Loh explores several suggestions on how to deal with the outflow of talent from Singapore. Evaluate his suggestions.

Loh’s article explores several suggestions, including halting the use of the term “foreign talent”, changing the policies to focus more on family cohesion, preserve buildings and to listen more to the citizens.

I do agree that the repeated use of the term “foreign talent” does lead to the locals here feel inferior to their foreign counterparts. This term has instilled into employers the mindset that foreigners are, in every ways stronger than the locals. For example, in the local film “I Not Stupid” by Jack Neo, it showed one overseas “talent” who comes to the advertising company to take up a rather senior post. Through the show, it was revealed that this foreigner held a rather low position back in his homeland, and his works were shown to be unappealing to the local context, featuring black-themed packages for a Chinese New Year product. Hence, not all foreigners who work in Singapore are talents, and while the term “foreign talent” does make the foreigners sound better, it serves to degrade the local talents, who feel inferior as compared to them.

In the article, Dr. Leong advises the authorities to focus more on instilling pro-family concepts. I agree with this suggestion. The younger generations nowadays have little patriotism spirit, mostly due to the effects of globalization and the lack of the experiences that the older generation had during the hard times of the past. Focusing on family cohesion could possibly have a much better effect in retaining local talents. The older generations are less likely to opt to live overseas as they are used to the local living conditions. By instilling pro-family values, the younger generations would then choose to follow their elders and remain in Singapore.

Dr. Leong also advised the government to retain old buildings. Even though I agree with his rationale, I feel that it is not a feasible plan. To continue Singapore’s development, it is necessary for us to replace the older buildings with newer ones. Imagine 30 years later and you still see the same old buildings every day. What impression would that give to a tourist? Singapore would probably seem like a very old country, with little development. Buildings have to change along with time. That is why en-bloc policies are necessary, to renew the old buildings. To preserve old buildings to retain local talents is thus not a feasible solution for our country.

As mentioned in the article, what makes a citizen happy is not just economic stability, but also the feeling that one is heard, and not just another puppet in the country. By listening to the citizens’ ideas, the government can gain more ideas, and understand the needs of the people. The government may not necessary know what is best for the people. Even if they do implement policies beneficial for the greater masses, they must provide the rationale for those policies.