- Joined
- Nov 24, 2008
- Messages
- 23,837
- Points
- 113
Sun, Feb 21, 2010
The New Paper
MM Lee on S'pore's competitiveness: If we didn't have foreign workers...
By Lediati Tan and Gan Ling Kai
SINCE we're a football-mad nation, picture Team Singapore playing in the top league.
Can it do well without foreign players in the team?
Losing good players might lead to relegation. Playing the lower divisions would mean a lost of sponsorship money and an exodus of even top local talent.
Is that a risk worth taking?
Could Singapore have done well in the top league - achieving good growth and higher incomes - without foreigners'
No, said Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. He spoke at this year's Tanjong Pagar GRC Lunar New Year Celebration Dinner.
"That is why the Government decided in the past five years that it was better to grow the economy and manage the accompanying social pressures rather than slow down the economy," he said.
"If our neighbours grow and we stagnate, Singapore will face a very different geo-political environment in the future."
So to take advantage of economic opportunities and make up for low birth rates here, there was an increase in immigration of people from Malaysia, China and India.
This justification for the PAP's massive importation of FTs is a big lie. Many developed countries face the same problem. In particular, one looks no further than japan to see that their birth rate is just as bad, and compounded by an aging population. Why than do they not import massive numbers of foreigners to solve their problem? And exactly what economic opportunities has the influx of FTs allowed S'pore to take advantage off? The influx of FTs have not translated into a corresponding growth in GDP, nor a corresponding increase in the average S'pore's income or economic welfare. Quite the contrary, it has had the opposite effect. Lee Con You is perpetrating his lie.
But some people have complained that resources are being taxed and that the distinction in benefits for locals and foreigners were not clear enough.
MM Lee spelt out the benefits that Singaporeans already received - from HDB grants to subsidised fees for public hospitals.
These so called benefits are peanuts compared to what the average sinkie has to go thru in terms of NS sacrifice, etc. The very fact he has to spell out the benefits is already proof that they are so negligible that they are not obvious to the common sinkie. A Malay does not have to spell out his benefits vis a vis a FT or a chinese. A citizen of bahrain need not spell out his benefits versus all those imported labour in his country. He knows what they are. he rests in total comfort that the advantages accored to him as a citizen are so vast compared to a non citizen. In singapore, we really have to sit down and think carefully what the advantages are if any.
Even then, the Government took further steps to widen the differentiation between citizens and permanent residents (PR).
Foreign workers are human beings, here to earn a living and to do the heavy work for us, he said. They work in construction, manufacturing and service industries.
IMPORTANT: Hard-working foreign workers have helped build much of the nation's infrastructure, from our schools to our homes.
MM Lee said: "Foreign workers also built housing and infrastructure projects like public transport, schools and hospitals all over Singapore.
"Without them, these projects could not have proceeded and our economy would slow down, to the detriment of Singaporeans."
This kind of logic is so fucked up. In the greatest period of S'pore growth (namely the 70s and 80s), all housing and infrastructure projects were build with foreign workers. But the economy grew without giving them any PRs or citizenship. They came, they build, they got paid, and than they left. For the longest time, the S'pore population was stuck at 1.6 million, and dispite this so many large infrastructure were build. eg. national stadium, OCBC building, all the office buildings in Shenton way, MRT, Changi International, 500,000 + HDB flats, etc. Why we can do all this with a population under 2 million, and now this cheebye mouth say cannot be done? He is selective forgetting his history again?
Now imagine if the league introduces a cap on foreign players. Team Singapore has to slow down on the number of foreign players it can recruit.
But there are real opportunities for the team to grow. So what does Team Singapore do?
MM Lee said the same number of Singaporean workers must then produce more than before.
They must be better trained, more skilful, be able to work smart and make a collective effort as the Japanese do to make their companies succeed.
MM Lee said: "If we cannot increase the productivity or the output of our citizens, our economy will slow down.
"Then Singapore will discover that instead of many job opportunities and rising asset values, including prices for resale HDB flats, the reverse will happen across the board."
Achieve a Recognised Accounting Qualification with Kaplan
That means playing in the lower leagues with smaller payouts for the players and less sponsorship money.
And that could mean an exodus of the top players with the value of the club diminishing.
MM Lee said: "When this happens, many of our own talents will leave for greener pastures, which will exacerbate the downward spiral and eventually lead to Singapore's decline."
This here is the real reason for the importation of FTs. The low birth rate is a red herring. In fact, without FTs, the S'pore population is actually at negative growth. The PAP knows this but keeps this under wrap. The fact is that something like 2.5% of the native born population leave s'pore permanently every year. Every one in singapore knows someone (whether its friends or family) who have emigrated to another country. Even prominent people like GCT have lost children to emigration. These people who have moved overseas than have children in the other country, and so forth. A singapore family of 4 who emigrates will eventually mean a lost of 8 singaporeans (assuming the 2 children marry in their new land and have 2 children of their own each). If each person in your household sits down, and add up all their friends, family and co-workers who have emigrated, and also add up how many children they had born in the new country, you will be shocked at the number. Herein lies the real reason for the importation of FTs. Its a desperation messure by the PAP.
He spelt out training programmes that employers, NTUC, workers and the Government must adopt to continue playing at the top.
He said: "Every worker has to be re-skilled, re-trained and re-educated to achieve higher standards of capabilities."
Its no point to have retraining and reskills when there are no jobs in those areas. And if there are jobs, the FTs wil undercut their wages by 30%. So, how to get hired?
The dinner last night was organised by the Queenstown Grassroots Organisations and was also attended by the other five MPs for Tanjong Pagar GRC.
