Singapore agency threatens legal action against former staff over client poaching claim
A Singapore agency claims it is threatening to take legal action against former staff for allegedly poaching clients.
Lifestyle specialist integrated communications agency Ate Group claims that three former senior staff solicited business while they were still employees of Ate before forming a breakaway start-up.
The agency has said it will take legal proceedings against the former employees, although it has not publically named them or their new company.
Ate Group claims that its employment contracts stipulate that employees cannot approach the agency’s clients until 12 months after they have left, Mumbrella has been informed.
In a statement released to Mumbrella, Ate said:
We were all shocked and saddened by the fact that trusted and senior staff had used Ate’s time, clients, resources and reputation in the industry to attempt to sign and divert business to their own venture while still very much employees of the company.
However we also believe in doing things the right way, and as far as we’re concerned, our priority is to continue to give outstanding service to our clients and to grow our reputation as one of Singapore’s best lifestyle communications agencies. We are focused on moving forward from this point and any legal action we take is a separate matter which will not affect anything we do in our day to day business.
Ate’s clients have included Jamie’s Italian Singapore, Singapore Tourism Board, MasterCard, DBS Bank, National Heritage Board, Unilever Food Solutions, Louis Vuitton and The Peninsula Hotels Group.
Ate was founded in 2006 by Aun Koh, son of celebrated Singaporean lawyer and diplomat Professor Tommy Koh, and his wife. Koh no longer has an operational role at Ate, but remains a partner in the business.
In a long post on his Facebook page, Koh wrote:
I have been completely disgusted by the unprofessional and possibly criminal actions by three former employees (coincidentally, all foreigners).
From what I have been told, these three, over a period of time and while actually under our employment, allegedly worked to divert business away from us and to their new agency.
Allegedly, they lied to my business partners, misrepresented our agency, and even lied to clients.
Allegedly, they were, while still drawing salaries from us, selling their own services and poaching Ate’s clients.
Now, I have no problem with competition. And as I said, I’m happy to see my ex-colleagues succeed. But there are certain moral codes that people and professionals should adhere to.
These three, in my personal opinion, have demonstrated a complete lack of integrity and professionalism. To me, they have lost any kind of credibility not only as professionals but human beings.
I am actually shocked that some of our clients signed up with their new firm and am simply hoping they were misled, as opposed to actually supporting this behaviour.
It actually saddens me that in order to seek justice my partners are pursuing both legal and criminal action against these people. I don’t understand why three supposedly intelligent people couldn’t wait until they no longer worked for us to pursue new business.
Why do something so obviously wrong? Why not part ways on good terms and compete then? There’s surely enough business out there for many, many communications companies?
What also saddens me about this incident is that I was always a huge supported of foreign (white collar) labor here in Singapore. While I know these people are surely not indicative of a huge population of expatriates, it does make me rethink whether or not these new arrivals are really grateful for the opportunities they are being given here or are they all just so self-centered that they don’t care about things like professionalism, integrity or even right and wrong.
I won’t be naming these people here. I’m not that stupid or petty. But friends from various sectors can guess who they are. And I hope these friends won’t give these people or their business the time of day.
The staff of the new agency did not respond to Mumbrella’s invitation to comment.
>>all of whom were identified as “foreigners”
Why does this matter? Why does it even need a mention? It’s irrelevant. Anyone is capable of poaching clients (whether right or wrong) but their race shouldn’t come into it.
ReplyGood observation by Bostik. I was shocked to see the mention of foreign status on the title as well.
ReplyHi Bostik, hi Mike
Fair comments, guys.
The mention of ‘foreigners’ in speech marks in the headline and article itself was to describe the people in question, which we can’t name at the moment for legal reaons, and whom Aun Koh identified as ‘foreign’ in his Facebook post. But looking at it now, you’re probably right – I’ll give it an edit.
Cheers,
ReplyRobin – Mumbrella
I was shocked to see it in the title and I am disappointed to see it specified in Aun Koh’s Facebook post. Take them to court but please leave out their race, skin colour & country of origin. Totally irrelevant.
ReplyI also agree that the emphasis on the staff being foreigners is awkward. People do these things wherever they come from and I don’t understand why that is important.
ReplyCompletely inappropriate, discriminating and all around poor form for an industry leader to be connecting this matter to race and nationality. I understand and empathsize with his disappointment in his former staff but unfortuntely his unprofessional and inappropriate rant has now completely discredited his point of view. It also makes me question how a communications agency would put out such appalling communication and messaging.
