The Online Citizen thanks Xtralicious for allowing us to publish the following article. It was first posted on her blog here.
Xtralicious
A few days ago, people were positively outraged that this Foreign Talent (mouthed with a very contemptuous and derisive tone) dragged the National flag on the floor during the opening ceremony, and here people are positively proud that she is one of us, she won a silver medal for us! Excuse moi while I go to that corner and roll my eyes silly.
*Goes to corner and rolls eyes silly* *Comes back prim and proper again*
Where is our pride and dignity, that we forsake it so readily for a bit of gain?
The BBC pens its article, starting off with:
Feng Tianwei, who, like the rest of the Singapore team, is an import from China, won both her singles matches to help them clinch a tense 3-2 victory.
You feel proud? You feel that Singapore has won a Silver medal?
I don’t. And I am not the only one it seems.
And this doesn’t sit well with me too.
Their table tennis coach Liu Guodong said: “I feel very honoured. I’ve been in Singapore for just over two years and can help it get an Olympic medal, at least a silver, for the first time in 48 years.”
好大的傲气啊！
I am going to be scathing here and say – that you are only here in Singapore because you know you cannot make it in China.
And it shames me greatly to say that.
And since we are into such capitalism and buying of National pride, why go for the second best? They should have bought Wang Nan and Zhang Yining over! Then, we would have won our first gold medal in 48 years, or ever.
**
I have nothing against people choosing to immigrate to this country. I shake my head at the whole Foreign Talent nationwide propaganda because I think most of them are a big joke, including the now very famous Mr Amit Nagpal. I used to think that Foreign Talent belong in the category of private bankers who specialize in certain niches, highly specialized industry experts and so forth.
Apparently our government disagrees.
These days, even a foreigner with average qualification and professional experience is considered as a “Foreign Talent”. Thankfully I don’t need to write an entire diatribe to express how appalled I am and how ridiculous this whole ruckus is. Endoh has done it very nicely.
With that kind of direction from the government, I wonder how much stronghold the citizens have in this landscape of rapidly increasing foreign talent. There are many of these foreign talent in the estate I live in now. They are rude, aggressive and have no common sense of living in Singapore. I wonder if they can truly assimilate in the lifestyle and culture of Singapore, or are we merely a stepping stone for them to move on to US or Canada?
As for the Foreign Talent playing in the Singapore team, I do not blame them for coming here for the money. Anyone would. I blame the government for yet again, choosing the short term solution route. You may say that with the Sports School changes everything. We are now nurturing our own, encouraging our young – no expenses spared. Really??
Yet another foreign talent.
And you think she is one of us? That she thinks she is one of us?
In January 2008, Tao became embroiled in controversy after the Singapore Swimming Association (SSA) introduced a 15% levy on the cash awards given to swimmers, with about 6% set aside for youth development. As part of the government’s Multi-Million Dollar Award Programme (MAP), she received S$23,750 for winning three individual titles and one team gold at the 2007 SEA Games.
She was therefore “taxed” S$3,562.50, with S$1,425 going to youth development. Unhappy with this, Tao said: “If they [the SSA] want to cultivate youth, they should find their own money, not pay using our awards. It’s through our hard work that we got the money. So, I don’t see the point that we should give the money to the youths.” She also said it had been her school and not the SSA which had borne the expense of her overseas training. The SSA said it was “very disappointed” with her comments, and pointed out that the association had spent “easily in excess of $20,000″ in sending her for competitions abroad such as the World Championships, Hong Kong Open and Japan International, and a stint at the Australian Institute of Sport. SSA Vice-President Oon Jin Gee told the press, “Even with the Sports School funding it, it’s our taxpayers’ dollars going into her development. It doesn’t matter which avenue it comes from, it’s still Singapore’s support for her.
And now they are using the taxpayers’ money to fund her million dollar makeover.
I am so sick of the level of stupidity of this government.
Can we entice Obama Barack and Hillary Clinton in as Foreign Talent to replace this lot of grossly overpaid and highly complacent peacocks?
Oh. I don’t think so. It slipped my mind that Mr Barack and Ms Clinton are in politics for totally different reasons than our local chosen ones. Silly me.
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“Does it matter as long as we have people doing well for Singapore?”
There is always danger of using the end to justify the means. They have to e aware of the consequences of using shortcut means especially to government that tends to motivated by money than passion. If indeed money can solve problem and buy talented, why aren’t we winning in other sports as well ? Is the China table tennis team just a rare and lucky example of the solution ? The gov is just taking the easy way out. Did the gov ask why the local can’t be groomed to greatness and what is the hindrance ? The FT have nothing to lose, and they can always return to their country and live frugally, whereas in Singapore where thing are expensive and no human right, who to pity the Singaporean should they fail ?
