Emigration

Recently, read KTM's entry at SingaporeAngle regarding the subject matter. And I wonder, what could be the reasons Singaporeans emigrate? In a spur of the moment, I did think of emigrating when I felt the government's upgrading policy was divisive. If wanting a government that listens to the people and not implementing a policy that is divisive, makes me a spoilt brat like KTM said, then so be it. However, the deeper question is why do we think of emigration? The answer is actually very simple: Because we can.

With the technological advances of recent times, travelling to other countries have been made easier and affordable. In 24 hours, you practically can reach any major country of your choice. This makes physcially uprooting to another place possible and plausible now. Being able to converse in English also makes moving to another English speaking country convenient. This is greatly thanks to Singapore's education system where English language is the emphasis. If you are able to converse in Chinese, your choices would have widened further.

Globalisation has also made the world seemed a lot smaller. Look around us, we are surrounded by Starbucks, McDonalds, KFC, Zara, Mango, Gucci, Channel, Agnes. b, Louis Vuitton, Apple, HP etc. Many other countries we go to now, we can find the above same brands, which helps to make the foreign land seemed a little less foreign. Living in an urban city like Singapore, make us quite capable of adapting to other foreign cities. With the advent of Internet, it makes connecting back home through e-mails, instant messaging, video chatting, VoIP a cinch. The communication channels available now is mind-boggling. Even before Internet, with the proliferation of movies and tv shows, many of us can already recognise Tokyo tower, Eiffel Tower, Golden Gate Bridge, Empire State builing, New York's yellow cabs etc even if we've not physically been there. And similarly, with Internet, finding more information before moving to a foreign land is now at your finger-tips.

With globalisation, comes opportunities too. Many are able to get better paying jobs in overseas postings and placements. This may be opportunities available because you went to look for it yourself or your MNC company offered. With globalisation, comes competitions too. During the last economic downturn, many factories reloated to countries like China where labour is cheaper. If your employer offers you a choice of retrenchment or continued employment but in another country, what would be your choice?

The growing affluence of Singapore has contributed much to the emigration phenomenon too. During long weekends or school holidays, you would see a packed airport, full-flights etc. Singaporeans are a well-travelled lot. That is only the short-term group. These group did not emigrate but these escapades have opened their eyes to the foreign cultures and world which definitely have left an indelible mark in their minds.

With growing affluence, many families have also been able to send their children overseas for studies. The children may be sent to study in foreign coutries because they can't get a seat in the limited placings of local tertiary institutions or the parents believe that their children can get better tertiary education in America or Australia. When you have our children studying and living in a foreign land for years and maybe spending the best time of their lives while being there, where do you think they may hope to emigrate in future?

To address the brain-drain problem, Singapore has sought to attract and welcome foreign talents. While working here, they may find someone they love, get married and even starting a family here. Of course, the government would hope that these family nucleus would choose to stay rooted locally, but one partner being a non-Singaporean, there is an equal chance that the non-Singaporean spouse would want to return to their homeland, bringing their whole family with them. Importing foreign talents is not a zero-sum game.

I believe it is also very common for people to move from one place to another in modern times. In bigger countries, the only difference is that, they move from one state to another. Singapore is only an island, if we move, we drop into the sea already!

I agree with KTM. If the people chooses to emigrate, instead of labelling them as quitters, the government should be gracious about it and wish the people all the best, sincerely. Do not forget, our forefathers "quitted" China to come to Singapore. There can be many reasons why anyone chooses to emigrate. There is no right or wrong. It just is. This is greatly due to the world getting smaller and closer thus making more choices and opportunities available. The global population is emigrating more than ever as a whole. This phenomenon is not uniquely Singapore. How does it help when the government labels Singaporeans who emigrated as quitters? Does that make them change their mind of emigrating? No. Does that make them want to come back to Singapore more? No. On the contrary, it may even push these people further away. So what for? There is no point in calling them quitters.

This actually reminds me of the many Chinese serials where the father will yell at the son,"你有胆量走出这个门， 永远不要再回来 (Don't you ever come back, if you dare walk out of this door)!"

Do you ever see the son walk back? No, right? The son will instead become more determined and walk out of the door.

The government would be too myopic to think that by labelling the emigrated people as quitters would solve the brain-drain problem. Do you think consumers would simply buy a product because you shouted,"You are a quitter if you don't buy my product!"? Instead, you get more people buying your product when it is better, has more features and provide great pre-post sales service.

To retain the people, make Singapore a more attractive place to live in. This can be achieved by providing better opportunities to our own people than what other foreign countries can provide. Be tolerant of a more diverse culture and opinions. Let the citizens be real stakeholders. Let our views be heard and seriously considered. I don't think the government wants its citizens who are only attracted to stay because of HDB upgrading and progress package. I don't think this is the Singapore the government wants. Many of us blog, some passionately, some vehemently. Be tolerant of alternative views and opinions of dissent.

We blog, because we care. Happy 41st birthday, Singapore!