The importance
Of being praised
Accolades for Singapore and its people are often played up; does it show a competitive spirit or a sense of insecurity? Comments. By Seah Chiang Nee.
Feb 10, 2007

A PUZZLING question for affluent Singapore today is: Why – when with so many foreigners wanting to settle here – more than half of the young population wants to migrate elsewhere?

Recent surveys paint, more or less, the same picture. An economic and employment boom notwithstanding, between 53% and 60% of youths say they will leave given the chance.

In fact, the number of wannabe emigrants outnumbers those of Malaysia and Thailand.
Why? Ask government officials, and they will probably tell you it is a global trend (not entirely wrong), but the answer goes beyond that.

Many who have left say the main reasons are work pressures (too many workers get retrenched after 45) and an over-regulated regime.

Above all, parents see Singapore’s small size and vulnerability as limiting their children’s future prospects.

“Life is boring. We want to live among hills and valleys, we want a fruit orchard, ride a horse across the prairie or fish by the river,” said an old neighbour, who has since settled in Australia.

Nothing, of course, can be done about many of the limitations and the top-down government has refused to liberalise politics.

It can’t supply a scenic waterfall or let canoes shoot the rapids; neither can it provide a cottage next to a babbling brook, but it has been cracking its head to alter its “boring, unexciting image”.

In its latest announcement this week, the government has moved another step forward to liven up things for its citizens.

It will transform its thousands of kilometres of rivers, drainage canals and reservoirs into dual-purpose water parks, gardens and entertainment venues, the prime minister said.

“Instead of seeing a concrete canal, you (see) ... landscaped banks, with kayakers paddling in the area, with play areas for children,” Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said when he launched the project. “Far-fetched? No,” he said.

The five-year plan aims to beautify its 7,000km of waterways with 20 initial projects, the latest in a series of efforts to remodel itself and shed its dull image.

After decades of being the second wealthiest country in Asia has taught Singaporeans a thing or two about life. For the majority, it has been a smooth, stable journey in which its accumulated reserves have become a buffer to crises.

But its limited space and brief history mar the confidence of many young Singaporeans.
During Singapore’s early years, I found a rather strange journalistic practice of plying distinguished visitors with the question: “What do you think of Singapore?”

Generally the answer was in the form of polite praise; few guests wanted to be appear unkind. This usually ended up in next day’s glorious headline.

That was a long time ago when reporters were largely untrained and editors believed this would please the powers-that-be. There was actually more to it than that.

Singapore was then a new nation which lacked confidence and which was trying to find its place in the world. Morale building was crucial and people needed icons, heroes and other people’s praises.

With better-schooled journalists and public, this sought-after self-acclaim has largely disappeared; nobody will be taken in by it.

But Singapore’s lack of icons and heroes – except Lee Kuan Yew – has created a need among its people for global recognition.

Consequently, the media has been overly keen to claim achievements by people remotely connected with the island.

A case in point: Talented Singapore-born violinist Lee Pan Hon, who trained in Britain when he was very young and settled down there.

He married an English woman and raised a family and is unlikely to return, but is still referred to in reports as a Singaporean.

A letter writer said he found it hard to understand why Singapore strived so hard to associate with anyone famous “who is remotely connected to Singapore” and blow it up as among one of its own.

“Remember Vanessa Mae, the (renowned) violinist and how our local newspapers never failed to mention as ‘Singapore born’ when she just happened to be born in Singapore and spent only three years here. I doubt she could have the faintest impression of Singapore at her age,” he added.

(Vanessa was born in Singapore to an English father and a Chinese mother, who have all long returned to Britain.)

When Straits Times bureau chief in Beijing, Singapore permanent resident Ching Cheong, was arrested last year and jailed for spying for Taiwan, the Singapore newspaper initially referred him as a Singaporean journalist.

The foreign media, however, rightly referred to him as a Hong Kong resident (British passport).

The love of accolades has resulted in the Singapore media taking its top world rankings far more seriously than most other countries, but not the negative ones.

In sports, too, winning gold medals is a long-term plan regarded as part of nation building. The recent victory at the Asean Cup football tournament was an example; it was as though we had won the World Cup.

When a big country with a long history like China wins an Olympic gold medal or some international accolade, it’s taken for granted. In Singapore, it’s a big deal.

Some say this love of accolades and achievements is a good trait, and reflects Singaporeans’ competitive spirit.

“Unlike large powers, Singapore is, in fact, a relative unknown among foreigners and we need to strive to put ourselves on the world map,” explained a retiree.

Will it last? Yes, for some time to come until Singapore matures or becomes a high achieving nation, it will take life a lot easier. That’s a long way to go.
(This article was published in The Star, Malaysia, on Feb 10, 2007)

Comments

Yuen wrote,
In answer to the question you raise in The importance Of being praised I believe it is simply part of diplomacy: a small country needs big friends.

Because of its financial resources, singapore "punches out of its league"; however, it needs to frequently remind its people what they owe to its government for good leadership.

However, such efforts are often seen in neighbouring countries as showing off and generate resentment.

Kheng Siong Chew wrote,
I read this article in the Malaysian newspaper, The Star, and would like to offer my views.

Hong Kong has about the same population density as Singapore. Hong Kongers, however, concentrated in Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and a few nearby towns. There are still many villages in New Territories and outlying islands. On top of that, many islands are uninhabited.

In Singapore, populations are spread more evenly. In the last few decades, villages in the main island have been transformed into new towns. The upside is, residents have more space. The downside is, well you know, Singapore is boring.

Of course, development cannot be reversed, but the government should plan the use of reclaimed land wisely. Large portion of the land should be reserved for recreational purposes. Should new ecology springs up in reclaimed land, it should be protected.
Kheng Siong Chew
Feb 12, 2007