Reply“It does make me rethink whether or not these new arrivals are really grateful for the opportunities they are being given here”
Wow. That is pretty shocking.
Initially, I had sympathy for the agency. After reading this guy’s post, I am right behind those pesky foreigners.
ReplyThat’s really not cool what ATE is doing. Things like this happen all the time, not only in PR, everywhere, also in ‘normal’ companies. To my experience, things like that only happen when the working atmosphere is not good anyway.
Now, behaving like a kid they took away his toy is very poor. Blaming it on foreigners – I can’t even find the words how really poor and sad that statement is. Especially as many of their clients are foreign companies. And there is obviously a reason that they hired foreigners. I’m curious to see how these 3 senior executives can live from just one client.
If I were a client, I would be super careful choosing this agency, as I may get publicly lynched when I change the agency. Especially if I’m a foreign company.
ReplyI agree Michael, sounds like he’s doing us “foreigners” a favour by employing us like some slaves! Surely it’s a win-win, he employed these people to create work for him and manage clients, that in turn means the agency were making money so he would get his dividends.
It’s nothing to do with “the opportunities given”, what about the time and effort these “foreigners” gave to his firm and presumably got so pissed off by his attitude that they left and took clients with him…wonder why with this attitude?!
ReplyClearly not actions of someone of integrity. But the whole banging on about Foreign! Sheesh, it was the Foreigners that MADE singapore it is today! I wonder what attitude and contempt he harbours for other foreigners around him. Smacks of racism.
ReplyWhat rubbish are you sprouting? Foreigners that sank their roots here made Singapore what it is today – not economic migrants that are here just for the kill or due to the lucrative pay. Stop deluding yourself in thinking that your efforts made Singapore. If so, please leave this country and make your own country “great” based on your “great” capabilities. Good riddance to [Edited under Mumbrella’s community guidelines] like you…
ReplyPlease, the whole point of this article is about unprofessional conduct – I love how y’all just immediately on one part of the article and bitch about that.
Lapchome too, you see this everywhere in PR? I am sure there are cases like this in every industry but, again, please hor. Do not disrespect PR professionals who would never conducted themselves in this mannery, these senior executives should be justly punished for acting in the way that they did irregardless of the working atmosphere. If they don’t like it, they can just quit. Can you imagine if you set up an agency of your own only to have others come in to steal your business? I’d like to see you cry the same tune if so.
Jesus H. Christ.
ReplyIt’s funny how the only thing that people picked up from this article is Aun’s use of “foreigners”. Surely missing the bigger picture here?
You guys get so worked up about not being employed in Singapore because of the “anti-foreigner attitudes” and you wonder why? Geez.
ReplyAgree, I shouldn’t have blamed PR people. Just wanted to say that things like that do happen. Also in companies where people get trained, learn form seniors and then leave to another company, or got headhunted away. We can’t just bitch and whine every time that happens. Unfortunately it does happen, and we all know that here in Singapore the retention rate is much lower than in other places/countries.
@dt: I don’t know now if I would cry the same tune. But it surely won’t happen in my agency. Don’t forget the client(s) please, who go along. Why are they doing that?
Big picture: Well, the big picture is exactly the racism in the statement, not the lack of integrity. Loosing a client is a much smaller picture than blaming (all) foreigners. Isn’t it? It’s the same as if soccer fans make monkey chants towards an opponent (foreign, African) player and you would say the bigger picture is that they are just fans who want their team to succeed.
I guess it’s the players fault. Or what is Everyone Please trying to say with this:
“You guys get so worked up about not being employed in Singapore because of the “anti-foreigner attitudes” and you wonder why?”
Things like that cannot be done or said without any comments. Otherwise we leave door open for whatever will come after that. And it’s even put on another level, talking about human beings and not just professionals. That’s the big picture.
Quote: “To me, they have lost any kind of credibility not only as professionals but human beings.”
I have absolutely no idea who these persons are, and it’s also the first time I ever heard of Ate Group. I’m just very concerned about the foreigner bashing and that it now even happens in Media/PR business, the business which is usually known for open minded people.
ReplyWhile the actions of the defectors at ATE have revealed their true colors as characters lacking in professional integrity, this doesn’t excuse the anti-foreigner undertone of Un Koh’s rant.
