Singapore’s political system must be refreshed: Tony Tan

Nicholas Yong

January 15, 2016

ricky l1 minute ago

The President also struck a sober note on Singapore’s economy, noting that it was at a turning point. He said, “Our first 50 years saw us advance rapidly from Third World to First. But now that our economy is more mature, we will grow more slowly.”

Tan added, “Upgrading will entail restructuring. There will be winners and losers among companies, with some painful dislocation, but economic progress will ultimately benefit all Singaporeans.”

I like the statement "economic progress will ultimately benefit all Singaporeans.”

When can mature Singaporean PMETs get a job - and benefit from the economic progress?

So far it benefit young graduates and foreginers but not mature Singaporean PMETs who has difficulties finding jobs.

• Lawrence3 minutes ago

  OMG , you trust what he said ?

ricky l2 seconds ago

Yes I trust what he say - because PAP has delivered since Independence - and I continue to trust them to deliver.

It is in the PAP manifesto that they will keep the promise to resolve and secure jobs for mature Singaporean PMETs.

I look forward the fulfillment of this promise in which they have always done.

ricky l1 second ago

It is about the timing when it will deliver.

• David1 hour ago

  They have been disappointing us since donkey years. Where were you?
• John1 hour ago

  RickyL - I see you are still in denial and delusional. LOL

  PAP policies over the last 10 years is designed to get local unemployed mature PMETs to take up lower level jobs which FTs are not willing to do.

  You need to wake up! LOL
• Y2 minutes ago

  So far it benefit young graduates and foreginers but not mature Singaporean PMETs who has difficulties finding jobs.

  that they have been delivering, y ar u lamenting? u get wat u believes.

ricky l1 minute ago

For the last 10 years - the Economic growth is driven by manpower heavy to drive business.

To be manpower heavy and yet cost effective - business decide to go for young graduates and foreigners and drop mature Singaporean PMETs as the 2 groups are cheaper.

This have been the past Economic strategies.

But with China, India, and SE Asian producing millions of cheap graduates every year - Singapore cannot continue to sustain by this mode - because Singapore will not be cost competitive.

Hence Economic restructuring is needed to go into the mode of higher value chain, higher value creation - with less manpower but more productive, knowledgeable workers. I believe Singaporean PMETs and mature Singaporean PMETs can make the mark.

When i say Economy is restructuring - i think the Government is promoting knowledge-based economy, value-creation economy, productive economy, hi-tech based economy, R&D based economy, service-based economy - that are productive driven with less manpower but knowledge manpower.

Thus corporate and business are re-adjusting - and if the readjustment is not in the steady state ---- how to employ mature Singaporean PMETs to fit the position?

This is what i am guessing.

How long this adjustment will take ---- who knows?

Hopefully when the readjustment have been completed - all mature Singaporean PMETs and their families can still survive and not starved to death ---- because no one owe us a living.

Qian14 minutes ago

Some of the older PMET are just charlie makan. Also like to以老卖老。cannot stand them if they are your superior. Never admit if they are wrong.

ricky l1 minute ago

Qian, you will also get old. One day when you grow old and 以老卖老 - the younger one will say the same thing about you.

Another thing, if you think older PMETs can be bullied - it means your parents, uncles, aunties can also be bullied.

So before you stereotypes others --- step into others shoes and think for yourself if you are them.

One day, you may face the same situation as them - and you are stuck and don't know what to do.

ricky l1 minute ago

10 years ago is where US sub-prime crisis trigger a World Financial crisis that trigger World Economic crisis - that go into a negative territory.

At that time, Banks in US and Europe are laden with bad loans to sub-prime property borrowers, and trigger run on banks and banks collapsed - whereby Government have to pump in taxpayers money to prop up the banks.

Singapore at that time sustain huge investment lost, Economic growth that go into negative terriority, losing jobs and business.

Thus to jumpstart the Economy, drawing into reserves, scheme such as job credit, importing many cheap foreign labours and inviting business investment - is the way to go to ensure the Economy is in the positive territory, business remain viable and jobs can created.

But the import of massive influx of foreigners have whet the appetite of business - who prefer to keep cheap foreign labour - and displaced mature Singaporean PMETs who are more expensive.

Hence now we are stuck at this mode - until the Economy restructure - and we, mature Singaporean PMETs can get a job and Singaporeans become the core workers again with foreigners as supplement - when the Economy successfully restructure and business successfully readjusted. And I believe Government will have a role, duty and responsibility to make this happen.

