Don't like Singapore? Fuck off - and we wouldn't miss you.
I wanted to blog the following out for a very long time now, but I wanted to wait till National Day gambols around in it's flamboyant sequins to do it with the full impact.
Of course, National Day is not here till four days later, but I can't wait anymore.
Let's see.
I wanted to merely say that I love Singapore, but I also realized that I hate some of the people in here, who mars our beautiful garden city.
These are the JIAK KAN TANG (eat potato) people who meet so often.
I don't often meet such people nowadays (thank goodness!) but I know they exist. I HATE SUCH PEOPLE. Wait, hate is not enough, let's make it CURSE THEM ALL TO ETERNAL HELL.
Most of these people would be
1) Speaking with a stupid American/any other "superior English" accent
2) Coming from English-speaking girl and boy schools like ACS or MGS
3) Constantly whining about a lack of freedom and space in SG.
4) Saying Singapore sucks and they would fly away at their youngest age possible.
5) Have freckles
Well, here's my views about some common kantang phrases:
I wish I were born in XXX country/ I want to migrate to XXX country.
Well, I am speaking to you if you are one of those irritating people who hates Singapore down to our last Vanda Miss Joaquim.
Kantang: "I am so unlucky. If I were luckier, I would have been born in American
instead of Singapore, where we can eat chewing gum and the Government does not
treat us like babies."
Me: "Well, that's bullshit. It's like saying ...
My mum sucks and I wish I was born out of another woman. Not possible at all."
Kantang: "No
... That's not true. Singapore sucks."
DUH! YOU CAN'T CHOOSE WHERE YOU ARE BORN! And also, your life in Singapore has nurtured you to become YOU and whatever BULLSHIT and unimportant opinions that you have, so if you were American, you might really want to be a Singaporean, you would never know.
Thinking of migrating? I have a message for you: I don't think your dream country welcomes you.
Let's take this situation into consideration. Let's use the world's best country, which is Switzerland, because it has very accurate clocks and nice chocolate.
If all the ungrateful kantangs (possibly ugly too) all flock to Switzerland, it will have its finest chocolate all gobbled up, and its clocks all not so accurate anymore because non-Swits are not accustomed nor patient enough to wind pocket clocks to supreme accurancy.
Thus, not only will all the Swits hate the Singaporean Kantangs (I hope they realize that the non-kantangs are nicer people), and hence making Switzerland not so pleasant, the mere reasons why it is so nice in the first place would be obsolete.
You may think I am stretching it, and actually I am. But please spoil me and allow me to give you another fine example. The second best country to be born in would be Venezuela, because all the girls there look like beauty queens with blonde hair rippling to their waist and they have nice chocolate.
- If you are a male kantang there, you will be able to fuck beautiful girls.
- If you are a female kantang there, it is likely that people will generalize and claim that you are beautiful just because you are Venezuelan. You will get fucked often.
The above two hypothetical dream situations will not happen.
Because you are possibly ugly like shit.
And when you go to Venezuela to live, the only people you would be able to shag would be other jaded (and possibly cobweb-covered-around-the-genitals) Singaporean Kantangs.
You will thus spawn, and after years of spawning, Venezuela would no longer be a place full of blonde beauty queens - but instead will be half filled with wannabe-Singaporean-Venezuelans.
It will be no longer a dream country, and it is YOU who ruined it.
Says the enraged kantang:
"Singapore sucks! Look at how developed Japan is! Why can't we have cutesy lunchboxes too? Why can't our food be as nice as Hongkong's? Why does France have such cheap wine?"
SHUT THE FUCK UP LAH. SLAP YOU. Singapore is pretty fine as it is. Very torturous to stay here is it? Is it really that bad?
The worst argument I have heard is this:
"Singapore nannies its citizens. For example, in Holland, people are allowed to smoke cannabis freely. Why can't Singapore do the same? Let its people choose! That's what democracy is about!"
I forgot who I argued this with, but I would like to say this now - slowly and clearly. The reason why cannabis, or any other drug, is not allowed in Singapore and majority of other countries is because there are STUPID AND IMMATURE PEOPLE AROUND.
By stupid I mean stupid - people who indulge in artificial highs just because it makes them feel physically good, and abandoning all the downside risks (doesn't it OCCUR to them that artificial highs can't be anything good?????) .
These are also the same people persist on ejaculating into their unwedded sex partners (or allow it for that matter) because it "feels good" and ignoring the fact that babies could form. WHO CARES ABOUT BABIES! I WANT TO SHOOT INSIDE COZ IT FEELS SO GOOD! These are also the same stupid people who keep ejaculating into their sex partners even after getting abortions, five times.
By immature, I mean young people who are not capable of making correct and logical decisions for themselves, thus falling back on the same theory - anything that makes your body feel good should be good.
Because there are these two types of people around, the Government need to restrict the distribution of drugs.
Logically speaking, if Marijuana is allowed in SG, then we can also predict that these stupid people would keep going to Zouk to swallow pill after pill (why, marijuana cannot be in pills meh?), because it "feels good".
They will eventually die, or became retarded, because they are incapable of restraining themselves.
Logically speaking, these stupid people are of no loss to Singapore, but imagine who will pack our burgers? Would it be the bangalas? Zouk will also not like corpses to be lying around in their premises after every mambo night.
Thus, the Government, being kind and caring for its citizens, decides that it is for the best that no one uses these harmful drugs to create artificial highs, unfortunately also including the responsible people who might think a small dose of cannabis a month is tolerable.
Otherwise, how's the Government going to sieve the sensible people from the non-sensible people to sell drugs to?
If you were a sensible person with a stupid drug-loving younger brother who cant restrain himself, would you wish for the law to be such that anyone can smoke cannabis? But then again, maybe.
Speaking of artificial highs, I find it disgusting to get "high" (I hate that word, it's so gross) in public. To me, it's like masturbating in public with a stupid cum-face. No one wants to look at your cum-face. Just wrong.
The person I argued with said that cannabis is less harmful than smoking, and in Holland a meagre amount of people (four or so) have died after the ban on said drug was lifted. (I take it the four people that could otherwise have been living still are of no importance.)
Good for Holland, I say. They practice self-control. Not Singaporeans - look at the way we go on the MRT. Also, this fellow's argument is now on the types of drugs the Government shld allow, and not about the crux of our discussion anymore. And just because an experiment on free-rein cannabis went well, it doesn't mean we should push our luck and allow heroin, right?
As for the immature people, it is a pretty obvious case. WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR 13 YR OLD KID TO SMOKE CANNABIS?
Possibly not, I reckon, unless u are one of those said stupid people who ejaculate into your partner (not spouse) and your kid smokes heroin with you.
Age limit for drugs? If drugs are available, you think that kids can't get their hands on it?
We have a Government that cares for us, thank you very much and shut up.
Of course, there would be people now demanding that I explain why the Government should allow smoking - also a type of drug, strictly speaking, and harmful too.
I personally think they should ban it (oh no don't you fucking smokers groan, your life was perfectly fine before you smoked, and you would be richer and healthier too), but I can understand why they didn't.
