I Curse The Day I Was Born A Singaporean
Someone wrote into Malaysiakini. Any comment? Share your view.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!It is very amusing to see how Malaysians (probably of the minority races) have spasms of ecstasy when referring to Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) in Malaysian forums. From across the border in Malaysia, Singapore seems like Wonderland and LKY like a benevolent god.
As a Chinese Singaporean, born of Malaysian parents who took up citizenship here in Singapore, I can understand why they feel this way. The grouses are familiar: NEP, corruption and ineptitude in governance.
Let me provide an insight on how it is like to be a Singaporean. I must first stress that new immigrants or Permanent Residents (PRs) from Malaysia (like my parents) will not experience any disadvantages. It is the children of these people (like me) or new PRs’ children (who will be Singaporean) who will feel the disadvantages most sorely, and curse the fact they were born in Singapore:
On the relative development of both countries – Singpore developed well largely due to early good advice given to LKY, its strategic position, the lack of natural disasters and its easily-governable size. Malaysia lags behind in spite of its natural resources because of its larger size, poorer planning/ execution, more difficult decision-making and corruption.
However, Singapore has problems at present because its development model is outdated. As LKY still insists on the methods recommended tens of years ago, trouble is looming. There is no impetus to change because there is no one who dares to disagree. The media prints only propaganda, the courts will always find the government blameless as the government runs 70% of the economy.
The opposition has been persecuted to the point where only those with nothing to lose will dare to oppose, and the common people are scared to death of arbitrary arrest.
Yes, corruption is more widespread in Malaysia. But in Singapore, it also exists – though restricted to the top political elite and in a legalised form. In Malaysia, many get a share of the cake but in Singapore, only a select few get a share of the cake.
Many scoff at the position of the Malay rulers. But are they aware of the many dubious acts of LKY and his cronies – his ‘cooperation’ with the wartime Japanese, then the Communists and then the British (he betrayed the latter two in the end)?
And the actions taken by him and his courts to destroy the opposition, moves which are reported in a twisted manner by his press? A shining example of good character?
Yes, up till recently, Singapore was performing excellently. But at the same time, the ordinary people had the fruits of their labour taken away. We seem rich but yet are in debt. The government apartments are now exorbitantly priced. Cars are a necessity (given the poor performance of the profit-oriented public transport companies) but are also exorbitantly priced.
Much of our money is locked in the Provident Fund and it is becoming impossible to get it back while we are still alive. Yes, all races are treated equally – and they are sucked dry equally. This is the pivotal point in times when things became bad. By the way, the money in the Provident Fund (as well as in the reserves) is used for investment – for which there is almost no transparency and accountability.
Huge losses have been incurred in the current crisis yet the ruling party still baulks at spending a million or two on the poor. Oh, and we spend twice as much on defence as Malaysia despite being at least 400 times smaller.
Instead of addressing the root of the problems, LKY’s son (yes, his son – by the way did Dr Mahathir install his son as prime minister?) decided to take action on only one aspect of the problem, in a negative manner. Instead of lowering costs for citizens, and therefore maintaining wage levels, he decided to import foreigners to lower cost.
It is effective – foreigners earn much more per hour than they do back home. They are stuck with the same employer for the duration of their visa, hence they are obedient. If they are sacked, they have to go home. And home means facing unpaid debts which they incurred in getting to Singapore. So which foreign worker will dare to resist exploitation?
This means the ‘choosy’ Singaporeans get to twiddle thumbs at home. And would the Singaporean ministers care? They are paid $S$2 million basic per year, a performance bonus of up to eight months, and get a pension when they reach retirement age. Good clean governance, huh? Oh yes, the judges are paid the same too so not surprisingly they always find for the government.
Malaysians are LKY’s top choice. It gratifies him to poach bright minority students which his old pal Dr Mahathir had educated. They get good jobs (there is supposedly a quota to be filled), will not get sacked (as it means they go back to Dr M) and are favoured by corporations, as they do not have national service obligations.
None want to be citizens – at the end of the day, they will retire to the Malaysia (which they hate so much) to enjoy the Singapore dollar’s strength. God have mercy on the children they leave behind!
Currently one person in three is a foreigner in Singapore. The press chooses to obfuscate matters by lumping citizens and PRs together in their reporting (as ‘resident population’) so the huge number of foreigners in Singapore is understated.To all Malaysians who love LKY, you have to be ruled by him, not as a PR turned citizen, but as a born and bred Singaporean, to understand that he is not what you think.Y ou curse Dr Mahathir because you know LKY will treat you like lords. You are correct but very shortsighted and shallow.
Dr Mahathir may be much less than perfect, but only ignorant fools will say LKY is better than him. Singapore residents receive two broadsheet pages daily on how bad things are in Malaysia, but no Singaporean commentator will blast LKY and compare him to Dr Mahathir.
Why? Because it is stupid to compare – we have not been ruled by Dr Mahathir or Umno so how are we able to compare? Using anecdotal evidence supplied by privileged fellow countrymen is poor practice.
