Thanks for the excellent insight, Keng Yew. The chief reason of what you mentioned happening in SG of established relationship, attracting start-up, exposing scholar to Silicon Valley and sending thousand of PhD to top tertiary institution, we need look no further than Philip Yeo bio (http://bit.ly/aSOFME) and whose ears he has got in pushing their next long term economic initiative.

Therefore, SG model in selling and attracting their next economic activities (e.g tech, bio-science, digital content) is almost equivalent of having a centralized diplomatic corp for foreign mission rather for economic mission. Do we have this model in Malaysia? should we even try to emulate their model? or would our environment allow this model? Just like you, I know something has to be done but I have no answer.