Because the Government does need to give us some free space too. So, of all the drugs, they chose the least harmful one, to allow citizens to use it. Just one.
I had an argument with someone recently. The Texas brand cigarette package now come complete with a 65K colour laser print picture of a cut bleeding brain on it. Or maybe black lungs too.
It is DISGUSTING and ugly.
This friend said that our Government is hypocritical because it wants to earn money by selling the cigarettes, yet wants to pretend like it is very caring and doesn't want its citizens to smoke.
That's really stretched, isn't it? From my point of view, our Government allows 18 yr olds and above to smoke because we are supposed to be adults who can think for ourselves. They do not want to take away from us the liberty to have whatever little pleasure smoking gives, because they do not have enough reasons to - as smoking is not immediately extremely harmful.
However, what they could do, is to dissuade us from smoking.
They can only hope that years and years of education would not be wasted on us, and we would be sensible enough to CHOOSE not to smoke ourselves. Thus the messages on the cigarette boxes. However, if a stupid person decides to ignore the message, the Government can only say they have done their best, and it's the stupid person's choice.
What a long blog entry.
Last point:
Comparison to other "lousier" countries
By this point of time in my blog entry, I believe almost everyone would be disagreed with me, and I am about to blow off what's left of people who agreed with me. It's kinda sad, but it's alright.
These people who are still agreeing with me are possibly the kindly souls who say, "Yeah lor, SG is good what, at least we have food and water here."
And also because I have said that I do not like people who compare SG with other "better" countries, I must not condone comparisons with "lousier" countries ( Africa always kanna ) too.
What's the point of being in a good country if you don't abuse that privilege? Yes I am lucky to be born in Singapore where I can blog my thoughts without drowning like the people in Venice. So? I shall take it for granted! It's not like I would be banished to Elbonia if I don't thank God everyday for putting me here in Singapore.
I hate people who tell me, "Why didn't you finish your food? Why don't you eat your onions? Do you know how fortunate you are? People in Africa pray for onions!"
My reply would be this: "Whether I force myself to eat the onions or throw them sparingly away, the Africans would still be famished. I shall choose the latter."
Totally no connection. Stupid people.
Disagree with what I am saying? You hate Singapore? Go away then. But XX country possibly doesn't want you. Come to think of it, either does Singapore. Go stick your skull into a fast rotating fan then, bye!
Oh yeah of course:
Happy Birthday my dear Singapore!! One more year till you hit the forties! It is YOU who nurtured me into what I am, and you who is providing a firm ground for me and all my loved ones to stand on, and fine weather for us to grow and strive in. I'll stay loyal to you even if Malaysia buys us up.
Your faithful citizen,
Wendy
Updated: Ha! So many angry comments because of the ACS/MGS/freckles thing. I WAS JOKING, and go get yourself a sense of humour. Meanwhile, I said kantangs usually come from English speaking schools (MGS and ACS being EXAMPLES), not that ALL MGS/ACS people are kantangs. Cheers, and Bah.
11:54 PM | 
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89 Comments:
What's that thing between your index and middle finger in the 'bah' photo?
WAIT ONE SINGLE MINUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Everything was going well and cool and agreeable all the way throughout the entire blog, till i read the very last sentence, did my Marigold Low fat high calcium but rich in sugar chocolate milk, exit out of my mouth forcefully to splatter cover my monitor.
MALAYSIA BUY US UP?!!!??!?!?!?!?!
They cant afford it...unless if South pole melts and the tide rises till only the top few floors of WS building remains...
hey! i have freckles, but that doesnt mean im one of those kantang snobs you talked of right. in fact i hate my freckles.
and malaysia will NEVER buy us up!
why?
simple reason, they will never be able to afford us.
even if they sell every single one of their pirated cds...ahahahah
in fact i think if anyones doing the buying, its US.
its plain to see that malaysia exists mainly as singapore's playground.
oops i think i offended alot of malaysians already hehe.
What make me most disgust are those Malaysian people who work here and become PR, later become Singapore Citizen but they still complain and complain about singapore. Now they are planning to use their singapore citizenship and "country-hop" to Australia!!!!! Blah!!!!
Cherry-Panda: Those Malaysian are the smarter ones, though they complain about Singapore, at least they know the value of Singapore.
Not all Malaysians who get citizenship here complain. Take my father-in-law for example, he is so patriotic that he makes sure his sons get up on time to reach camp to serve their NS and never allowed them to take any leave or MC though his sons are sick.
And my cousin, she is a Singapore Fanatic!! and she goes around saying that Malaysians are absolutely the stupiest people on Earth although she is still a Malaysian, cos she hasn'e got her citizenship yet.
Anyway, I just want to say that there are people who truly love Singapore though they are not locals. And this is because of the good image Singaporeans portray.
However, there are some BLACK SHEEPS among us.
So our main aim now is to KILL THE BLACK SHEEPS!!... haha...
By the way, Malaysia can easily buy Singapore over. They have the $$$. AFTER ALL THOSE YEARS OF EARNING FROM SINGAPORE...our water bills should have been enough for them to buy Singapore WITHOUT A FIGHT...
1. Save water so that Malaysia cannot earn ANYMORE!!
2. Even is Malaysia tried to buy us, WE will fight...
And it is a FACT that Malaysia CANNOT win us...
sigh... i tink i am in love... ahhhh... who says it never snows in Singapore.... :p
what i feel is that diff countries offer ppl diff aspects of life. if s'pore doesnt offer that particular aspect of life that a person is looking for, u can't really fault him if he wishes to migrate somewhere else?
by this i do not mean the examples that u have stated on ur blog like drugs or beautiful women or chewing gum what not. i agree with u that these reasons are immature and even lame.
but rather, reasons like better job prospects, lower cost of living and more relaxed education system in other countries would justify the desire to migrate.
I agree with what the previous poster said. Different countries offer different lives.
Given my own choice I would want to migrate to someplace, live a simple life and forever need not worry about money and the other misc[s]. On the other hand in a city like Singapore,Sydney there are other draws[$$$ for one].
Life in Singapore even though it is not bad, in my opinion it is not that fantastic either. And given the freedom to be mobile, if I can move, why not?
isn't national day 9th august?
kentangs are only good for one purpose.
deep fried.
Just some info from the CIA Files...
Economy Singapore
Economy - overview:
Singapore, a highly developed and successful free market economy, enjoys a remarkably open and corruption-free environment, stable prices, and a high per capita GDP. The economy depends heavily on exports, particularly in electronics and manufacturing. It was hard hit in 2001-2003 by the global recession and the slump in the technology sector. The government hopes to establish a new growth path that will be less vulnerable to the external business cycle but is unlikely to abandon efforts to establish Singapore as Southeast Asia's financial and high-tech hub. Fiscal stimulus, low interest rates, and global economic recovery should lead to much improved growth in 2004.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $109.1 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.8% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $23,700 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: negligible
industry: 30%
services: 70% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA% (2002 est.)
