Foreign talents - What's your stand?

[Edwardtkh]

PM warns of talent loss, leaving no 'central core' to lead S'pore

 

Country therefore needs to draw in foreign talent, encourage overseas citizens to return

By Lydia Lim, Senior Political Correspondent

 

HONORARY CAP: PM Lee receiving a London School of Economics cap from LSE director Howard Davies (right) at the LSE Asia Forum. With them is the chairman of the LSE Court of Governors Peter Sutherland. -- ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN

 

SINGAPOREANS are the ones who will suffer if the current outflow of talent leaves the society bereft of 'a central core' that can lead the country forward, the Prime Minister warned yesterday.

It is the third time Mr Lee Hsien Loong has expressed his concern over the loss of talent since the Cabinet reshuffle two weeks ago.

 

He was speaking at the fourth London School of Economics (LSE) Asia Forum, which saw top minds from Britain and Asia engage in a robust debate on the best and worst aspects of today's knowledge economy.

 

The PM identified the loss of talent as one of three major challenges facing small, open societies such as Singapore in this era of global talent and information flows.

 

'To do well, a country needs a core of its ablest citizens, those with both the intellectual and social acumen to play leadership roles in the economy, the administration and the political leadership.

 

'Without that central core to take the country forward, the society cannot perform to its full potential, and the citizens will suffer,' he said.

 

NEED FOR ABLEST TO LEAD

'To do well, a country needs a core of its ablest citizens, those with both the intellectual and social acumen to play leadership roles in the economy, the administration and the political leadership. Without that central core to take the country forward, the society cannot perform to its full potential, and the citizens will suffer.' - PM LEE

 

But, Mr Lee said, Singapore must accept such talent flows as a reality, draw in foreign talent and encourage its citizens who study and work abroad to return home.

 

He also highlighted two other challenges for societies in the knowledge age, in his speech to 600 LSE alumni, civil servants, academics and executives attending The Politics Of Knowledge forum.

 

The LSE hosted it with the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

 

The first challenge is the unequal distribution of economic benefits, with the lion's share going to those with the right skills and abilities.

 

The second is the instant transmission through the Internet of unfiltered, raw information or misinformation, with their potential to spread extremist views, stoke religious hatred and lower the level of public debate to one in which emotion rather than reason prevails.

 

Following his speech, the discussion shifted to the trade-offs in the economic sphere when Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, an LSE alumnus, chaired a session on how knowledge drives growth.

 

Professor Danny Quah, head of LSE's economics department, gave an upbeat assessment of Asia's progress in the decade since the 1997 financial crisis.

 

He highlighted how growth across Asia has rebounded, lifting half a billion people out of poverty.

 

'Asia continues to pull east the world's centre of gravity,' Prof Quah said.

 

Mr Tharman noted that one area where Asia has not recovered is in the rate of fixed investments in productive areas.

 

Part of the problem may lie in the constraints some countries face in building the institutions their societies need to assimilate knowledge from abroad as quickly as possible, he said.

 

Acting chairman of the Brunei Economic Development Board Timothy Ong said there remains much unfinished business because of the huge gap - in incomes, output and knowledge capabilities - between Asia's high-performing economies and the rest.

 

Prof Quah later said there was a trade-off between growth and income disparity.

 

China's income gap, for example, has widened considerably as its growth rate soars.

 

But the income inequality between rich and poor countries 'completely dwarfs' the gap that exists between rich and poor people within countries, Prof Quah said.

 

The top 1 per cent in the world earn as much as the bottom 57 per cent.

 

'That kind of disparity you will be able to get rid of only through economic growth at the bottom of the world distribution of countries. That's exactly what I think can be achieved through knowledge and productivity,' he added.

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Saw this article on straitstimes, Singapore losing own talents and foreigner comes

in to replace the loss. Did singaporeans leave the country to work/live in another foregin land, just because the conditions in homeland singapore is not favorable enough? Or being rejected, and sees no opportunity in Singapore to grow oneself at all??

 

Wat you guys think of this?

[Shull]

talent loss is because garment not taking care of it's own citizens well enough..

 

look around, how many people are complaining of the rising living cost..economy might be good, but only the upper echelons of the society is feeling the effect..further down, there's practically no change..

