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<TABLE id=msgUN border=0 cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD id=msgUNsubj vAlign=top>
Coffeeshop Chit Chat - Seah Chiang Nee- For a slower generation</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>fixncc <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>5:46 pm </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 5) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>32218.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>Spur
For a slower generation
The founding leader thinks Singaporeans are losing their forefathers’ drive and need new ‘hungry’ migrants to spur them on. By Seah Chiang Nee.
Apr 24, 2010 (Synopsis: One they have succeeded in settling down, the new migrants - and their successive generations - will also become less driven and needing spurs on their hide.)
ARE Singaporeans – third-generation migrants who helped to turn a rundown town into a global city – losing their steam?
The answer is yes, according to Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, and quite a few employers share his view that it was good to have brought in foreign workers to fill the decline.
“Over time, Singaporeans had become less hard-driving and hard-striving,” Lee said in a recent interview.
The hard-talking Lee then upset many people when he said that if Singaporeans were falling behind because “the spurs are not stuck into the hide”, that was their problem.
He described the new immigrants from China and the region as “hungry” – helped by parents who “pushed the children very hard”. (Actually, Singaporean parents are often accused of putting too much pressure on their kids.)
Predictably, some Singaporeans were angry with the remarks that implied they were becoming lazy and ought to be spurred like slow horses.
His words were inimitable Lee, and his sentiments were shared by employers and some older Singaporeans who truly feel that the youth today have less drive.
One retiree said Lee was partly right. “Many middle class Singaporeans are becoming spoiled and complacent compared with (their counterparts in) some emerging nations.”
Particularly poor is the attitude of service workers, with only one in five willing to go that extra mile to keep customers satisfied.
Lee’s view, however, does not represent the average Singaporean, who is often told his diligence ranks highly in the world.
That portion of Lee’s unpopular remarks was diplomatically omitted in a Channel News Asia broadcast, but the quotes were widely posted online.
It prompted an unprecedented demand from a 15-year-old schoolboy for Lee to offer an apology to Singaporeans.
One forum writer said: “Lee’s wrong. Singaporeans work and work like a busy bee – work for wife and children, work to pay loans, bills, and if they have a little money left, they will save for a rainy day.”
Some of the world institutions dealing with workers have released studies that contrasted with Lee’s judgment of his own people.
Since 1980, Washington-based risk consultancy agency BERI has rated Singapore’s workforce as the world’s best – long before the bulk of foreign workers arrived.
Its latest ranking places Singapore’s workforce as the seventh most motivated in the world and second in Asia.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) said that despite the recent recession, Singa¬pore workers clocked up more hours than people of any other country, except Iceland.
They worked longer hours than the Japanese (4th) and Korean (5th) – both renowned for their workaholic ethics.
One lecturer said it was not useful to compare the new poorer immigrants, hungry to earn Singapore dollars, with Singapore’s better-educated young Singaporeans.
“New economic migrants who move to a wealthy country will always strive harder than the locals,” said a lecturer. “It is natural because they want to build a future for their families.”
It would have gone against historical trends for the better-educated, affluent hosts to out-work the new arrivals, he said.
He is right. Singaporeans are third-generation migrants who have prospered while the new arrivals are struggling first-generation immigrants with many mouths to feed back home.
Most of Singapore’s modern migrants who came in the 40s and 50s were probably as enterprising and hardworking as today’s newcomers. At the time they had no more than the shirt on their back, hope in their heart and a dream in their eyes.
They desperately wanted to build a better life. Over decades of hard work and sacrifices, Singapore’s first-wave migrants have become prosperous and helped give a good education to their children. This is The Singapore Story.
The present lot is the third generation of the early pioneers and has progressed and opted for a more relaxed lifestyle.
It is in the nature of things that each successive generation of migrants lose some of their forefathers’ pioneering strive and spirit. Singapore is no exception.
Given time, this cycle will be repeated in Singapore when today’s newcomers – or their offspring – become prosperous and become contented and less striving.
By then these affluent and well-educated immigrants – whether from China or India – would have become as picky as our present generation of youths when it comes to “dirty” or “heavy” jobs.
I have read that even in China, some youths in the cities are becoming laidback as their parents become rich.
One analyst wrote that the new immigrants are like previous groups who came and worked hard.
“In future, their descendants will be like our present younger generation and tend to relax and take things easy. So in future, are we going to import more foreigners to spur their hide to make them work harder?” he asked.
“If so, that would ensure that nationhood will never take place.”
Some who agree with Lee blame it on the environment he created.
“I have met Singaporeans or ex-Singaporeans who have flourished in other countries.”
Surfer Normal Guy said Lee’s comments would not make him give up.
