NEP and Singaporeans
One of my regular commentator who says he is a Singaporean suggests I post Rules of Life by Bill Gates. He says he feels many of the readers on my blog thinks the NEP is unfair. But since life is unfair, we should get used to it.
This is the type of callous remark from people who say to rape victims to get used to it or abused mothers to get out of the bad marriages. The diagnosis is clinical and the prescription equally devoid of human compassion.
Many people have suffered under the NEP. For an example, read Product of The System’s Slapped, Pushed and Kicked Around. His account is one of the many in Malaysia. The tales of non-Malays being mentally tortured by Malays in the civil service and other government-linked companies abound.
In an email reply to the Singaporean, I said that the NEP has been abused and is the cause of much inter-racial resentment. Not to mention the brain drain.
At the same time, I said the whole scale dismantling of the policy, actually now called NDP or something, will cause social chaos. If any part of the policy should be kept, it should be the quotas for education. Why not quotas for government contracts? Because these hardly reach the lower rungs of society it’s suppose to help anyway. Just look at the Maika shares scandal and other allegations of UMNOputeras enriching themselves with shares allocated to bumiputeras.
Justice is more than meritocracy. It also means equal opportunity. From there, we can then build a more empowered people to brave the storms of globalisation. At present, because many cannot compete based on meritocracy, Malaysians have to compromise and help each other. It’s not about one race helping another but generally a spirit of camaraderie. Just ‘cos a person is not too bright or qualified, he may not get a great high-paying job in some multi-national. But you can still employ him to do some other job.
I’ve said before that Malaysia is not Singapore. Although the small island state is much more developed and modern, it’s also an almost bland experience. Here, we have the beaches, the mountains, the jungle and more. We have people from diverse cultures. Policies that work in Singapore may not work here.
The commenter is a typical go-getter who believes the purpose of life is to work and earn lots of money. In his words, no choice but to survive. But I want to say, we all have choices. And living in the city, slaving away from dawn till midnight, with no time for your family and friends may not be what some want. Like me, life is not about chasing money. It’s about living a fulfilling life ‘cos it’s a gift from God. God doesn’t care if you are rich or a CEO.
He said, not everyone can go live on a beach. The point is, he doesn’t want to live on a beach ‘cos he has chosen his path to live in Singapore as a slave in some big machine. Not like he will earn lots. Maybe enough for a few cars, and then some holidays.
So my point is just because my worldview or life choices don’t gel with your meritocratic or kiasu goals in life, please don’t condemn me. I am quite happy being myself. And being Malaysian.
The last thing I need is a Singaporean to dish out advice. Please look at your totalitarian, characterless state before offering words of wisdom on our uniquely Malaysian problems.
Cheers.
frankly, singaporeans are an unimaginative lot when it comes to worldview and thinking out of the box. to compound matters further, those who do possess that imagination are often publicly demonised for “rocking the boat” when things are “smooth sailing”. singapore’s political climate is so impotent that its citizens find more excitement in talking about other countries’ issues: Myanmar lah, Taiwan lah, Obama lah, and of course Pak Lah.
unfortunately, this is unlikely to change. but the bigger fear is that, when malaysia DOES become more successful, modern, developed, first-world, will it simply morph into another singapore republic?
i seriously hope not. i still want to enjoy terengganu beaches. haven’t gone to kelantan beaches yet, not sure how they compare, hehehe.
Ever seen how S`poreans behave when they are in M`sia? In Club Med they used to pile up the plates with food, and then eat only a portion leaving large amounts unattended. It was so disgusting.
On the roads, they flout laws in their flashy cars like the roads were built by their fathers - not to mention the rubbish they throw out. What they can`t do in S`pore they do in M`sia, polluting the environment.
It’s the repression. Also known for not paying speeding summonses…More scary tales from SG. One couple told me that the floor beneath postboxes at a service apartment were always covered with flyers and other spam. When he asked why don’t you pick them up and throw them in the bin instead of chucking them on the floor? The man replied, we’ve already paid service charge. so they should work….