 

not to mention, their million dollar salary pisses alot of people off..

[Watwheels]

FT also got different level one what. Range from stupid to smart. Same as local.

 

Some FT maybe good academically but sh*t when comes to work. Sama sama lah. Got good ones and not so good ones. FT or local more or less the same. Each individual got their strengths and weakness.

 

It's more on the given opportunity. Gov like to give more to FTs.

[Nolicense]

even FT can bluff about their qualification and get in.

cheap FT labor will pay you to employ them. read the papers, its been going on forever.

smart FT will get the gahmen to pay them to come here. many examples

[Qpik]

If there is a 1 major decision-maker who are down to earth, who listen to us, would we have these probs in the first place?

[Jayzee]

Opportunity is everywhere. Small dot can't beat those bigger country.. Bigger country offer cheaper stuffs, bigger paycheck and more opportunities ..

Edited April 12, 2008 by Jayzee

[Apollo]

y hong yi not interested to take over arh?

 

must b lah... proper channel my foot.

 

unker teo neber support him... wat u expect him to return in kind.

 

haiz...

[Nolicense]

aiyah, this leadership search is smoke bomb.. the real leadership is going to be "inherited".

 

if you wayang the search, people will divert atention from LHY. another 10 years and we have a 30yo ready to be groomed.

 

so all those at that age better rub shoulders with him if wanna get paid and paid.

[Apollo]

u heard abt the CEO succession fr mrbrown podcast?

 

http://mrbrownnetwork.com/media/mb/tmbs-08..._succession.mp3

 

some pple think the company actually belong to them...

[Weiming]

I am amazed that on this issue he has much to say but on the toilet escapist he is silent as a ghost.

 

The results of the supposedly independent commission was due 1st week April but now coming to 2nd week and no news whatsoever.

 

And I agree that there is a talent drain, because educated, mobile Singaporeans are not interested to stay in our stressful, high cost environment.

[Nolicense]

so many words they say can come back to haunt them.. foot in mouth..

[Cheekg98]

FT will flood to another country if singapore economy slows down ...

[Kezg1]

Just have to remember who open the flood gate for FT and hell broke loose from jobs to HBD...and other things, its all link to this TRASH. But they will always justify...why they do this and do that and its for the Good of the cuntry and also.... (their salary).

[Sosaria]

There are plenty of locals to fill this "central core". Just that never get called up

 

It's just an excuse, a broken old record that we keep hearing, bla... bla... bla... not enough talent, look everywhere but cannot find, so we need to retain what we have SALARY increase to match private sector.

 

Just the other day, someone was writing in the ST forum complaining that there are actually lots of talented, passionate people in the teaching profession, but never get recognised due to the flawed appraisal system.

 

http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Sto...ory_225613.html

[Nolicense]

agree 100% ur view. its nonsense to say we have no talent.

what happen to those old civil servants last time when our population was 1 million only? where got these talents? they went in from scratch also. sure there was a few ministars like lky with 1st class honors.. but now look at where we are and what is left? does not make sense

[Nkps]

 

If there is a 1 major decision-maker who are down to earth, who listen to us, would we have these probs in the first place?

u dun tok so much lah.... got job in SG dun wan to do... go BKK be FT

[Scoots]

Yeah...

 

Sports is a classic example.

 

Instead of taking the time and effort to groom our own nations youths, what do our leaders do? They 'import' talents. And what do we get...? PRs who break contract, match fixing, celebrity couples fighting over a condo and a car ...

 

Somethings CANNOT be 'bought'... and our leaders should start recognising that by now. If they want local talents to sink in roots and take a role in nation building, they better start sending the message that they DO WANT local talents to be a part of this country.... Currently, their actions seem to be contradicting their wishes.

[Silver_blade]

I am ok with PM's view on FTs...but only if the gov tries to groom/retain our very own talents. We have so many talents overseas.

 

We have ex-s'poreans who were 'forced' to leave us cos under the current edu system, they would be a great failure...cos some of them were weak in their mother tongue (even if they are eurasian, they had to take up an alternative 'mother tongue'), Maths, or Sci, etc... Some went on to become very good lawyers, bankers, doctors, etc....To excel in one of this professions, you may not need to be good in all the 3 subjects.