• John17 hours ago

  @RickyL,

  You are completely DELUSIONAL to think that PAP needs to or have to do what you are calling on them to do. LOL

  A company does not exist to provide you a high paying job. A company exist to make profits! Period.

  There are only a finite number of job positions available in a company. Especially high-paying management or executive or professional positions.

  If PAP now starts to reverse its policies in order to put all the unemployed LOCAL mature PMETs back into their respective PMETs job positions, then that would mean many younger FTs who are currently filling those positions now will have to lose their jobs.

  If that happens, that will only cause hindrance to PAP's 6.9 Million population plan, because when a FT loses his/her high-paying job here, he/she will NOT likely want settle here, to take up citizenship or PR here.

  ELECTIONS have CONSEQUENCES.

  Since you have voted for PAP in the GE, then it just mean you voted to SACRIFICE your job opportunity to that younger and cheaper FTs from India and Philippines. So don't KPKB complain and whine now.

  Those Sporean PMETs who voted for PAP really deserve to lose your PMET jobs to the FTs. Because you are STUPID. LOL

  There are plenty of lower pay jobs out there.

  The F&B sector are severely short of waiters and waitress. Retail sectors are severely short of sales assistants.

  Condos and shopping malls are also facing shortage of Security guards .

  Cleaners are in acute shortage all over the country.

  These are the jobs the FTs are not willing to do, because they are too low pay, and too low class for them.

  Or if these jobs doesn't suit you, maybe you can go drive a taxi or Uber lor.

  As you yourself mentioned above - "...because no one owe us a living. "

  FTs deserve high paying jobs because the 70% voted for them taking the high paying jobs here. 70% AGREED with the PAP's 6.9 Million population White Paper.

  That cannot be change now.

  Can you understand now ? LOL
• Ching13 hours ago

  The Branding is always there but quality has deteriorated. That's PAP.
• Lawrence7 hours ago

  agree maybe 50 yrs later
• Lawrence6 hours ago

  wait for 50 yrs later
• John5 hours ago

  RickyL still doesn't understand. LOL

  The PAP's ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING already began in 2003, 5 years BEFORE the 2008 financial crisis.

  The "Economic Restructuring" includes the 6.9 million population plan, locking up of our CPF$$, massive influx of FTs to replace the locals.

  PAP policy is to let Companies a "freehand" to replace locals PMETs (especially the older ones), as they see fit.

  This way, more LOCALS will be forced to take up lower level jobs which these FTs are not willing to do.

  There is NO reason why after being give a strong mandate by the 70% in the Sep 2015 GE, PAP has to change course and reverse its policies.

  Afterall, hundreds of billions of Taxpayers$$$ and public funds have been spent to build up all the new or expanded public infrastructures all over the country.

  When the Govt has already spend so much $$$ to build so many things already, they have NO CHOICE but to proceed with their plans.

  Infrastructures that have been been build or expanded cannot be "unbuild". All the $$ spent cannot be returned to the Treasury.

  The slow down we are seeing now is due to global economic slowdown. Not due to PAP reversing its FT policies.

  Locals PMETs who are unemployed can really forget about sending in your resume.

  No companies will want to slash their younger FTs to employ the mature local PMETs, especially if the locals PMETs have been out of the relevant industry for more than 2 years.

  If you have been driving a taxi for the last few years. There is absolutely NO chance. 0, you can get employed back into a PMET position in any company, unless you can get in by personal connections with anyone inside the management or HR.

  If you have voted for the PAP, then you have to accept the consequences of your vote. You have to support PAP agendas of letting FTs take over your job opportunity.

  So don't KPKB now. LOL

  The job of a Govt is to create an environment which public and private sectors can provide jobs to its citizens. The Govt has now provide you with a lot of low level jobs in the private sectors.

  PMETs jobs are reserved for the FTs. The PAP needs to give FTs good well-paying jobs to entice them to take up citizenships/PRs.

  LOL
• John5 hours ago

  My guess is that the PAP has probably build up the necessary infrastructures to accommodate up to around 6.2 million population already.

  The current slow down in global economy, especially in China and Asia, means the PAP might not proceed with the aggressive building of infrastructures now, at least for the next 1-2 years.

  MNCs are also cuttnig back.

  Locals mature PMETs who are UNEMPLOYED, you can wait for your turn 50 years later, if you are still alive. LOL

  Or alternatively, you can accept reality and kiss your PMET careers goodbye for the rest of your life. LOL