Member-only story
Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Leong Mun Wai, of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP), continues to “draw lines” that split citizens, new citizens, and permanent residents. While this is populist and appeals to the emotions of the electorate, it is dangerous as foreign talents complement the Singaporean workforce and level us up.
A recent session of coffee with friends reminded me of the need for Singaporeans to stop drinking our own Kool-Aid. Similar to what Leong Mun Wai is saying — top jobs must be kept for Singaporeans — I heard my friends talk about their jobs and career aspirations and it became clear to me that they are — sorry to say this — delusional.
Singapore, as a society, has accomplished much. This is undeniable. Through hard work, stable government, and good planning, we moved from third-world to first-world in one generation. Unfortunately, we have come to believe our own propaganda that we are the best of the best. This has led many Singaporeans to overestimate their own abilities.
