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Integrated Humanities Core - Worksheet

HWA CHONG
INSTITUTION
High School Section Name: Reg. No.: Class: 3 Date:

This is a sample of a Source based questions for the topic on Foreign Talent. You
are to discuss this in class.

Please hand in Question 1 (d).

Study the Background Information and the sources carefully, and then answer all the
questions.

You may use any of the sources to help you answer the questions, in addition to
those sources which you are told to use. In answering the questions you should use
your knowledge of the topic to help you interpret and evaluate the sources.

(a) Study Source A.

Do you think the cartoonist supports the policy of using foreign talent in
Singapore? Explain your answer. [5]

(b) Study Sources B and C.

How different are these two sources? Explain your answer. [7]

(c) Study Source D.

Why do you think Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong made this speech?
Explain your answer. [6]

(d) Study Source E.

How far can you accept what this source says about the policy of using
foreign talent? Explain your answer. [7]

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 Issue: How far does Singapore really benefit from foreign talent?

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Read this carefully. It may help you to answer some of the questions.

With a workforce slightly above two million, compared to the millions in the other
cities in the world, it is difficult for Singapore to outdo its competitors based solely on
efforts of Singaporeans alone. To enable Singapore to compete successfully in the
global market, the government brings in foreign talent. It believes this helps the
economy to grow and to create jobs through investments and expertise. Despite this,
the policy of using foreign talent has been criticised. How far does Singapore really
benefit from foreign talent?

Source A A cartoon on foreign talent in Singapore published in a local newspaper.

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 Source B: A view on foreign talent posted by a Singaporean on an on-line
message board.

The government often says that Singapore needs foreign talent. But looking at the foreigners
in Singapore, one can suspect that they are not talented. The danger is that the government,
in its eagerness to push for foreign talent, overdoes it. By doing this, it would bring downfall
for Singapore.

Big organisations are headed by people who are unwilling to believe in Singaporeans. They
seem intent on hiring foreigners, talented or otherwise. They would rather take the safe bet
by following the government's stand of having more foreigners. This leads to the public
overreacting to foreign talent. It would be a sad day if local talent chose to work overseas
because they prefer to suffer discrimination there, rather than in Singapore.

Source C: A view on foreign talent posted by a Singaporean on an on-line

message board.

As the world becomes increasingly globalised, Singapore needs to gain a competitive

advantage. Foreign talent brings skills and knowledge which would help us to gain such an
advantage. As fresh ideas are injected into our society, we will be more creative and
outward-looking. Having said that, we must not forget our own local talent which has as
much to contribute as the foreign talent, if not more. Ignoring our local talent will cause
disillusionment and worsen our brain drain problem.

In other countries, it is the foreigners who must prove themselves to be better than the
locals. But in Singapore, the situation appears to be that local talent misses out unless it
can prove that it is better than foreign talent.

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 Source D: A view on foreign talent expressed by the then Prime Minister Goh
Chok Tong in his National Day Rally Speech, 2001.

I understand that some Singaporeans have reservations about the policy of attracting
foreign talent. Let me assure you that our own talent will always come first. We will help
every Singaporean to blossom, and to put his talent to good use. But the reality is that we
do not have enough people with the right skills and experience for our expanding
economy. To make matters worse, some of our brightest young people are working
overseas. We, therefore, have to make Singapore a powerful magnet so as to be able to
retain our own talent as well as draw in foreign talent. The more talent we have, the
stronger our economic capability. I am highlighting the issue of foreign talent because in
an economic downturn, more people will feel that foreign talent is taking away their jobs.
But you should look at it from the perspective of our long-term interests.

Source E: From an interview in 2001 with the Chairman of the Feedback Group on
Foreign Talent set up by the Singapore government. He was a partner
with a major international company. Formerly a British subject, he is
now a Singapore citizen and has been active in social work.

The Feedback Group includes a number of foreign senior managers. The

majority of these managers would prefer to employ Singaporeans with the right
experience and attitude. However, there are two main problems with finding the
right Singaporean managers. The first one is the lack of creativity and the second
is the lack of international experience.

The group generally felt that the lack of creativity in Singaporeans resulted
mainly from the education system which does not allow enough creative thinking.
Also, at work, Singaporeans are afraid of taking risks and are reluctant to
challenge higher management.

In general, the group considers the government's policy of bringing in foreign

talent as appropriate if Singapore is to remain competitive. However, increased
efforts are needed to create more home-grown talent.

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