I'm the same fresh local uni grad with first class. First, my starting salary isn't $4k+. It's $3.8k wo NS. Even then, I'm paid slightly higher than average in my cohort. I have friends with first class and higher GPAs that are paid lower than I am. On the flipside, I know of people with highly specialised skills and without stellar grades that are paid $4-5k straight out of school. All in all, grades dont always dictate salary.

Now that I've address the whole "local uni = good grades + high starting salary" argument, I'll address the "SIM = failure in life point". There's a multitude of reasons why ppl go to private unis. Some aren't as privileged as we are (tbh most ppl I know from school come from middle to high income families) and have to work while studying part time. Others go even further, having to support their families with wtv lil money they can earn with a diploma. That, my friend, is extremely admirable and I can't say that, in my four years of uni education, have I made such a huge impact on the lives around me.

So pls dont be narrow minded and categorise ppl from SIM/SUSS as failures in life. Sometimes, privilege does buy one a path into a local autonomous uni and beyond.