Maybe a smaller Singapore population would be better

Straits Times Forum 25 Feb 09;

I REFER to the article, "Crunch time for PMETs: Money no object, but mindset is" (Feb 13), by Mr Aaron Low.

It is sad to note that many PMETs - professionals, managers, executives and technicians - the group which form 51 per cent of our labour force, are now jobless. While we are mindful that protectionism is not applicable in today's globalised world, we need to ask ourselves if we have accepted too many foreigners in a small country like Singapore.

In the early 1970s, our Government advocated the "Two is enough" family planning policy so that parents could better cope with the material and psychological needs of their children. Similarly, the Government could better maintain social stability and provide its people good governance with a smaller population.

However, looking at the current dire economic situation and how many of our very own local talent - mainly the PMETs - have to bear the brunt of job losses and retrenchments, it is apparent that a population size of close to five million is beyond what Singapore can cope with.

Lisa Tan (Ms)