SINGAPORE: A recent survey conducted by recruitment consultancy Robert Walters has revealed a significant increase in the number of local professionals living abroad who intend to return to Singapore within the next five years.
The survey, which collected responses from 123 local professionals across various industries, found that 58 per cent of these expatriates are now considering a return to Singapore, marking a notable nine per cent increase from the results of the same survey in 2022.
A staggering 76 per cent of respondents expressed a strong desire to return to Singapore primarily to be closer to their families. The significance of family ties was followed by a considerable 41 per cent who cited emotional, social, and cultural connections to Singapore as key reasons for their intention to return.
Interestingly, the current economic landscape was also identified as a significant factor influencing the decision to return home.
Roughly half of the surveyed professionals indicated that the prevailing economic conditions played a role in their deliberation. Many respondents displayed optimism about Singapore’s steady economic growth, as well as the nation’s supportive national policies and incentive schemes, which further encouraged them to consider repatriation.
The survey also highlighted that approximately 36 per cent of foreigners working overseas do not have any intention of returning to their home countries. Among this group, nearly 70 per cent believe that their skills are more valued in foreign countries, indicating a potential perception gap in the value placed on skills and expertise across different nations.
Furthermore, over half of these respondents held the belief that local companies may not offer equal employment opportunities, work arrangements, or progressive working methods compared to their overseas counterparts.
The hesitation to return was also found to be fueled by concerns related to employment conditions. Nearly 50 per cent of those who expressed no intention to return voiced fears of reduced salary and benefits upon reintegration into the local workforce. /TISG
SINGAPORE — The Workers’ Party Marine Parade team, led by their 2020 general election candidates Nathaniel Koh and Fadli Fawzi, remains actively engaged with the residents. Notably, Senior Counsel of the Supreme Court, Harpreet Singh Nehal, was also seen with the team. He was first with the team in blue during their house visit to Terang Avenue earlier this month.
Similar to their Facebook post earlier this month, the recent visit on August 17 also lacked any mention of Senior Counsel Singh in the latest sharing by both Koh and Fadli
“Cost of living issues weighed heavily on the minds of residents young and young-at-heart whom I interacted with while visiting residents of Marine Terrace this Thursday evening,” posted Koh on his social media.
Koh pointed out that one of the concerns raised was the escalating food prices at the coffee shops and hawker centres which directly affected the daily lives of the residents.
Photo: Facebook screengrab / nathanielkoh.sg
Fadli mentioned that one of the privileges of conducting house visits is the opportunity for their members to interact with individuals from diverse backgrounds within society.
“During our visit to Marine Terrace Thursday night, we were especially fortunate to bump into two individuals who had carved out interesting niches for themselves. We met Glen who works as a freelance sportscaster,” expressed Fadli.
“While initially doing only commentary for football, he has branched out to do commentary for silat and floorball as well. He related to us his experience commentating for the Chinese Super League and how the organisers were amazed that an Indian man living in Singapore was commentating for the Chinese Super League,” explained Fadli.
Photo: Facebook screengrab / nathanielkoh.sg
On Saturday night, both Koh and Fadli along with WP’s former non-constituency member of parliament Yee Jenn Jong were at Jalan Bintang Tiga for their annual street party. They met with Marine Parade MP Edwin Tong who recently underwent a medical procedure to fix a blocked artery.
“I reconnected with residents whom I met just last month when we visited the area, and had deep conversations with those whom I had the privilege of interacting with. We were also happy to see that Minister Edwin Tong is recovering well. He shared with us the importance of going for regular health checks and we wished him a full and speedy recovery,” shared Koh. /TISG
SINGAPORE: People who make use of Shopee Collection Points located in people’s houses should use their common sense and manners when collecting their orders, one woman wrote on the COMPLAINT SINGAPORE Facebook page.
Ms W Jia Man urged on Friday (Aug 18) people to use their common sense and “KNOCK AND WAIT” especially since these collection points are also people’s homes.
“A collection point, doesn’t mean the person cannot use the bathroom but stand by the door the whole time. Non-stop knocking on the door, where is your manner as a human being, how would you feel if someone knock on your door like this or is this you knock on your boss/teacher door like this?”
Some even start turning the door knob when they feel like they’re not answered right away. Calling this illegal, the netizen wrote, “So if I happen to forget to lock the door you are going to help yourself into my house???”
She also reminded Shopee patrons to prepare the pin code for their parcels before they knock, to avoid a long wait as customers look for their apps and pins.
The netizen added an appeal to be mindful of the hours given by Shopee for the collection of parcels, since some come knocking even as late as 11 o’clock at night, claiming they don’t know the collection point’s opening hours.
