In principle and in theory, having more foreign talents to boost the economy is sound, just like any political theory. In practice, there are many shortcomings and political considerations that cannot be ignored simply for economic priorities and convenience. The huge influx of foreign talents, fake talents or half baked talents, must be carefully administered to protect the interests of Singaporeans. Singaporeans are the citizens, the people that voted the govt to power to look after their interests, not to look after the interests of foreigners, not to look after the interests of residents, not the interests of locals, but the interests of CITIZENS. Compromising the interests of citizens in favour of foreigners, locals, residents etc etc is a betrayal. Period. Even treating foreigners, locals and residents on equal terms with Singaporeans is unfair and unacceptable. Singaporeans must demand to be treated with priority as citizens, as first among equals, ...and definitely not to be treated as equals among unequal foreigners. This is the birth right of being a citizen, being a Singaporean.
Many well educated and well qualified Singaporeans are finding it difficult to land a decent job in their own country while many foreigners, with funny or questionable qualifications could easily find a permanent job here, thus making more citizens unemployed or underemployed. Do not snigger at Singaporeans being unhappy about being underemployed. It is bad, very bad for the general well being of Singaporeans. They put in great effort to get the needed qualifications, their parents vomited their life savings to ensure their children get a good education in our world best universities, just to get a decent permanent job, not to become gig workers, part time workers, food deliverers or Uber drivers. Any joker that said a job is a job and having a job is better than being unemployed need to be kicked in the ass.
Singaporeans don't spend 15 years or more and hundreds of thousands of dollars just to get any job. Any Singaporean that is unemployed, underemployed, when a foreigner, including all the farsical locals and residents that are not citizens, is employed, is a case too many and unacceptable...especially when a few hundred thousands of foreigners are employed here, on permanent jobs that Singaporeans need. This is our country, this is our home. Singapore is NOT the country of foreigners, locals and residents, NOT their home. Singaporeans have no where else to go. Even if they do, they are not treated fairly in foreign lands. Singaporeans can only expect and rely on their own country for a good living. Is this too much to ask for? You want Singaporeans to do NS to fight and die for this country? If their own country favours foreigners, locals and residents to citizens, what does it mean to be a Singaporean?
I know, 'Singaporean' is now a dirty word. No politician would want to mention the word Singaporean for political correctness. They would utter words like residents, locals as if these people are citizens and deserved to be treated equally like citizens, if not better.
Until every citizen with respectable qualifications from our expensive world class universities is employed in decent permanent jobs equitably vis a vis a foreigner, local or resident, the foreign talent policy is flawed and anti Singaporeans. It is not just pathetic to see Singaporeans forced to seek employment overseas because Singapore has no decent jobs for them, to see Singaporeans underemployed or unemployed despite their expensive qualifications. And some jokers cynically telling Singaporeans to be happy with whatever crappy jobs while they laughed all the way to the banks.
A Singaporean in such an unsatisfactory state is a Singaporean betrayed. You want Singaporeans to defend and die for this country? What is in it for Singaporeans? To be gig worker, temp worker, underemployed, unemployed, while foreigners are fully employed? What kind of deal is that? Don't take Singaporeans for granted.
PS. To be real and serious, set up a department in MOM just to place unemployed and underemployed Singaporeans before allowing a foreigner in. Losing a few foreigners or foreign companies is better than losing the trust of the people in the govt and in the country.
