Interesting article. Having lived in both countries, let’s look at this point by point.

1. Article says – Australia cost of living is very high. Daily products and houses are expensive – much more than Singapore.

1. Not true. Australia is cheaper for lot of daily necessities such as subsidized healthcare, education and cheaper housing given a greater supply of land vis-a-vis a smaller population. In Singapore today (2010) $500k will get you a moderate-sized HDB flat, whereas in Australia that will buy you a house on an adequate size of land in a decent suburb in Sydney or Melbourne. In smaller cities like Adelaide or Brisbane, you’d get something pretty close to a mansion.

2. Article says – Singapore’s GDP per capita (nominal) is expected to overtake Japan this year. Becoming the highest per capita GDP in Asia

2. Agreed. But Singapore is a service-based economy & the value of its domestic goods and services is heavily reliant on external market forces over which it has no control. However the point about Singapore being well-placed to take advantage of the growth in China & India is true.

3. Article says – Singapore has an exciting future. ASEAN might become another CARICOM or MERCUSR, your Singapore passport can allow you to work and live freely in other ASEAN countries.

3. The Australian passport allows you to work & live freely in other ASEAN countries as well.

3. (Note point 3 appeared twice in the article so the same goes here). Article says – Singapore is much safer, less corrupted and has more convenient amentities.

3. Safer, yes. Convenient amenities, yes Singapore is more efficient & has better infrastructure. Less corrupted – not true. Corruption in Australian parliament would be exposed by the media the very next day. Openess & accountability to the Australian public is something every politician understands and accepts. However, Singapore politicians have walls & do not allow the media to probe behind the scenes. Therefore, given this lack of accountability to the public, if the corruption level in Singapore is higher I would not be surprised because nobody gets to know about it – unless the government wants to occasionally make an example out of someone. That said, I can’t comment on the specific level of corruption in each country.

4. Article says – Singapore offers a better place to bring up kids

4. Not true – it depends on what you consider important when bringing up your kids. Singapore may offer bilingual options in schools but Australia offers the same. The problem is the ‘kiasu-ness’ in Singapore society takes its toll on the kids very early on in life resulting in a highly stressful environment for them to grow up in. Although the Singapore government wants to encourage creativity & innovation, the school environment in Singapore is not conducive to this. Australia offers a much better work-life balance with more time given to working parents to look after their kids, higher baby bonuses & other government perks that encourage this work-life balance. There’s also a lot more activity in schools that foster play & learning through which children develop more holistically rather than being overly focused on just the academic aspect of education – which is just one part of the picture.

But as for the drug problem – agreed. Australia should adopt the same law as Singapore does when it comes to the drugs as this is a problem & causes a huge hole in the pockets of Australian taxpayers.

5. Article says - you just be a bit creative, you can easily get a nice house in JB, Malaysia or Indonesia and enjoy the less stressful lifestyle there as well every weekend or day.

5. Probably. But the weather, climate & countrysides in Australia are very beautiful too and there’s no need to bring your passport along when going on holiday.

6. In Australia, technology is so backward

6. Absolutely agreed. Technology here seems light years behind Singapore.

7. Article says – Australia has water problems. Small towns only have rain water tanks. Yucks, do you dare to drink rainwater?

7. True but the author makes a misinformed point in the article. There are water rationing regulations at certain times in the year – usually in summer. This means that there are certain days & times during the week when you can wash your car or water your garden but this has little impact on day to day living. As for small towns, yes may have a different source of water supply but these are towns in regional areas with tiny populations where most migrants do not live in. As for the point about rain water, one could turn the tables & say ‘Yuck, do you dare to drink new/recycled water?’

8. Article says – Australia has lots of dangerous animals.

8. True so does Singapore – especially the kiasu road drivers.

9. Article says – In Singapore, you can hire an expatriate maid to help you do your family chores. You can’t do that in Australia.

9. Yes, the cost of labour is far more expensive in Australia.

10. Article says – Running a business in Australia is exorbitantly expensive

10. Yes – compared to Singapore it is because of the heavy taxes in Australia.

11. Article says – In Singapore, there are much much more jobs and career options than Australia.

11. Not true. Both countries have a specific list of skills that are in demand based on the requirements of their economies. Depends on what one’s line of work is.

12. Article says – Food is Singapore is much cheaper and better than Australia.
12. Cheaper, yes in Singapore. Better quality, no. The quality of fresh produce is better in Australia. Plus the Food & Drug Regulations are stronger in Australia than they are in Singapore.

13. Article says – Australia has a very run down armed forces. only 50, 000 soldiers. Their strategy is basically to wait for America’s help in the event of a war. Indonesia has an army of 500, 000. Singapore has 400 ,000.

13. The author can’t be serious about this point. Numbers doesn’t mean an army is competent & besides Singapore, like Australia, needs its allies should there be a war.