`He says he feels many of the readers on my blog thinks the NEP is unfair. But since life is unfair, we should get used to it.`
That I think would prove S`poreans like these are extremely idiotic. He sounds to me like one of those Code Pink or PETA followers.
It is Man`s natural inclination to better one`s self, and it was the 1st M`sian PM`s magnanimity that allowed these bums to go out on their own. Their `superiority complex` is based entirely on the sing dollar-a reversal in that will see them whining.
They may not have oil, but the infrastucture of port facilities was well in place that made it necessary for M`sian produce to be shipped thru S`pore ports. This is changing, and when Pelepas Port was opened many shipping cos. shifted operations out of s`pore. Then they started their whines. Why didn`t they live with the `unfairness` then.
Another thing, S`poreans exists in `their paradise` as long as M`sia is dumbed down. The more M`sia improves, so will S`pore recede.
Well said Jed. You dare bit the hand that fed you. I like.
Hey I also contributed to the college’s impressive results ok. 
Not like I didn’t contribute. Spore is very kiasu. So they make sure that the colleges get enough As, etc to stay at top ranking and I DID. Dah balas jasa lah? Also my college was by the beach. 
Ha ha ha ha ha.
aMiR
In the past few years, a number of my friends have emigrated from Singapore. Many of them are young gifted individuals on the upward swing of their careers. They have difficulties getting attractive jobs here, and they are aware of the exodus of manufacturing and consultation jobs out of Singapore. In addition my friends had become increasingly uncomfortable with the stifling nature of our bureaucracy, which prompted them to seek greener pastures overseas.
Ngiam Tong Dow wrote in the Straits Times of 14 August 2004 that Singapores future economic survival depends on the number of talented and creative individuals that we can cultivate and retain. Competition is now global, and we need to create new products and innovate old ones regularly. We are competing with the brightest and most creative brains in the world.
Each year we send large numbers of students overseas for study and research. Not all will return to Singapore, and we are suffering from a small but significant brain drain. Those who do return, will only remain for a while, and ultimately they will emigrate.
Top companies worldwide recognise the importance of talent, and they scour the world in search of gifted people, whom they will grab. How do we reduce the number of our brightest individuals being drawn overseas?
Ngiam suggested that one of the reasons why our talent leave is that they do not have enough creative space. Expanding this space can be achieved by giving greater freedom of expression, developing greater tolerance of divergent views and pushing out-of-bound markers. He also suggested that we make an emotional appeal to these people to return to Singapore, although he does not say how.
However he misses out on a couple of important points. Why do our young talent forsake Singapore? Yes, some find our academic and intellectual climate and our excessive government regulation, quite suffocating. Yes, we do not treat our own citizens as well as we treat our overseas visitors, and indeed we tend to look down on our own and do not accord them the recognition they deserve.
http://www.lyen.net/gpage78.html
One email and all singaporeans are tarred with the same brush…
Looks lilke we still have a long way to go..
PS: living in spore for the last 8 years. They have their good and bad - just like Malaysians.
But one thing they don’t have (yet) - Nazri.
The Singaporean ought to remember his own advice on unfairness the next time PAP knocks down all Opposition contendors and canes + SGD500 fines him for thinking non-PAP thoughts. Or heck, the next time someone kicks his butt because he’s smaller.
Btw, the Rules of Life is not by Bill Gates.
http://scottthong.wordpress.com/2008/02/28/11-rules-of-life-not-really-by-bill-gates-but-highly-applicable-to-moonbats/
Of course, this being teh Internets and all, it wasn’t actually by Bill Gates, but by Charles J. Sykes who included his original version in the book Dumbing Down Our Kids: Why American Children Feel Good about Themselves, but Can’t Read, Write, or Add.
Like me, life is not about chasing money. It’s about living a fulfilling life ‘cos it’s a gift from God. God doesn’t care if you are rich or a CEO.
——————————————————————————————————————–
Bravo! there’s more to life than money, cars, holidays, condo..haha
Yes. At the same time, there is nothing wrong if you wish to pursue those things. Life is about choices.
