In today's paper, the man says
Jul 23, 2011
How Singapore punches above its weight
Singapore has been able to punch above its own weight and have a vibrant economy because it has remained open to foreign talent to add to the pool which can be developed locally, Mr Lee Kuan Yew reiterated. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG
The thing is that by punching above your weight you can get knocked out. And all prize fighters forget the people and peasants who put them there. The peasants revolt.[/COLOR]
SINGAPORE has been able to punch above its own weight and have a vibrant economy because it has remained open to foreign talent to add to the pool which can be developed locally, Mr Lee Kuan Yew reiterated on Friday.
Speaking at the closing session of the two-day South Asian Diaspora convention, he acknowledged that the influx of foreigners had been discomforting for some Singaporeans, but reminded that the alternative would be slower growth for the country.
So of course, we always have to be number one despite the cost to the people. The devastating alternative is starvation but nobody wants that. Being number two or three still means a decent way of life.
The former Prime Minister was responding to a question at a dialogue with more than 600 participants on how a fundamental tenet of Singapore's economic model - being open to foreign talent - also caused angst among Singaporeans and had been an issue at the recent General Election.
Mr Lee made clear that he firmly believed that the more talent a society had, the better it will be able to grow.
So meanwhile, forget about your own people developing their own talent because now they'll never get the chance to. Unless of course you're a talented brigadier-general who hasn't proved or developed himself when there's been no war. A world class soccer team can do it - but the locals have a good chance to compete or go elsewhere to play in other teams. Singaporeans are exercising this option but the ones who don't have that option - what happens to them?
'If Singapore depends on the talent it can produce out of three million people, it's not going to punch above its weight. It is because we've drawn talent from across the globe that we have a vibrant economy which is way beyond what three million Singaporeans and the talent they produce can do...
'So you've got to accept the discomfort which the local citizens feel that they are competing unequally for jobs; cannot be helped,' he said in response to the question from DBS chief executive Piyush Gupta.
So YOU'VE got to accept the discomfort. Secondly, if YOU don't accept the discomfort, you might as well leave for other shores and drive the people who put YOU into office out. Meanwhile the talent YOU brought in (or should that be YEW?) treat the place like a hotel where you check in and out - an issue YOU had fears about.
Jul 23, 2011
How Singapore punches above its weight
Singapore has been able to punch above its own weight and have a vibrant economy because it has remained open to foreign talent to add to the pool which can be developed locally, Mr Lee Kuan Yew reiterated. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG
The thing is that by punching above your weight you can get knocked out. And all prize fighters forget the people and peasants who put them there. The peasants revolt.[/COLOR]
SINGAPORE has been able to punch above its own weight and have a vibrant economy because it has remained open to foreign talent to add to the pool which can be developed locally, Mr Lee Kuan Yew reiterated on Friday.
Speaking at the closing session of the two-day South Asian Diaspora convention, he acknowledged that the influx of foreigners had been discomforting for some Singaporeans, but reminded that the alternative would be slower growth for the country.
So of course, we always have to be number one despite the cost to the people. The devastating alternative is starvation but nobody wants that. Being number two or three still means a decent way of life.
The former Prime Minister was responding to a question at a dialogue with more than 600 participants on how a fundamental tenet of Singapore's economic model - being open to foreign talent - also caused angst among Singaporeans and had been an issue at the recent General Election.
Mr Lee made clear that he firmly believed that the more talent a society had, the better it will be able to grow.
So meanwhile, forget about your own people developing their own talent because now they'll never get the chance to. Unless of course you're a talented brigadier-general who hasn't proved or developed himself when there's been no war. A world class soccer team can do it - but the locals have a good chance to compete or go elsewhere to play in other teams. Singaporeans are exercising this option but the ones who don't have that option - what happens to them?
'If Singapore depends on the talent it can produce out of three million people, it's not going to punch above its weight. It is because we've drawn talent from across the globe that we have a vibrant economy which is way beyond what three million Singaporeans and the talent they produce can do...
'So you've got to accept the discomfort which the local citizens feel that they are competing unequally for jobs; cannot be helped,' he said in response to the question from DBS chief executive Piyush Gupta.
So YOU'VE got to accept the discomfort. Secondly, if YOU don't accept the discomfort, you might as well leave for other shores and drive the people who put YOU into office out. Meanwhile the talent YOU brought in (or should that be YEW?) treat the place like a hotel where you check in and out - an issue YOU had fears about.