14. Article says – Singapore’s property prices will skyrocket in a few decades

14. This point was covered previously.

15. Article says – Singapore’s CPF! You will have money for old age, housing! The employer puts in 12% as well dont forget! Australia has the superannuation pension scheme but their taxes will frighten you off!

15. Australia’s Superannuation pension is taxed at around 6.5%. The other type of tax is that over & above one’s pension such as investment income & other streams of income which is taxed at around 15%. Yes the taxes are higher in Australia but medical benefits also come with it. So it eventually evens out.

In summary, Singapore offers a lot of advantages to younger people with years of working life ahead of them but when it comes down to retirement, quality of life and family living, Australia is a better option.

Sorry, but I disagree with Kathi-lyn. Like this 14-yr-old boy, I feel the same. That’s why I made the decision 20 yrs ago to migrate. Life in Australia is totally different from S’pore. The Govt really looks after its own citizens despite taking in refugees every year. They don’t have money-faced politicians & the opposition in parliament are not afraid to question any dubious acts passed. Likewise the media there are constantly looking to dig up any attempt at coverups to give maximum exposure. Although the country is rich in minerals, they don’t fritter away their reserves as they are answerable in parliament. As for medical attention, they have world-class facilities which is available to rich or poor. Being a retiree, everything from bus fares to hospital care is subsidised. There is no need for the jobless to collect cans from the rubbish, sell tissues or fold cardboards to make a living. The elderly here retire with their dignity intact. Although there are sporadic acts of racism, these are short-lived. Being a minority, I’ve experienced worse in S’pore ! I really feel sorry for those in S’pore who don’t have the choice to move out from S’pore, what with it’s oppressive environment where the ordinary Joe is treated like dirt. Where the politicians behave so arrogantly knowing full well that nobody can shake them from their iron rice bowl. Where they denigrate the very citizens who voted them in with names like “daft”. Where when they made serious mistakes, do not take responsibility despite being paid million-$ market-rate salaries & are not required to step down eg. LKY, HC, WKS, etc. I wish all the best for this intelligent 14-yr-old & hope he makes it to the other side !
God Bless Singapore.

Hi, I’m so sorry to hear about your mom. You must be going through a really tough time right now and my greatest sympathies goes out to you.

But you cannot blame PAP for everything. Singapore’s health care and transport system is already top notch and your mom shouldn’t have gone to an ER for a check up as emergencies are priority there.

Secondly, if you’re not gonna stay in Singapore, where are you gonna live? Australia? Australia’s health care system in on the verge of collapse, their transportation system is horrendous, their cost of living is so high. The United States? A bullying suicide case just came on the news a few days ago in the US. Would you really want to build a family where you are/feel a minority? No way.. Singapore has its faults, but I feel that it is the best place to live in. Sure things may be rough but it is home. Plus, if you want to stay in Asia, Singapore is one of the best countries. Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia? Living conditions there will be worse!

What can the new government do for us that PAP has not already done? So what if a new government takes over? Does this mean that we will expel all the foreigners in Singapore? no.. there is no way any government will do this due to economic reasons. Change the health care system which has been in place for the past few decades and seems to be doing well (compared to other countries)? Such change cannot happen immediately.

And what if change is bad for Singapore? Singapore is a city state. It only takes one bad move for our country to be in ruins! You will understand this better when you grow up.

If your sons and daughters are entering or finishing college, please do consider to send them overseas to further their education. Having lived in China for so many years, I am clear that besides the language barrier, the local Chinese lacks the single most important element – Exposure. You cannot read this in any tertiary institution, you cannot buy this off the shelves; you need to be mentally and emotionally be ready to invest in your children’s future. They will learn to interact, to speak a different language; they will see the world and hence react differently.

I never liked the local tertiary institutions for 2 reasons. Firstly, their curriculum does not foster cutting edge technology R&D nor Creative Arts and Design talents. 2ndly, upon graduation, these graduates will be herded “factory like” into the Singapore local workforce and be instilled with local paradigms and culture. The funny reference to “kiasu and kiasi” – these may be funny reference to local mentalities, but it is not funny after a while, if you need to compete globally.

Yes, I am sensitive to several issues that my idea will encounter, working parents will need to bear with temporary separations, and the all important family unit will be temporarily disrupted. Spouses will pine for each other and parent will miss their children. Even though there will be tears and pain but there will also be joyous reunions every holidays and family visits.

However, please consider the long term value add to our people and our country (above and beyond the ruling PAP). We will have seen, experienced and become more exposed to the world beyond Changi Airport. With our opened eyes, we will know what is right and wrong, what should and what should not be.

My vision is to see locals returning to Singapore not just with value added global exposure, which will propel our economy forward. Furthermore, they will be more willing, able and capable to take their destinies into their own hands. To decide what the issues are, what the policies should be, who they want to see as administrators for their neighborhoods, their districts and their country.

My conclusion is a simple summary, if you can go, please go. If your kids want to go, let them, There will be risks, there will be pain and tears. However, by doing this, we evolve and we will better take charge of ourselves, we will be better equipped to vision and administer ourselves.

