Living in JB 2 (Johore)

[curiouscat]

No one can. This is the first year they are open. It will take years to see how it is doing. Based on their reputation and the teachers they hire you can start to feel comfortable. But no matter what the reputation is you need to see what actually happens on the ground to know.

I would have to talk directly with the teachers if I was considering it. And see resumes for the teachers and senior staff and a plan for how they were going to make it successful. You need to use much more thought today that you will in 5 years. After some track record is established it will be much easier. But even then judging between 2 schools if very hard. One has to be tons better before you can really see a difference that is reliable - even then just two teachers that interact with your kid a lot can make a huge difference.

[curiouscat]

Attracting talent to supplement your country and target a few key areas is wise. Especially when you do it in new emerging markets/technologies while you develop internally. Brining in too much foreign talent is costly and risky. Developing your own talent is the best by far (supplemented with some talent from overseas - and hopefully some of your talent going overseas and then coming back…).

[butadesu]

I run the company. And I feel the 2% unemployment rate first hand. All my employees are minimum EP, no S pass. So there is no requirement for me to hire Singaporeans, yet we've more than half Singaporeans. We fight for the best talents - local or otherwise - to compete globally.

It's a real challenge to find enough Singaporeans to fill up critical positions. And we pay above market rates with a strong brand in the market place. So pay is not an issue. The real issue is talent. We've many SG talent in the company, but there is just not enough to stay ahead of the competition. What the government say is true - at least in my case - that Singaporeans will lose their job if companies like mine can't get enough foreigners to fill the talent gap. I cannot emphasize enough that today, we are competing with the best in the world, not the best in SG.

One of my friend blame government sector for the lack of talent in private sector.
He came from government sector and he says there are many talented people with very good technical skill, once enter public sector, is reduce to doing administrative, uncreative routine work. He felt the government should "release" some of these talents to private sector so as to create the cross pollination of ideas and culture. I agree with him to certain extend since the public sector has been very successful in attracting top graduates.

[summervale]

Aragorn, I read my earlier message and realised that I was too carried away. Sorry about that because to me this country is becoming more like a stranger to me.

I understand your points here as a businessman. Sorry can't help much except hope you can find your ideal employees for your company. BTW, also realised that some EP holders were unable to renew their EP and have to apply for S pass instead. Have you encountered any case in your company?

Also, you got a really nice house. Congrad.

Even, I myself are tempted to leave (even at my age) this shithole, but because of so many committment (personal) here and my kids education, I have no choice but to stay. I even bought a property in Jb to convince myself to retire there.

[summervale]

Fully agreed with you.

I don't know about others but definitely not my buddies that have left years ago.

Attracting talent to supplement your country and target a few key areas is wise. Especially when you do it in new emerging markets/technologies while you develop internally. Brining in too much foreign talent is costly and risky. Developing your own talent is the best by far (supplemented with some talent from overseas - and hopefully some of your talent going overseas and then coming back…).

[Lord Aragorn]

One of my friend blame government sector for the lack of talent in private sector.
He came from government sector and he says there are many talented people with very good technical skill, once enter public sector, is reduce to doing administrative, uncreative routine work. He felt the government should "release" some of these talents to private sector so as to create the cross pollination of ideas and culture. I agree with him to certain extend since the public sector has been very successful in attracting top graduates.

I agree - but I don't put the blame on the government for being too successful in attracting talents. Rather, I think there are 2 areas that can improved in order to have more talented Singaporeans in the private sector doing real work and contributing o the society.

First, is to release the talents from the finance industry. I think their current pay is mispriced on the high side, at least in certain quarters.

Second is to encourage individuals to be more enterprising through a dynamic educational system, with more success stories, opportunities and right support for Singaporean companies.

[Lord Aragorn]

Aragorn, I read my earlier message and realised that I was too carried away. Sorry about that because to me this country is becoming more like a stranger to me.

I understand your points here as a businessman. Sorry can't help much except hope you can find your ideal employees for your company. BTW, also realised that some EP holders were unable to renew their EP and have to apply for S pass instead. Have you encountered any case in your company?

Also, you got a really nice house. Congrad.

I thought you were too carried away too... But I can understand where most people are coming from. I thought i could contribute to the discussion by giving the perspective from the other side.

