I have a few comments and some questions.

That the chief of the Singapore Athletics Association (SAA), the sports body charged with overseeing Enxin's welfare, can nonchalantly shrug his shoulders at the latter's disappearance speaks volumes for his level of commitment to the Foreign Sports Talent (FST) scheme.

At this point, one legitimate question that needs to be asked is: Who is accountable for this loss in investment? Or is it yet another case where no one in particular is in charge and therefore no one is answerable - the buck doesn't stop anywhere?

This case has also called into question the recruiting process of athletes from overseas and how they are trained, managed and looked after by their hosts while stationed here - not just for athletics but other sports as well. Do we have the right approach in each?

Another question that may be asked is: Is Singapore the right place for high-level training in athletics, considering the sport here has long been in the doldrums? We seem to have made a fundamental error of judgment here with respect to the suitability of training environment. (The same question may be posed for other sports as well.)

Another question that begs for an answer is this: In our eagerness to recruit foreign athletes to win honours for Singapore, have we got our priorities right? First, to use all available resources to identify and nurture our own talents and, if, and only if, that still falls short, to then recruit from overseas? Have we, somehow, skewed our priorities?

As I understand it, the FST scheme (operated by the Singapore Sports Council, is supposed to help improve Singapore's performance in international competitions and to raise the standards of sport in the country. Question: So far, to what extent have foreign athletes under the scheme contributed to the attainment of these two objectives?

We seem to be in too much of a hurry to show our muscle in high-level sport. This attitude is fatally flawed. We might end up investing in millions with very little to show for it.

May I suggest that SSC review the scheme by addressing the above and other related questions. This investment debacle has put the FST scheme and the officials involved in poor light, and Singaporeans must be spared another similar fiasco.

Lee Seck Kay