Ah Lian will never make it in Singapore

Just in case our mainstream media omits reports of this piece of news, or that you can't read in Chinese:

Our national table tennis player, Li Jiawei, has signed to play for BEIJING Women's Table Tennis team.

This is probably an arrangement for her to play in leagues within China. Don't think she can represent China as yet, coz she's still a Singaporean citizen.

She was just our Singapore flag bearer at Beijing Summer Olympics 2008, remember?

In 2008, Li Jiawei made headlines not just because she, formerly from the PRC, was our flag bearer, but because she dragged the Singapore flag on the ground.

But we are reminded that her husband is not Singaporean, and she didn't have her kid in Singapore. And now... She plays for a Chinese city's table tennis team.

If China wants her back, what's stopping her from giving up her Singaporean citizenship?

That's after Singapore had spent at least 15 years (worth of money and opportunities) on her. 

Imagine that Singaporean national player (let's call her Ah Lian) who did not make it to the first team because foreign players like Li Jiawei are parachuted into the first team. Ah Lian would not even have the chance to don Singapore colours and represent Singapore at the Olympics. Ah Lian will never be 'good enough' for the game henceforth. And before you know it, Ah Lian's sporting peak/career is over. Culmulative disadvantages. It's irreversible for Ah Lian, you know.

So, which is more important?

(1) For Singapore to win an Olympic medal via foreign players

OR

(2) For true-blue pink Singaporean players to gain any experience by representing Singapore?

Now, before you walk away thinking that this is just about sports... who cares? 

Just remember that the very similar foreign labour/talent policies are also denying you of job/career opportunities. Maybe not your current job, but what about your next job?

If the top/better/most spots are always opened to the endless supply of international talents, you lowly-productive Singaporean, like poor Ah Lian, are highly unlikely to ever get that chance to progress. 


Meanwhile, that FT, who beat you to the job, has gained enough experience and exposure to hop to the next better (paying) job, probably in another country.

Can you blame the FTs for being opportunistic? NO!
Coz if another country had easy migrant workforce policies like ours, we would be queue-ing up for it too.

The more relevant question is:  

WTF are we doing to ourselves?!

Time and opportunities lost for the current batch of Singaporeans are irreversible, you know.