New here and ya I am a pure singaporean here

[SGBoyxxx]

About the government, I think SMS has been very vocal about it, that the PAP is practically THE government (opposition? what opposition?!? the leader is in exile!) and the same government has its control deeply entrenched into people's personal lives.

Am I the only one here who thinks that to large extent this the right way for the society like this bearing all its cultural and historical burdens? Many "Westerners" think that their way of living should be imposed unconditionally over everybody. IMO the political system of Singapore, even with all its clear limitations serves better this society than any of Western, fully democratic systems would.

* I am not from the west, though I admit subscribing to some of their ideologies
* If political system => constitution, I agree. It's the Singaporeans that set it up, after all
* But why is voicing views opposite from those of the government so maligned?
* I'm not saying they do an 180, just suggesting that wouldn't it better to listen to the other side instead of "criminalizing" them (ditto for more freedom of speech)? Isn't multiple point of views better than just one so everyone would see what just one can't?
* However, I do agree that sometimes the SG government has to take a more active role in its people's lives (e.g. graciousness, speak english campaigns).
* On the bright side, technology is making the world smaller, making communications easier. Healthy exchange of ideas occur all the time (like what we're doing). The youth is hopefully, being made aware of different ideas. More rounded education for Singaporeans are opening to new ideas and different points of view. Singapore, as a sovereign country, is very young. Some countries have already gone through similar phases but made mistakes. Their histories, documented and easily accessible. Hopefully, the exposure will help them define society's future, make them realize if they're making the same mistakes and avoid them.

yup agreed.

But I am surprised our dear LKY always been invited by other countries ministers to give advice how to manage the country , give ideas to improve ..ect

lol..

ya I do admit he is a wise guy seriously also a cunning ones

[ksl]

Haha, one thing you have to know about us expats here is that we know the history of Singapore better than you locals because we are interested in it and you are not really. I am still shocked that 90% of Singaporeans can not differentiate between world war one and world war two, they don't know the years they took place or the parties involved. So you don't really need to tell us about Raffles founding Singapore but we literally want to know how you feel singing your national anthem in Malay? Don't you feel it should be in English so everybody can identify with it, or maybe Chinese as the majority of people is Chinese?

I will be back in Singapore in November actually for a meeting at MAS and EDB. Then again in February but yes, I will move back permanently next September.

cool ...welcome to Sg

Ya don;t feel surprise go round ask some singaporean

lol they don;t even know who is our Prime minister .

But some european folks think singapore is china lol.


Ok back to your Qs

about national anthem singing in Malay , how I feel ?isn;t it better sing in english ?so everybody can identify with it, or maybe Chinese as the majority of people is Chinese?


actually seriously I can tell you , most of us don;t care about whether the national anthem should be sing in malay ?chinese? english? or even tamil???

we just blindly sing it when ask to sing.
We don;t even know really well the meanings of it too.

lol , recently in F1 .This sg idol is a malay guy.

He sing the national anthem wrongly .

He even said is an honest mistake he made in newspaper.
I am not sure you have read this news.

Yep I'm up to date on Singapore idol, he dropped a clanger (deliberately) ha! Actually anyone can be nervous in a crowd, I mean how many people have difficulty to stand up to speak to any kind of audience, not many can do it with confidence! My daughter goes to local school, so she also knows the national anthem.

LGM will love this, I'm so patriotic, that when i was in the British military in Germany, back in 75 i recall, i was on exercise, manoeuvers some would call it, anyway we was taken to a German Village, to have showers....while waiting for the others I discreetly, disappeared to a pub, in the pub a couple of guys, asked me to sell my beret, because they collected military items, I said cannot lah! But I can raffle you for it, that's to play a dice game, anyway, I forgot all about the others and they didn't even notice i was missing....eventually the SSM came into the pub, and dragged me out, although i had lost most of my uniform and was pissed full on this black stuff, like cough medicine the name will come to me later i guess, the next day I took my punishment like a man! Cleaning the toilets and peeling potatoes. My excuse was, that i was just being friendly and integrating with the locals.

[ozchick]

Re the taxi service here, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
I behold it as beautiful indeed! I'd give it an 8 or 9 out of 10. But then,
I come from Melbourne where the taxi industry is nothing short of horrendous! I wouldn't rate it a 1 ! The cab fares are very expensive there, the drivers are all foreigners who seemingly get off the plane from Lebanon or wherever one day, and the very next day they are driving a cab!
Many can't speak English nor do they have an idea in hell of an acceptable route to get you to your dsetination.
I'm interested to know where there is a better taxi service that manages the size of a poplulation like Sg's. Sure the odd driver has given me grief, but generally I think they're great lah!

[Vaucluse]

SGBoy is a very welcome addition to the forum, I believe . . .

[sundaymorningstaple]

Yeah, I'd have to agree with you V. I had my doubts in the beginning but he's starting to look like a real trooper!

And he adds a slightly different perspective than most of the locals who come on here. Refreshing POV.

[SGBoyxxx]

I just truely give my own personal view as a local with the expats here.

[SGBoyxxx]

Yeah, I'd have to agree with you V. I had my doubts in the beginning but he's starting to look like a real trooper!