Fortunately, I have not had EP problems yet. Probably because we pay above market rates. But I have certainly heard many horror stories on foreigners not being able to renew EP / S passes, etc. This has forced some companies to scale back or close - but these are companies that focus on price competition, often for commodity work and not creative work. So I think that's not a bad outcome. The disadvantage is that costs will go up in the entire value chain, but so be it.

Therefore, I think the tweaks are in the right areas. It just needs time to pan out.

re Straits View, I've maintained in this forum since last year that it's a deal worth looking at. Just this weekend, I was surprised to find out that bungalow prices have risen by half a million! This was due to the strong take up rates, completion of the clubhouse, swimming pool, etc and more importantly, the completion of EDL and 2nd permas bridge. In just 2 weeks since they launched phase 5, more than 40% of the available units were snapped up, mainly by referrals and those who didn't manage to get units in earlier phases.

It's pretty expensive now, but I hope one or two forummers here would have bought a unit in earlier phases so that we can be neighbors! So far, I'm probably the only one though... Not surprising as its a small development compared to HH, EL, LF or Senibong Cove.

[vincentck]

I understand your points here as a businessman. Sorry can't help much except hope you can find your ideal employees for your company. BTW, also realised that some EP holders were unable to renew their EP and have to apply for S pass instead. Have you encountered any case in your company?

Same thing in my company, couldn't renew the EP for my staff. Submitted an appeal and hoping for positive results. Were those rejected EPs non-Malaysians?

[Newbie2012]

I read with interest that management staffs are complaining about difficulty in recruiting Singaporean talents in SG. It suddenly dawn on me that they are following the footsteps taken by our elite government.

Our govt has shown no interest to grow the true blue Singaporean population; they prefer the easy and quick fix way by converting foreigners to Singaporeans without giving a serious thought to the long term problem it can cause to our beloved country. Foreigners has varied and different cultures and our govt are not even selective on the types of foreigners to convert them into pseudo-Singaporeans.

Same here with management staffs; has the management schools forgotten to teach these people how to train and grow their employees into talents. Is it more cost efficient to go out and recruit talents by poaching talents from competitors? Wouldn't this cause a vicious cycle and "spoilt" the talents by making them complacent; they might even develop a side talent to job-hop around.

If there is not enough talents around, can our management staffs possess the ability to change their tact and start nurturing talents from the mediocre? If the whole world is short of talents, are we going outer-space to recruit talented aliens?

We should sit down quietly for a moment and think deeply what kind of values we are cultivating here and what kind of values are being lost as our leaders, whether political or commercial, took the easy route out to solve problems.

If the our govt is useless, we can still vote them out after 5 years. But if our management staffs are incapable; what can our workers do?

[Newbie2012]

I shall seek and speak the truth here when I see a need to. If anyone of you thinks that its a pain to hear the truths or my views, you are welcome to deduct my points under cover.

I would continue speaking the truths here until I am unable to do so and that shall be the end of my contribution or "shit" here, if you prefer to call it that way, and rest assured there will never be a self-clone of myself in here as I am what I am and cloning me is just not possible and I am not so naive to do so because a clone is so easy to catch.

But I must apologize if some of you had found my words or views to be too harsh, emotional or unbearable. It was intentional to invoke deeper thoughts from forumers here and also to attract the necessary views to create the necessary impact. Take it as this is an "election" platform for me to air my views to you; you can't expect our President Tony Tan to be meek and nice when he is on the election platform talking about his rivals, right?

[Newbie2012]

Minister Khaw has come out and called UOB 50-years home a gimmick and also mentioned that he is keeping tabs on the number of applicants for the 50-year home loans. He advise property hunters to spend within their means and not to fall for UOB 50 years home loan as it doesn't make sense.

Would be interesting to see how UOB will react and also whether MAS will act.

[jasonjst]

One of my friend blame government sector for the lack of talent in private sector.
He came from government sector and he says there are many talented people with very good technical skill, once enter public sector, is reduce to doing administrative, uncreative routine work. He felt the government should "release" some of these talents to private sector so as to create the cross pollination of ideas and culture. I agree with him to certain extend since the public sector has been very successful in attracting top graduates.