If NEP or NDP was or is implemented by the book and carried out by honest ppl, all of these today would not have happen….cleaning must be done and that includes ppl in Gomen.If BR gets to govern Malaysia…clean out those who makan gaji buta and kaki ampu, kaki tipu, and whatever kakis. If these ppl like politics so much…resign so that we ordinary ppl do not suffer.
i think singapore works just like a big corporation (with an all mighty CEO), in a way that is not far from the truth. how many ppl here has worked for big corporation? for example, 3 yrs back (i donno if it is still the case), if you (lady) work in KPMG M’sia, you are not allowed to wear pants. So, if you are an employee…no choice lor, still have to make $$ wat unless jump ship la. That’s just the mentality of Singaporean, Bo pian (no choice) / Bo chap (dont care).
Modern life wor. So happening….Work, work, work, debt, debt, debt… ? Work is good but not when it turns into an obsession.
Spore is known as Lee Inc mah…. You know how much they pay their ministers? If that’s not legalised corruption, I dunno what is..
You tell him, girl. I come from a family with siblings and in-laws of six nationalities and among them are Singaporeans.
I tend to believe that our behaviour is reflective of the society that we live in and our leadership, i.e. the government is a extension of our expectations or at least of the majority of the voters.
The lack of tact, the single-mindedness in the pursue of an objective at the expense of common decency, the arrogance and the self-importance - I don’t see it in the Americans, the British, the Japanese nor the Thais.
To paint a whole society with the same brush as you do with an individual isn’t fair. However, as unfair as generalisation can be, it is that both nature and nurture that shape one’s character.
How the society is driven, its priorities, its behaviour and mostly its way of thinking is the product of the environment that one comes from.
Even within a country, there are differences - compare an Aussie from the Outback and a Sydneysider, a Parisian and a French from the countryside, a Londoner and a Liverpudian, a Sarawakian and a KLite.
However Singapore, with its lack of diversity in politics and geography , seemed to be a different kettle of fish altogether.
I find the psyche of your guest Singaporean commentator reflective of majority of our neighbours down south.
uhuks. i lived in spore for four years. and i love the time i was there. friendly people. no keypoh one.
work hard. and from the mid-night noises from floor below and floor above, i think they do *that thing* real hard too hehehe
progressive. ermmm…serious i like spore.
but, that does not mean they should ply holier than thou la…..we dont need any big brother to patronize us la…
hey, u live by a beach ka Jed? lucky you…..heheheh
idham
Before ‘S’porean Bashing’ starts and a pot calling a kettle ‘black’, please do a google search on ‘Ugly Malaysian’ and I am sure they are no lesser than ‘Ugly Singaporean’
Let’s focus on positive and leave the negative behind us.
well said. no disrespect to singaporeans but they are worse than us malaysian especially in term of ethics. from outside look so wonderful-lah, we are the best-lah. From inside, same bloody retard, no need to look far, JI leader can escape from the so called best prison security in ASIA. (my *ss!)
Jed
Rules of life is written by someone else and not by Bill Gates, which is an internet urban myth. As I mentioned before … Malaysia’s future is dependant on enlightened Malay leadership and Malay populace, who are the dominant group. As is the future of Singapore determined by dominant Chinese or the Australia by the majority white race. Let us hope for the best.
He sent me an email. I know the book rules of life. Am referring to that email…
Unimaginative? They have to think ahead years of Malaysia. We have just to follow the kampong style as we are surrounded by villages. They are scare that we malaysians (Umno) cut off water supply or in future we are not going to sell them the water. That is why they developed Newwater. Maybe one day, we have buy their technology. Politically impotent- what do you have to complain about the government? If you are the leader what will you do with the high population density, scarcity of land and if any foreign threats? They are thinking of stopping the enemies before they reach their shores. Imagine the amount of losses if they are attcked on their home ground.
Malaysians have redeemed themselves after 50 years of slumber…there is a growing albeit vibrant democracy now…what has Singaporeans got to show after 43 year..more of the same “kiasu spirit”……afraid to change towards the unknown??
