The past 2-3 weeks have been a very personal journey for me. It’s not something I think I can adequately express except to those who are very close to me. I guess it’s almost geeky, which makes me a little embarrassed to talk about it to most. But I hold these beliefs with such conviction that I have to write about it here.
When I returned to Singapore on May 3, being in time to vote was one of the peripheral advantages of the trip. I am not sure if it was the news coverage or people talking about it, or the fact that I don’t like making uninformed choices that prompted me to get online and start finding out more. For the first time in my life, we were in a district where we could vote (despite being rezoned out of a district we have been in for the past xx years). I think one of the first videos I watched was one of Nicole Seah’s earlier rallies. I was surprised when I was almost moved to tears.
I have been away from home for almost 7 years now. When I first left home in 2004 bound for London, I hadn’t given much thought as to when I would return. Fast forward 7 years and I still have not chosen to return. Other than personal and career concerns, my love-dislike (hate being too strong a word) relationship with Singapore was another factor. Too staid, too sterile, too little character, too soul-less. I had become indifferent towards Singapore. I liked it on a micro level since I enjoyed seeing loved ones and friends when I was back. But as a country? I didn’t love it nor hate it. I just didn’t want to live there; Not at this point in my life.
Whenever the topic of Singapore politics came up during my time away, I have never had much opinion or interest. What I thought was apathy was simply because I fully accepted the status quo – we weren’t going to be able to change things anyway, so any discussion is purely hypothetical. We were an autocratic society, but I had always been of the view that in exchange for this lack of civil liberties, we have safe streets, our people had affordable public housing, and from a survival perspective, there’s really not much to complain about relative to many other Asian nations.
I am not apathetic. I just couldn’t imagine that we had a say in how the country is run.
Much as a lot of the Opposition rallies were populist and perhaps idealistic or a tad simplistic/not well substantiated, they had heart. A lot of it. They had a love for Singapore and Singaporeans burning in their hearts, which we see in a choice few politicians in the ruling party. The man who ran in my district? I did not see it in his eyes, nor in his body language. Is it because they are just poor at expressing themselves and poor public speakers? Well, even as weak as Mr Chiam See Tong is today, this love for our country and its people remains evident if you watch his rallies.
Sadly, I only managed to attend one rally. I had never seen so many Singaporeans together at once, other than during National Day Parade or during the New Year’s Eve countdown. There was a buzz in the air, an energy. A sense of solidarity. And when the pledge was recited? Looking around, everyone was reciting it with pride and probably with a newfound appreciation for the meaning of the words we have mindlessly memorised before. It gave me goosebumps.
They also talked about progress for the country that is not economic. I have to admit, the way I have been wired – I had to think about this a little. Its a simple concept, but perhaps not intuitive to the practical-minded Singaporean. But I did a bit of googling, and found that the concept actually makes a lot of sense and is not all fluff. See the UN Human Development website here.
To people who feel that Singaporeans are just complaining too much and unappreciative of what we have today – I say that we have had a great run in the past 50 years and we have a lot that other countries struggle to achieve, but we need to aspire to more. Our incumbents have done a very good job, but it’s time we re-assess the social costs at which this progress comes. In 2009, our Gini coefficient was 2nd only to Hong Kong amongst the more developed countries in the world. The ratio of incomes between the top 10% and bottom 10% of Singaporeans was about 17:1. Surely that speaks to a widening income gap which should not be ignored. Would progress achieved at these costs be sustainable?
Anecdotally, it’s evident that the income gap in Hong Kong is wider than it is in Singapore. There are Bentleys, tons of people carriers with chauffeurs, teens toting Berkins while chilling on Daddy’s yacht, plenty of exclusive club memberships and mansions in Repulse Bay. I know the above are extremes, but money and status here are important. The rich are certainly richer, and are not afraid to have you know it.
On the other hand, the Singapore I know and love is down to earth. Sure, we have our Nassim and Queen Astrid Park. But we are happy to eat at hawker centres, drive our own cars, and complain about the extra few dollars we have to spend on ERP. We know the value of money. I would hate to see Singaporeans lose that quality. Whenever I return from Singapore, I feel a bit more grounded.
I now know that there are people who are provided under SGD300 a month under public assistance, and that only about 3,000 Singaporeans (not households) receive assistance. 50% of applications for public assistance were rejected. I now know that we don’t have minimum wage in Singapore. I now know that the cost of housing is increasing to the point that people cannot afford our previously affordable public housing. Even anecdotally, I’ve seen friends complain on Facebook that they are unable to get on trains in the morning because of how full they are. I now see the disconnect that has developed between the incumbent government and the layperson.
I cannot un-know these things now that I know them. Being away from home, I am still figuring out how I can best help in one way or another. But I will never forget GE2011. There are still many questions which I have not found answers to, yet already I have learnt so much about where I come from, Singaporeans, and myself. I have rediscovered my pride to be Singaporean. And that’s something no National Day Parade or no daily singing of the national anthem has ever achieved for me.