Hmm. better not "release" these kind of $$ greedy pigs into the real world, incase they "poison " the market with their elites, P$P mindset. Can you imagine, your director talking about $$, and blame locals for lacking talents all the time? A Japanese director once tells us this: - You have two sons, one is highly intelligent, capable earning big buck, but his heart is not with you. The other son is just an average performer but is very loyal and always thinks for you. Which son will you adore?

[muncheah]

Bro Muncheah

I have 2 children of school going age and was also staring at the crossroads like you. If money is the least of my concern, I would have preferred an alternative education path for them. On the stress level in primary school, whilst it is to be expected, it goes against the grain of my own childhood experience. Maybe I really played more than studied but the way the children are being conditioned these days, I am deeply concerned.

For those who are parents, you may agree with me that the school no longer is the platform for learning but it is all but a stage. Many of the students these days 'learn' outside the school system through the enrichment classes and for some, the parents. Teachers skim through the lessons and if the children are out of synch with the pace, the question (what is wrong is your son?) will be thrown back at you.

Despite all the hype and talk that the Singapore education is the best in the world (or is it?), we continue to lack behind the Foreign Talents (FTs). At least that is what the Government and employers think so.

I read up about Marlborough and like the emphasis on an all-round education (including sports and arts). If I can afford it, it would be my choice.

haha... I'm Sis Muncheah

thanks for your sharing.
Me and my husband are graduate from Malaysia and we had very wonderful childhood. but we still can have a good life and good job in SIN.
The main reason make us to have this thinking is we really not wish our son childhood becoming schooling, tuition, exam, tuition and tuition again and again....then nothing else... sound so sad, right??? this is what SIN parents doing now, we fell scary!!! But if we are not find the way to give him an alternative education, he'll become one of them

I'm not sure my planning can be work or not, wish sis n bro here can give advise to smooth and make my planning happen.
All will only happen from Aug'2013:
- we planned to rent out our 5 room HDB with legally and rental estimated ~$2500/month, able to cover the Marlborough college fee.
- we move to HH Condo ( we bought on 2011) expected will get the key by Q3 2013
- me and husband back and forth to work at SIN
- Kid go to college on early morning with us, fetch him from college after work.

[battleangel]

No offense, but i think your innocuous comment here might upset some of our Singaporean friends here because it does sound like you are milking profit from Singapore HDB. Btw, I'm SPR too...
Also, if you are SPR, you might not want to discuss your intention to rent out HDB as under new HDB regulations, SPR can sublet their HDB not more than 5 years.

[muncheah]

No offense, but i think your innocuous comment here might upset some of our Singaporean friends here because it does sound like you are milking profit from Singapore HDB. Btw, I'm SPR too...
Also, if you are SPR, you might not want to discuss your intention to rent out HDB as under new HDB regulations, SPR can sublet their HDB not more than 5 years.

Ooop... i do not mean upset anyone here, but just my own opinion.
personally i like SIN very much and i had converted to Citizen since 5 years ago, but till now still can't accept the education here

[Funds Transfer]

haha... I'm Sis Muncheah

thanks for your sharing.
Me and my husband are graduate from Malaysia and we had very wonderful childhood. but we still can have a good life and good job in SIN.
The main reason make us to have this thinking is we really not wish our son childhood becoming schooling, tuition, exam, tuition and tuition again and again....then nothing else... sound so sad, right??? this is what SIN parents doing now, we fell scary!!! But if we are not find the way to give him an alternative education, he'll become one of them

I'm not sure my planning can be work or not, wish sis n bro here can give advise to smooth and make my planning happen.
All will only happen from Aug'2013:
- we planned to rent out our 5 room HDB with legally and rental estimated ~$2500/month, able to cover the Marlborough college fee.
- we move to HH Condo ( we bought on 2011) expected will get the key by Q3 2013
- me and husband back and forth to work at SIN
- Kid go to college on early morning with us, fetch him from college after work.

Thanks for the clarification, Sis Muncheah

I am glad that sense and sensibility have prevailed for some parents. It is evident that parents in Singapore are focusing so much on the enrichment classes that they have suspended common sense. Teachers with no credentials have managed to set up shop and duped worried parents who are always so keen to get their children ahead - by hook or crook. Let's hope that we can swim against this tide.