In Malaysia not all citizens are given a fair go, so we demand more democracy and transparency. In Singapore every citizens regardless of race and religion are given a fair go but with a ‘legalised’ restrictive democracy. Yet there are many M’sians who are willing to give up political rights for a fair go in Singapore. After all, ‘it is the economy, stupid!’.
When the economy is good, the majority don’t give jack shiet to democracy and politics. Look at Taiwan, its voters recently threw out DPP in favour of Pro-Unification Kuomintang, for the sake of economy. ‘Independence? Can it feed me?’ was the question that Taiwanese woke up to recently and so they gave a big mandate to Kuomintang.
In HK supports for full democracy dwindled to a handful few right after their economy starting to speed up, but they enjoy full civil liberties anyway.
Yes, economy is the maker and destroyer.
BR, get it?
guys…forget about singapore. lets us work together to build a nation truly for all malaysians regardless of our skin colour or beliefs. like my MP … Husam Musa said…we are all bangsa malaysia.
Can the problem in Malaysia be solved? I personally do not think so. So what can we do? We need solutions and I am hearing only problems….
Ku Li`s trying hard looks like:
[ ]
While 51 of the UMNO’s Supreme Council members led by the rebel leader, Muhyiddin Yasin are throwing shits for four hours on Dollah’s face in PWTC, 51 UMNO’s divisional head gathered at Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah’s house to discuss the final details of some plan about something. All these happen only 19 days after BN lost 4+1+1 state and Federal Territory in Malaysia.
Tomorrow, 28 March 2008. 20,000 people are estimate to gather at Palm Manor, Ku Li’s home in Kota Bharu to hear what Ku Li has to say about any chance of him taking the leading role in kicking Dollah away forever. Global Media Channel will be covering the event.
http://kickdefella.wordpress.com/2008/03/28/malaysia-will-get-a-new-prime-minister-on-friday/#comments
Spot on. The culture of what’s in it for us is so ingrained down south. Although your experience is a win-win, I wonder aloud who got the lion’s share? No doubt you have already balas their jasa. They have recouped their investment in you many times over, I’m sure.
aMiR
Haha, this s`porean trained chappie`s got the sms working full time:
“Hot sms on KJ circulating in Penang”
http://sloone.wordpress.com/2008/03/28/hot-sms-on-kj-circulating-in-penang/#comments
haha…. so good lah jed u live by the beach.
ur ktan new house also near there? would definitely wanna go to ktan this yr…
kenalah buka mata sikit. jalan jalan kat negara sendiri…
I think different models work in different countries, precisely because the needs are different. So Malaysia and S’pore -> may not have the same solutions. We do not need to beat up S’pore nor Ape them - there’s some good to learn from and some not-so-good to keep away from. Goodness knows we have enough issues here!
However, some things are universal:
- good governance, where the government governs for the good of the country and the people; not become FatCats
- some affirmative action to aid the disadvantaged; so that desperation is not the end-result of poverty
- a good education for all (and despite being one of those from 30 years of NEP bias that deprived many deserving better students, I have stood by the concept of affirmative action - just the way it’s carried out - like it’s a Right, without responsibilities to repay society with hardwork and service; instead becoming greedy and self-indulgent). If this affirmative action seeks to help disadantaged people, not by race, then the lessons of responsibility and appreciation with service will tend to follow.
I agree that contracts, etc should not be Given according to quotas, this doesn’t serve the country; and the contractors who get awarded and do AliBaba learn nothing except how to enjoy their easily begotten money (and think it’s a Right). The child that was not taught the value of work ethics will not be a responsible adult - and we have bred a whole generation of many, many brats - though some rise up from that and prove themselves DESPITE of the handicap of a spoilt upbringing.
ha ha ha, everyone and their cousins dislike S’pore.
I asked my father about whether I should get a job in S’pore, M’sia or China, his comments: “Singapore, will squeeze you dried, M’sia, no future for Chinese lah, China, sokong sokong, …” (continue to tell me stuff about China for the next 30 minutes).
