'Best city for expats' but is it the best for Singaporeans?
The Straits Times H14 Forum Page- March 17 2007
A recent study conducted on corruption in Asia revealed that Singapore was the most corruption-free nation in the region. It was hence determined that Singapore is the best city in the World for expatriates. The local newspaper, The Straits Times, proudly trumpeted this "title" on its front page the very same day, it was headline news.
Upon reading that article, I began to wonder if I was reading our The Straits Times or a recent copy of Expat, a magazine that "helps" expatriates settle down by showing them when and where to purchase those luxurious items that they just cannot do without. As a Singaporean for the past 20 years, I did not know whether to feel proud that our country was graft-free or to feel terribly ashame that some people actually think that Singaporeans work so hard and stay corruption-free so that ang mohs can come here to wine and dine (according to the latest Expat magazine, that's what they should do), enjoy our low-crime garden city and whine and gripe about the absence of chewing gum? Of course among themselves, they would never miss the opportunity to criticise us for our capital punishment that was dished out on some of their compatriots for vandalism a few years ago.
Dr Huang Shoou Chyuan raised some very valid points about the lives of lower-income Singaporeans who I'm sad to say find it very difficult to enjoy this 'graft-free Singapore' together with the expatriates. In the article, Dr Huang asked if Singapore was the best city in the world for SINGAPOREANS. I believe I don't have to search hard for Singaporeans who would answer that question with a resounding 'NO'. One needs to look no further than the Singaporean Cabby. I have often met old Singaporean taxi drivers gripe about how meaningless it is to be considered a Singaporean. Yes the country is safe, but the cost of living is certainly too high for them to live comfortably. Some of these drivers are in their 70s and I definitely don't want to be cruising around in Singapore in a blue, yellow or red taxi when I'm 75, trying to put food on the table and make ends meet. Some might say that they are just taxi drivers who are narrow minded and lazy, who constantly gripe about the system. But aren't they Singaporeans too? Does it mean that people who are less educated cannot be considered law-abiding, hard-working, tax-paying Singaporeans? I never knew that the pre-requisite of gaining citizenship in this country required us to all hold degrees.
It was also mentioned that elderly Singaporeans have to compete with foreign-workers for low paying jobs such as cleaners and janitors and that their plight is, according to to our political leaders, 'a result of globalisation'. When I was in primary school, I remembered the local authorities coming up with an exhibit to showcase the history of Singapore. It was called "The Singapore Story". One of the themes that clearly resonated from that showcase was to be "thankful and respectful" to our forefathers and the elderly in our society, for they were the ones who poured blood and sweat to build a Singapore we can all be proud of today. Well, clearly Singapore is today showing her gratitude to all these elderly people.
As I turned the pages of that newspaper I was reading, I could not help but feel sad that our people are being marginalised. As long as the ang mohs are happy in our country, everything is alright, because after all we only need to live up to their standards. It is no wonder that many Singaporeans have forsaken their country in search of greener pastures, they are people who were called "quitters" by the government a few years back. I certainly will not be surprised if more and more Singaporeans feel that it is in their best interest to migrate to other countries where they can enjoy certain privileges they never had here, forfeiting privileges they have so rightfully earned as Singaporeans. After all, their forefathers had to kowtow to the angmohs and foreigners in the early days, so why should they now?
Upon reading that article, I began to wonder if I was reading our The Straits Times or a recent copy of Expat, a magazine that "helps" expatriates settle down by showing them when and where to purchase those luxurious items that they just cannot do without. As a Singaporean for the past 20 years, I did not know whether to feel proud that our country was graft-free or to feel terribly ashame that some people actually think that Singaporeans work so hard and stay corruption-free so that ang mohs can come here to wine and dine (according to the latest Expat magazine, that's what they should do), enjoy our low-crime garden city and whine and gripe about the absence of chewing gum? Of course among themselves, they would never miss the opportunity to criticise us for our capital punishment that was dished out on some of their compatriots for vandalism a few years ago.
Dr Huang Shoou Chyuan raised some very valid points about the lives of lower-income Singaporeans who I'm sad to say find it very difficult to enjoy this 'graft-free Singapore' together with the expatriates. In the article, Dr Huang asked if Singapore was the best city in the world for SINGAPOREANS. I believe I don't have to search hard for Singaporeans who would answer that question with a resounding 'NO'. One needs to look no further than the Singaporean Cabby. I have often met old Singaporean taxi drivers gripe about how meaningless it is to be considered a Singaporean. Yes the country is safe, but the cost of living is certainly too high for them to live comfortably. Some of these drivers are in their 70s and I definitely don't want to be cruising around in Singapore in a blue, yellow or red taxi when I'm 75, trying to put food on the table and make ends meet. Some might say that they are just taxi drivers who are narrow minded and lazy, who constantly gripe about the system. But aren't they Singaporeans too? Does it mean that people who are less educated cannot be considered law-abiding, hard-working, tax-paying Singaporeans? I never knew that the pre-requisite of gaining citizenship in this country required us to all hold degrees.
It was also mentioned that elderly Singaporeans have to compete with foreign-workers for low paying jobs such as cleaners and janitors and that their plight is, according to to our political leaders, 'a result of globalisation'. When I was in primary school, I remembered the local authorities coming up with an exhibit to showcase the history of Singapore. It was called "The Singapore Story". One of the themes that clearly resonated from that showcase was to be "thankful and respectful" to our forefathers and the elderly in our society, for they were the ones who poured blood and sweat to build a Singapore we can all be proud of today. Well, clearly Singapore is today showing her gratitude to all these elderly people.
As I turned the pages of that newspaper I was reading, I could not help but feel sad that our people are being marginalised. As long as the ang mohs are happy in our country, everything is alright, because after all we only need to live up to their standards. It is no wonder that many Singaporeans have forsaken their country in search of greener pastures, they are people who were called "quitters" by the government a few years back. I certainly will not be surprised if more and more Singaporeans feel that it is in their best interest to migrate to other countries where they can enjoy certain privileges they never had here, forfeiting privileges they have so rightfully earned as Singaporeans. After all, their forefathers had to kowtow to the angmohs and foreigners in the early days, so why should they now?
posted by Clarence Tan @ 3:11 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home