Likewise, the comment that ‘Foreigners MADE Singapore’ reveals the unmitigated ignorance and arrogance of the writer.
As one who has learned from, worked with, worked for,competed against, hired and fired foreigners, I have met the best and the worst from all corners of the world-Singaporeans included.
No nationality has the monopoly on talent. Or roguish behavior.
In the marketplace of ideas and results, success and failure are colorblind.
If one continues to see things only through the filters of race, no one will learn from mistakes made and opportunities lost as they retreat into their echo chamber, hearing only what they want to hear.
I had high hopes for Mumbrella, wishing that it could host professional discourse on relevant subjects, far away from the racist clatter typical of other internet forums.
Maybe, there’s still hope.
Reply“Coincidentally all foreigners”…. Why adding such statement? Isn’t there enough xenophobia in Singapore? Sorry but no sympathy for you.
Reply“everyone please” you miss the point completely. If one of us foreigners had said this about “Singaporeans” we would surely have a shit storm flying our way. We know how protective you are about your national identity and employing “Singaporeans first”.
Whether they were foreign or Singaporean is actually irrelevant in the context to his complaint so why bring it up, not just once but twice? It does smack of more deep rooted, unexpressed views that do not present him in a very multi-cultural light.
ReplyLapchome, great response and I’m afraid that the media has also been infected by this anti-foreigner virus that is sweeping across Singapore and giving the country a bad name. Just this week MOM announced yet more regulations to protect Singaporeans in the workplace but not for non-Singaporeans who are actually more likely to be discriminated against and treated harshly because the employer knows they have no where to go and need their goodwill for their s or ep pass.
This kind of registration does not do Singapore any favours…same with the new regulations about placing adverts on MOM website for 14 days before being allowed to employ the best person. This is discrimination by another name.
ReplyWell, doesnt every government want to protect their own people?
ReplyWOW! the trail of comments almost more interesting than the article itself. Sounds like Koh doesn’t know all the facts and perhaps should have taken guidance from his PR employees about ranting in such a public manner. Regardless of race, gender, sex – this issue should have been dealt with in a private and professional manner between those parties involved. We surely all know the pitfalls of social media rants by now!
ReplyAmazingly the same thing happened recently at another agency, but it was Singaporeans who were doing the dirty… maybe every nation has good, bad and misguided people?!
ReplyBecause honesty and integrity is part of our DNA. Most foreigners probably wun understand that.
ReplyForeign predators, typo talents
ReplyA taste of your own meds
Look guys, is anti foreigner sentiments sweeping across Singapore. is it because we SIngaporeans hate foreigners, absolutely no. It now has come to a point where foreigners are accounting for a large number of social problems.
Let’s look at this, this way, should this be happening in your own country would you not understand why it is happening. Sentiments like these are sweeping across nations, even in countries with large natural populations. Imagine how a tiny little red-dot and it’s people would be feeling then.
The whole world and it’s governments are clawing desperately trying to cling on to economic and capitalist ideas while everything around them is collapsing. To try to circumvent this they import large amounts of cheap labour in the name of globalization who compete with their populations jobs and space. It is then reasonable and understandable that the naturalized populations would then start feeling constricted and marginalized and sentiments would indeed flare up.
So why are self righteous people here trying to act offended when in reality they would in most likelihood react the same way if it were to happen to them or if they were in a similar situation.
If you can’t take the heat, just get out of the kitchen, when you work in a foreign country you must accept the local’s behaviour and culture and currently this is the way most Singaporeans are feeling. Deal with it and stop whining.
Quite trying to convince us we should not feel what we are feeling. Singaporeans have always been known to be accommodating and friendly with all foreigners, it is only recently where the dual spikes of bad foreigner behaviour and lousy immigration policies have tipped the scale.
Peace.
Reply“Emeritus King” so we should just accept racist behaviour? I wouldn’t accept that from an English person in England so why should I accept it here in Singapore?
You are condoning this behaviour because you are whining about foreigners like you say we are whining about Singaporeans which no foreigner on these posts has actually done. They have merely expressed understandable outrage at a senior and experienced marketing professional voicing racist words in public.
You jump to a very large assumption that we would react the same way, hate to break it to you but we wouldn’t. Race and country of origin has nothing to do with what happened. So why bring it up?