“My friends around me are not giving up, either. We will work real hard to grow, protect our nests and always try to stay ahead of whatever will happen in the next five years.”
The Star
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For a slower generation
The founding leader thinks Singaporeans are losing their forefathers’ drive and need new ‘hungry’ migrants to spur them on. By Seah Chiang Nee.
Apr 24, 2010 (Synopsis: One they have succeeded in settling down, the new migrants - and their successive generations - will also become less driven and needing spurs on their hide.)
ARE Singaporeans – third-generation migrants who helped to turn a rundown town into a global city – losing their steam?
The answer is yes, according to Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, and quite a few employers share his view that it was good to have brought in foreign workers to fill the decline.
“Over time, Singaporeans had become less hard-driving and hard-striving,” Lee said in a recent interview.
The hard-talking Lee then upset many people when he said that if Singaporeans were falling behind because “the spurs are not stuck into the hide”, that was their problem.
He described the new immigrants from China and the region as “hungry” – helped by parents who “pushed the children very hard”. (Actually, Singaporean parents are often accused of putting too much pressure on their kids.)
Predictably, some Singaporeans were angry with the remarks that implied they were becoming lazy and ought to be spurred like slow horses.
His words were inimitable Lee, and his sentiments were shared by employers and some older Singaporeans who truly feel that the youth today have less drive.
One retiree said Lee was partly right. “Many middle class Singaporeans are becoming spoiled and complacent compared with (their counterparts in) some emerging nations.”
Particularly poor is the attitude of service workers, with only one in five willing to go that extra mile to keep customers satisfied.
Lee’s view, however, does not represent the average Singaporean, who is often told his diligence ranks highly in the world.
That portion of Lee’s unpopular remarks was diplomatically omitted in a Channel News Asia broadcast, but the quotes were widely posted online.
It prompted an unprecedented demand from a 15-year-old schoolboy for Lee to offer an apology to Singaporeans.
One forum writer said: “Lee’s wrong. Singaporeans work and work like a busy bee – work for wife and children, work to pay loans, bills, and if they have a little money left, they will save for a rainy day.”
Some of the world institutions dealing with workers have released studies that contrasted with Lee’s judgment of his own people.
Since 1980, Washington-based risk consultancy agency BERI has rated Singapore’s workforce as the world’s best – long before the bulk of foreign workers arrived.
Its latest ranking places Singapore’s workforce as the seventh most motivated in the world and second in Asia.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) said that despite the recent recession, Singa¬pore workers clocked up more hours than people of any other country, except Iceland.
They worked longer hours than the Japanese (4th) and Korean (5th) – both renowned for their workaholic ethics.
One lecturer said it was not useful to compare the new poorer immigrants, hungry to earn Singapore dollars, with Singapore’s better-educated young Singaporeans.
“New economic migrants who move to a wealthy country will always strive harder than the locals,” said a lecturer. “It is natural because they want to build a future for their families.”
It would have gone against historical trends for the better-educated, affluent hosts to out-work the new arrivals, he said.
He is right. Singaporeans are third-generation migrants who have prospered while the new arrivals are struggling first-generation immigrants with many mouths to feed back home.
Most of Singapore’s modern migrants who came in the 40s and 50s were probably as enterprising and hardworking as today’s newcomers. At the time they had no more than the shirt on their back, hope in their heart and a dream in their eyes.
They desperately wanted to build a better life. Over decades of hard work and sacrifices, Singapore’s first-wave migrants have become prosperous and helped give a good education to their children. This is The Singapore Story.
The present lot is the third generation of the early pioneers and has progressed and opted for a more relaxed lifestyle.
It is in the nature of things that each successive generation of migrants lose some of their forefathers’ pioneering strive and spirit. Singapore is no exception.
Given time, this cycle will be repeated in Singapore when today’s newcomers – or their offspring – become prosperous and become contented and less striving.
By then these affluent and well-educated immigrants – whether from China or India – would have become as picky as our present generation of youths when it comes to “dirty” or “heavy” jobs.
I have read that even in China, some youths in the cities are becoming laidback as their parents become rich.
One analyst wrote that the new immigrants are like previous groups who came and worked hard.
“In future, their descendants will be like our present younger generation and tend to relax and take things easy. So in future, are we going to import more foreigners to spur their hide to make them work harder?” he asked.
“If so, that would ensure that nationhood will never take place.”
Some who agree with Lee blame it on the environment he created.
“I have met Singaporeans or ex-Singaporeans who have flourished in other countries.”
Surfer Normal Guy said Lee’s comments would not make him give up.
“My friends around me are not giving up, either. We will work real hard to grow, protect our nests and always try to stay ahead of whatever will happen in the next five years.”
The Star
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