While it was difficult to get people to open up about why they gave up their Singapore citizenship, some echoed DPM Teo's comments on why they left.

Most of the reasons revolved around quality of life and family.

One wanted to reunite with her family in the Philippines after her marriage ran its course. Another wanted to be with her husband in Prague.

Mr Tang has no regrets over his decision to quit Singapore.

He visits his elderly mother, brothers and his two children here about two or three times a year.

His daughter, 36-year-old Madam Bianca Tang married an Australian who was posted to work in Singapore four years ago.

Mr Tang says: "My children are still Singaporean, but holding Australian PR passes. After my son completed his national service, he chose to stay in Singapore. He visits me and my wife often."

His daughter, Madam Tang, who is married with two children, aged one and three , says: "I am not sure how long we will be here. We will either move back to Australia or somewhere else."

For the same reasons that her father left Singapore, Madam Tang admits that the education system here is a major push factor.

She completed her primary education in CHIJ St Nicholas Girls' Primary School.

She says: "I went to high school in Australia, got my degree and completed my postgraduate studies there too. The schools there focus more on soft skills. I didn't feel the stress and I enjoyed the whole education process."

The Government is taking steps to change things here, but Madam Tang feels it will take many years to change how Singaporeans perceive education and for them to fully accept the change.

She has no plans to renounce her citizenship. But if she has to make a choice, she would give up her Singapore citizenship.

She says: "Nothing really keeps me here. If I could bring my kids back to Australia, I would.

"There is so much space back home for my kids to run around, play in the sand, dig up the mud. There are parks all over the place."

This article was first published in The New Paper.