thanks. The article is really interesting and it does provide some insights.


On the other hand, I was just thinking about the camps that Adam conducted. Does that mean that we should waste $ sending our kids for such program :? Instead we should create an environment that make them hunger for success.

A local context would probably means a low income family that you've to worry about the next meal on the table. So kids treasure the fact that they can continue to go to school iso being pull out because parents cannot afford to do so. It reminds me of my father who has 11 siblings. He had to stop Sec 2 at Dunman High because the family cannot afford to let him continue and he must give up so that the younger sibling can study....

[Parent1]

People tend to discover a sense of purpose & direction in life when they are uprooted form their comfort zone. They also need to work harder & smarter than the locals in order to survive. No more hotel papamama, laundry, meals & pick-up on demand.


Look at our ancestors who migrated to SE Asia from China & India. Many of them started as hard labour. Look at the Singaporeans who venture overseas. Many were average students or school dropouts in Singapore. But many of them have found the hunger & passion to make the best of a second chance.

So, may be this is one solution. Young Singaporeans, go abroad, get a sense of insecurity as a foreigner and rebuild your life.

[skunk]

Ridiculously narrow-minded view. Singapore has a dearth of talent by virtue of our small population size.


What makes him think that China, India or any other "powerhouse", don’t face their own problems with over-pampered kids who lack hunger? The need for talented individuals is a global phenomena, if he thinks that that will lead to Singapore being "taken over" by foreigners, that’s a surprisingly shallow view.

[vlim]

Parent1:

People tend to discover a sense of purpose & direction in life when they are uprooted form their comfort zone. They also need to work harder & smarter than the locals in order to survive. No more hotel papamama, laundry, meals & pick-up on demand.


Look at our ancestors who migrated to SE Asia from China & India. Many of them started as hard labour. Look at the Singaporeans who venture overseas. Many were average students or school dropouts in Singapore. But many of them have found the hunger & passion to make the best of a second chance.

So, may be this is one solution. Young Singaporeans, go abroad, get a sense of insecurity as a foreigner and rebuild your life.

ai piah jia e yiah - (want to win must work hard)....

[winth]

Parent1:

People tend to discover a sense of purpose & direction in life when they are uprooted form their comfort zone. They also need to work harder & smarter than the locals in order to survive. No more hotel papamama, laundry, meals & pick-up on demand.


Look at our ancestors who migrated to SE Asia from China & India. Many of them started as hard labour. Look at the Singaporeans who venture overseas. Many were average students or school dropouts in Singapore. But many of them have found the hunger & passion to make the best of a second chance.

So, may be this is one solution. Young Singaporeans, go abroad, get a sense of insecurity as a foreigner and rebuild your life.

Kinda agree to this view. It is with this lack of home-ground comfort and the need to build independence whilst in a foreign country. Foreigners here who really venture outside their home country are the independent ones and they are highly adaptable to our environment.

[tankee]

while it is true that the top PSLE student is a China Chinese, and that perhaps there are other China Chinese that had done well in last year PSLE, let’s not discredit ourselves and ignore the fact that


- there are SINGAPOREAN among the top PSLE students, and
- there are other China Chinese students that did not excel.


However, I do agree that I have met many China Chinese that are more "hunger" for success or better life; than our average Singaporean. But I disagree that India Indians being so.

[MMM]

The other observation I had was on the culture and educational system that probably explains why foreigners are more outspoken.


I recalled when I was working in another co. 7-8 yrs ago we were attending this young talent program that consists of people from the region. There were alot of Chinese at that point. The HR director made a remark to the Sporean group that we Sporean needs to speak up otherwise our foreign counterparts will take over us.

I personally feel that our educational system has a part to play. I recall that when in school, we are discourage from speaking/ making noise as teachers favored the quiet ones who gave less problems. Probably due to such environment, Singaporeans feel that unless they have anything value added to say otherwise they should just keep quiet. To us, it’s like empty vessels make the most noise. In addition, I recall parents educating us not to interrupt when adults/ others are talking. Try to apply it to a corporate setting. You will end up being the quiet one because you are too polite to interrupt.

In meetings with people from other nationalities that was mentioned, yes these people are more outspoken but sometimes, I feel that they say something for the sake of saying. Eg. asking questions that are so common sense? Maybe it ties back to their culture or competitive level in their countries too? In such a big country with so many people, you need to win so many people to be at that level. This is different from Singapore where we only have 4MM people.