Economy Malaysia
Economy - overview:
Malaysia, a middle-income country, transformed itself from 1971 through the late 1990s from a producer of raw materials into an emerging multi-sector economy. Growth was almost exclusively driven by exports - particularly of electronics. As a result Malaysia was hard hit by the global economic downturn and the slump in the information technology (IT) sector in 2001 and 2002. GDP in 2001 grew only 0.5% due to an estimated 11% contraction in exports, but a substantial fiscal stimulus package equal to US $1.9 billion mitigated the worst of the recession and the economy rebounded in 2002 with a 4.1% increase. The economy grew 4.9% in 2003, notwithstanding a difficult first half, when external pressures from SARS and the Iraq War led to caution in the business community. Healthy foreign exchange reserves and a relatively small external debt make it unlikely that Malaysia will experience a crisis similar to the one in 1997, but the economy remains vulnerable to a more protracted slowdown in Japan and the US, top export destinations and key sources of foreign investment. The Malaysian ringgit is pegged to the dollar, and the Japanese central bank continues to intervene and prop up the yen against the dollar.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $207.2 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.9% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $9,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.4%
industry: 45.3%
services: 46.3% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
8% (1998 est.)
haha, my blogger account is still alive!
i love you! this entry is the best one i've read *muak*
i wish those people who elbow their way into MRTs and lifts (before people inside can exit) can migrate too! same for those kids on heelies. and those chao kantangs can just pack up and go, it's not our loss if they leave.
This is one of the best posts I've ever read!
...the grass is always greener on the other side. People are greedy... once they have stable and relatively safe environment to live in... they want more welfare for example... people are never contented!
But I only agree with 90% of the contents. what has freckles got to do with kantangs?? I have freckles too. It's in my genes... no choice, ya know. And I'm not a kantang, no way (I think in Chinese). I'm not quite convinced with the reasons provided for migrating elsewhere. I do think that finishing our food is a virtue (but I don't practise it all the time, cos I'm afraid of gaining weight).
Seriously... migrate for what? Over there, you'll be discriminated, and viewed as SECOND CLASS citizens.. is that really desirable?
But loving your country, doesn't mean putting other countries down... and offending, say, Malaysians.
And yes, I'm definitely for banning smoking. But too bad... the govt has to strike a balance somewhere... so they can't ban all the harmful substances. As for taxing cigarettes... taxes are meant for regulating the demand so as to discourage ppl from smoking... of course the govt earns revenue at the same time, or else where do you get all the nice infrastructure (but I admit that some are really unnecessary).
I'm sure that for some countries that allow those drugs... they have a bunch of bochup govt or their govt does not have the means/ desire (i.e. corruption) to enforce it. I'm really glad that our govt truly cares for our welfare.
America loves to advocate "human rights" so much... but the way they are treating China... says exactly the opposite. Why do (some of) the kantangs still blindly hail them?
hey hey ~ i kind 0f disagree 0n that part regarding the kantangs .. cha0 kantangs as menti0ned by 0ne .. but surlely .. they are better den sum cha0 ah lians / ah bengs .. wh0 destr0y the singapore image .. the way they d0minate .. bully ppl .. 0nly victims 0f them kn0w h0w it feels like .. yea .. and there they g0ing ar0und with their singlish .. sc0lding a string 0f chinese and hokkien vulgar languagues .. if i were t0 be a t0urist .. i w0uld be disgusted .. gr0ssed 0ut .. yea .. but with the c0untry thing .. i agree with y0u .. anyb0dy .. if y0u aren't c0ntented .. den fcuk 0ff .. t0 y0ur dream c0untry 0r s0me rubbish dump and r0t there ..
I can't speak Chinese to save my life and I'm only sad that I don't know the language to talk to my grandmum. Aside from that, I'd only want to touch the language with a 10-foot pole because frankly, it scares me.
Everyone loves and hates Singapore for different reasons. You don't possibly expect everyone to love Singapore as much as you do right? Everyone would be a Singapore-flag totting yes-man and why would anyone strive to do better when you have no gripes with anything? You don't have progress without problems to overcome.
Frankly, I'd never see myself retiring into Singapore to live off the TV at some old folks' home. And what would you expect to do in your last days in Singapore? Singapore's small and boring. The same could be said of your ambition if you wish never to explore beyond our borders before your dying day.
I'm not dissing Singapore, nor am I dissing Chinese-thinking citizens. I believe in freedom (as well as all the other Moulin Rogue beliefs) and Singapore is simply stifling.
Oh and cursing us kantang people to eternal hell probably won't help one bit because being the minority group (with the population being predominantly Chinese) we're not so much the crux of the dumb Singaporean problem than merely a fraction of it.
well, many people have called me kantang. That doesn't mean I don't like Singapore. and yes, I do have some freckles. But that's coz I was born with them! Not all people with freckles are kantang. hahaha. and. I do try to keep up with my mando. it's just not very good thassall.
And those people with fake accents really ought to be slapped. They actually sound so horrid. They sound like NOTHING AT ALL.
and finally, those people who want to migrate. They're in for a rude shock. For every pro is a con. If they want to smoke cannabis in Holland, they better learn to speak Dutch and learn how to do housework 1st.
disagreed...if nothing else den the smoking part. the only reason why the communist like goverment here cannot ban smoking is cos singapore's in the wto.
the next politician dat lowers down tobacco prices get my vote...
dear xiaxue,
its Swiss, not Swits... and agreed that Singapore has very stupid ppl... so do other countries... but i still prefer cannabis to be legal. :p
i like this entry! it makes me feel very patriotic! but the last sentence is unfortunately extremely untrue and horrifying!
MALAYSIA WILL NOT BUY US UP!
WE ARE TOO FREAKING VALUABLE FOR ANYBODY TO EVEN TRY!!!
and besides i am absolutely anti-malaysia all thanks to their former PM thank you very much.
they copy our P plate stuff,their JOHOR TV SETS are mostly tuned to SINGAPOREAN CHANNELS. they keep making fun of NEwater(though i think the rest of the world does so too),threaten to cut water supply,keep talking about how freaking arrogant we are(when we have the RIGHT to be)...gosh there's so many things i can write here about how much i detest malaysia. but who cares and who wants to knw.
Goodness!!~ This is IT!~ People just don't know to appreciate what the Govt has done for us... If they din control as much, will SG be as rich as now?
I am going to show this to my Kantang classmates... They would enjoy themselves reading it... HAHA!~ Deep Fry Kantangs!~
The best post i've read so far, the kind that really makes me wanna go 'bravo'! i agree with you on almost all your terms, though i must say that perhaps it's true that some people can feel stifled here when they have so much more they want to achieve.
but anyway take australia for e.g, the place where many people want to migrate to because oh housing and cars are cheaper. well guess what, like someone mentioned, we ARE going to be second class citizens! like so many western countries you are never going to fit in or be one of them, despite their hypocritical everyone-is-equal 'belief'. they are just tolerating, my dears. spore doesn't suck, she just needs to grow. so if u merely want to leave then leave. we are so fortunate to have everything, and a variety from all round the world at that. i should know, i'm studying in melbourne now and i appreciate what i have back home.
the govt has to nanny us because precisely because we need the nannying; we complain over things like measly transport fees and can't give constructive comments when we question the govt. still, i disagree that it's only 'kantangs' who are the problem makers; there are others who form an uncultured lot who make a hell lot of useless noise and give sporeans a bad name. bah!
