When Singapore’s opposition MP Low Thia Khiang questioned the need for such high salaries for ministers and top civil servants to prevent corruption, Lee Kuan Yew refuted MP Low in his usual aggressive manner.
But, the old man can’t stop taking cheapshots on the neighbouring countries by showing his disrespectful manner and not-so-kind remarks that he can definitely do away with.
"Does he realise that Singapore’s GDP is only one-third of its external trade? Our external trade is 3 1/2 times that of our GDP, higher than Hong Kong. And if this economy ever falters, that’s the end of Singapore and its First World status. Denmark, Switzerland and Finland are part of Europe. You can fail and you’re still caught in the European situation. If you fail here, you go back to a Southeast Asian situation. Just look around you," said MM Lee.
Meanwhile, reader JWK wrote in to describe the importance of a strong bilateral relationship between Malaysia-Singapore and how dependence is Singapore on resources from its neighbouring countries. His parting shots: "Singapore, Powered by Malaysia!"
Yo SK,Some facts for you to ponder about our relationship with our friendly neighbour down south. First, let’s take water out of the picture because I believe every single person in this world has rights to clean drinking water, take the trade currently as the cost to manage the transfer of water supply over to our neighbour.
#1: The last I read, 30% of the workforce (skilled and semi-skilled) in Singapore are Malaysians.
#2: Due to #2, CPF (EPF-equivalent of Singapore) has billions of dollars that belongs to Malaysian citizens. For those that do not know, West Malaysians are not allowed to withdraw their share until they reach the age of 55, unless they declare that they will never return to Singapore for working residency. This rule applies only to West Malaysians, not Australians, not Chinese, not Indians.
#3: Khazanah Malaysia leverages on EPF for investment purposes. The same goes to Temasek and GIC (of Singapore) on CPF. Just how much assets Temasek and GIC own across the globe? I guess we all should know better.
#4: When was the last time you heard about a "success story of Singapore" that involves a Malaysian? In terms of governance, business, arts and technology?
#5: I read your last blog entry about Singapore admitting that it cannot prevent people from being successful and emigrating, hence they focuses on attracting what they call "foreign talent" to spruce up the country’s social and economy status. The same strategy applies to the new 6.5 million population target of Singapore. Aside from encouraging internal birth, An alternative strategy is to increase population by attracting foreign talent. So where’s the nearest source of "foreign talent" from Singapore?
#6: Undergrads and postgrads studying in Singapore are almost automatically offered Permanent Residency upon graduation. Scholarships and grants are being offered in lucrative terms irregardless of country of origin as an attempt to retain talent in Singapore. Think PSD Scholarship (JPA-equivalent of Singapore, if not mistaken, it should be the perceived as #1 scholarship of the country). I think we all have at least 1 friend that goes through the process of "study at Singapore, work at Singapore, then stay at Singapore".
If I were to be honest, I would say someone ain’t doing a good job in retaining the most precious resource in nation building in their own country – human capital. However, come to think of it: I think we are all familiar in seeing ads from technology firms that boast about themselves with other renowned brands like "Coca-cola runs SAP" or "Microsoft empowers Accenture" or "BMW, proud partner of Petronas". Eventually, we will end up to this: Singapore, Powered by Malaysia!
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No matter how many missteps Singapore can take, it has proven that it is a FIRST world country and one of the richest countries (in terms of money in the bank) in the world.
Malaysia – talk only. MSC (dying), Biotech Valley (everybody already forgotten about it since launched 2 years ago), animation studios (with that stupid failed Saladdin movie that no one heard about), etc etc. Talk and talk and talk, and rather shoot their own foot so that certain races cannot improve faster than them. Like crabs in a barrel. In fact, it would rather help to power Singapore as was said rather than power itself. Ahahahahahahaha.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/65742
Brain drain, said Nazri, was the result of “money sense”. “They leave to make money but they will return. You don’t have to press the panic button yet,” he said.
That was the statement by our Minister of Prime Minister’s Department. In my opinion, this Nazri is the dumbest among all the ministers(no.2 would be Samy), at least other dumb ministers don’t make dumb statement so frequently like him. So, do you think that dumb people would not be happier if someone having better brains than them stop competiting with them(and migrate to another country)?
Just a reminder here, "Remember when you don’t vote, you are actually giving a vote to BN, so have you registered today?"
At least yr dumb people don’t get salary increase….ours do so as to keep them dumb…hehehe :)
You’re not exactly right eh boh tong.
Our dumb people gets salary increase without we citizens knowing it.
Ever wonder why project costs in Malaysia balloons with no reason, or, just fails like that and you wonder where the beef goes? Who in the world will need RM10million to build a convocation hall?
Our dumb people’s salary increase is just "different", not like you guys, all compensation package is within 1 pay cheque.
Come lah, let’s exchange dumb people!
Aiyoo so easy wan….lets dump all the dumb people into the dumps and we remain dumb about it ok?