“What do you think, we don’t sleep standby 24/7? There is a big CLOSED on the door, (you are) just trying (your) luck, hope someone is home. Operating hour says weekday means all weekdays, regardless if it’s a public holiday (or) not.”
She added that A COLLECTION POINT is not a customer service centre.
“1 Pin – 1 Parcel, if you have more then 1 parcel, 1 Pin can trace everything I have on hand. So don’t ask ‘why only 1 parcel I should have 2.’
‘I should have 2 parcel, is it both packed in same bag.” How would I know what is inside when I am not the seller and also not the one pack it?”
The Independent Singapore has reached out to Ms W Jia Man for further comment. /TISG
We all know that artificial intelligence is here to stay and for many the threat of losing their jobs appears to be an ever-looming threat. According to a Goldman Sachs report, more than 300 million jobs around the world can be disrupted by AI. McKinsey estimates that some 12 million people will change their job scope by 2030.
The good thing is AI is estimated to add between $17 trillion and $26 trillion to the global economy. The McKinsey report also predicts that between 2030 and 2060 more than half the tasks that we do today will be fully automated. The World Economic Forum expects that 83 million jobs will be lost over the next five years and 69 million new jobs will be created. That means that 14 million jobs will no longer exist and the jobs that people still do have will change tremendously.
The impact of AI
The World Economic Forum states that 44% of workers’ core skills will change in the next five years.
The jobs that are likely to completely evolve or to be automated away are, marketing and sales, software engineering, research and development, accounting, financial advising and writing.
One study conducted by Brynjolfsson shows that customer service agents at call centres who use generative AI technology are 14% more productive. An MIT study also found that software developers finished 56% faster with generative code-completion software. Professional document writing was also found to be 40% faster with generative AI.
These Singaporean designers have been making a mark in the fashion industry, and global celebrities are buying their clothing pieces due to their unique silhouette and aesthetics.
Andrew Gn
Singaporean Paris-based fashion designer Andrew Gn is known for feminine silhouettes. He was first known at the Central Saint Martins in London before he opened his atelier in Paris, year 1996. He learned the ropes in the fashion industry as an assistant to Parisian couturier, Emanuel Ungaro, and his hard work led him to Paris Fashion Week.
Since then, Andrew Gn has been dressing royalties and celebrities such as Beyonce, and even Kate Middleton and Queen Rania.
“When you are brought up in Singapore, which is a port city and a hub for multiculturalism, this has always been a part of me. So it comes very naturally to me to integrate my lived experiences and my memories in my designs, whether it is a vibrant color like the perfect shade of red, or a recurring motif like corals or a dragon,” Andrew shared in an interview.
His designs are in an exhibition entitled ‘Andrew Gn: Fashioning Singapore and the World’, which will run until Sept 17 at Singapore’s Asian Civilisations Museum.
Here are some the clothing pieces from the Singapore designer on sale at Net-A-Porter.
Singaporean designer Grace Ling first became a model and actress before focusing on her love for tailoring. She was first recognized for her sensual aesthetics at The Row and Thom Browne before launching her own line.
With her background in fashion and sculpture, she takes a multifaceted approach to have sustainable designs, with processes that create less wastes. Some of her fans include Jennifer Lopez and Karlie Kloss.
“The human body is a language that transcends all cultures and backgrounds. I wanted to create wit and light-hearted humour without having to explain much. I was first inspired by a psychological phenomenon often referred to as ‘anthropomorphism’, which refers to the attribution of human characteristics to inanimate objects. From an absurdist perspective, I wanted to see how inanimate sculptures can trigger an emotional response,” she shared an interview with Vogue Singapore. /TISG
The discovery of the infidelity of a partner is like a seismic shock, shattering the very foundation upon which the partnership was built. The immediate reaction often veers towards self-blame, the instinctive questioning of one’s worthiness and allure.
So, if your partner cheats on you, should you blame yourself?
What motivates your partner to cheat?
Cheating rarely stems from dissatisfaction within the relationship. Experts are beginning to challenge the notion that unhappy relationships are the breeding grounds for infidelity. Instead, a growing consensus points to a deeper yearning—an itch for self-discovery, a quest for a lost identity.
Surprisingly, the majority of individuals who stray report that their partners are, in fact, more physically appealing than the individuals with whom they cheat. This raises a poignant question: if not about appearance, then what?
Opportunity Knocks
Data-driven insights reveal an intriguing commonality among cheaters—their vulnerability to temptation. The decision to cheat is often intertwined with the presence of opportunity, with circumstances that encourage crossing the line.
