The Yong Tau Hoo stall in Queenstown called up a recruitment agency to
help them find a foreign talent. What do you want a foreign talent for?
Competition lah, I need to compete against the Yong Tau Hoo stall in
East Coast. I need the talent of a foreign talent to give me clever
ideas to compete lah. But you can get a Sinkie as your market is local
and your customers are locals. No, no, cannot. Sinkie no talent. And
they got reservist training, very ‘lay chay’. If I don’t hire foreign
talent, he hire foreign talent, then I lose to him. Also if I don’t hire
the foreign talent the talent can go to join him. Like that also no
good for my business.
Who makes you think so stupid, oops, I mean strategic? I read in the
newspapers lah. They reported that the talents are all over the world,
global talents. If I don’t hire them my competitors in East Coast,
Sengkang and Toa Payoh would take them to fight me. OK, don’t talk too
much, get me one FT, angmoh the best. If no angmoh, an India Indian also
can. I teach them how to make Yong Tau Hoo. Then I can feel good and
sleep good, with a FT in my pocket.
You know how many global talents are out there? You recruit one there
are still a hundred millions floating around you know. No mind lah. I
got FT can oredy. Feeling so shiok. When angmoh come eat my Yong Tau
Hoo, my angmoh FT can show face, look nice and got world class image.
Swee swee.
11/04/2013
Would Singapore lose its unique identity?
In an article titled, ‘Get ready for a formidable, rising China’ by Han
Fook Kwang, in the Sunday Times, he laid out a possible scenario of what
Singapore could become in the wake of a rising China. Han Fook Kwang
talked about the three phases of China’s development as an economic and
world power. The first phase is about economic expansion through trade
and development. Unless Asean and the world could produce goods that are
cheaper and value for money than the Chinese, their products will be
sought after by everyone wanting value and utility. This will be
followed by a second phase of soft power in culture through movies and
the arts.
The third phase would be the use of Mandarin for communication. This is seen as a natural development when economic and social interactions with China are so widespread and pervasive that people, including Sinkies, would just use the language as a convenient and necessary tool. Then there will be no need for Speak Mandarin Campaign. Singapore will ‘lose its unique identity and become more like another Chinese city, not much different from the many cities in the mainland.’
Han Fook Kwan hoped that it would not happen but this cannot be ruled out. His theory is based on external forces and the rise of a new economic power that has such an overpowering presence to change the world and the Singapore’s identity. I have another theory based on internal forces that could change Singapore’s identity into another form.
The govt has put in place, top priority policies, to fill the islands with foreigners in the name of lower birth rate, ageing population and economic growth, and in the process, instead of replacement, to increase the population to 6.9m. We are seeing the influx of foreigners in great numbers over the last decade or so and will gain momentum in the coming years.
The foreigners are coming, the westerners, the Chinese, the Indians and those from Asean countries. The westerners are unlikely to make any impact. The three biggest groups are likely to be the Chinese, the Indians and the Pinoys. The Pinoys have grown to several hundred thousands from a handful overnight. But with the tightening of employment passes, their numbers are going to slow down a bit. The large bulk of the Pinoy maids would not turn them into stayers and changing of our demography less of a problem.
As for the Chinese, many would return to China like the Hongkies when their home country is growing in riches and opportunities. Singapore is not really their cup of tea except for a small group that are very wealthy and have reasons to want to stay away from China. The rest will return to China when they find making money there easier than here. China will draw them back.
The next biggest group of migrants is the Indians. They see Singapore as a paradise, a land of opportunities, many times better than India. They are coming here in swarms, especially the rich and the PMETs. They brought their families to stay, buying up properties in large numbers. And there is this Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, CECA, which provides a legal framework for the mass migration of Indians into the island. Their numbers have already outnumbered the local Indians and growing rapidly. The attraction of India for the near future is not looking that much attractive than Singapore for them to return. Singapore is the idea place to live and do business.
