No glitter in ‘imported’ medals
As the public opposition grew,
the pro-government media argued strongly for the players,
and acting Cabinet Minister (for Social and Family Development) Chan Chun Sing
congratulated the table tennis team for “uniting the nation”.
Some observers believe
the public feelings reflected the country’s mood against foreign workers in general,
blaming them for taking away jobs and opportunities.
To me,
it’s too big a number for the People’s Action Party (PAP) government to ignore
given its weakening popularity.
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It is preferable to grow our own local talents, but as so few youths are willing to make a career in sports and their parents discourage them anyway, Singapore has no choice but to look for young people from other countries.
ReplyDeleteAnd it is not easy for these imported talents nor for our coaches. They still have to spend many years in training in Singapore to reach world class standard.
Singaporeans should give them our support, rather than condemn them or belittle their achievements.
The attitude of many Singaporeans reflect a negative culture that is bad for Singapore. We tend to see what is wrong, rather than what is right. We are happy to see nothing being done, rather than to see some results being achieved.
Maybe, one day, the achievements of our imported foreign sports talents can spur the local Singaporeans to put in their best to achieve the same results.
I may appear to be speaking for our PAP leaders, but I assure you that this are my honest thoughts.
Proud?
ReplyDeleteI only feel proud of Tan Howe Liang's silver medal. And it was achieved without any reward waiting for him. That is what I am proud of!
They can ask Ho Yow Sun to make a song and dance of the latest achievement, but I have no feelings for it. Nothing absolutely!
"It is preferable to grow our own local talents, but as so few youths are willing to make a career in sports and their parents discourage them anyway, Singapore has no choice but to look for young people from other countries."
ReplyDeleteUnderlying assumptions seem to be that (1) Singapore must compete in sports and (2) must look to imports given the dearth of local sportsmen.
What is the point of spending so much effort and resources on a questionable practice that only invites controversy and derision? Win medals or not, either way it is a lose-lose proposition. Policy makers must examine their principles and the implementation.
Hi sgcynic
ReplyDeleteYou have a point and many people share your view.
My view is different. The money spent is not that much, compared to money spent elsewhere.
Sport is also important to our people.
Of course, it is better to nurture our local sports talents but the "imports" can also give it a headstart.
Singaporeans want the "imports" to
integrate into our society, but we must also take the step to make it easy for them to fit in, e.g. by making them feel welcomed.
My brother and his family migrated to Australia 15 years ago, and this neighbours make them feel welcome and they fit well into the community.
TKL made a point worth noting, the money spent on "importing" sports talents to win medals for Singapore is really peanuts, as compared to the billions lost overseas by our 2 SWFs.
ReplyDeleteGreat prompting, it's a comforting thought, at least.
"Sport is also important to our people."
ReplyDeleteAgree.
"Of course, it is better to nurture our local sports talents but the "imports" can also give it a headstart."
Agree. But I think many would also agree that the "headstart" had become a large scale import (mirroring that of the foreigners in our economy) with no limit until Singaporeans gave their feedback in the 2011 general elections.
Hi TKL, your brother AND FAMILY moved to Australia WITH THE INTENTION TO INTEGRATE. There was no contract signed with a govt body prior to that, promising that he will do XXX, and the govt will do YYY. He moved there on his own accord, preparing to sink his roots in, come hell or high water.
ReplyDeleteThe sports talents are imported to Sgp on contractual terms - you practice day and night, you give you life to table-tennis, WE WILL PAY YOU MONTHLY FOR DOING SO, and given that you're already #4 or #5 in China, you should win medals for the country.
Do our local sports talents get TO BE PAID to train? No - they juggle work/studies and training. Did we assess the sports FT ability to integrate with the country BEFORE giving them citizenship. No. As future citizens, did we consider - hey, what kind of paper qualifications do you have, how are you going to earn a living in costly Singapore after you retire from sports in 5 years time? No. We didn't even sign them up for English classes!! They are brought in as mercenaries, pure and simple. And now we tell them - you must love Sgp, you must have a sense of belonging here, you must recite the Pledge in front of us. Something is wrong, isn't it ??
I believe the majority of Singaporeans congractulte FTW and the table-tennis players for their win, in their personal capacity as sportsmen. Just like we are happy for Bolt, for Douglas, and for each Olympian. But we do not feel proud for the way the country achieved these medals. And the more the govt tries to shove this down our throat to make us feel proud, the more vehemently we feel against it.
Tan Howe Liang's was born in Shantou, China. Won Silver in 1960. Feng won Bronze in 2012 i.e. 52 years later. Both borned in China and made Sgp their home. If we are proud of Tan's achievement, why not Feng's. She was not considered good enough to represent China and Sgp gave her the chance to persue her passion. Same goes to Poland, Germany and even Hong Kong. The ladies worked hard and we should recognize that. It just that the planners and the politicians who head Government Owned organization like FAS, SSC etc failed miserably i.e. not doing enough to bring up locals to international standard or maybe targeting sports that can never reach international standard e.g. football, basketball, swimming, track & field. Should focus harder on sports that Asians has proven successful e.g. archery, shooting, diving, table-tennis, judo etc.