Also many foreigners here are getting paid low salaries because they are doing jobs Singaporeans don’t want like construction and F&B! You would be the first to complain if your HDB wasn’t built on time or you didn’t get your food on time…who do you think is doing these jobs? Not Singaporeans.
You are also forgetting why it is even necessary to have 50% of the working population being foreign…your birth rate is halve what is needed just to replace your death rate. Do something about this and lots of these foreigners wouldn’t need to be here!
And what “social problems” are you talking about being caused by foreigners? Ilegal gambling and loan sharks which cause the most amount of social problems in Singapore are not usually carried out by foreigners……
Time for reality check too on pay…foreigners tend to be paid more than Singaporeans so how does that equate with cheap labour?!
ReplyChris,
There’s foreign labour and foreign “talent” — are you here to build my roads and HDBs? If you are, kudos. I’ll buy you a Coke. If not, pray tell, why do you think we need you?
ReplyForeigners must make the extra effort to “behave” when they are guest in a foreign country. Not all foreigners are bad but if only takes one or two to taint the rest of us. Singapore is a very open society to foreigners compared to western countries. Nothing is fair in this world. But I think this place has been very hospitable. So Aun KOH’s comments is NOT xenophobic but just reflect the frustrations of a professional that was betrayed by people whom he trusted. At least he was honest about it.
ReplyExpensive foreign talents are paid higher for hot seat jobs with a high turnover by MNCs in search of a silver bullet solution or a change agent.
Implied in their employment (but never written) is that when they screw up, they will quietly leave the job, company or get transferred to a less important city without making a public stink about it.
Of course, some do go on to greater well deserved success.
But judging from the lack of highly paid foreigners in PR, media and advertising staying on beyond 10 years, I’d say we are all too familiar with this pattern.
They arrive in town with industry announcements promising grand ambitions and great change. Only to be followed shortly by company congratulations that they are ‘leaving to pursue other interests’ as they haggle with their Regional HR for more generous repartriation terms.
To wit: ‘Men pay prostitutes not for the sex but for the freedom to leave after they’ve come’.
My sincere apologies if any prostitutes are offended by the unintended comparison.
ReplyJohn, face facts, it is xenophobic. if a foreigner had said “singaporean” in the same context as he says “foreigner” twice then we be given no mercy…tables turned
the major point is he didn’t need to say it and he did…not once but twice….
Replyi understand now. if anyone has a company here and gets the same outcome as Aun, all will say its ok its normal it happen all the time and pray for peace. MAI KUM GONG LA!
ReplyI aso wonder if the tables are turn and locals here did the same thing in foreign countries, would it be its ok la…its normal in this industry or will it be behind the pantry all the remarks be it racists or xenophobic terms comes out?
Its always the same thing . When a foreigner here did something wrong its right to say its a foreigner , whats wrong? when a singaporean did something which a foreigner doesnt feel its a cultural thing or something which he or she cannot accept in his or own country they always say you singaporeans are all like that? SO ? it happens so deal with it. Fact is fact. Why sugar coat? I always tell my friends who are foreigners no happy go home and they agreed to my point. why argue till the the end of the world. My friends in other countries same thing they complain to me and I say not happy come home. if want to stay, immerse yourself into the way of living blending with their rules in that country.
sorry my english no good. pai seh.
ReplyJoe you miss the point…no one is talking about whether people are happy or not here..it’s the fact that his rant could have been fine if he just left out that they were foreign, twice. In the context it makes no difference if they are foreign or not, they did wrong, so why bring it up?
If i made a point of saying that a Singaporean had done this criminal act rather than a member of my company when country of origin actually makes no difference to what i am saying or how it would be the same, i would be using the country in a derogatory way which would be xenophobic….
ReplyChris Reed,
After complaining so much about Singapore, boasting about without Foreigners here in Singapore, Singapore will crumble etc etc, why are you still here?
You want a real taste of Xenophobia? Go else where and you will get it. I don’t know where you come from, but just go to Europe, Australia, US, Britain or anywhere else in the world and see whether they welcome you as much as Singapore did.
If you are not happy, you are free to leave Singapore for all we care. To say Foreigners MADE Singapore is really arrogant and ignorant. We are a free city, too free for our comfort but free for you to leave if you aren’t happy.