Though I have residences in Nusajaya, I am still not sure how to cope with the commute. But your plan looks feasible and perhaps akin to what many are already doing or aiming to do.

Let's hope the bros and sisters here could add more comments to your plan. The costs of an education in Marlborough remain a challenge for me and the path will be a distant dream.

[Nusajaya]

If you calculate based on similar terms, i.e RM1 million terrace with RM 800k loan at 4.5% interest over 30 years, the monthly mortgage repayment would be unbearable to most local malaysian workers except maybe the doctors, lawyers and some businessman.

Dear Newbie2012,

I have to correct your misconception that everything in Nusajaya seems to be waiting for Singaporeans before it gets successful. You are absolutely wrong. Sorry to say that you have projected a view which is rather naive and I was very glad that Bro Investor shared his wisdom! I have just quoted below a statement from an article on the sales of Danga Island similar to Sentosa Cove. These properties ranging from RM 4 million to RM 12 million. I would like to offer you a thought, you dont need to be earning millions before you would own a million dollar property! If you want to know how, try playing Cashflow Game.......

"Of the 70% Danga Island Villas units sold todate, Datuk Lim said 27% of the purchasers were Johoreans, 28% from Kuala Lumpur and Penang, and 6% from Sabah and Sarawak. Purchasers from the Middle East countries, India, Pakistan, Canada and Spain accounted for about 38%, 5% from Singapore and 2% from Hong Kong."

Cheers
N

[butadesu]

Minister Khaw has come out and called UOB 50-years home a gimmick and also mentioned that he is keeping tabs on the number of applicants for the 50-year home loans. He advise property hunters to spend within their means and not to fall for UOB 50 years home loan as it doesn't make sense.

Would be interesting to see how UOB will react and also whether MAS will act.

He is not giving good financial advice. Everyone knows the most financially sound thing to do now is buy the biggest HDB your bank can lend you and rent out the extra rooms.

[hippoheyhey]

haha... I'm Sis Muncheah

thanks for your sharing.
Me and my husband are graduate from Malaysia and we had very wonderful childhood. but we still can have a good life and good job in SIN.
The main reason make us to have this thinking is we really not wish our son childhood becoming schooling, tuition, exam, tuition and tuition again and again....then nothing else... sound so sad, right??? this is what SIN parents doing now, we fell scary!!! But if we are not find the way to give him an alternative education, he'll become one of them

I'm not sure my planning can be work or not, wish sis n bro here can give advise to smooth and make my planning happen.
All will only happen from Aug'2013:
- we planned to rent out our 5 room HDB with legally and rental estimated ~$2500/month, able to cover the Marlborough college fee.
- we move to HH Condo ( we bought on 2011) expected will get the key by Q3 2013
- me and husband back and forth to work at SIN
- Kid go to college on early morning with us, fetch him from college after work.

Hi sis,

Like to hear your plan on how you will commute to SIN daily?

[butadesu]

Dear Newbie2012,

I have to correct your misconception that everything in Nusajaya seems to be waiting for Singaporeans before it gets successful. You are absolutely wrong. Sorry to say that you have projected a view which is rather naive and I was very glad that Bro Investor shared his wisdom! I have just quoted below a statement from an article on the sales of Danga Island similar to Sentosa Cove. These properties ranging from RM 4 million to RM 12 million. I would like to offer you a thought, you dont need to be earning millions before you would own a million dollar property! If you want to know how, try playing Cashflow Game.......

"Of the 70% Danga Island Villas units sold todate, Datuk Lim said 27% of the purchasers were Johoreans, 28% from Kuala Lumpur and Penang, and 6% from Sabah and Sarawak. Purchasers from the Middle East countries, India, Pakistan, Canada and Spain accounted for about 38%, 5% from Singapore and 2% from Hong Kong."

Cheers
N

Hi Bro Nusajaya,
I agree with you that Nusajaya does not has to wait for Singaporeans before it get successful but I believe Nusajaya need Singapore economy to be successful. I am sure a large number of Malaysian investing in Nusajaya either work in Singapore or has business affiliation with Singapore.


As for Danga Island development, it targets the very high end market and the very high end market usually attracts very international investors.