Agreed! It’s the policy that is wrong. We are telling the world that we welcome all foreign ‘talents’ in all fields through Olympics. And right now, after seeing the Olympics, many countries are considering to come here soon..haha (BUT, are we attracting real talents?- No,No) Like the article that quoted the PR’s letter. Foreigners(including PRs) just dont get it. They are the ones who took Singapore for granted! Singapore treats its immigrants fairly whereas other developed nations treat their immigrants as second class citizens. Singapore is a place where PR status and citizenship can be granted cheaply whereas in other countries like NZ, USA and other developed nations, they have very strict requirements and the fees for the applications are very expensive. That is why many of these foreigners (including PRs) dont pledge to be Singapore Citizens, they just treat here as a stepping stone. Gain what they want and qualified to the country they wish for. Will these foreigners(including PRs) still stay in Singapore if we meet crisis? haha, they will not! We, the true- blue Singaporeans will be the one that fight for our nation!!
So I will not be surprise if these players surrender their Singapore citizenships, go and settle in USA or go back China after their retirements with loads of $$$.
I do agree with many of you in the forum that there are many foreigners in Singapore and it can be uncomfortable to some sections of the community. All I am saying is that as the more educated lot here (I hope) we should also try to look at the bigger picture of the inevitability of a visible transient global population that will come and serve Singapore, then possibly even moving on to another country. It would help if we can be more constructive balancing it with the global picture, rather than the small confines of our tiny island.
There are Singaporeans who emigrated to the USA, Australia and UK and have come back too. So are Brits who return from Australia/USA to England. It happens. Without judging its merits, we are now living in a globalised economy enabled and hastened by technology and liberalisation based on the market economy.
I do support the opinion of Daniel that the government should be more patient and look more into supporting the passions of its people rather than motivating people with just money. However sadly, I think passion is a expensive past-time in a tiny city-state like Singapore trying to come out from its recent industrial efficiency into something more. Realistically, do you expect our rapidly promoted government scholar ministers (some even uncontested) to understand how to ignite the passion of the people? I think some may even have trouble persuading a pack of hungry girl guides to the hot dog stand. So I wouldn’t depend on the government. Many people around the world don’t.
“Realistically, do you expect our rapidly promoted government scholar ministers (some even uncontested) to understand how to ignite the passion of the people? ”
If that’s the case, that underlines the failure of government that motivated by glory and money. That is the kind of value we get from a government we indirectly giving mandate for over 4 decades ? Such government will never rule forever and only living in self-deniel mode and always look out for cheap and short term solution. No first government will ever resort to this. Not Malaysia, not Taiwan, not USA, no first world country ever, only Uniquely Singapore.
The problem is not whether we can depend on ourselves more than on the government but the government want people to depend on them in order to control and to show that PAP is the next best thing the country offers. The government do as they please and as they like without concern to citizen’s feeling make depending on ourselves seem harder each day because the at the end of day, the financial impact and uncertainty perpertuate by gov policies will greatly affect our decision in one way or another. For one, Singaporean does no longer trust the gov and thus not gullible, and therefore treat the gov with grain of salt, whereas the FT which may not be aware of what really happen might just go along with it knowing that they can always alternative to return to mainland.
Ask any sensible Singaporean and they will likely give the same reason.
Dear Daniel
Liberalisation of the world economies based more and more on market principles have resulted in motivation by money and material. Almost no country is immune. ‘Communist’ countries too.
Is this the kind of government we have voted for?
I think you have the answer already. You may be luckier than I am, I didn’t even have a chance to vote! :) But you are right, no government will rule forever. Nothing is permanent. We all know that.
But you are certainly wrong about other governments not buying glory with money. You are wrong big time here!!!! Sorry if I sound harsh. If you think ours is bad, you aint see nothing yet elsewhere. And I don’t necessarily mean those ‘banana republics’, I’m referring even to those western developed nations!!!!
I agree our government is stifling, but if you really want to move something, you can. The former Soviet Eastern Bloc countries were in totalitarian rule. Much stricter and much more regimented than in Singapore. Then, you are talking about restricted movements and Central Planning that even fixed distribution of bread and milk. However the citizens continue to meet in secret in pubs and planned revolutions.
Here, we don’t need to plan revolutions. We just need to do what we believe in. The electoral process is already there. Ok, ok, not a very fair one, but we definitely don’t need a revolution to change anything.
I don’t understand why some sections of the community here loves to depend on the government they love to criticise and slam. Why depend on the government? Is that what they want you to believe? If so, you have fallen deep into it. Is it because they are doing too much for you? Elsewhere in the world, citizens don’t depend so much on their government. They form self-help and civic groups and take action. Incidentally, this forum itself is one good example of such a civic group in my opinion. Good work!
Dear Daniel
Sorry forgot to add that the FTs I met, especially from developing countries are very very street smart. They know what is going on. I think you have under-estimated them to be obedient goats.