Childhood Echoes in Adulthood
Understanding the psychological underpinnings of infidelity unveils a link to one’s upbringing. Researchers have unearthed evidence that individuals who exhibit anxious attachment styles—marked by fear of abandonment or rejection—are more prone to infidelity. These unresolved feelings from childhood can create an emotional void, pushing individuals toward actions that seek validation and attention.
Releasing the Burden of Blame
The most liberating revelation for the wronged partner is the understanding that the responsibility for infidelity is not solely theirs to bear. Rather than internalizing guilt and inadequacy, recognizing the multifaceted nature of infidelity can free individuals from the shackles of blame.
In the intricacy of human relationships, infidelity remains an enigma, a complex phenomenon that resists easy explanations. It is a subject where compassion, empathy, and a willingness to explore the layers beneath the surface can lead to profound insights.
SEOUL: Blackpink member Lisa Manobal is deemed to be the highest-placed Asian celebrity with an Instagram post worth an estimated amount of US$575,000, or S$780,000.
According to the latest Instagram Rich List released by social media marketing management platform Hopper HQ, Lisa ranked 26 out of 100 celebrities and influencers worldwide, and is currently number 1 in Asia. As of writing, she now has more than 96.6 million followers on Instagram.
Other Asian celebrities and influencers who made the list were Indian actress Priyanka Chopra, who ranked 29th with a post worth US$532,000. Priyanka is now well-known to be the wife of American singer Nick Jonas, who has more than 88.8 million followers on the said social media platform.
South Korean Oppa Lee Min-ho also made the 55th place with US$200,000 per post. The K-drama actor now has more than 33.6 million followers on IG. More so, Korean actress Song Hye-kyo is ranked 93rd with US$100,000 a post, and now has more than 16.8 followers on Instagram.
Leading the number 1 spot worldwide is the Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo with an amount of US$3.2 million a post. He is the current most followed person on Instagram with more than 601 million followers.
Second place goes to soccer star Lionel Messi with US$2.6 million a post, and has 483 million followers on Instagram.
The third spot goes to American singer-actress Selena Gomez with US$2.56 million a post. /TISG
SINGAPORE: This week, Workers’ Party MPs Louis Chua and Jamus Lim tackled the public housing problems facing Singaporeans in the past few years, with higher prices and longer wait times in order to get an HDB flat.
The first is a universal sale and leaseback scheme, which would permit flat owners to sell them back to HDB, which Mr Chua says addresses one of the issues with the 99-year-lease decay problems, and with the HDB as the buyer of last resort, would provide stability to housing valuations.
The second proposal is Widespread SERS and SERS+, which is an expansion of the current SERS (Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme), the programme to renew older housing estates that allows eligible residents to have an opportunity to move to a new home with a new 99-year lease. At present, SERS only applies to a small fraction of public housing, hence the need to expand.
The third proposal is implementing Different Lease Duration Schemes. The WP proposes that instead of the 99-year lease, having a baseline of 70 years and then providing the option of another 29 years, if the homeowner desires it.
Assoc Prof Lim likened this to booking a holiday for two weeks when you only want to say for 10 days. People would rather book the 10 days, and then have the option of extending for two weeks if they need or want to.
The MPs again underlined the conflict between CPF and retirement adequacy versus HDB and the need to house people.
They also talked about better options for public rental housing, which will also mean changing mindsets, as renting can be seen as inferior to homeownership.
“Ultimately, what we want to put on the table is a greater degree of flexibility—just giving Singaporeans many more options rather than be stuck with the few cookie-cutter ones that we already have and to push the boundaries of the ones we already have,” Assoc Prof Lim said.
In the final installment, which, like the others, may be viewed on the WP’s Facebook and YouTube pages, the two Sengkang GRC MPs shared the different alternative public housing proposals put forth by the Workers’ Party.
These alternatives to the current housing policy may be read about in greater detail in the WP’s housing paper.
SINGAPORE: Singapore researchers are working on a project to develop a mind-reading Artificial Intelligence (AI) system. At the National University of Singapore, dozens of people are participating in a program where their brains are scanned in an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) machine.
The machine scans their brains while they look at between 1,200 and 5,000 images, Reuters reported earlier this week. And then MinD-Vis, the “mind-reading” AI, associates the scans with the images, with an individual AI model created for each participant. This allows a computer to “read” a person’s thoughts.
“So after we collect enough training data… we can create an individual AI model… and this AI model is kind of a translator. It can understand your brain activities just like ChatGPT understands the natural languages of humans,” Jiaxin Qing, one of the lead researchers, says.
And when the person comes in for another brain scan, that’s when the “mind reading” occurs.