YOU ROCK!
lol i tot "kantang" was actually for people who prefer converse in english (i was called on in sec school cux everyone else were speaking chinese)
well tell me about it, these people who bitch all about singapore and stuff. I used to hang out with this girl, whom i tot was pretty cute, but..sheesh, halfway through she can like, "look at all these singaporeans!" loudly, when we were in public.
I tolerated with it. And then I shared some opinions, even if u are disgusted by some typical singaporean behavior, u keep quiet, as you are one yourself. And it's not everyone who's like that. And this kinda behavior happens in other countries too.
She never listened.
I never dated her since.
I had my fair share of SG-haters. Sigh. I seriously wish they would just fly off and never come back.
Dear Xiaxue,
this post really shows how much u love our country, hmm afraid i cant say the same though. It would be too sweeping to say that one loves everything abt one's country and thats where many(?) pple including me fall into. the banning of drugs /underaged smoking, etc etc is really just a black & white area where one can tell at a glance whether its right or wrong (screw those "freedom" fuckers! freedom of choice comes at a price! can u take it?!) its would have be the more grey areas like freedom of political speech, policies on elitism, etc etc.. tt pple will resent the government and in short,country, for. some pple are just the "Love the Country, Hate the Government" sort...hmmm i welcome comments....
i also hate the potatoes but not all potatoes are sg-bashing...my fellow specialist cant speak chinese for shit but hes the 1st to go if ever war comes...
BTW, Africa is not a country but a continent =)
Regards
Mr BuRns
Minus the minority immature bunch. So called kantangs are much better than cheena and act japs. Arr...5566..energy!!! Wtf?
FYI for all
Taken from www.rsf.org
Reporters without borders
Singapore annual report
Singapore was ranked at 144. Lower than Iraq.
N� Country Note
1 Finland 0,50
- Iceland 0,50
- Netherlands 0,50
- Norway 0,50
5 Denmark 1,00
- Trinidad and Tobago 1,00
7 Belgium 1,17
8 Germany 1,33
9 Sweden 1,50
10 Canada 1,83
11 Latvia 2,25
12 Czech Republic 2,50
- Estonia 2,50
- Slovakia 2,50
- Switzerland 2,50
16 Austria 2,75
17 Ireland 2,83
- Lithuania 2,83
- New Zealand 2,83
20 Slovenia 3,00
21 Hungary 3,33
- Jamaica 3,33
- South Africa 3,33
24 Costa Rica 3,83
25 Uruguay 4,00
26 France 4,17
27 United Kingdom 4,25
28 Portugal 5,17
29 Benin 5,25
30 Timor-Leste 5,50
31 Greece 6,00
- United States of America (American territory) 6,00
33 Poland 6,17
34 Albania 6,50
- Bulgaria 6,50
- Nicaragua 6,50
37 Bosnia and Herzegovina 6,83
- Chile 6,83
- El Salvador 6,83
40 Paraguay 7,17
41 Mauritius 7,25
42 Ecuador 7,67
- Spain 7,67
44 Israel (Israeli territory) 8,00
- Japan 8,00
46 Madagascar 8,17
47 Cape Verde 8,25
48 Ghana 8,75
49 South Korea 9,17
50 Australia 9,25
51 Bolivia 9,67
- Macedonia 9,67
53 Italy 9,75
- Panama 9,75
55 Peru 10,25
56 Hong-Kong 11,00
- Mali 11,00
- Namibia 11,00
59 Fiji 11,50
- Romania 11,50
61 Ta�wan 12,00
62 Botswana 13,00
63 Congo 14,00
- Mozambique 14,00
65 Honduras 14,17
66 Senegal 14,50
67 Argentina 15,17
68 Niger 15,75
69 Croatia 16,50
- Tanzania 16,50
71 Brazil 16,75
72 Dominican Republic 17,00
73 Georgia 17,33
74 Mexico 17,67
75 Lesotho 17,75
76 Burkina Faso 18,00
77 Gambia 18,25
- Mongolia 18,25
79 Comoros 18,50
- Kenya 18,50
81 Cambodia 19,50
82 Thailand 19,67
83 Cyprus 20,83
84 Malawi 21,00
85 Serbia and Montenegro 21,33
86 Zambia 23,25
87 Sierra Leone 23,50
88 Chad 24,00
89 Sri Lanka 24,83
90 Armenia 25,17
91 Uganda 25,75
92 Burundi 26,25
93 Seychelles 26,75
94 Moldova 27,00
95 Togo 27,50
96 Venezuela 27,83
97 Angola 28,00
98 Cameroon 30,50
99 Guatemala 30,83
100 Haiti 31,00
101 Gabon 31,25
102 Kuwait 31,33
103 Nigeria 31,50
104 Kyrgyzstan 32,00
- Malaysia 32,00
106 Lebanon 32,50
107 Central African Republic 32,75
108 Algeria 33,00
109 Guinea 33,17
110 Egypt 34,25
- Indonesia 34,25
- Rwanda 34,25
113 Azerbaijan 34,50
- Tajikistan 34,50
115 Qatar 35,00
- Turkey 35,00
117 Bahrain 35,17
118 Guinea-Bissau 35,25
- Philippines 35,25
120 Djibouti 35,50
121 Mauritania 36,67
122 United Arab Emirates 37,00
- Jordan 37,00
124 Ethiopia 37,50
- Iraq 37,50
- Swaziland 37,50
127 Democratic Republic of Congo 38,50
128 India 39,00
- Pakistan 39,00
130 Palestinian Authority 39,25
131 Morocco 39,67
132 Liberia 40,00
- Ukraine 40,00
134 Afghanistan 40,17
135 United States of America (in Iraq) 41,00
136 Yemen 41,83
137 C�te d'Ivoire 42,17
138 Kazakhstan 42,50
139 Equatorial Guinea 44,75
140 Somalia 45,00
141 Zimbabwe 45,50
142 Sudan 45,75
143 Bangladesh 46,50
144 Singapore 47,33
Singapore - 2004 Annual Report
The government's policy of far-reaching control of the news media did not change. The two big press groups, Singapore Press Holdings and Mediacorp, were still controlled by the ruling party's allies. There are no independent media. But Singaporeans have plenty of access to foreign media.
The authorities were urged to liberalise censorship of the news media, the arts and public meetings on 24 June 2003 by the committee that was set up by the government in April 2002 to review the existing censorship laws. The panel of experts said a new balance needed to be found between public order requirements and the Singaporean people's creativity. The government had still not acted on the recommendations at the end of the year.
Today, one of the three English-language dailies, ran a column in October by Australian journalist Michael Backman that was scathing about Singapore's system of censorship. He criticised the information minister's meddling in editorial content, the system of publication licences and the regime's paranoia.
