I WRITE in response to the article, "Can our youngster weather storms?" (The New Paper, 5 Mar).

Member of Parliament Ong Seh Hong was quoted as saying, "I worry if we have been overly protective of our younger generation."

I am a little puzzled by his comment because Singapore is one of the most, if not the most, open economies in the world.

Competition has always been the main focus of the Government's policy in education, employment and business.

Even looking for a spouse can be a very competitive affair for some Singaporeans.

I have three school-going children, and thanks to our very competitive environment, they fully understand what is ahead of them.

There is no need to lecture them of our past. Young people today live in a very different environment and are very well- informed and more connected than we think.

They know what is going on and the best we can do is to encourage them. Of course, some may emigrate to Canada, US or Australia, but if we learn to listen with sympathetic ears, maybe a few will return some day.