Singaporeans just do not like PRC nationals. If it was a white man who was playing for us no one would say anything.
Another thing. Find me a singaporean who’s willing to be a professional sportsman and then i’ll say locals have a chance at this.
Be realistic. We are too busy chasing that car/apartment to be running/hitting that ball around. Since there is someone who is doing the dirty work for us, why complain?
We should just sit back and enjoy the show before going to work the next day and continue the race.
I have nothing against immigration if it is to the overall benefit of society. The majority of Singaporeans are descendents of immigrants after all. But I must say I find this whole silver medal thing plain embarassing. I think the whole point of Olympics competition is to show to the world the sporting talent one’s country is able to nurture. Buying one nurtured by another country just so we can claim an olympic medal defeats the point. If anything, it makes us look silly in front of the whole world. – The usual accusation that Singaporeans thing money can buy/solve everything. In effect, China won the gold and silver medals that day. Singapore is small, so we can only focus on the limited areas we are good at. If that doesn’t include sports, so be it. I’d rather be proud of the things we are good at than claim an achievement that is not really ours.
I’m annoyed by the fact that half ot Team Singapore is not 100%. The presence of foreigners in the team goes to show that the govt only care whether we got win a medal or not, and don’t care whether it’s singaporean or foreigner. Even New Zealand, a country of about same population as us, can win 3gold. I think the thing is not whether we have FTs in team singapore, rather Singapore has no sports culture as well, probably due to our way of living which doesn’t promote sports at all. All money spent are effectively a waste of time.
testing
Weird.. my previous post does not seem to post successfully.
We are not alone.
One Quarter of Beijing Olympics Table Tennis Players Are China Born [Click on my username]
I’m so glad that Li Jiawei lost in the sem-finals today. I’m hoping that she will not get any more medal for her singles event. Enuff spent on her and her kind.
I would also suggest that from now on, the venerable Straits Times reports on the activities of these newly-minted “Singaporeans” in “MONEY” section.
long ago, both my grandmothers used to sit and have war stories telling session and we grandchildren would sit on the floor and listened with opened mouth.
Much were told about the millions who die in the hand of MousyToon..etc..
come our times, we talk cocks over coffeeO and beer etc
now – forums, blogs what have…
End of the day, it all boils down to putting X on the voting slip.
no one went around suicide bombing places and hijacking planes, etc
Hope we all stay that way.
And If anyone of us feel that we can contribute to building Singapore to a better place than it already is, do come forward and serve, there are plenty of avenues that we can go – from hospice, voluntary org, etc.
If you can do better that any of the super highly paid Ministers – please do the honour.
walloping away on the keyboard angrily on issues is not going to change anything anyway. It is quite sad to alway be reading lots of angry and unhappy opinions.
cheers to those who posted happy comments. made me happy just reading them.
How about saying something happy or good at something for a change – winning a silver is quite an achievement whether it is now or 48 years ago – surely we can say something nice.
Remember that if you say nice things from you heart – it is like a smile. costs nothing but bring lots of good feeling to others…
An angry word – can cut like a knife and take a long time to heal and only if you know – the wound is a self-inflicted wound.
Cheers
Happy Man.
“63) Gus on August 22nd, 2008 1.02 pm It is quite sad to alway be reading lots of angry and unhappy opinions.”
Hi, you are back again. You have got to get used to it lah as we are starting from a unenviable position where there will be more to come – e.g natural cause and effect lah.
“Much were told about the millions who die in the hand of MousyToon..etc..
come our times, we talk cocks over coffeeO and beer etc.”
Also, try again to get used it lah. Talk cocks over coffeeO and beer are harmless activities that common people can indulge in lah.
There are some people making decisions and affecting a few lives here and there in the cosy and protected comfort of posh offices with perhaps luxurious lunch or dinner spread with smooth cocktail (e.g or wine ?) to go with after the so-called tough decision making session – which is not so uncommon (if you know what I mean).
“How about saying something happy or good at something for a change – winning a silver is quite an achievement whether it is now or 48 years ago – surely we can say something nice.”
I wonder why you must make yourself suffer in the first place by coming here as by know surely you would have learned the unique flavour of this site.
Trashing foreign talents will not solve the problem. Ultimately, if a person wishes to excel in certain things they must make sacrifices along the way. Not many Singaporean parents are willing to let their children do full time in sports. Only when their child are doing badly academically, then this will be a more viable option for them.
“65) loop on August 22nd, 2008 3.18 pm
Trashing foreign talents will not solve the problem.”
Likewise, trashing the alternative views of normal-in-the-street Singapoeans will also not solve the problem, especially with counter-insurging views to make it look that common Singaporeans are the problem, especially after all THESE YEARS they have been made / conditioned to believe that they should leave the real action to the highest level.
