Singapore is already an extremely wealthy nation (if Temasick didn't lose everything). If some companies want to close shop and move where got problem. If they close, they take with them some foreign talent/workers, Singaporeans more happy. Even when lose some of these companies, will we stave ??? I think not. Some industry are always looking for a more competitive labour market with adequate infrastructure to move their biz for more profit and we can't worry so much. They may save a little on labour cost but then other hidden cost or problems may be a bigger headache, especially for company that needs to protect their intellectual property rights. We should ignore these threats and if there is a real impact, then start cancelling work permits. There will be more and better companies coming to Singapore after these companies leave.
We have been making 100 bowls of rice a day but we need only 80 and keep the rest. We have been keeping our surplus for years. If tomorrow some business move and we are left with 90, we still have enough and surplus. It's high time we focus on people's happiness more than trying to put more money in rich's people pockets. We are not like the 70's where we have to attract labour intensive industry to give Singaporean jobs. Why do we worry that the foreigners have no job in their country and we should create jobs in Singapore for them.
The gov't should listen to the people. We don't want 6.9 million people, we want our space. We want to be happy.