I don’t know, from my experience with Singpoarean, I found that they are very professional and very goal oriented. Old man was very negative: “You don’t know lah, I used to live there, blah blah” He got his university degree from S’pore many years back, and his resentment persists, kind of sums up S’pore to me.
hahaha I do got many frens who migrated to SG, erm in terms of work hehe they are not professionals le generally more like MY cinamen also, “KIASU” to the max and damn workaholic as well (some even treat work as an obsession). But apart from work, their self-nature are quite like us too busy ONLINE (hei they got faster internet speeds too), or doing other household chores. Nothing special about them just normal like us.
Yeah their currency may be BIGGER than us and they tends to show those Arrogant faces with those ArrogANT remarks but at least they are not that racist (they do acknowledge the importance of learning BM too, so that they can bargain with the local cabbies). But they are quite CALCULATIVE le (I guess it’s in every cinaman blood hahaha).
They like to pretend that they had higher class of standards in everything, $$, morale, ethics, professionalism as compared to us, which is in fact some are true but some are not but when they sees a Malaysian who had all this attributes better than them, they will also act like some lap doggies kow-towing to our MY fella which is normally those rich BN Cronies Datuk-Datuks, Datin-Datins, Tan Sris-Tan Sris (This is their so called CLASS le hehehe).
LANSI = PENIS SHIT / SEMEN (FYI)…SO I deleted it.
Malaysia is an innate, bubbling and evolving democracy…… Singapore is considered a so called “benign dictatorship” supported by the Singaporean military …..however the Singaporean model is fraught with severe risks and the long term prospects is sat best suspect …..whereas Malaysia now has all the ingredients for a sustainable democracy and the long term prospects is more sustainable and will probably yield optimal benefits to the Malaysian people viz a vis the Singaporean.
been to Singapore recently. beautiful city landscape and infrastructure.
but i see something singaporeans lacks that we malaysian have in abundance - cheerful smiles, friendly atmosphere, lively, and more human than human beings.
i pity Singaporeans lot; they are like the Living Deads and i wouldnt be surprised majority of their middle ages couples, probably the younger ones too are facing Sexual Climax Dysfuction (SCD).
perhaps Pak Lah can open One Clinic and make tonnes of Money in Singapore after retiring from Malaysian Politics.
Most of the good ones have left also. So repressive, how to survive?
Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
a mat salleh from new york told me that in his experience in the US, the best chinese to work with in are the malaysian chinese, then in this order: mainlanders, taiwanese, sporeans, hongkies.
Nice one here, makes sense too:
Being an oversea Malaysian residing in Singapore for over 20 years I read with much enthusiasm my daily updates from Malaysia Today. While I was contemplating of giving up my Malaysian Citizenship a couple of years ago, I am now full with optimism the possibility of relocating back to Penang in the near future with the recent political development in Malaysia.
I often remarked that it would be sufficient for many overseas Malaysian to pack their bags back if Penang or other states could achieve half of Singapore’s present economic and infrastructure achievements.
http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/content/view/5189/1/
very insightful post. every individuals have their own dreams and purpose of life. like what you say, some people want to get rich, some might just want to contribute their time to charity, some might even enjoy planting trees along the road, whatever tickles your fancy.
although it is good that you make your stand on the choices you make, labeling each other names wouldn’t make things better. with all that said, i sincerely find your post an enjoyable read and has even posted it to facebook to share.
I still can remember my classmates laughed at me . Compairing our country warplanes with their F16 .Seriously, I don’t give a damn about it. They are so kiasu. Drop a bomb, the island can’t even survive. So what the f**k how many F16 they got at that time. So shallow….
Thoughtful piece…though i can’t say the same for the some of the comments. Its not a case where we only act like sons-of-anarchy when we cross the border, i believe that the it is the case even within the set geographical confines of our nation.
Don’t get me wrong, i love your country…every time i visit i wonder why my nation’s founding father decided for the path we are on now but yet somehow i understood the greater good was always the aim. flawed as it is this stand might be
Our image as a sexually repressed albeit efficient benign dictatorship is not one that is unfounded but i ask u this, is slanging us are u not just acting high and mighty- something which u accused us of?