ReplyDeleteAustralia is a huge country with vast resources. Social safety nets and pension-like schemes are in place. The population is small and its infrastructure is sufficiently in place to cope with the number of FTs(foreign talents). So the policy of immigration does not impact too negatively on the quality of life and job opportunity.
ReplyDeleteIn Singapore, our government has been trying to find all justifications for the unpopular immigration policy. I do not find our HDB estates are much cleaner(in fact, it's worse)as compared to a decade ago. Many FTs are having cosy jobs which many ordinary Singaporeans wish to have them. The salaries/wages are stagnated due to ample supplies of so-called FTs. I have seen the Filipino people working in HR department and employment agencies whose jobs are to recruit both young and old Singaporeans to work for S$4.00 an hour in fast food restaurants like Burger King. The young Chinese girls are employed to be stationed at MRT ticketing counter, some of them are not conversant in English. The lists go on........
It's right to say that we should welcome immigrants and help them to integrate into our society. However, the sudden and big influx in number do catch many Singaporeans unprepared psychologically and economically.
Unfortunately, the PAP government does not practise "policy of equal misery". The unpopular immigration that creates a lot of unhappiness among the local Singaporeans, there seems to have "zero" effect on the PAP's ministers and their elites. Instead, their salaries and benefits expanded in quantum and depth in the last decade. Where is the justice when one is talking hard about the justification. Are Singaporeans that "daft"? You draw your own conclusion.
Reply to 12:19 am
ReplyDeleteDo give a pen name, so it is easier to refer to your post, instead of "anonymous" or 12:19 am.
I can understand the view that you expressed, which is shared by many people.
But, that is not the only legitimate view. We can also give the benefit of the doubt to our recent "imports" that they also wish to integrate, except that they do have to train very hard. The money may be a factor, but there could also be other factors, such as the chance to excel, and to excel for Singapore.
Let us be more generous in our approach towards other people. Even if they had erred, we can help them to correct their way. I am sure they would love to learn English, if they can find the time.
By being kind to them, we can make them feel welcome and happy to integrate into our society, like Tan Liang Howe.
Hi Sgcynic
ReplyDeleteLike many other people, I agree that the large scale import of foreigners was a bad policy mistake, especially as they are of lower cost to employers and depress the wages and take jobs away from our locals. We have our Government to blame for this mess, but they are now trying to address these issues.
This is a separate matter from the few sports imports, and we should give them our welcome and encouragement.
China table tennis coached said they trained 4.5 hours a day while others trained 1.5 hours a day. To convert to Singaporean, then spent hours training table tennis daily, travel frequently to compete, sacrificing social and leisure time as compared to a local Singaporean working in Sgp, all in the name of passion for the game. I honestly don't think a person will do all these in persue of the monetary reward. With the wrong motivation, a sport talent cannot last long. It is this passion that makes a great sport person. We only see the end result and make comments or criticize them when they lose.
ReplyDeleteTo reach top 5, it is hardwork, hardwork and more hardwork. If you don't work harder than the Chinese, how can you stand a chance to beat them. China will always be the leader in table tennis because they have the resources & youth to maintain the edge.
Let's hope the younger Ministers have the "talent" to lift our local sport persons to international level. If a local Singaporean without sports talent finds it tough to get a degree in Singapore, what is the chance of finding a Singaporean who excel in studies and sports with international standard? Something must go? If this person does not comes from a rich family, likely he/she will giveup the sports and concentrate on studies since it is a survival issue. So most likely this talent has to come from a reasonably rich family who can financial support to excel in sports. If Chan Chun Sing doesn't recognize it, then it will be the same all over again i.e. Politician runs sports organization, small budget for sport persons, setting high paper target while careless about sports persons welfare etc. Then after a while, our good sports Minister will revert to getting foreigners in again and spend more money because we just don't have the people to excel in sports and studies......
If the way of sg lifestyle cannot produce sports talent ,so be it. Why force this? What is achieved thro medal buying?
ReplyDeleteNigeria are known for top long distance runners cos running is a part of their lifestyle.
If you pay a person $900,000 a year [including part-time MP allowance], they must be seen to do work else how to justify? Funny thing is with so many Ministers, public don't get to know what their Ministry has accomplished for the next 5 years. I will not be surprise there are some Ministers who just sit there and go with the flow. Maybe our system reward loyalty instead of merit or achievement.
ReplyDeletehttp://forums.asiaone.com/showthread.php?t=53056#1
ReplyDeleteFate of former Chinese Olympic Champions in China ..
Feng & Sgp did the right thing accepting each other. It is a Win-Win situation. At least through her hardwork and passion for table tennis, she should live comfortably in Sgp instead of returning to China with a questionable future for ex-champion. Hope with her passion, she can motivate and train up the locals to international level after she retired.