Just as recently as the 2008 global recession, we were told that Singaporeans had been reinventing themselves and had adopted a change in mindset to make themselves more globally competitive. And because these Singaporean professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMET) were in so high demand, they were snapped up by the global business community as prized catches. Asiaone even published some extensive charts to show where these highly sought after PMETs were heading and in which sectors.
http://www.asiaone.com/Business/News/Office/Story/A1Story20080303-52391.html
Fast-forward to today, 5 years later. How the tide has changed. We see in today's State Times the dereliction of the picture that was painted just five years ago. If the picture painted today is as true as what was published in the States Times, then Singaporeans had better start asking the PM why this is so? What happened in these five years that saw the highly sought-after Singaporean PMET crashing down to become an unwanted pariah? The PM had better come clean with this; why his policies have reduced the Singaporean PMET to such a state.
Having said that, we mustn't forget to question the integrity of the writing. Singaporeans, as well as foreigners the world over, know that the State Press is wont to do as the PAP Government dictate to it. Could it have been dictated that it should help the government ridicule the people so that the population white paper can be better justified?
Singaporeans know too well of late, that when the PAP government runs into difficulty pushing citizen-unfriendly policies across, it will lay the blame on the people. In this case, because the local economy could do better with cheap foreign labour, they government saw it necessary to disguise their policy as one seeking foreign talents to boost the employability of the Singaporean. Beneath that disguise is nothing but a policy which sought to replace the globally attractive and talented Singaporean worker which they find hard to pay, the remuneration they deserve for their talents.
We know also that talent comes with a price. For this reason, the Singaporean worker has always come with a higher price tag when compared to regional PMETs. And because of this, the PAP government does not have the faintest idea how to fit these highly skilled Singaporean PMETs into its scheme of things.
Finally, it is a very sad day to see our State Press succumbing to the level we see it in. A national press must first and foremost help to ask the unaskable questions rather than help shove the unshovable poison apple down citizens' throats.
By this, the State Press has shown itself an accomplice to the politics of division. The PMET article, where the acronym was retranslated to mean Pampered, Mediocre, Expensive, Timid, was nothing more than an irresponsible and disrespectful attempt to divide further a divided people. Shame on you, Warren Fernandez.
Both him and the PM had better come clean with real talent if the Singaporean PMET, and stop playing games with their lives just for that cheap foreign worker who helps keep labour cost low.
The Alternative View
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