I agree with all my heart! What she said is exactly how I feel!
A,
ic, anything else you want to add?
I’m not sure if she’s really Singaporean.
First of all, most of the time the opposition is sued, its because
of their own stupidity. Not because the government control the court.
The opposition like to make accusation without any facts, so naturally they loose most of the cases.
Secondly, have u ever taken a bus or train in Malaysia?
Try that before u complain about the Singapore transport system.
Thirdly, the Singapore government is always looking for ways to change the economy. In the 80s, the economy is build on manufacturing, in the 90s it is IT and in this new millenium it is biotechnology, etc. So whats your gripe about the development model staying unchange?
Fourthly, well, I prefer a well paid minister than a corrupted minister.
Look at Khir Toyo, former chief minister of the Selangor state in Malaysia. He’s being accuse of purchasing a bungalow for 24 million which of course with his salary is not possible. When asked where the money comes from, he said he bought it cheap at only 3 million. Can u believe him? I wonder which stupid fellow sold it to him at 10% of the price.
U said there are corruption on the top section of the government, so can u care to give some sample? Who are those u are talking about?
I can go on and on too, but I guess this should be enough.
Btw, I’m from JB but working in Singapore.
So I get to experience life in both countries and see the differences first hand.
Yes, you got the point.
To the Singaporean born of Malaysian parents, let me share something with you.
At least in Singapore:-
1) the government does not throw someone down their office if they refuse to do their biddings.
2) everyone is sucked dry, not just anyone race.
3) Ministers while too highly paid, got their money legally, not thru corrupt way.
4)cars in Malaysia is the most expensive in the world (more expensive than Sillypore, if purchasing power parity is accounted for). Expensive apartments? Have you ever earn RM and pay till you’re “botak” before you can call the apartment your apartment? And that’s just so so apartment, not KLCC premium apartment.
5)while diesel is expensive, it’s Euro 4 standard. Malaysians are paying premium for Euro 0 standard diesel.
6)poor performance profit oriented public transport in Sillypore? You obviosly have not tried the public transport in Malaysia.
7) media is government propaganda? Like in Malaysia, isn’t that true for Malaysia too?
8)At least this Singaporean is not threatened by their Minister in PM’s Dept (whatever it means), on daily basis whenever there is a crisis.
9)Money locked in CPF? Aren’t Malaysian’s money locked in EPF? Somemore some of the money being used for “national duty”.
10) You think MahaDei does not want his son to be PM meh? Please don’t kid anyone la.
11) Foreigners? Indonesian is the third largest ethnic group in Malaysia, not Indians as what they told you. At least in Singapore, 99% of working foreigners are legal and pay some form of taxes. Malaysia’s foreigners mainly repatriate their income.
12)Huge losses by govt inv agency? Anyone still remembers how much Malaysia’s central bank loss in dabbling forex in 1997? Granted that this LSL’s wife lost hell lots of taxpayers’ money. This I think is very irresponsible of the Singapore’s PM. Minus point here.
13) lawyers do not write judgement for judges in Singapore. Malaysian lawyers do.
14) Singaporean police won’t ask your for money when you ran a red light. Malaysians pay duit kopi when they get caught.
15) Singaporean police won’t whack you if you are a suspect. Police in Malaysia treat you like dirt even if you are not a suspect. Malaysian police are not called Polis raja Di Malaysia for nothing.
16)singaporeans get to study whatever discipline they like, provided they satisfy the criteria. Wanna study medicine or get scholarship in Malaysia? Pass the race test first.
Wanna hear some more? The list is endless. Still wanna curse you are born a Singaporean? Perhaps this Singaporean should apply to be a Malaysian citizen.
Not a Singaporean,
It is always like this, people always think the other side is better.
You must be mad to love Malaysia more than Singapore! Just go across the border to JB and feel for yourself.
oh man…you dont have to go across totally….
The checkpoint itself speaks alot about the country.
well, you have your point.
i cursed myself been a singaporean too.
Singapore is too safe so they breed lots of brats.People in singapore like to take it for granted.
i cursed myself so much that i dont care even if i get killed somehow by a tsunami hitting singapore or something.
Singapore wont be safe forever.
You are one good example of a brat. Eat too full.
well said… of course malaysian chinese, especially those who migrated to singapore or who aspire to migrate someday soon, will never accept it… in fact much of the racial politics in singapore is exacerbated by the malaysian chinese who migrate to Singapore along with their hatred for malays and oddly indians also. i am an indian myself and i have been subject to very descriminatory behaviour from numerous supervisors in numerous organisations over last 10 years who are malaysian chinese and who previously migrated to singapore from malaysia. however my malay colleagues face worse harrassment and descrimination than me. of course amongst the malaysian chinese who migrated to singapore there are two groups. the worse group is the one who targets malay and indian singaporeans. the worst group simply care only about itself, hoping to gain as much as possible out of the system and one day migrate back to malaysia they talk bad about during their whole life