And the dude who said the thing about NEP should not be taken for a representative view of all singaporeans yeah? We’re all robots whose only aim is to work for money
cheers!
Hi,
You can keep the beaches, mountains and the disgusting looking twin peaks and we can
keep our money.
With the money, we can change our sceneries according to our whims and fancies and you can’t!
True, you can always buy sand…from us….to build on…..
O wait - The Count - u gotta buy more sand to expand your country so you can build a really big molehill!! hahaha! Sorry - just got bit by the Cheeky Bug - don’t be offended ok?
Don’t be rude.
Pls rephrase if you wish 
Hello,
I’m a Singaporean. Contempt and scorn stem from ignorance. There are ignorant Singaporeans, just as there are ignorant Malaysians. The more we learn, the lower our contempt and disgust for each other.
If all men are brothers, why are the winds and the waves so restless?
Hi, I am Singaporean too.
I read abt your blog post from Little Speck dot com.
I too disagreed with your Singaporean commentator view that since “life is unfair, we should get used to it”..
I think it is good for you to have compassionate views, and help to speak out for those who can’t due to their difficult circumstances. It is always good to be kind to others, and what’s good that go around, come around. In Singapore or Malaysia, there will always be social/politico problems, what i think is impt is to view them in perspective and take steps, however small, towards solving them, esp. if those problems concern society or communities as a whole or individual/s.
Being Singaporean, I guess my fellow Singaporean do not intend his/her view to be callous or insensitive because life in Singapore is indeed very competitive or some say, quite cruel.
(Yes, some Singaporeans do behave funnily outside Singapore, but in this free world, shouldn’t we uphold the freedom to behave funnily, even if it annoys, rather than to keep restricting what others can or cannot do.
Isn’t it better to put up with funny behaviors, and enjoy the positive aspects of freedom, than to live a life of restrictions and dullness, but of course, no need to put up with funny behaviors? Just some ‘food’ for thought.)
Not everyone has the luxury of being in the position of being able to change their own difficult circumstances, and to a certain extent, both in Singapore or Malaysia, many actually have to live in difficult circumstances, and with their perceived unfairness about life around them, and actually ‘forced’ into getting used to it.
This is so sad, isn’t it?
To the point that even when the unfairness around their life no longer present, such as when they become affluent or their circumstances improves, they still adopt the “life is unfair, get used to it” attitude, sad isn’t it?
Thanks.
franciscoolvegan
And you can buy back the water fit for drinking back from us after selling the raw water. But be warned, some of it is “refined” sewage water. How stupid can you people get?
Sand? Seems to me that you’re selling the whole country away! Sand is Land. Even the real bumis like the orang asli knows that!
[...] I came across this blog post written by a malaysian who apparently received her education here. And as I went through the [...]
Firstly, I am Singaporean.
Secondly, I disagree with the comments of the Singaporean about NEP and “getting used to it”. I have many Malaysian non-bumi friends and colleagues who have suffered under it and I think that this should be gradually removed (I agree with you that sudden removal may cause social unrest), to bring back true equality for all Malaysians. Some still like Malaysia and some hate it to the bone.
I agree with some of the comments that Singaporeans do have a lot of bad traits, I myself sometimes hate to meet other Singaporeans why I am travelling. But I also know many Singaporeans who are committed to make Singapore better be it in arts, gay activism, health, environment, politics more vibrant and Singaporeans more caring towards lifes around them.
So I think that saying ALL Singaporean are this and that only reflects the kind of hatred, ignorance and anger that the writer may have for themselves. And to say that MORE singaporeans compared to Malaysians are bad, is just plucking figures out of the air, which to me, again reflects the lack of objective and hatred that exists in that person.
Its like saying that all Malaysians are corrupt because we keep having to pay brides when driving in Malaysian and even at the customs. I know that this is only a small part of the landscape, it does not represent Malaysian. I wonder if any of the writer could also have such a objective thought?
Sometimes, I don’t understand why there is so much anger and hatred towards Singaporeans coming from Malaysian, this seems to be tone in the writers here. I know, Singaporeans love to boost alot, esp our govt. I really don’t like those boosting, but I sense that there must be more than just that.
