They fight economy, we fight politics « The Wayang Party Club of Singapore

They fight economy, we fight politics « The Wayang Party Club of Singapore

Posted on September 13, 2008 by wayangparty
While we still get hooked on political in-fighting and our economy continues to go downhill, leaders of neighbouring Singapore are throwing in all their effort to boost their economy. While maintaining good relationship with economically powerful nations, Singapore’s leaders also make frequent trips overseas–to Middle East, Russia, and even places as far away as South America–to exploit new markets in a bid to strengthen the city-state’s long term competitiveness.


Singapore’s success has always been touted as an astonishing and highly commendable miracle in Southeast Asia that has also invited much envy. Those praising her will resort to all the best descriptions they can think of, such as competent, squeaky clean, prosperous, and progressive; while those critical of the island republic just dismiss it as a tiny country living under the heavy-handed rule of a paternalistic party without much freedom of speech, which is easy to manage as everyone is made to abide by the laws; and its economic achievement is, therefore, nothing to shout about.

With a population of 4.48 million (ranked 117 in the world) and a land area of 707 sq km (ranked 178), Singapore is indeed tiny. Nevertheless, influences of this tiny country are not inferior to countries many times larger.

Taiwan’s Common Wealth magazine recently published an exclusive interview with Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, in which it said, “A typical tiny city-state, Singapore has evolved into a giant pool of talents in this world. It is not just an important financial hub, but also the world’s second busiest seaport. More than 7,000 multinational companies have set up offices here, about 60% or more than 4,000 being regional headquarters for Asia Pacific.”

This little country with outstanding achievements was once a part of Malaysia. It became a British colony in 1824, joined Malaysia in 1963, and was forced to withdraw from the federation two years later on 9 August 1965 to become a sovereign country. Many Singaporeans still take its independence to heart until this day.

The older generation on both sides of the Causeway may still remember how a tearful Lee Kuan Yew announced Singapore’s separation from Malaysia on the television: “The world is like a massive ocean, which allows big fish and small shrimp to survive. We are like a small shrimp that will survive in this ocean.”

Frankly speaking, not many people back then viewed this tiny nation lacking in both human and natural resources favourably. But in less than two decades, this “tiny little red dot” in the eyes of some politicians was transformed into the wealthiest and most progressive country in Southeast Asia.

Our land area is 466 times that of Singapore’s, population 6 times larger. But comparing the economic strengths of both countries after 43 years of separation, we can but lament our deficiencies. Today, Singapore’s per capita income stands at US$30,228 (about RM102,775), six times higher than ours at US$5,040 (about 17,136).

Putting historical burdens aside, Singapore does have its merits. For instance, her highly efficient and incorruptible bureaucracy, open and dynamic economic policies as well as practices of meritocracy should all be emulated by us.

According to Common Wealth, Singapore is like a powerful magnet that draws the talents from all over the world to its shores. Among the republic’s workforce of nearly three million, almost one million or 33% are foreigners.

Without a question, Malaysians make up a sizeable portion of these one million foreign workers in Singapore. The checkpoint at Woodlands is packed with tens of thousands of motorcyclists waiting to cross the border every morning and evening.

To this massive army of workers, Singapore is the place to make big money, while Johor Bahru is more like a place to tumpang for the night.

Each year, Singapore grants permanent resident status to about 30,000 foreign citizens, many of whom are top Malaysian students, who were rejected by our universities, or were unable to get the courses they wanted here, or were denied scholarships owing to a host of unfair policies, but were subsequently admitted into Singapore’s universities. Many of them have chosen to work in Singapore after graduation, and end up becoming Singapore’s citizens.

Take A look at how hard Singapore is trying to boost its economy and how hard we are trying to consume ourselves in political battles.

Vision 2020 seems to be getting more and more obscure… (By LIM MUN FAH/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)

Source: Sin Chew.com