The Winds of Change are Blowing….Singapore for Singaporeans!

Pre-employment grant to help S'porean medical students studying abroad
By Mustafa Shafawi | Posted: 29 July 2010 1622 hrs


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SINGAPORE : Singapore's public healthcare clusters are launching a pre-employment grant (PEG) to assist Singaporean medical students studying overseas during their final two years of study.

The students will receive financial assistance, assured employment, and opportunities for post-graduate specialist training, in return for a commitment to serve the clusters for up to 4 years.

The clusters, including SingHealth and the National Healthcare Group, said the PEG will be an additional talent recruitment measure to attract more doctors from overseas to supplement the local pipeline of doctors.

The pre-employment grant will cover up to 60 per cent of the remaining years of tuition fees, subject to a limit of S$40,000 per year.

All Singaporean students studying in an overseas medical school recognised by the Singapore Medical Council are eligible to apply.

The selection will be based on merit. Students should possess good grades in their medical studies, especially in their clinical training years.

Recipients of the grant will be required to serve in the hospital clusters for a minimum period.

Students receiving a one-year grant will serve in the hospital clusters for three years, while those receiving a two-year grant will serve for four years.

The service period will include the one-year housemanship period if it is served locally.

The clusters will pilot the pre-employment grant for three years, and review the cost effectiveness of the scheme at the end of the pilot.

Applications for the grant will open from August 16. - CNA /ls

I think university ranking should not mean everything when deciding which university to go to. They have millions of ranking criteria and not all of them are relevant to your course. Do consider the city, state you like since there are more to experience than just studying.

News is what someone, somewhere is trying to suppress - everything else is just advertising.

Some 20 shopowners in a Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) are unhappy with the compensation offered by the Housing and Development Board to move to new premises.

HDB has now extended the deadline for the shopowners in Bukit Merah View to accept replacement units. The affected shops are at Block 113 and 114 Bukit Merah View.

HDB had offered them between S$486,000 and S$780,000 in compensation. But shopowners said it is not enough. They said replacement shops offered are one third the size of existing ones, and only have a 30-year lease, compared to their current remaining 60-year lease.

There seems to be so many conjectures about Mas Selamat.

Let's take a look at the various conjectures:

(1) He is not in Singapore - but do not know where
So where is the much vaunted ISD or Singapore's external intelligence? After so many months, still at the guesswork level?

If Mas Selamat is out of Singapore, why does he not broadcast his presence via the internet. There are many countries which has elements sympathetic to these terrorists. He should be safe there.

And if he is in Indonesia for example, why not broadcast as though he is now in Iran? That will make the intelligence services in Singapore give up the chase.


(2) He is in Singapore - kept under cover by sympathetic elements
So where is the much vaunted ISD who do not know who are the sympathetic elements here. Such elements are highly dangerous to Singapore and they do not know who they are?

And if Mas Selamat is in Singapore, why does not he broadcast his presence as though he is out of Singapore, so that the pressure is off him?


(3) Mas Selamat is dead
The drawback to this is the lack of retaliation by his JI members.


(4) Mas Selamat was granted immunity in exchange for leaving Singapore alone
If so, Wong Kan Sing and his negotiators are brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

Singapore's F1, Youth Olympics, Marathon, Tourist and Gambling Hub, critical infrastructures and engineering facilities, Sands Resort, gathering of Ministers on National Day and other major events/strategic places are safe!


(5) Mas Selamat is in a coma
If so, then his caretakers must have flown in a complete terrorist medical unit with a make-shift hospital


(6) Mas Selamat has amnesia
If so, he will not know who he is, wanders around and thinking why his face appears everywhere


(7) Mas Selamat has plastic surgery
Possible, but who does the surgery for him?


(8) Mas Selamat gave up on islamic terrorism and now is in hiding from his JI colleagues and Singapore police
???

There you have it - a reasonable list of possible scenarios.

But we are in the realm of guesswork and after all is said and done, your guess is as good as mine.

So long as he and his kind do not trouble us, that is all Singaporeans, foreign talents and permanent residents want for Singapore.

I was reading some of the reviews of this hotel and I cant help but wonder where the reviews are coming from.

We are the owner of the Amara property timeshares since the early 1980s. Everytime we checked into the hotel they give us exactly the same room which in my opinion is really old and worn out and seriously in need of some real renovation. Perhaps they put all their timeshare owners in the same room, and those "paying" customers in nicer rooms..... But we did pay for the time shares and yearly maintenance fees (at which they increase at their own discretion)!

The carpeting is old and dirty I have to walk around in shoes and the shower stall is always stuck with water that pools and overflow. Perhaps they should start to spend some real money on Draino? The furniture (aka sofa, desk, chair etc) are so mirky I wouldnt put my dirty laundy on them.

That having said, its in a nice location. The lobby looks nice and well kept, the housekeeping did their best to clean up our room everytime we stayed, but theres only so much you can do to clean up worn out places that requires renovation.