The government's reaction was acrimonious. In a response published five days later, the information ministry insisted that the media system was suited to Singapore's circumstances. At the start of November, information minister Lee Bon Yang told the Press Club that foreign journalists should stay out of Singapore's politics. He said Backman had knowingly crossed the line and meddled in internal politics. He also insisted that the government was not going to liberalise the censorship system just to please an excited minority and that censorship was needed to protect society from violence and a decline in morals.
The censorship department in 2003 nonetheless authorised the sale of the international magazine Cosmopolitan and the screening of the American TV series "Sex and the City." On the other hand, a commercial radio station was fined more than 8,000 euros in September for broadcasting a recording of a female orgasm, which the censors considered "obscene."
An adviser to former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew reprimanded Today editor Mano Sabnani in November for allowing a report to be published about a trip by Lee's wife to London for medical reasons. The young journalist who wrote the story, Val Chua, reportedly had her press card suspended.
The country's two press groups, Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) and Mediacorp, are led by supporters of the People's Action Party, which has been in power for nearly 40 years. They keep strict control of the editorial line of their TV and radio stations and newspapers. SPH, the dominant group, is headed by Tjong Yik Min, who was one of the directors of the security services in the 1980s. Chua Lee Hoon, the star columnist of the daily The Straits Times, admits to also acting as an "expert" for the political police. The Straits Times bills itself as "one of the world's most respected newspapers" and it does indeed have a reputation for its Asia coverage. But it practices systematic self-censorship in its domestic reporting. Its competitors are Today and Streats, which dare more often to publish independent commentaries on the domestic situation. Nonetheless, the only real freedom is to be found on a small number of Internet sites operated by government opponents or by some of the few independent journalists. But they risk very heavy fines for defamation while the internal security law allows the authorities to imprison people without judicial approval.
The media are also at the service of the state. In the middle of the Sars epidemic in May, for example, the two main press groups got together to launch a TV channel entirely given over to "informing and educating Singaporeans about the different aspects of Sars." The programmes, which went out by cable, were terminated when the epidemic had been contained. The state tends in general to be interventionist. The information minister announced in June that Singapore wanted to become a "global media city." To this end, the state Media Development Authority plans to invest nearly 100 million euros in the media sector over the next five years. In return, the government expects media professionals to step up their efforts to increase the sector's share of Singapore's GDP. But when a foreign specialist called for a radical liberalisation of censorship and media control policies, the minister bristled. He finally conceded that some regulations might have to be revised in order not to hold back economic growth.
wow... reading your blog, there's no need to see any more chinese dramas. so exciting.. you really can make ppl emotional don't ya ? ;)
i've got a suggestion~ on the 9th, paint a crest on your face and color your blog red! & white! :D
I don't think your education did you any good. Go join the army or something if you're such a patriot. Detesting people just because they're from AC/MG? I've met primary school kids who are more mature than you are.
i agree with jaryl..
btw, WHAT"S WRONG wITH ACs AND MGS PEOPLE?? not that i belong there, but i just don't see the connection.. u shldnt stereotype..
I love Singapore.
Those fake accents are really irritating, esp those who rap and speak at the same time? Know a few of those, you will wanna kick their ass!
It's just DUH!!
Oh, I have freckles also, hace it since young, so now the auntie promoters in watson always say this to me: xiao mei, lai mai xin de mei bai chan pin~
People with fake accents should just slapped and given a kick in the ass. LoL~
Hmm.. one thing about cannabis though.
Its is really less harmful chemically for the body than cigarettes. Its comes from the leaves of the cannabis plant, and is entirely natural. All they do is dry the leaves, crush it and smoke it.
Unlike cigarettes that contains numerous artificial additives like nicotine.
Cannabis is a psychological drug, as it mainly alters the state of mind, rather than the body. If there was a choice to ban cannabis or cigarettes, i'd choose cigarettes. There's no physical addiction from cannabis, as far as i understand (but i may be wrong)
:o)
It would be interesting to see what it is that people do like about Singapore. There are quite a few of these that people not living in Singapore do envy (and miss), e.g. safe streets at night. Some of us - myself included - have had no choice but to make a weighed decision between pursuing what it is that we really want out of a limited lifespan (in my case, its a career in cognitive research and my music) and that very much beloved plate of char kway teow. The problem is that minority groups do have a tendency to be shouted down in a society like Singapore that prizes conformity; a trait that has for a long time, guaranteed it economic success and political stability. Unfortunately, Singapore is hard-pressed to make itself welcoming to a homosexual mono-cycling professional clown (although personally, i can't fathom the merits of monocycling either). Ok though, if you just want to have your plate of kway teow and get on with business as usual. Just thought I mention this because not everyone who's had to leave the country left for marijuana and free loving. Those who did might find that they've missed the boat, by a good 40 years.
hello froZenZombie
It's good to have a some freedom of speech etc. But I do not view what you posted to be disadvantageous. Censorship is of course needed, be it concerning violence and other bad influences, or political views.
The former is for the sake of imparting the correct values to the younger generation (the govt is concerned with our welfare), reduction of crime rates. As for the latter, it is needed to prevent chaos, when people go on strike/riots. When this happens there would be a disruption in businesses, and we, with very limited resources, cannot afford to let this happen.
"Liberalisation" is not suited for every country. It must be appropriate for the context. Whether it is desirable is contingent on the situation in the relevant country.
By the way, I got the impression that American women, in general, are liberal, loose, and cheap sluts. I might be wrong. Their dress sense is totally unacceptable over here. They are too bold and daring. This is just an example to bring across the point that feeding a person with a sprained ankle, fever medicine, will NEVER work.
there are a number of things i would like to comment on, purely out of interest in seeing your rather botched entry.
by all means do take pride and pleasure at seeing how much your country has achieved. i do not believe however, that it is right for you to emphasise with rather weak examples that a person who does not choose to do so, should be as i quote 'cursed into eternal hell'.
(1) for someone who takes such immense pleasure in repeating the now very annoying phrase, 'kantang'(eat potato), i am from far from actually understanding the significance of this. If what you are referring to is the fact that you despise all anglophiles, well, aren't you a FINE one to say that? what with the FIRST thing i see as i enter this blog, is yourself carefully preened in western attire and dyed hair? what gives you the authority to condem for instance,
i) people from schools like MGS and ACS--> their fluent usage of the English language is more than commendable
ii) freckles--> ??!??!?!?!
(2)how is it even possible, i ask, to attribute the desire within people to leave the country to purely trivial things like 'oh, why aren't we allowed to chew gum?' or 'why aren't we allowed to do drugs like holland, man?'
this has been the subject of ferocious debate possibly from our date of independence. racism. no one has the right to say that racism does NOT exist within the country, because it does, and if anything it is far from abating. I agree that even our Western counterparts do have a large number of racists amongst their population.