The New Paper
MM Lee on S'pore's competitiveness: If we didn't have foreign workers...
By Lediati Tan and Gan Ling Kai
SINCE we're a football-mad nation, picture Team Singapore playing in the top league.
Can it do well without foreign players in the team?
Losing good players might lead to relegation. Playing the lower divisions would mean a lost of sponsorship money and an exodus of even top local talent.
Is that a risk worth taking?
Could Singapore have done well in the top league - achieving good growth and higher incomes - without foreigners'
No, said Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. He spoke at this year's Tanjong Pagar GRC Lunar New Year Celebration Dinner.
"That is why the Government decided in the past five years that it was better to grow the economy and manage the accompanying social pressures rather than slow down the economy," he said.
"If our neighbours grow and we stagnate, Singapore will face a very different geo-political environment in the future."
So to take advantage of economic opportunities and make up for low birth rates here, there was an increase in immigration of people from Malaysia, China and India.
This justification for the PAP's massive importation of FTs is a big lie. Many developed countries face the same problem. In particular, one looks no further than japan to see that their birth rate is just as bad, and compounded by an aging population. Why than do they not import massive numbers of foreigners to solve their problem? And exactly what economic opportunities has the influx of FTs allowed S'pore to take advantage off? The influx of FTs have not translated into a corresponding growth in GDP, nor a corresponding increase in the average S'pore's income or economic welfare. Quite the contrary, it has had the opposite effect. Lee Con You is perpetrating his lie.
But some people have complained that resources are being taxed and that the distinction in benefits for locals and foreigners were not clear enough.
MM Lee spelt out the benefits that Singaporeans already received - from HDB grants to subsidised fees for public hospitals.
These so called benefits are peanuts compared to what the average sinkie has to go thru in terms of NS sacrifice, etc. The very fact he has to spell out the benefits is already proof that they are so negligible that they are not obvious to the common sinkie. A Malay does not have to spell out his benefits vis a vis a FT or a chinese. A citizen of bahrain need not spell out his benefits versus all those imported labour in his country. He knows what they are. he rests in total comfort that the advantages accored to him as a citizen are so vast compared to a non citizen. In singapore, we really have to sit down and think carefully what the advantages are if any.
Even then, the Government took further steps to widen the differentiation between citizens and permanent residents (PR).
Foreign workers are human beings, here to earn a living and to do the heavy work for us, he said. They work in construction, manufacturing and service industries.
IMPORTANT: Hard-working foreign workers have helped build much of the nation's infrastructure, from our schools to our homes.
MM Lee said: "Foreign workers also built housing and infrastructure projects like public transport, schools and hospitals all over Singapore.
"Without them, these projects could not have proceeded and our economy would slow down, to the detriment of Singaporeans."
This kind of logic is so fucked up. In the greatest period of S'pore growth (namely the 70s and 80s), all housing and infrastructure projects were build with foreign workers. But the economy grew without giving them any PRs or citizenship. They came, they build, they got paid, and than they left. For the longest time, the S'pore population was stuck at 1.6 million, and dispite this so many large infrastructure were build. eg. national stadium, OCBC building, all the office buildings in Shenton way, MRT, Changi International, 500,000 + HDB flats, etc. Why we can do all this with a population under 2 million, and now this cheebye mouth say cannot be done? He is selective forgetting his history again?
Now imagine if the league introduces a cap on foreign players. Team Singapore has to slow down on the number of foreign players it can recruit.
But there are real opportunities for the team to grow. So what does Team Singapore do?
MM Lee said the same number of Singaporean workers must then produce more than before.
They must be better trained, more skilful, be able to work smart and make a collective effort as the Japanese do to make their companies succeed.
MM Lee said: "If we cannot increase the productivity or the output of our citizens, our economy will slow down.
"Then Singapore will discover that instead of many job opportunities and rising asset values, including prices for resale HDB flats, the reverse will happen across the board."
Achieve a Recognised Accounting Qualification with Kaplan
That means playing in the lower leagues with smaller payouts for the players and less sponsorship money.
And that could mean an exodus of the top players with the value of the club diminishing.
MM Lee said: "When this happens, many of our own talents will leave for greener pastures, which will exacerbate the downward spiral and eventually lead to Singapore's decline."
This here is the real reason for the importation of FTs. The low birth rate is a red herring. In fact, without FTs, the S'pore population is actually at negative growth. The PAP knows this but keeps this under wrap. The fact is that something like 2.5% of the native born population leave s'pore permanently every year. Every one in singapore knows someone (whether its friends or family) who have emigrated to another country. Even prominent people like GCT have lost children to emigration. These people who have moved overseas than have children in the other country, and so forth. A singapore family of 4 who emigrates will eventually mean a lost of 8 singaporeans (assuming the 2 children marry in their new land and have 2 children of their own each). If each person in your household sits down, and add up all their friends, family and co-workers who have emigrated, and also add up how many children they had born in the new country, you will be shocked at the number. Herein lies the real reason for the importation of FTs. Its a desperation messure by the PAP.
He spelt out training programmes that employers, NTUC, workers and the Government must adopt to continue playing at the top.
He said: "Every worker has to be re-skilled, re-trained and re-educated to achieve higher standards of capabilities."
Its no point to have retraining and reskills when there are no jobs in those areas. And if there are jobs, the FTs wil undercut their wages by 30%. So, how to get hired?
The dinner last night was organised by the Queenstown Grassroots Organisations and was also attended by the other five MPs for Tanjong Pagar GRC.
