Singapore for Singaporeans?
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hquek:
why should a child at such young age be told about all these?It is fine to welcome competition. But Im not sure how young my kids should be when I tell them they have to fight and compete. age 7? I rather this happens after pri level when kids are older.
my son, though 8 years old, is unable to tell who is a malay, indian or others because to him, they are just children.......be it his friend or a stranger.
competition wise between anyone is not based on nationalities but on ability and the hunger for it.
just my 3 cents worth...... -
ChiefKiasu:
nationalistic spirit..yes…, and perhaps the term being local or Singaporean could be better defined in this context…
Thanks limlim, I think you are the only one who actually responded to my point so farlimlim:
Why the company themselves never make an effort to encourage Singaporeans to buy their products? They can't blame anyone but themselves.
Why is Make in Singapore product not sold cheaper in Singapore to encourage local consumption while maintaining the high standard of quality of the product sold overseas?
They are just profit oriented companies. And they do not make special privilege for Singaporeans when they sell their products locally. They do not appreciate local consumers, why should local consumer appreciate them?
Did the Govt never support them? I believe, they receive grants or tax concessions for innovations for investments locally. They could have passed the savings to Singaporeans but they didn't (I guess). Why should Govt encourage local consumption? The products should speak for themselves.
It is ridiculous to see so often, that Made-In-Singapore products are actually sold much much cheaper overseas than locally. That some locals have to actually import from US many Made-In-Singapore products! (for e.g. SSDs) as it is so much cheaper even factoring in shipping costs! (as much as 50% or more).
And, also, for flash drives, I heard (can't verify), these items are actually more costly in Singapore than overseas because they have to pay loyalty if sold in Singapore, but not when sold overseas. This is like a tight slap on local consumers by a local company!
These local companies are just trying to squeeze as much as possible from locals, even thou the market is actually not that big.
They treat local consumers like carrots.. chop chop chop chop as much as they can..
If you don't care for local consumers, don't expect local consumers to support you.
In reality, the kind of support provided to local enterprises from our government is far below that given to similar industries by other countries. There was a time when things were being made in the right direction, where money is pumped into long-term research in key sectors like biotech and IT. But we have too little patience, and we expect too much too soon.
You have made a good point regarding pricing issues - most local enterprises play it safe and price above cost to survive short-term, with little emphasis to win the market.
But my point is not really about the lack of government support. What I'm trying to say is that we Singaporeans have to change the way we view ourselves and our own achievements. I remembered how I was almost beaten up by a bunch of South Koreans when I stupidly made a joke about Hyundai cars back in the 80s. Well, the car really sucked then, but you never want to make fun of it to South Koreans who are fiercely proud of anything South Korean.
While I don't agree with their thuggish behavior, I couldn't help but feel admiration for their nationalistic spirit. That is something which I feel is missing in our relationship with Singapore. If an outsider criticises a Singapore-made product, I think we are more apt to agree with that comment than to take issue with it.
So, can we really blame anyone but ourselves if we have to hire foreign talents to do what we think we ourselves cannot do?
Singaporean = (Singaporean PRs + Singapore Citizens)?
OR
Singaporean = > Singapore Citizens only?
So, can we really blame anyone but ourselves if we have to hire foreign talents to do what we think we ourselves cannot do?
That is not the only reasons; ironically, the other reason is actually nationalistic spirit - in many cases, FTs (real or fake, regardless) are hired by Singaporean PRs from the same country of origin, who are department heads or in a hiring manager’s position. -
hquek:
I wanted to support Made-In-Singapore products..One thing chief brought up, S.koreans are very nationalistic. Someone shared with me that Japanese will only shop at their supermarkets - meidiya, Isetan. You won't catch them in NTUC (usually).
It seems that SGeans are quite apologetic. We are made to feel ashamed for using singlish, for being ks. I have seen one who was busy dissing how lacking SGeans are and was wondering if we do have any pride to be a SG anymore.
but the companies aren't helping themselves..... and since they can't be bothered, I can't be bothered also.. :evil:
But, actually, quite a number of SG companies does created a reputation for their products.. thou not in the electronics field..
e.g. KDK, 707, Techno gas etc.. Althou they are a bit pricier (consumer range), the general perception from shops is that these products gives little trouble (less customer complains) and more lasting and reliable. -
LOLMum:
Maybe we should start sending our kid to Malay language classes, to be competitive, and since the CC don't want to teach my kid Malay.
why should a child at such young age be told about all these?hquek:
It is fine to welcome competition. But Im not sure how young my kids should be when I tell them they have to fight and compete. age 7? I rather this happens after pri level when kids are older.
my son, though 8 years old, is unable to tell who is a malay, indian or others because to him, they are just children.......be it his friend or a stranger.
competition wise between anyone is not based on nationalities but on ability and the hunger for it.
just my 3 cents worth......