But is it right i ask, is it right to firstly
(1) proclaim to the world that our country practises meritocracy?
it is a well known fact that tertiary institutes like the National University of Singapore do have quota systems for courses like Law and Medicine. WHY and HOW is this possible? isn't education OUR right, especially since we EMPHASISE on this so? countries like Malaysia and India for instance, DO give preferences to certain courses, based on religion in the former and lower castes in the latter.
so you tell me. if you spend say, 19 or 20 years of your existence working hard to enter into a course like Law, and you get rejected, purely because, of statements like,'oh, we take in a certain percentage of Indians, Malays and Chinese, based on their ratios in this country', is this deemed fair for a country, as i emphasise repeatedly practises MERITOCRACY, '..regardless of race, language or religion....based on justice and equality'?
(2) i'm sure you must have seen the word 'bilingual' in a huge percentage of job ads. i for one, speak three languages. but if i had to apply to these jobs, the first question i would be asked is whether i speak 'mandarin'. which i do not. i do guarantee that since a number of positions do require one-on-one links with countries like China and Taiwan, it is an essential language to have. however, where are the rest of us placed? if we do not speak Mandarin, is this the end of us non-Chinese where jobs are concerned? Doesn't a fluent background in the international language: ENGLISH account for anything, keeping in mind that our largest exporter of a number of materials is none other than the States? That our legislation is largely followed in accordance to English law?
In response to rising concerns that being Bilingual, i.e: mandarin and english limits the number of jobs available for the rest of the population, a Singaporean minister remarked something along the lines of, 'there are cracks in every system. sometimes, you may fall through them'.
Tell me XiaXue, would such 'OPTIMISM' make a number of us even want to stay?
What has happened to any legisation based on discrimination in terms of race? Singapore has not signed the International Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Dicscimination (Cerd), apparently because
"It's a low priority. Singapore does not have a strong rights culture," said constitutional lawyer Thio Li-ann. "The Government does not like formal legal structures when it comes to such things".
Is there any hidden agenda, i ask.
(3) For the more liberal persons, marriage may not be an option. Domestic partnership is in many ways seen to be reasonably hassle free. While the government's efforts to promote marriage and family is applaud worthy, the recognition given to co-habiting couples is absurd. Five room flats cannot be purchased with HDB if couples are not married. If a loving co-habiting couple have children, they are not entitled to cash redemptions, which are available to the MARRIED couple. reasonable choices of individual citizens are not celebrated.
On the surface Singapore may seem like the choice country to live in,
but when explored in depth, one can be enlightened, as to the ugly side of it.
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
Sangeeta...
Education is our right. Yes, but only partly. Do not forget that the govt subsidizes about half our University school fees. Particularly, for the medicine school, which amounts to a lot. Be thankful, that S'pore is not like Malaysia Unis, which take in lousy students, just because they are of a certain race. Our govt has the responsibility to ensure that structural unemployment is minimised when they graduate.
It is ridiculous that you're promoting co-habiting. Most people in our society would not condone this. But for some of the open-minded youths over here, they think that they will benefit in terms of understanding each other, and eventually marry someone who's compatible with them, so as to minimise conflicts. But according to Fei Yue, it is commitment that ensures a couple stay together. Why? Because a person's personality changes over time. Therefore, even if they started out as compatible, it may not be so a few years down the road. It is commitment that will help them to accomodate each other in the end. If co-habiting is given the so-called recognition, the significance of marriage will be eroded. By the way, a co-habiting couple with a child will enjoy the privileges once they get married. Even AFTER the child is born. I really see no valid reason for not being married, when the couple already have a child. I'm sure no women would want to end up like Federline's ex-gf. Breaking up with her after he falls in love with Britney Spears. It boils down to a sense of security.
Times have changed... our future lies with good trading ties with China. You can't blame potential employers for having such a good foresight... they have a business to run, possibly bank loans to be repaid, and get some returns in the process. It is only natural that they will choose employees that are suitable to their needs.
bubbly bee, i would like to clarify my stand on a number of points.
(1)'Do not forget that the govt subsidizes about half our University school fees'.
--> this may be true, but are you forgetting that a number of other countries also subsidise fees for tertiary education, for instance the UK? (free education + books are provided until the age of 16, along with free dental and medical care for students until aged 19)
Malaysia has always proclaimed that it does place religion as a very important part in tertiary admission. But Singapore has NOT mentioned OPENLY at least that there are racial quotas.
my point however isnt about the fact that Singapore subsidises fees. It is the fact that PURE INTELLIGENCE isn't a factor taken into consideration when applying to universities, i.e. on merit.
If 100 Malay students scored a whopping 99.5% on some entrance exam or the other, as compared to 100 Chinese students who scored, say 99% in the same exam, are you telling me that the Chinese students should be allowed to get in, just because their ratio in this country is considerably higher than the other races?
This is NOT FAIR. in the context singapore proudly proclaims to be part of.
(2)i had mentioned in my previous comment that singapore's attempts at promoting marriage and family is applaud worthy. you have obviously taken my words out of context by saying that i am 'PROMOTING co-habiting'.
in a democratic country, where individual citizens are given the choice on what they deem is best for THEIR lives, who are you to proclaim, that cohabiting is WRONG?
marriage is NOT a passport to security contrary to you have emphasised upon. divorce rates have been spiralling, with 44 divorces every 1000 marriages, in the 24-29 age bracket. married spouses cheat. they are, like any other couple, COMPLETELY capable of doing so. tolerance in marriages has significantly reduced generation after generation.
my argument (which i believe you do not quite comprehend) is this: the falling birth rates have been of particular concern, with only 40,000 babies or so being born yearly (im not sure of the exact figure, but it is most certainly somewhere along those lines). the govt has ensured that couples with children are entitled to certain rebates, so what difference does it make if the couple is married or not? aren't there couples in Singapore who are not interested in marriage?
people do get married for the wrong reasons. that is something you cannot deny.
(3)'Times have changed... our future lies with good trading ties with China. You can't blame potential employers for having such a good foresight... '
it is absolutely smashing that you have acknowledged this fact. why then, may i ask, since you so applaud the racial quota system where education is concerned, that this isn't applied where JOBS are concerned?
---
i am not hiding the fact that there is plenty in singapore to be proud of. the safety levels are almost impeccable, the efficency outstanding. however, there are faults made by the people of singapore. faults that even the greatest lover of singapore must acknowledge.
then don't crucify people who choose to reside in a country they feel caters to their needs.
here's something you should read bubbly bee.
http://www.singstat.gov.sg/press/media/st24062004.pdf
Sangeeta...
Maybe you can enlighten me on the connection between the Statistics Department article, and my opinions. What has that got to do with co-habiting? The examples provided are mainly couples with grwon up children... by then, what has privileges got to do with them? In my opinion, it is the erosion of the significance of marriage that led to the increase in divorce rates. As for the "security" point... you can't deny that it is marriage that prompted them to share the burden of bringing up a child. "Security" can be in monetary terms and support. If a couple isn't married, both will feel less responsible, and guilty when they break up. If they are married, they will definitely think twice about divorce. Of course, marriage doesn't guarantee security, but it definitely helps to increase the awareness of each party's role.
I thought you were referring to the admission quotas. And I am not aware that there are racial quotas, are there? Is it based on your inference over some statistics? Or is there direct evidence? Maybe you can show me some proof. Don't end up being sued for slander, ya?