With both govts abiding closely to the CECA terms, the influx of Indians will become a dominant factor that will change the social economic fabric and the demography of the island. When the Indians become a majority in the island, Singapore is likely to take on a more Indian outlook and English will remain the dominant language for social and business activities. Mandarin would then become of lesser importance despite the growing presence of China in the international scene.
Would the external forces of a rising China over shadow the influx of Indians into the island provided by CECA, or would the latter be so domineering that it will change the demography of the island and prevent Singapore from becoming just another Chinese city? Anyway, both scenarios would definitely change the unique identity of the island, one becoming more Chinese and the other becoming more Indian. The probability of external factors to alter the identity of a country is less likely to happen than an internal factor that is a govt initiative and supported by two govts with an official agreement to see it through.
The third phase would be the use of Mandarin for communication. This is seen as a natural development when economic and social interactions with China are so widespread and pervasive that people, including Sinkies, would just use the language as a convenient and necessary tool. Then there will be no need for Speak Mandarin Campaign. Singapore will ‘lose its unique identity and become more like another Chinese city, not much different from the many cities in the mainland.’
Han Fook Kwan hoped that it would not happen but this cannot be ruled out. His theory is based on external forces and the rise of a new economic power that has such an overpowering presence to change the world and the Singapore’s identity. I have another theory based on internal forces that could change Singapore’s identity into another form.
The govt has put in place, top priority policies, to fill the islands with foreigners in the name of lower birth rate, ageing population and economic growth, and in the process, instead of replacement, to increase the population to 6.9m. We are seeing the influx of foreigners in great numbers over the last decade or so and will gain momentum in the coming years.
The foreigners are coming, the westerners, the Chinese, the Indians and those from Asean countries. The westerners are unlikely to make any impact. The three biggest groups are likely to be the Chinese, the Indians and the Pinoys. The Pinoys have grown to several hundred thousands from a handful overnight. But with the tightening of employment passes, their numbers are going to slow down a bit. The large bulk of the Pinoy maids would not turn them into stayers and changing of our demography less of a problem.
As for the Chinese, many would return to China like the Hongkies when their home country is growing in riches and opportunities. Singapore is not really their cup of tea except for a small group that are very wealthy and have reasons to want to stay away from China. The rest will return to China when they find making money there easier than here. China will draw them back.
The next biggest group of migrants is the Indians. They see Singapore as a paradise, a land of opportunities, many times better than India. They are coming here in swarms, especially the rich and the PMETs. They brought their families to stay, buying up properties in large numbers. And there is this Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, CECA, which provides a legal framework for the mass migration of Indians into the island. Their numbers have already outnumbered the local Indians and growing rapidly. The attraction of India for the near future is not looking that much attractive than Singapore for them to return. Singapore is the idea place to live and do business.
With both govts abiding closely to the CECA terms, the influx of Indians will become a dominant factor that will change the social economic fabric and the demography of the island. When the Indians become a majority in the island, Singapore is likely to take on a more Indian outlook and English will remain the dominant language for social and business activities. Mandarin would then become of lesser importance despite the growing presence of China in the international scene.
Would the external forces of a rising China over shadow the influx of Indians into the island provided by CECA, or would the latter be so domineering that it will change the demography of the island and prevent Singapore from becoming just another Chinese city? Anyway, both scenarios would definitely change the unique identity of the island, one becoming more Chinese and the other becoming more Indian. The probability of external factors to alter the identity of a country is less likely to happen than an internal factor that is a govt initiative and supported by two govts with an official agreement to see it through.
11/03/2013
A dynamic and vibrant chicken coop
The farmer stared blindly at the expanse of his chicken coop, every chicken was fat and cheery, the male chicken too. Then it struck his mind, why are the chicken not running around and cackling? Something is missing, lazy, lack of motivation, life too good? There is no life, a lack of vibrancy. They all seemed so contented, fat and contented.