“In the scan, you will see the visual stimuli like this. And then we’ll record your brain activities at the same time. And your brain activities will go into our AI translator and this translator will translate your brain activities into a special language that a Stable Diffusion can understand, and then it will generate the images you are seeing at that point. So that’s basically how we can read your mind in this sense,” he added.
As the technology works on an individual level, this means it can’t be used on just anyone.
Additionally, as with many other technologies, the privacy of the data given to the researchers is a concern.
“So the thing to address this is we should have very strict guidelines, ethical and law in terms of how to protect the privacy,” Reuters quotes Juan Helen Zhou, Associate Professor at NUS Medicine, as saying.
But the technology is promising, as another of the lead researchers, Chen Zijiao, explains.
“Say for some patients without motor ability, maybe we can help him to control their robots (artificial limbs), and their phone, like communicate with, communicate with others like just using their thoughts instead of speech if that person couldn’t speak at that time.” /TISG
This photo taken on August 25, 2011 shows presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian speaking to his supporters during a rally in Singapore. Singaporeans will elect a new president from four candidates on August 27 in a vote seen as a test of the country's readiness for a more competitive political system after being ruled by the same party for 52 yearsAFP PHOTO/Mohd Fyrol (Photo by MOHD FYROL / AFP)
PE2023 is heating up with Tan Kin Lian among the candidates. Subject to none of them messing up his nomination papers on Aug 22, we will have a contested presidential election. Singapore would be better for it, coming after the disgrace of the last uncontested minorities-only PE (which could have been easily pushed down the road to allow Dr. Tan Cheng Bock his attempt to get into the Istana).
This time, there ought to be no pretender in the Istana. This coming contest will give voters what should be real choices in terms of the characters and backgrounds of the aspirants. The non-eligibility of George Goh is a shame because he does represent a certain segment of the population loosely recognized as the private sector. He should seriously consider entering politics. He is a good communicator. Progress Party Singapore? Maybe he can be a Nominated MP representing the self-made senior citizen.
So would PE2023 be what PE2011 could have developed into before the latter was rudely interrupted by the PE2017 sham?
In a fairly robust contest in September 2011, these were the results of PE2011: Dr. Tony Tan became president with only 745,693 votes (35.2 percent), making him, numerically speaking, a minority president. A very close second was ex-PAP stalwart turned critic, Dr. Tan Cheng Bock, with 738,311 votes (34.85 percent). The Anything But PAP bloc of voters went for Tan Jee Say – 530,441 votes (25.04 percent). Tan Kin Lian got 104,095 votes (4.91 percent).
PE2011 was considered a spillover of the discontent over the influx of foreign workers and other issues which saw the dominant People’s Action Party losing Aljunied GRC to the Workers’ Party in the General Elections in May the same year. It saw widespread dissatisfaction expressed through the huge chunks of dissenting votes which went to Dr. Tan Cheng Bock and Tan Jee Say, who now backs Tan Kin Lian in the current election.
PE2023 has a good slate of candidates. A number of the past presidents, if I may so, might not have been as adequately equipped as the current three contenders – Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Ng Kok Song, and Tan Kin Lian – to deal with the complexities of managing sovereign funds. Hard to doubt the financial IQ of Tharman, Ng, or Tan. I may be totally wrong but I doubt Wee Kim Wee and Benjamin Sheares could seriously handle questions relating to sovereign funds.
The Presidential Elections Committee has rightly assessed the three candidates in PE2023 to be capable. Their experience would see them asking all the right questions in dealing with any government request to use Singapore’s “rainy day” money. No reason why any of them cannot also spot a dud or questionable key public service appointment.
For PE2023, “Goliath” (Tharman Shanmugaratnam) is the one to beat. But it is, by no means, No Horse Run (bo beh chau). Ng and Tan should do well. Why?
It is obvious, going by PE2011, that Singaporeans want something more from their head of state beyond their ceremonial role and custodial duties. Never mind the finer print, the constitutional complexity (or is it clarity?) of what the elected president can and cannot do. All the clever analyses and opinion pieces will water down the duck’s back. What many people really want is a president who can make some difference in their lives, to be that extra channel at the top of the pyramid who can convey their angst and frustrations if and when everything else fails.
It’s been three long decades since we had a contested PE. Three decades is a long time in politics. But even with just the experience of the two – 1993 and 2011 – we can see that clearly the elected president is becoming a political rather than an apolitical appointment, at least for some Singaporeans. This coming PE will show how far the APB – Anything But PAP – sentiment has influenced the electorate.
PE2023 will be a curtain-raiser for the next General Elections in two years’ time.
Tan Bah Bah, consulting editor of TheIndependent.Sg, is a former senior leader writer with The Straits Times. He was also managing editor of a magazine publishing company.