Although I don’t agree with Aun Koh’s ranting here about foreigners, but your ranting here about how important you or foreigners are to Singapore, is many times more disgusting than Aun Koh. We may be a tolerant lot but we do not welcome foreigners like you who made your living from Singapore and yet show such arrogant attitude.
The Door is always open for you to leave. You don’t need to feel frustrated with Singapore again once you leave this place.
ReplyYou guys totally missed the point.
Aun gave these foreigners a chance to make a living in Singapore – of which would have never been possible back home. How do I know…? I was like Aun.
These foreigners made use of these chance to make a foothold in our land and then to capitalize if for future gains. Have seen many. Not cool. No likey.
ReplyTo everyone, locals or foreigners, it is always good to remember what we are today or what we will become tomorrow is due to the people around us, where we were born in the first place. Talent only plays a very small part. Always be humble whenever we go. There is a part of us to play in the entire world or society. One can be very talented but to think it is because of ones talent that a bigger organisation benefits and owe a great deal to is a major mistake. To ones high mountain, there will always be a higher one. Yes, every talent in the world is scouted by the govt to come here. So does every govt in the world. If comes to the crunch and all talent leaves, will the country crumble, yes, for a while. So? All things will come to the median line. Everyone will rise up again. Its good to be confident to do ones job well. But it is a clinical mistake to think and mention this ” it was the Foreigners that MADE singapore it is today! I wonder what attitude and contempt he harbours for other foreigners around him. ” What kind of assumption is this? Were the foreigners the main occupants of this country from day one? If yes, than that statement holds water. Play a part yes, but its the Citizens who made Singapore what it is today. If Singapore is not what it is today, will foreigners come? Not all foreigners behaved badly that is a fact. Not all citizens are good citizens that is a fact. But when a foreigner be it living here or in another country one is to abide by the rules and law. When you dont, you cant blame the citizens to single you out. That is a fact. Which country whose citizens doesnt do that when a series of commotion or action is out of line is committed by a non citizen? Someone here mention this ”
I have absolutely no idea who these persons are, and it’s also the first time I ever heard of Ate Group. I’m just very concerned about the foreigner bashing and that it now even happens in Media/PR business, the business which is usually known for open minded people.” So doesnt it tell you that even the ” known open minded people” have reached their limits of understanding or even their tolerance level has been breached? Doesnt that warrant some soul searching why this is happening? The talents are complaining racism, discrimination whenever such things erupted, why not ask why ? Some even say they are invited here by the govt if not they dont want to come here at all…my answer is they can always decline . No one puts a gun to their head. There must be something beneficial for one to be here so dont keep saying stuff like the talents are doing a favor. I would agree to that point if one would to come here on no benefits and manage to turn the country around. My hats off.
Many more did mention about tighter rules and regulations, putting more stresses to the talents here..many many opinions on what the country has done to stifle the talents here and that the country and the citizens doesnt appreciate the talents here.Rules and regulations to tighten property prices etc..Which country in the world doesnt protect its own citizens first? Of course its utterly unfair to talents from another country, its a fact around the world and even in space. Will an alien in space be received with open arms on earth ? ( pls dun assume i am saying talents are aliens i am not). If one doesnt feel they can adjust to the changes then leave. I am not being rude to say this but that is the way it is. Same to my friends in other countries. if one cant adjust to the changes leave. There is no point complaining especially if one is a a non citizen.
Many have said that without talents we wont have housing, rubbish cleaners , jobs that citizens wont take up and the country will collapse, to me so be it. Then the country rebuild itself and start again rather than to have the same issue being brought out again and again.
A person from another country must always remember, he or she will never be on equal footing in terms of preferential treatment to the country citizens. Why should they assume that? All over the world, none will be treated as well as their own citizens.
If they always say they are the ones who make this country what it is today, my question is where will they be when this country is in crisis?
The door is always greener on the other side and it is always open. One must know the rules of engagement when he or she steps into any country. I am always amused of the fact that after ranting for so long, some are still here and we have become very good friends simply because they have understood what ticks and what doesnt. Those who are still ranting are the ones who have not understood.
Aun Koh has brought out a stinger which the majority of the people have been feeling for the past few years. One can argue till the cows come home that the word used is harsh, inappropriate, curt and filled with discrimantion ..but its the real sentiments on the ground.