And he adds a slightly different perspective than most of the locals who come on here. Refreshing POV.

lol what is your doubts in the beginning ?

troublemaker? or Gays? because of my nick? lol

[SGBoyxxx]

I am thought I just saw one reply?

what escort? so fast been removed

Happen to click the link and

[sundaymorningstaple]

Moderators are awake!

And while in the office, not particularly working!

[blue_thunder]

Yeah, I'd have to agree with you V. I had my doubts in the beginning but he's starting to look like a real trooper!

And he adds a slightly different perspective than most of the locals who come on here. Refreshing POV.

Well it s a good start by SGBoy, but one POV is not going to change the general POV abt expats & immigrants in Sg . Still they(immigrants/expats) are considered to be aliens to the locals even if they are of the similar race but from a different country. Local chinese being mad about the mainland chinese.
I m still cluesless why they are pissed off with them!!

As an expat i admire two things in Sg.

1. People dont shun from long queues.

2. Number of complaints by public for hoggin a table at food court, parking space , bus , trains . For everything and anything they complalin. Why cant the people juzt forget and move on.

[sleepingkangaroo]

Erm, im also a Singaporean boy here.

I must say that though sgboy's nick sounds cute, his slightly below average command of English doesnt represent the majority of Singaporeans here (i hope i didnt sound harsh =)).

I really want to voice my opinions as a true blue local staying here all my life.

While most expats love Singapore, i need to say that i very much wanted to get out! Theres a vast difference between staying in condo and HDBs in sg. The people are different (HDB people are terrible!)

Not to mention that most Sporeans are very much inward looking. I can only use one word to describe this country and that is MONOTONOUS!
Theres a lack of variety and the rules, regulations and perhaps the lack of natural scenery makes this country a very dull and stifling country to live in!

The people dont care about world affairs, they dont even bother about this thing called life. They dont think too deeply about life and their existence...........

OK i shall stop here, but i really hope to get out and at the same time know more foreigners here!

[ev-disinfection]

Yeah, I'd have to agree with you V. I had my doubts in the beginning but he's starting to look like a real trooper!

And he adds a slightly different perspective than most of the locals who come on here. Refreshing POV.

Well it s a good start by SGBoy, but one POV is not going to change the general POV abt expats & immigrants in Sg . Still they(immigrants/expats) are considered to be aliens to the locals even if they are of the similar race but from a different country. Local chinese being mad about the mainland chinese.
I m still cluesless why they are pissed off with them!!

As an expat i admire two things in Sg.

1. People dont shun from long queues.

2. Number of complaints by public for hoggin a table at food court, parking space , bus , trains . For everything and anything they complalin. Why cant the people juzt forget and move on.

Hi all, My name is Terence (Local Chinese 39)
locals don't shun long queues, because it is these queues that make us line up, thinking that the food must be super... some even queue without knowing what they are queuing for (What the specialty dish is)
More locals complain.... hmmmm because they can...1, for fear of speaking up (Protests) and 2, many locals have not lived abroad, never realising that what we have here is good.

There is freedom of speech here, it is just that most of the people who say there isn't is the opposition, I would support the opposition, if they have a good plan to improve life here, But have you guys seen how the opposition acts, they are not credible.

People here complain....taxi drivers, old guys at the local coffeeshops ...etc, but end of the day, what happens... PAP is voted in, cause basically, these guys under Lee Kuan Yew, plans ahead... longest serving government ever in the world. (Locals don't know how good we are getting, and just complain.... to expats or foreigners, they would think that we are slaves, but we are not)
0 tolerance for crimes is good...
Campaigns are good, would be much worse if there weren't any...
Remember that we only gained independence in 1965... and if there are any of you who knew Singapore at that time, would know that it looks like rural places in Malaysia or any kampong in Asia now...

I am not a 100% PAP supporter, i support credible people who govern credibly. But right now the opposition looks bad... Chiam See Tong is good, even the PAP said so... too bad he is retiring.

Sleepingkangaroo- i guess he wants to migrate to down under, good for him... I sincerely wish him good luck with his future,
"Theres a vast difference between staying in condo and HDBs in sg. The people are different (HDB people are terrible!) " Quoted.
HDB dwellers represent at least 60% of the population here... are terrible?

I always ask locals who complain about everything here to migrate, some keep quiet, some migrate and some come back here after seeing what the outside looks like...

I will continue to share my POV as a unbiased local.
Anyone needs interpretations or needing more info on local ways, I will help de mistify...
Cheers

[EADG]

Another commendable post ev, but what is up with your nick and sig?

[ev-disinfection]

Our National Anthem in Malay,
well, it is respect, cause Singapore when founded were occupied by the malay locals... and did you know that in my dad's time, he had 4 national anthems to remember and sing:
1, God save the queen.
2, the Japanese national anthem (Japan occupation)
3, God save the queen, again (Japanese Surrender)
4, Majullah Singapura... Locals who were colonised (Bristish Colony) and went through the war welcomed the anthem even though it was in malay, because it is ours. The future generations might change it in the future, but for my dad's and my lifetime, we will know that it is our country's national song, and will be proud of it.

What are the other questions?

Happy New Year to all...

[sundaymorningstaple]

Another commendable post ev, but what is up with your nick and sig?

As close as he can come without crossing the line. We already had the discussion. If he wants the tar he aint havin' the link. Someone is interested, can do a google....