Sangeeta,
Human resource is one of the biggest resources in Singapore, and the Government would be considered incompetent if it does not recognise this and use education to its advantage. One way of doing this is to control the number of doctors/lawyers/engineers in the workforce, according to the projected future economy, by setting quotas for intake sizes of each faculty. This is careful, stringent management of resources that has made Singapore what it is today. There is absolutely no fault with that. Yes if you have worked so hard for 20 yrs and there is no space in your faculty of choice then too bad, its only because there are many people who have worked harder than you and are more deserving of the place one way or another. As for racial quotas, its practically unheard of. Malaysia yes, Singapore no.
i think bubbly bee that you've got me wrong. my statement with regards to admissions criteria, is not a statement to poke fingers at anybody. It is merely an indication that there are certain anomalies in some announced statements. when we in the 21st century are trying to grow up and be more transparent, we should be 100% truthful from every angle. what i am saying is, when we profess that we are purely meritocratic in three areas: admission, selection and placement, it is important to follow up on all the three areas, and not only in one or two. there are indications that in the initial admissions criteria pure meritocracy is not only the factor. there comes an element of proportional respresentation, and that is not 100% in line with the word meritocracy.
i am not saying that this is wrong for whatever reasons that may be justifiable, but let us be honest about it.
hmmm these comments dun seem to be getting anywhere leh...
i agree with Sangeeta on many many points. I have a sneaky, half-formed idea that she must have been on some debate team in school.
But then, I think that it's not avoidable that some employers would only take on those who are bilingual on the condition that they can speak Mandrin. It's after all, the employers' right to hire whom they please. They're the ones who have to pay their employees.
But then, I'm not saying that the government should not do anything to help those who do not speak Mandrin.
But the same time, what can actually be done? Employers choose candidates who can speak Mandrin for reasons. Besides the very obvious China reason, the fact that many Singaporean customers can only speak fluently in Mandrin plays a role too.
And as for university admissions, I had always had the impression that it's the Chinese who lose out as there are too many of them with very high marks for their racial quota.
And your comment "If 100 Malay students scored a whopping 99.5% on some entrance exam or the other, as compared to 100 Chinese students who scored, say 99% in the same exam, are you telling me that the Chinese students should be allowed to get in, just because their ratio in this country is considerably higher than the other races?" seems to imply that it's easier for the Chinese to enter?
I don't know. Maybe you're right.
Anyway, there are racial quotas in the US as well. I think it's called Corrective Something(Mechanism??). I can't remember really, but it allows students from more 'disadvantaged' races, like the native Americans, to qualify more easily, to in some way, 'make up' for the past disadvantages their ancestors had suffered.
It's very controversial, but it shows that this variation of discrimmination also exists in the US, which does not publicly say that it's not 100%meritocratic (or in their case, democratic) in everything that they do.
And erm, to XiaXue. Well. I think I would qualify as a 'kentang' based on your criteria thing.
1. "Speaking with a stupid American/any other "superior English" accent"
I seem to speak with a semi-British, semi-monotone voice, which really sticks out (sticks out, I say, not stand out-->it doesn't make me look all that cool) in my school, which is a SAP school, which means that everyone, including me, takes Higher Chinese.
I DON'T speak that way on purpose, it's, I think, a result of watching Friends (though they're American) and not watching any Ch8, (honestly because I think the Ch8 shows are rather formulaic. All about family and marriage and studying. I get enough of that in my own home).
Anyhow, I don't speak this way to look in any way "superior". Most of the time I don't notice it until someone tells me so. So it's not on -purpose-.
2. "Coming from English-speaking girl and boy schools like ACS or MGS"
I come from friggin' Dunman High. The most Chinese school ever.
3.
i agree with Sangeeta on many many points. I have a sneaky, half-formed idea that she must have been on some debate team in school.
But then, I think that it's not avoidable that some employers would only take on those who are bilingual on the condition that they can speak Mandrin. It's after all, the employers' right to hire whom they please. They're the ones who have to pay their employees.
But then, I'm not saying that the government should not do anything to help those who do not speak Mandrin.
But the same time, what can actually be done? Employers choose candidates who can speak Mandrin for reasons. Besides the very obvious China reason, the fact that many Singaporean customers can only speak fluently in Mandrin plays a role too.
And as for university admissions, I had always had the impression that it's the Chinese who lose out as there are too many of them with very high marks for their racial quota.
And your comment "If 100 Malay students scored a whopping 99.5% on some entrance exam or the other, as compared to 100 Chinese students who scored, say 99% in the same exam, are you telling me that the Chinese students should be allowed to get in, just because their ratio in this country is considerably higher than the other races?" seems to imply that it's easier for the Chinese to enter?
I don't know. Maybe you're right.
Anyway, there are racial quotas in the US as well. I think it's called Corrective Something(Mechanism??). I can't remember really, but it allows students from more 'disadvantaged' races, like the native Americans, to qualify more easily, to in some way, 'make up' for the past disadvantages their ancestors had suffered.
It's very controversial, but it shows that this variation of discrimmination also exists in the US, which does not publicly say that it's not 100%meritocratic (or in their case, democratic) in everything that they do.
And erm, to XiaXue. Well. I think I would qualify as a 'kentang' based on your criteria thing.
1. "Speaking with a stupid American/any other "superior English" accent"
I seem to speak with a semi-British, semi-monotone voice, which really sticks out (sticks out, I say, not stand out-->it doesn't make me look all that cool) in my school, which is a SAP school, which means that everyone, including me, takes Higher Chinese.
I DON'T speak that way on purpose, it's, I think, a result of watching Friends (though they're American) and not watching any Ch8, (honestly because I think the Ch8 shows are rather formulaic. All about family and marriage and studying. I get enough of that in my own home).
Anyhow, I don't speak this way to look in any way "superior". Most of the time I don't notice it until someone tells me so. So it's not on -purpose-.
2. "Coming from English-speaking girl and boy schools like ACS or MGS"
I come from friggin' Dunman High. The most Chinese school ever.
3. Constantly whining about a lack of freedom and space in SG
I don't. I actually love some aspects of Singapore. Like the Singlish. And the food. And the schools.
Though it's really true that some Singaporeans (not all) tend to be rather timid, afraid of seeming different. So I guess that kind of limits other people, who would see that as a lack of freedom and space.
4. Saying Singapore sucks and they would fly away at their youngest age possible
Sg does not suck. But I want to experience as much of the world as I can.
Can?
5. Have freckles
I have 4 freckles!! Bwahahaha.
AND...
"I wish I were born in XXX country/ I want to migrate to XXX country."
I'm glad I was born here. Really. Though every country has its flaws, and so does Sg.
