ok i accept ur point. On kids education i really dunno, as i feel that the edu pathway in SG is quite uncertain, very dependent on own kids' ability.  in Msia, more certainty and options to ensure ur kid has a good degree. 
But on politics, i give u a counter-argument -- that songlap news doesn't affect our lives as much as we think. I used to think so too, always read news get upset here and there. But end of the day, it didn't really affect my day-to-day life, or maybe i just cannot see it yet.
Yes I am, with very few hobbies and social life. I define myself by my career, hence ex-colleagues being big part of my KL life.
true. but when weighing things up to decide whether to move, usually the topic of children's future comes up and carries big weight in decision. and ppl usually come to the conclusion that it's better in SG. I did too, but can't remember exactly why. maybe i was swayed by domestic news and stuff like that at the time

But on politics, i give u a counter-argument -- that songlap news doesn't affect our lives as much as we think. I used to think so too, always read news get upset here and there. But end of the day, it didn't really affect my day-to-day life, or maybe i just cannot see it yet.

Wah your old job sounds great. Mind sharing the name of the company or at least the industry/job, TS?

 

As for advice, I think everyone here already said what needs to be said.

songlap news doesn't affect ?

politicians too busy and caught up with songlap, you think they be making good policy decisions?
bad economy decisions result in bad careers generally for us.
you job maybe good to you, but imagine with good govt policy, your career would have been 3X better.

with the 90/10 ratio for certain people to public university, yout think education opportunities would be better here than Spore ?

if u like it so much to work here in msia, what the heck, quit ur job and come back here lah. Eat your heart out. Many more msians would relish taking ur place.

If u convert your MYR saving to SGD 10 years ago, your saving in MYR now increased by 3x% by doing nothing, it beats bank fixed deposit by doing nothing! Our buying power is getting worse and worse, just most of the ppl dint notice it, things get expensive not just because of eventual inflation, also because our gov are corrupted.

Reaching out to /k, many of whom are from all walks of life, very experienced and seen all there is to see in their corporate careers. Seeking advice and whether similar experiences have been encountered by more worldly, wiser heads than mine.

For 8 years I was in a stable MNC job in KL -- final base salary of ~RM40k, generous benefits, consistently 40 hour work week and rarely more. I was well-liked by my superior (the CEO), and I had a group of colleagues who became my friends who I also met outside office hours, which I regard as the high watermark for workplace friendship. 2 years ago due to various internal movements (i.e. some senior people left) I was earmarked as a potential future Country Head and things were looking rosy, though of course nothing was committed at these senior positions.

In early 2021, two things happened.  The company had a change in ownership so the CEO was replaced, followed by some other changes in management.  But my job remained unaffected, and the wider scope I was promised was still on the table for me.  Around the same time I received a job offer from SG, offering $20k+ base.  This was out of the blue given my age (early 40s), so I took this offer and moved over with my family (primary school children).  I could say it was driven by personal reasons (for children future etc.), but to be honest I had no problem staying in KL my hometown. 

12 months later, I find myself unable to move on from my previous job. This SG job has been great, after some initial challenges I have started to settle in.  And moreover SG has been an easy place to adapt to.  So I should have no complaints. 

But I still think about my previous job.  12 months on I am still closer to my ex-colleagues in KL than my current colleagues in SG.  I see my peers in other companies moving up and taking very senior positions in Malaysia, and constantly look back on what could have been had I stayed. I appreciate with new ownership and management things may not have been that great for me in the same company, but still I look back with rose-tinted glasses.  The corporate setup in SG is such that there are many layers of management compared to in KL, so there is little chance for promotion within the next 5 years or more. It would also be tough to move back due to children's schooling, etc., and anyway my previous job has been filled.

Have you ever regretted moving on from your old job?  How long before you got over it, or do you ever get over it?