I am very happy for the political situation in Malaysia and wish all Malaysians well and that future directions would mean a more equitable arrangements for all and lets hope that in Singapore things will also improve on the being less-anal and less boring and more creative and caring Singaporeans
[...] The Twain - Jed Yoong: NEP and Singaporeans - Insane Polygons: Reckless [...]
To generalize singaporeans in such a way speaks about Jed Young’s (and many other malaysian posters here) very own narrow and shallow mentality…
I had stayed in Malaysia (KL) for 2 years, and had only stayed for just 4 months in Singapore, and I can already see the big differences between malaysians (including many of those of chinese origins) and singaporeans. I enjoyed interacting with singaporeans more than with malaysians, whose narrow perspectives of life and the world around them irk me often.
Unimaginative, totalitarian, kiasu etc…these are just simple excuses for many malaysians to distract others of their very own inferiority and shortcomings.
Given every opportunity to employ a malaysian and singaporean, I will choose the later…they have a much better worldview than those malaysians who are simply like “frogs living in a well”, yet think they know everything and anything…but when the real test comes to show results, they always disappoint me.
Wake-up malaysians, stop giving yourself excuses and start moving into what the real world is all about…if you are still trying to play-down singaporeans without looking at your own backwardness, shallow and narrow perspective of the world, as well as your own shortcomings, you will always remain critical of singaporeans, yet, never able to be ahead of them!
While playing mahjong, a thought suddently came to me.
If you fellas keep selling us sand, soon, there will be no mountains left and in its place a big crater. Maybe then, you’ll be proposing to sell us landfill space for our tons and tons of garbage.
Stop denigrating Singaporeans and start getting real in punkspeak. Accept that you fellas are miles behind and the only way you’re gonna catch up is to learn from us and accept that the Sing dollar is now 2.30 against the ring ring geddit! Just go to our immigration department and you’ll see thousands of Malaysians applying to give up their malaysian passports for our valued red ones. Who wouldn’t when the forex keeps beating the hell out of the ringringit? Ringing for a knockout count, I’ll say. And the prognosis is not good when the fault lines become a tectonic shift after the tsunami! Good luck!
I dun understand it.
The Singaporean can say there’s nothing you can do about the NDP, and you can also say there’s nothing you can do about the NDP but when he says it he’s being offensive and when you say it it’s insightful political analysis.
You could go on about our government being totalitarian while forgetting about your own internal security, that’s not important. Our government is totalitarian but they also know that once they become as screwed up as yours we’d kick them out just like you have yours (and to be fair something a lot of us see and like.)
Thing is, we’re reasonable people. We’d take the economic development together with living in rat holes, anc scounging around for space in our little crowded city. That’s not really kiasu. What’s really kiasu is when you want it both ways, having a great “standard of living” lots of cash and still have your nice sandy beaches.
Life is not fair but we get used to it.
Hello webmaster…I Googled for nina axelrod, but found your page about nnial 2007 - salvatore iaconesi - del.icio.us poetry…and have to say thanks. nice read.
I’m not sure what is new. Nationalism on both sides of the causeway have always existed for a long while. Both sides have a fair amount of pride, which may or may not be misplaced. No small number would like the other to be weaker etc. etc. etc.
So… what is the fretting really about? Seriously, just about any damn country in the world has this nonsense. It’s been Russia vs US since WWII, Britain vs France, France vs Germany, the list really goes on.
Seriously, if you want to start looking like hypocrites, by all means.
please do not let the politcal relations between our govts cloud your individual minds and views. if you do, the propaganda has won.
most of us have relatives residing in the other country, so the truth is, there is blood relations to begin with.
there are m’sians working in s’pore and vice versa, s’poreans working in m’sia.
those of u doing so, i’m sure u find good and bad in the respective countries.
those of u living here for a long time or holding PRs,why choose to do so in the first place if u have negative feelings?
do u have friends from the other country? if you acknowedge them as friends, surely they are not as bad as what you’d described?
i think it all begins with what we choose to think and believe in and how we choose to react.