<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><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>kojakbt22 <NOBR>
</NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>10:33 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 2) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>21235.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD>Vivian reassures poly students at dialogue
</TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- headline one : end --></TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- Author --></TD></TR><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Maria Almenoar
</TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- show image if available --></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->THE much-discussed topic about Singapore's policy towards admitting foreign talent was raised again at a forum between polytechnic students and Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.
When a male student asked why foreigners were being allowed to compete with Singaporeans for jobs, Dr Balakrishnan shot back - would Singaporeans be willing to be taxed heavily to support the country's ageing population in 20 years' time?
This would be the case, said the minister, if Singapore did not bring in foreign talent.
Speaking to a 300-strong student audience at the Singapore Polytechnic, he said that Singapore needs to remain an open society, just as it was when our ancestors settled here.
He posed a counter-question to the audience on whether Singapore should become a closed society and not allow hardworking and talented foreigners in. If this happened, in 50 years the population will shrink between 20 per cent and 40 per cent, he added.
Dr Balakrishnan reassured students that the Government's duty was to give Singaporeans a headstart by investing in their education, equipping them with the right values and attitudes and giving them opportunities.
He said: 'You have a birthright. Everything we do is for your long-term benefit. Foreigners are here to help make Singapore more viable and competitive and to help us create more job and opportunities but it's all about Singaporeans.'
In the hour-long dialogue, he also took questions about euthanasia, social mobility and political apathy among youths.
[email protected]
</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msgleft width="1%"> </TD><TD class=msgopt width="24%" noWrap> Options</TD><TD class=msgrde width="50%" noWrap align=middle> Reply</TD><TD class=wintiny width="25%" noWrap align=right> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgbfrbot> </TD><TD colSpan=3> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- headline one : end --></TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- Author --></TD></TR><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Maria Almenoar
</TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- show image if available --></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->THE much-discussed topic about Singapore's policy towards admitting foreign talent was raised again at a forum between polytechnic students and Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.
When a male student asked why foreigners were being allowed to compete with Singaporeans for jobs, Dr Balakrishnan shot back - would Singaporeans be willing to be taxed heavily to support the country's ageing population in 20 years' time?
This would be the case, said the minister, if Singapore did not bring in foreign talent.
Speaking to a 300-strong student audience at the Singapore Polytechnic, he said that Singapore needs to remain an open society, just as it was when our ancestors settled here.
He posed a counter-question to the audience on whether Singapore should become a closed society and not allow hardworking and talented foreigners in. If this happened, in 50 years the population will shrink between 20 per cent and 40 per cent, he added.
Dr Balakrishnan reassured students that the Government's duty was to give Singaporeans a headstart by investing in their education, equipping them with the right values and attitudes and giving them opportunities.
He said: 'You have a birthright. Everything we do is for your long-term benefit. Foreigners are here to help make Singapore more viable and competitive and to help us create more job and opportunities but it's all about Singaporeans.'
In the hour-long dialogue, he also took questions about euthanasia, social mobility and political apathy among youths.
[email protected]
</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msgleft width="1%"> </TD><TD class=msgopt width="24%" noWrap> Options</TD><TD class=msgrde width="50%" noWrap align=middle> Reply</TD><TD class=wintiny width="25%" noWrap align=right> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgbfrbot> </TD><TD colSpan=3> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>