Take it straight on, accept the fact that it is what it is and ask questions why rather than start the entire ranting circle again and again. Some will indeed say oh foolish people, waste of their time, to them its ok then leave…pls leave. We welcome talent contributions of course but we wont die without them. Yi qi is something we all have and when it comes to the crunch, it will surface.
ReplyI do understand the main argument here is the word ” foreigner ” used twice by Aun but what prompted me to write in ( with my limited english language) was after reading some comments made here by some readers or talents. Its obvious they are unhappy with many issues which they cant control and stated that they are unfairly treated and labelled. So there isnt really any point to continue staying isnt it? I dont think its positive to contribute to what the country it is today ( as claimed) with so much negative perceptions and thoughts.
ReplyDoor Open get your facts straight:
– i never said Singapore was built by foreigners
– i never said it would crumble without foreigners
– i never said i was unhappy here
and just because other countries are very good at xenophobia, does that make it a good thing to practice here?
ReplyChris Reed,
Please read again on what you have written:
“Also many foreigners here are getting paid low salaries because they are doing jobs Singaporeans don’t want like construction and F&B! You would be the first to complain if your HDB wasn’t built on time or you didn’t get your food on time…who do you think is doing these jobs? Not Singaporeans.
You are also forgetting why it is even necessary to have 50% of the working population being foreign…your birth rate is halve what is needed just to replace your death rate. Do something about this and lots of these foreigners wouldn’t need to be here!”
We can only conclude what you mean from what you wrote.
There is no place better than home… but for some, their home country sucks, cannot provide good jobs with good salaries for them, that is why they are here in Singapore or working in other countries.
When you are living and working in other countries, you are the guest and should learn to be good guest. Be grateful of what your host country is providing you, the opportunity to get a good job with better salary than your home country. If the people from the host country gets agitated or have knee jerk reaction to some of the bad things foreigners have done to them, it is just human nature. Bear with it or just leave. That’s what I am saying.
Singapore is so far, the BEST host country in the world for foreign workers in its land. If you don’t believe, just try your luck in other places and I am sure you will regret and cry to be back in Singapore in no time.
ReplyDoor Open:
The comment “Clearly not actions of someone of integrity. But the whole banging on about Foreign! Sheesh, it was the Foreigners that MADE singapore it is today! I wonder what attitude and contempt he harbours for other foreigners around him. Smacks of racism. ” was made by reader Foreigner Here not Chris Reed.
ReplySo you’re spinning my words into something they’re not to fit your agenda?
And i hate to break it to you but there are many countries out there where expats think they have a better life than in Singapore. Many people I know of have left Sing to go to Australia and New Zealand for example and I know many more that prefer Hong Kong, then there are those I know who have gone on to be very happy in Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, New York, San Francisco, London, Paris…the list is endless.
I happen to love living in Singapore, i became PR because i love it, i adore the weather for example which ironically many Singaporeans don’t and many expats leave because of as they literally can’t stand the heat! Well i can and i love it here so sorry I’m not leaving yet!
I feel passionately that everyone should get on regardless of background/country of origin, its one the of the things i love about Singapore compared with places like the UK and even Australia and the US…
That’s why people like me have reacted to what he wrote because we love the fact that Singapore on the whole is multi cultural and very accepting of others…however if you’re Indian or Philipino i think you would have a different view but that’s another story…..
ReplyForeign “talents” = Mercenaries
It’s really as simple as that.
ReplyWhat’s said on Facebook is personal, there is no mention of foreigners and its just a rant on Facebook, not Aun being anti foreigners.
The specific workers mentioned are not professional, and anyone hiring them and getting into this nightmare would be pissed.
ReplyChris Reed must be a marketer or something.
Typical marketer to have no sense of operations/how things work nor reality and to express dream wishes and ideal states in words and argumentation.
Which, cheapens words, actually.
ReplyCome on Chris Reed. Don’t be defensive because you are a foreigner. As I said, we foreigners have to “behave” and it only takes one bad Apple to get stereotyped. No different when all PRC tourists get slammed in Europe from some mischiefs some.
ReplyName me another country which discriminates its own citizens!
Replyno one is spinning your words. you are flip flopping. you said foereiners made singapore, now you were caught, you arrogant dim wit, and you turned around and said you love the weather, then you turned on others – they have left… don’t try to wriggle your way out.
if they have left, u get lost as well, we don’t need you to make singapore. if you are so good, go back n make your own contry.
you are running away with your tails between your legs, just admit it.