After a few sleepless nights he came out with an idea to make
his chicken coop more vibrant and his chicken behaving more like chicken. He
sent a few orders overseas and a plane load of cocks arrived, red ones, brown
ones, yellow ones, white ones and black ones. The farmer was very impressed
with the athletic built of his new cocks. Some may be a bit skinny, but with
their hungry look he knew they would perform.
He let loose his new foreign cocks among the local chickens.
Sure enough the hens went wild like crazy, being chased around by the foreign
cocks. And the local cocks were left out completely, unable to compete with the
hungrier foreign cocks and their sharper talons. The whole chicken coop was
wild with a new found vibrancy, and the cackling went on through the nights.
A few months later the noise in the chicken coop started to
lower. The hens did not run around as often and started to put on weight again.
The foreign cocks had grown a bit tired after having too much fun and too much
of a good life.
He thought of another new idea to increase the productivity
of the hens. This time the farmer brought in the big guns. No need too many,
just a few foxes to chase the hens and the cocks around. This will make them
healthier and increase their libido, and healthier eggs would be produced. The
cackling was even louder than before and with intense vibrancy and with more
shits all over the place.
After a while the noise went quieter again. The farmer could
hear it from his ivory tower at a distance. Without putting his head out of the
window, he decided to do something to get the vibrancy back again. The hens
need to be productive to lay the golden eggs.
He did not know that the foxes not only screwed the hens and
the cocks, they had them for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well. The lack of
sound and activities were apparent but ignored, a few laggards managed to
survive the ordeal. The farmer thought he still had a whole chicken coop with
hens, cocks and the foxes.
He wanted more actions and brought in a few wolves into his
chicken coop hoping to improve his chicken egg business. Sure, he heard the
noise and the running around of the last few chickens and their cackling that
were really dying calls for help. But the farmer was still sleeping, thinking
all was well. With the wolves after the chickens, even the foxes would not
stand a chance. They had high speed and high frequency appetite and could eat
more. The wolves finally act up all the chickens in the chicken coop.
When the farmer woke up and found the chicken coop empty, he
asked, ‘What happened?
JP Morgan hiring local talents
‘The US authorities are believed to be scrutinising the hiring practices of banking giant J P Morgan Chase in India, South Korea and Singapore following a probe into its activities in China regarding hiring children of powerful officials to win lucrative business deals.
A report in the New York Time said that the federal investigation into the
hiring practices of JPMorgan Chase appears to be expanding beyond China
into other Asian markets.
In a filing with Securities and Exchange Commission, the bank disclosed that the federal regulator and the Justice Department were now looking into "its business relationships with certain related clients in the Asia Pacific region and its engagement of consultants in the Asia Pacific region."’ Quoted from Business Today dated 2 Nov 13.’
In a filing with Securities and Exchange Commission, the bank disclosed that the federal regulator and the Justice Department were now looking into "its business relationships with certain related clients in the Asia Pacific region and its engagement of consultants in the Asia Pacific region."’ Quoted from Business Today dated 2 Nov 13.’
Why would they want to check on their Singapore
office? Singapore
is one of the most highly regulated cities in the world and such things would
not have happened here. We are not only famous for being a city that runs by
the rule of law but also on meritocracy. Everyone is appointed to where he is
based on merit. Period. This is the unquestionable truth in the city state.
What is interesting in JP Morgan’s hiring practice is to
hire local talents in the country of operation. When in India
they hired Indians, in China
they hired Chinese, in Singapore
they hired Singaporeans in top management, not in the backroom or for show. JP
Morgan is a big MNC and finds it proper and wise to hire local talents with
local knowledge to run their local businesses. This is only practical, logical,
pragmatic and showing respect to the countries and people they are doing
business with and making money from.
11/02/2013
Happy Deepavali
I was so busy socialising today that I almost forgot to wish our Indians happy Deepavali, or has it been changed to Tiwali. Anyway, I am still more comfortable with Deepavali, having grown up with this term for more than 60 years.
Cheers
Cheers
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