Law and order

Singapore had built a good reputation for law and order in the past. However, the situation has deteriorated in recent years. A senior police officer told me that the recruitment of policemen had not kept pace with the increase in population. Many Singaporeans prefer not to join the Police Force. A SAF officer told me that it is also difficult to get Singaporeans to join the SAF as full time soldiers.

I know that the Police and the SAF pay well and provides a good career for their officers. But, the problem is that the finance sector in Singapore pays so well that it attracts too many people, including the top talents.

The finance sector is able to pay well because they are allowed to make a lot of profits in trading (i.e. actually speculating on stocks, futures and derivatives) and in selling structured products that are bad for the public. Another sector that draws away too many people is the property sector. Too many people are taking a lot of money by being property agents.

Many people can earn a lot of money by selling financial products and properties, and they are taking away people from the productive sectors of the economy. This trend will be bad for the future of Singapore - we will be a less safe and  less productive nation.

Tan Kin Lian