ReplyIf I remember my history correctly, foreign investments did not actually flood into Singapore to help build Singapore; it is the effort of our pioneer EDB that went all around the world and beg foreign companies to set up shop in Singapore.
Those expatriates who came over definitely did not lose out either; all are well paid with benefits so good that they did not need to spend a single cent of their own money. Certainly not one came to volunteer to build Singapore.
So for those expatriates who hold the notion that they helped to build Singapore; I hate to burst your bubbles but it is PROFIT/MONEY that is at the core of it all. If there is no profit to be made, I don’t think any would set up shop in Singapore.
At the end of the day, companies make money, you get paid, so stop your holier than thou thoughts and face up to the fact that you are in Singapore simply because of the considerable pay or to make money.
ReplyAm a FT myself..bringing in sales for company. Get shocked by my 1st week here in the new company, the sales positions have been emptied for at least 6 months with 50% of staffs were newly hired, half were FT. Paid is good, job is tough, y no singaporean? Last heard 4 of the senior sales staffs resigned together, each opening new company (same industry). So, conclusion whether your FT or local, these things happened. Yeah brings it to court but it is completely inrelevant with races, FT whatever. .pardon my bad English too….we are not writing biz letter for marking.
ReplyLove Singapore then become the citizen then. Dont come and talk to me about loving Singapore till you get your pink IC. U are here just to leech off from us while escaping your country.
ReplyBHWEE
You are absolutely correct.
Foreigners did not come to “help build” Singapore out of the kindness of their heart. They were mercenaries who were very well compensated for their efforts.
But you know how it is with Westerners lah, they love to make themselves sound so great and benevolent: what with “spreading democracy and freedom throughout the world to help people” and “giving charity out of the goodness of their hearts to build HK and SG” into what they are today.
Chow ang moh KNNB talk cock lah.
ReplyYou know, where I work and live, the Ang Mor expats are quiet and meek as a mouse. No loud grunting, no bad road behaviour, no wild parties, no bullying of locals; heck, not even a peep out in social media.
This despite the country being racist, xenophobic and treating expats badly.
You know why these Ang Mors do not make a peep despite being in conditions many times worst than in Singapore? This is because this is the Middle East; you get deported if you drink, your go to jail if you lay hands on the locals, your bank account get suspended if you run foul of the law and you’re out of the country if you lose your job.
The locals show who’s the boss and all the Ang Mor bravado disappeared into thin air. Singaporeans and Singapore had been tolerant for too long!
ReplyLooking at Ate’s clients, a number of them are large foreign groups. I wonder how they will feel about Aun’s xenophobic comments.
ReplyI guess we all forget that the majority of Singaporeans are simply the offspring of Chinese immigrants who were allowed to migrate here by the British government.
Singapore is an island for immigrants – it always has been.
We all just owe the Malays a big thanks for letting us be here.
ReplyThis firm needed foreigners to grow as there were not enough capable Singaporeans. This firm would simply not be where it was without the foreigners that IT NEEDED.
The Singaporeans with good PR and similar skills go and work overseas – and they work in places that are not scared of foreign workers. Should we recall all the clever Singaporeans who are working overseas, or are they allowed to stay overseas as Singaporean FT?
Replythere is a common thread to all these comments…all the ones by “foreigners” have their actual name next to them….all the ones by angry “Singaporeans” are anonymous…..why is Singapore so angry on social media and yet not willing to reveal their real names or show themselves in the real world, a couple of poorly attended demonstrations that didn’t change a thing apart?
great point by John….
Reply@ Door Open:
Joe Lenon is correct to point out the comment below was made by Foreigner Here and not Chris Reed.
” Clearly not actions of someone of integrity. But the whole banging on about Foreign! Sheesh, it was the Foreigners that MADE singapore it is today! I wonder what attitude and contempt he harbours for other foreigners around him. Smacks of racism.”
@Chris Reed :
ReplyAs a Foreigner making a living in My Singapore or be it in any Host country, always be Humble and Respectful to the Host country citizenry. I for one is a Foreign Talent working outside of Singapore for many years and I always follow the Rule as the saying goes:- In Rome do what the Romans do !
