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Dr Irna Nurlina Binte Masron’s analysis of Southeast Asia’s soft power dynamics, “Where Southeast Asians really want to live, work and travel” (May 31), captures the uneven development pulling regional talent towards Singapore. As a Singaporean who has spent the last decade in Hong Kong studying and working, I find that these survey results strike a personal chord regarding the anxieties felt back home.

Singaporeans face a palpable dilemma. We take immense pride in our development built up by the Pioneer (born on or before 1949) and Merdeka (born between 1950 and 1959) generations. On the flipside, many harbour a fear of being crowded out by an influx of foreign talent. They worry that immigration drives up the cost of living while stagnating local wages. Many wish to stay in a safe harbour environment that offers career security and priority for citizens.

These anxieties are valid, and they deserve empathy. However, an overseas perspective can help contextualise these fears.

My own journey to Hong Kong began in academia when I moved here to pursue a PhD. I chose to stay on for the sheer breadth of professional opportunities in engineering and sustainable development. Many back home are surprised that my family and I are here on a local work contract without the cushion of lavish expatriate incentives. Yet, I have received irreplaceable professional exposure here and across mainland China. This highly competitive, fast-paced territory forced me to adapt and sharpen skills that a more comfortable environment might never have demanded.

This experience underscores the author’s conclusion: Singaporeans must look outward and embrace regional integration. To thrive in a changing global economy, we cannot weigh career decisions purely on short-term monetary metrics. We must view them through the lens of long-term growth and sustainable career trajectories.