Rather than say "fooling around", I think he, along with all the present generation incumbents, are clueless. 1st gen guys had it the easiest due to pre-existing port business and relatively weak and uncompetitive southeast asia region, plus they had that Dutch Albert Winsemius guy holding their hands. All they had to do was "follow the leader". Fast forward 40+ years and these southeast Asian countries are not as weak and getting very competitive to the point that even China is losing its manufacturing business to them, and SG.INC have no one to lead them this time round:
economy - still mainly powered by the foreign MNCs. government companies and STAT BOARDS employ an estimated 10% of the working population, a rather unhealthy proportion.
military - there is no doctrine in the world that can successfully defend an island and still have a functioning economy AT THE SAME TIME. China is talking about island defense, but Spratly island is a forward military base, not an island nation. suppose it got bombed back to dinosaur age the economy located IN china is still intact. island nation military have nowhere to retreat and regroup.
culture - generations of followers who only want to follow the tried tested and proven methods of road to riches. tuition, ten year series, government scholarships and hub this hub that. want to join kpop big 3 and be a star? guaranteed to be rich and famous or not? look at missA's Fei and Jia, or f(x)'s victoria. where is SKarf right now, who even cameo in channel 8 drama "Dui Dui Peng" and supposedly spokespersons for giant hypermart? still swimming in the "nugu" ocean, together with new kpop debuts?
mindset - every man for himself; get rich or die trying; grab as much while you still can; "asset appreciation", too bad about the johnnies who came late; I hope im gone by the time this thing blows up; backstab / pre-emptively sabotage whoever who tries to threaten your survival. you see these attitudes in the young and old, men and women, "leaders" and "followers" alike.
will the real slim shady please stand up?
