Labrador, no need to be so hostile. the fact that MAS has the highest number of bond-breakers shows something doesn't it? Their scholars must be in high demand. They are poached by the banks. And now given this crisis, many are re-applying back to MAS.

EDB does execution work - that is true. The fact that they don't have much policy formulation does not mean that their work is menial. How can bringing in millions / billions of FAI for Singapore be menial? It requires much intellectual energy in positioning Singapore, meeting investors, etc. Some ex-EDB scholars have even moved on to Goldman Sachs and McKinsey. And their understanding of industries would probably stand them in better stead than OMS scholars who got stuck in irrelevant Ministries.

There are also many non-scholars who are doing well, as long as they don't stay in Govt :-) Of course it definitely helps if they graduated from a top school in US/UK. Your very obsession with OMS/SAFOS/SPFOS scholars is myopic because you completely miss this point that there are many talented people out there with knowledge, drive and the ability to succeed in whatever field they choose without a government scholarship!

btw, the ex-BG you spoke to still needs to start from scratch because he is competing with 70+ over MDs in DBS, and MD is not quite senior senior mgmt yet compared to where he came from.