What we are experiencing for the world to see is how an obsessed city for personal glory and wealth – at any costs – will eventually lead to.
Can’t wait for the credit to roll.
truth is, we have been conditioned to look at losers as ‘abnormal’, ‘useless’, ‘bum’, ‘don’t deserve handouts’, ‘leeches’, etc.
we have a spirit that can’t accept the….’non religious’ point of view. we want to be a perfect specimen of someone’s idea of GOD.
therefore, we reject satanic losers who sleep on the streets…lol.
( what the obsession with medals is saying… the spirit of this nation can’t accept ‘losers’ as part of their community..:) )
The problem lies in “One World One Dream”. That’s why foreign talents are regarded as own people.
>The problem lies in “One World One Dream”. That’s why foreign talents are >regarded as own people.
That’s good, no?
There is no doubt that the current Olympic silver was bought with well, literally “silver”.
1) Li Jiawei see herself as a China person 中国人 and not a Singaporean.
http://fireopal82.blogspot.com/2008/08/identity-crisis.html
Lee Jiawei: I, myself , am from Beijing and am a China lady (note the use of words China as in 中国人 and not 华人) I hope to be able to, on my motherland…and also my ‘territory’ win a medal.
2) The question is why Singaporeans are not competitive enough to be on the world stage. They got noone to blame, except themselves because all Singaporeans care about are money, money, money and they want it easy, easy, easy. So very few Singaporeans are willing to put their passions into sports and excelled in it.
3) Of course, the sports officials in Singapore do not help. They are as myopic as frogs in the well are. They only care about winning, at all costs and no matter what are the consequences. The question everyone should ask is, willl we be able to produce our own champions. The fact that Singapore need to rely on imported talent goes to show what a pathetic sport planners there are here. But then, these people will not be sacked because the top people in Singapore will never get sacked.
these people are singaporean. they have obtained singaporean citizenships at the expense of their original PRC one. How else would one define being a Singaporean? We can only define it in our own subjective terms that will always exclude some other Singaporeans. And I don’t see any reason to be protective about being Singaporean. Anyone can identify as a Singaporean or apply to obtain a Singaporean citizenship if they are eligible. Shouldn’t we welcome these new Singaporeans who can contribute to Singapore, in just the same way that the US for example welcomes immigrants and shapes its national identity as a melting pot to fit in these newcomers?
In the case of Feng Tianwei, she did get a silver didn’t she? Wouldn’t that mean she would be good enough for the PRC team? How does one top that? I find the argument that she’s only here because she couldn’t make it there in China unplausible.
Instead, it seems to me that most of the complaints are really fuelled by the feeling that Singaporeans are marginalized by these foreign imports. This is a valid point, but we should be clear and upfront about it, instead of denigrating others’ achievements. If these athletes want to play as Singaporeans, even sacrificing their previous homeland and prior affinities and histories they had with their former country, doesn’t that count for something? Isn’t that a testament to the strength of their personal life projects and the dedication and effort they put in to achieve them? What good can it do us to put down such individual human triumphs?
& the winner of the medal is the Straits Times.
It is happening as predicted – Lee gone over, Liu leaving, Li getting married, Feng contemplating…….
One paper is trying to do the damage control – “blessings in disguise” it says, but dear editor sir – please think first how Singapore ping pong got its silver medal in the first place- can it happened without coach Liu ? How insensitive and hurting can one’s writing be in this gracious society.
Let us pray that the fallout will stop now and STTA can find a good replacement coach to maintain the dreams for 2012.
Foreign Talents…. Americans….Ang Mohs from England,,,,.Canadians…Yak…Pui…Most of them came to enjoy life with big fat salaries….extra expatriate fringe benefits…..cannot do the work but used Singaporean talents under them to work like shits and passed up the finished job as theirs to Big Bosses up at the top. And sad to say, the Foreign Talents were cunning to become War Lords and the useless locales were ready to become their “”BALLS “” Carriers for a little extra increments or useless “”Titles”" such as One Man Section Manager of this and that Dept..These “”Local “”Managers did not not even get the peanut nut shells as fringe benefits in tgheir pay packets.. The smarter “Locales “bluffed and took kickbacks to wine and dine the Foreign Talents. When the Foreign Talents were transferred to another post, the locales having caught the laziness sickness would spead the disease to new staff. In actual fact, the Foreign Talents came here to corrupt the locales. Even some General Managers of Top Companies lived like that and no wonder some of the Top Fifty Companies in the World had to close down….mass retrenching. So watch out when Foreign Talents come to Singapore to work. We must stop being too eager to allow them in. Pergi Mang Pos elsewhere and not in our Republic of Singapore !
Oabamaosamaayatollah
http://blog.dk.sg/2010/05/19/the-quitter-quits-singapore/