I'd have to agree with winnie and sangeeta on this one... Xiaxue you've definately outdone in making a fool out of ureself as a result of ure lack of depth post.... drugs? chewing gum? oh my.... get real, these on-the-surface ideals are just a tip of the iceburg. Singapore has more flaws than you think.... then again you cant really blame the government, they r really trying their best...... yet not all of their policies are to our best interests, but for the interest of the country.... covered by the CIA files... singapore is definately vulnerable to all aspects, more importantly imports and exports. To achieve a balance, Singapore HAS to control its human resource. Directing its population is one way to go. But yet i cant totally agree with sangeeta over the racial quotas in the universities..... are there even such a thing in singapore? Yes of course for HDB local housings, they set a quota to limit a number of particular races overcrowding in one estate, but for universities? i don't think so....
Education is one hell of an important factor... the education system here in singapore is definately flawed considering the number of people who cant even speak proper english and hence the minorities are crucified by xiaxue as "fake accents" again... get real just because the rest of the population chooses to indulge in broken english doesnt give u the right to blame the others who choose not to. Yes, Singlish is OUR FLAVOUR yet too much of something is still bad. Think of what foreigners might think of our crude english when they come over.... I'm not saying that we should be ashamed but if we want to stand tall in the eyes of others shouldn't we at least potray some proper dignity? How is it gonna sound with a business man who goes ".... Hey MR. NICK!! nice meet you ah~ You come australia so far away musy b tire liaoz. Come in we drink kopi lah~" Culture shock wouldn't be significant enough to use in this case. Its the same with China, if we want to have proper business deals, we have to speak fluent chinese and not some dialet mumbo jumbo.
Again, the education system in singapore is enough for a reason to drive people away from singapore. I'm sure most of you have watched the movie "i not stupid", the pressures that a young kid faces even in primary school...let alone in JCs or Universities. Our society demands too much from people, the case of "no money no talk" in the end what everyone stives for is more money, material needs surpass that of a proper family. As a result of the presurised upbringing, people grow up to hectic lifestyles where everyday is another day where u compare whos Rolex watch is fake and whos isnt.
Furthermore, the job market in Singapore is also pethetic, with dozens of uni grads unemployed, whos to say that an education gurantees your success in life anymore? And to make things worse, the government is now being contradicting on its polices... for instance, our singapore governemt supports entrepreneurship, yet these days many companies close down due to bankrupcy...y? Has anyone even noticed that the government is now slowly taking over all money making businesses? Take your friendly neighbourhood NTUC for instance, its been so successful its starting to make vendors in wet markets wet their jocks. Love 7-11? guess what? its gonna be overruned by cheers soon enough. They have all the good spots like mrt stations, shopping complexes etc. Oh so you love food? y not enjoy them at a local food court? air-con and all. Nice to know that the government is also starting to run their own food courts.... ooooo major bummer for coffee shop owners and hawkers. Lastly... tonnes of construction companies are closing down..y? Make a guess....
But i MUST really commend on the amount of security that singapore has, i mean other than a few bozos who go around robbing old grannies, singapore is relatively safe, even at night. And its all thanks to our government for keeping things tight. Censorship wise, i think the gov HAS started to let go abit considering the new movie ratings and the programs on SCV like as stated "sex and the city" (btw it rox not because of the sex but the way they actually narrate the darn thing).
So... Singapore has its own pros and cons, yet it should only be considered as a "Free Enough Country" not totally free, we are still growing... give the gov time to sort out their wrongs... let them learn from mistakes... to try to please everyone in the end u please none.
So Xiaxue, get your facts right before you start blamming people for leaving the country just because they got caught at the causeway for trying to smuggle in chewing gum. We are in the 21st century a so-called free world... so if we are so free y do people still comment on us having to migrate? isint it our own business our own rights?
hi. i believed you had good intention to write what you feel about the people who complain, but i guess you kind of put it in a bad way? apparently, what does freckles got to do with anything?
if we have a minister who talks with an accent, are you going to condemn him/her?do know that our english programmes are mostly not local. even our newcasters talk with an accent. so its natural that we somehow learn how to talk in that manner.
anyway, constanting whinning of how boring and small singapore is, doesn't really matter right? cause they are still in singapore. and if you can whine/grumble but still have to come to terms with it, i don't see why they cannot whine/grumble about it as well?
no one can make everyone happy, there are bound to be people unhappy.
even my non GAN TANG (sounds more like than kan tang?) friends are complaining about life in singapore. so how? why not talk about them, rather than arrowing a certain target. if i'm not wrong, more people are speaking english. so yeah, how? are you going to blame the government cause they did start they speak english movement.
anyway for a dedicated singaporean who lives in a multiracial surrounding, haven't you noticed that you are encouraging prejudice through your comment box?
thanks for making more singaporeans ugly.
Don't be so pathetically childish. Please. So people complain about Singapore. So what? People have the right to say what they want. Just becuz they don't have the same opinions as you doesn't mean you can cuss them to hell like that. Its downright petty.
Every country has its good points, as well as its problems. No country is perfect. Some people want to migrate because they value freedom more than a stable life. What is important to them is not just a good secure life served on a platter for you in Singapore, but just the freedom to *choose*. Some foreigners prefer to come to singapore for precisely the opposite reasons, to have a stable safe and secure life here. Again, different people, different priorities.
So alot of public figures on the media have foreign accents. But most of them pick it up because they were overseas for some years of their lives. Come on, even LKY has a bit of a British accent. Are you gonna condemn him? Alot of politicians and rich businessmen come from pure boys' schools like RI and ACS. They are the ones who made Singapore the lovely country you claim you care about. Aren't you condemning them as well? Puh-lease.
Having a foreign accent doesn't mean you love singapore any less. Complaining about singapore doesn't mean you won't do anything for it. Some of my guy friends would complain to the high heavens about NS. But when the time comes, i doubt if they'd run away. And least of all, freckles? Don't be a conceited brat.
Please don't drag Singapore's good name in the mud while you give vent to your own personal small-minded complaints. Don't parade your fervent patriotism side by side with your bigoted views. Next time, If you wanna complain in this manner, please don't tell the whole world you're a Singaporean. Don't humiliate the rest of us.
Don't be so pathetically childish. Please. So people complain about Singapore. So what? People have the right to say what they want. Just becuz they don't have the same opinions as you doesn't mean you can cuss them to hell like that. Its downright petty.
Every country has its good points, as well as its problems. No country is perfect. Some people want to migrate because they value freedom more than a stable life. What is important to them is not just a good secure life served on a platter for you in Singapore, but just the freedom to *choose*. Some foreigners prefer to come to singapore for precisely the opposite reasons, to have a stable safe and secure life here. Again, different people, different priorities.
So alot of public figures on the media have foreign accents. But most of them pick it up because they were overseas for some years of their lives. Come on, even LKY has a bit of a British accent. Are you gonna condemn him? Alot of politicians and rich businessmen come from pure boys' schools like RI and ACS. They are the ones who made Singapore the lovely country you claim you care about. Aren't you condemning them as well? Puh-lease.
Having a foreign accent doesn't mean you love singapore any less. Complaining about singapore doesn't mean you won't do anything for it. Some of my guy friends would complain to the high heavens about NS. But when the time comes, i doubt if they'd run away. And least of all, freckles? Don't be a conceited brat.
Please don't drag Singapore's good name in the mud wh