The problem in Singapore is that some foreigners especially some bad Angmohs who think and behave highly of themselves as though they are some Superior beings like some Prince or Lord and began insulting and assaulting our fellow Singaporeans. Reported cases of them assaulting our old folks Taxi drivers, molesting our local women, and the recent Vivo City incident involving that Aussie cyclist behaving like he is the ‘King of the Road’ and challenging the woman driver to a fight and banging on her car window. Such irresponsible, thuggish and deplorable behaviour offend and pissed us True Blue Singaporeans for this is our Home and our Country ! All Foreigners are just Guest in our Little Red Dot where we offer them an opportunity to live and work here Unless they take up our Singapore Citizenship and renounce their country citizenship.
God Bless !
“These three, in my personal opinion, have demonstrated a complete lack of integrity and professionalism. To me, they have lost any kind of credibility not only as professionals but human beings. ” – Aun Koh
Quite clearly he was talking about the three culprits concerned and it is his opinion. So what is your beef Bostik, Vlad et al ?
How is Koh’s personal opinion about feeling betrayed unjustified after what he and his agency has gone through? By the way, he wrote in his own facebook. He don’t need your permission for that.
Personally, based on the stories wafting around, there are indeed a disproportionate number of such opportunistic foreign trash attracted to this place. If it gives the rest of you a bad name well suck it up as unfortunately it comes with the territory. Do you recall how Indian nationals were targeted by xenophobic Aussie trash and perhaps still are?
If you are unhappy when facts like this surfaces, please go. Put to the test your theory without FTs this place would collapse! I bet you would be forgotten soon enough and your places taken up by others.
ReplyPM Lee said Singapore is a sampan.
ReplyDoes that make FTs economic refugees or boat people?
PeeM LHL said that Singaporeans need to guard their Lunch otherwise they will be eaten by these so called FTs. Sadly, Singapore today is swarmed with lorry loads of economic migrant refugees from PinoyLand, YogaLand, KungfuLand, KangarooLand & AngmohLand who are coming here and taking on a much lower salaried job to compete and Replace our own homegrown PMETs leaving them jobless in their early 40s to fend for themselves and a family to feed and bills to pay in today’s expensive cost of living. Aun Koh, being a True Blue Singapore citizen has every right to complaint in his Facebook page to express his deep disappointment and disgust against these 3 unscrupulous, unprofessional Foreign Talent for coming to Singapore and boldly Stealing his Lunch while still under his company’s employment. WTF !
ReplyThis is very reason why the strong undercurrent against FTs are so overwhelming in today’s Singapore ! Too many low quality Tom, Dick & Harry Foreign Trashes with Fake degrees from Timbaktu Universities invading these Little Red Dot !
A sad state of affairs indeed !
Ho Lu really? You want to share that much racism in one rant? You do your country proud! Thankfully you are not typical of the people in Singapore otherwise no one would come here.
The fact is that there is no proof that 1) there are many Singaporean PMET’s unemployed, 2) that they were beaten to jobs by foreigners who were paid less.
There are facts to say that 1) Singaporean PMET’s with qualifications think this counts as experience when they don’t, 2) Foreigners by nature will have more global experience/regional experience unless the Singaporean has studied or worked abroad 3) foreigners take less MC than Singaporeans which does not endear Singaporean workers to employers of all kinds…those 14 days MC in your contract are not meant to all be taken you know!
Ultimately everyone should just employ the best person and I genuinely believe that most people do that as it reflects on them if they don’t so why would they not?
ReplyHaving lived in South Africa during apartheid and after Mandela came to power I’m still shocked how similar Singapore is to Apartheid South Africa, The amount of racism and xenophobia spewed out to all foreigners who work here is appalling. Every form one fills in whether it’s with MOM or opening a bank account, insists you fill in your race. WTF. Just troll through STOMP to see how much racist vitriol is spewed out at foreigners. Yet Singaporeans are happy to take the tourism dollars form foreigners yet bitch and moan about foreigners working here “taking their jobs”. Well, welcome to the free market global economy. If Singaporeans could run the country without foreign assistance it would have done so long ago. You need us and our skills. EDB actively encourages foreign companies to invest here, yet the people of this country constantly bitch and moan about the foreigners and their foreign investment. No wonder Singaporeans are the unhappiest nation on earth (Gallup research from 2014). You have so much hatred inbred you it disgusts me…and yes I’m here, only because my foreign owned company couldn’t find a Singaporean talented enough to do my job. Enough said.
ReplyHave your say