Venture outward to help build Singapore

The Straits Times, April 21, 2007

WHEN Roy Quek meets graduating students on his travels abroad, he always tells them not to come home just yet.

The advice appears strange, coming from the director of the Overseas Singaporean Unit (OSU), which was set up last year to connect and engage the more than 140,000 Singaporeans working and living overseas.

The 36-year-old, who has a propensity to break out into hearty laughs, said: 'I always tell them they need to go out and see more of the world. After they do, they will return home with greater value.''

He added: 'We need to venture out. If we do not, our world view will be different. Singaporeans would not be able to enjoy the diversity of ideas and creativity that we currently do.''

Countrymen who choose to work abroad should not be seen as quitters, he said.

In today's globalised world where talent transcends borders and barriers, he said, 'at any time, our family members or friends may do the same. We shouldn't see them as abandoning us'.

'From a macro perspective, it is good that a Singaporean can exercise his economic sphere beyond Singapore. Our people are our brand ambassadors, they are our symbols for industry, quality and reliability. They are the reasons why other people want to work with us. But to get there, we have to go out. And we have to facilitate that.''

He can identify with overseas Singaporeans, having studied and lived abroad.

The former national squash player lived for several years in London while studying for his degree in economics at the London School of Economics in the late 1980s. He also spent time in Beijing where he obtained a Masters in Public Administration from Beijing University, as well as New York when he was attached to the United Nations.

Before OSU, which reports directly to the Prime Minister's Office, Mr Quek did policy work for the Defence Ministry and was director of corporate services for the Education Ministry.

One of the roles of the OSU is to help Singaporeans abroad retain their 'Singaporeaness'.

Asked how he himself defines being Singaporean, he replied: 'A few things define us. The fact that we come from a small country and the idea that we must always work hard. Some people see that as being kiasu (afraid to lose) but I prefer to see us as a community aware of our own limitations, and which works hard to take care not only of ourselves but our future generations. That is a something very strong in us.''

Smiling, he added: 'Our food and hawker centres are also unique to us. People say we always overplay the food part but I don't think so. If that's the case, Americans also overplay their football, basketball and Hollywood.''

He enjoyed his time abroad. 'I always made it a point to be a member of Singapore associations, identify Singaporean restaurants so I could satisfy my cravings and always attended activities involving Singaporeans.''

The thought of not returning home, however, never crossed his mind.

'I missed my friends and family too much,'' said Mr Quek.

'Singapore is a place I can call my own. This is the place where I don't have to worry about who I am because I am who I am here.''