One less language to learn when young, already disadvantage to my kid :?
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hquek:
... It seems that SGeans are quite apologetic. We are made to feel ashamed for using singlish, for being ks. I have seen one who was busy dissing how lacking SGeans are and was wondering if we do have any pride to be a SG anymore.
You brought up a very good point about Singlish. Officially, we have been taught from young that Singlish is just bad English, yet we continue to use Singlish to our children, and with each other.
The fact is, it is how we speak a language that makes us unique. The British may speak the Queen's English, but the Americans speak their own version of the Queen's English. I don't see the Americans belittling themselves for their New England or Texan accents. I don't see the Australians trying to change the way they speak either for the Queen's English. Yet we frown on Singlish.
Why can't we just be proud of who and what we are? It is our multi-cultural heritage that makes us what we are. Singlish is unique to us and us only. It is refreshing to go to a foreign country and hear someone start speaking in Singlish. The guy may be a total stranger, but the connection and recognition is instantaneous and heartwarming and for a while, we carry Singapore with us in a foreign land.
So let's be proud of Singlish! I know of foreigners who try to learn Singlish just to fit in with us, and they have fun doing so
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Bbbb.... bbbbuuuuttt... it's not proper Ingrish leh.
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LOLMum:
:goodpost:
why should a child at such young age be told about all these?hquek:
It is fine to welcome competition. But Im not sure how young my kids should be when I tell them they have to fight and compete. age 7? I rather this happens after pri level when kids are older.
my son, though 8 years old, is unable to tell who is a malay, indian or others because to him, they are just children.......be it his friend or a stranger.
competition wise between anyone is not based on nationalities but on ability and the hunger for it.
just my 3 cents worth...... -
buds:
Bbbb.... bbbbuuuuttt... it's not proper Ingrish leh.
Think of it as \"wink-wink\" code that only Singaporeans understand. There was once when a group of us Singaporean students were eating in the cafeteria back in college when we noticed this American staring at us with great interest. Soon he asked. \"That's Chinese isn't it?\" We sniggered. We were just talking in Singlish then. -
onemore:
nationalistic spirit..yes…, and perhaps the term being local or Singaporean could be better defined in this context…
Singaporean = (Singaporean PRs + Singapore Citizens)?
OR
Singaporean = > Singapore Citizens only?
So, can we really blame anyone but ourselves if we have to hire foreign talents to do what we think we ourselves cannot do?
That is not the only reasons; ironically, the other reason is actually nationalistic spirit - in many cases, FTs (real or fake, regardless) are hired by Singaporean PRs from the same country of origin, who are department heads or in a hiring manager’s position.
Yes, this is the exact situation in one organisation i know of. Singaporeans are the minority in this locally listed company. The management staff are mainly Singapore PR from a certain country, same as the original founders of the company. Almost all the white collar staff, from non-executives to senior executives are from the same country, some PR, some not. Wonder if such discriminitive recruitment is legal in Singapore. This is not some small cap co. -
Fairy:
If really got discrimination during recruitment, what can one do? :roll:onemore:
nationalistic spirit..yes…, and perhaps the term being local or Singaporean could be better defined in this context…
Singaporean = (Singaporean PRs + Singapore Citizens)?
OR
Singaporean = > Singapore Citizens only?
So, can we really blame anyone but ourselves if we have to hire foreign talents to do what we think we ourselves cannot do?
That is not the only reasons; ironically, the other reason is actually nationalistic spirit - in many cases, FTs (real or fake, regardless) are hired by Singaporean PRs from the same country of origin, who are department heads or in a hiring manager’s position.
Yes, this is the exact situation in one organisation i know of. Singaporeans are the minority in this locally listed company. The management staff are mainly Singapore PR from a certain country, same as the original founders of the company. Almost all the white collar staff, from non-executives to senior executives are from the same country, some PR, some not. Wonder if such discriminitive recruitment is legal in Singapore. This is not some small cap co.
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