this is for the benefit of those don't subcribe to the safe times:
The world doesn't dislike Singapore
I REFER to last Saturday's commentary by Ms Chua Lee Hoong, 'Why they hate Singapore'. Singaporeans celebrated National Day last Saturday and deserve the world's congratulations.
Trying to describe why Western democracies may 'not like' Singapore is absurd and na�ve, and is probably based on a lack of general understanding and knowledge of how most of the Western world perceives Singapore today.
Western perception
Trying to describe why Western democracies may 'not like' Singapore is absurd and na�ve and is probably based on a lack of general understanding and knowledge of how most of the Western world perceives Singapore today.
The world has other problems and people elsewhere simply do not care about having Singapore on their radar screen of dislike
... more
I was born in Belgium, lived in four European countries, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
I have worked and lived in Singapore for the past 10 years; my wife is Singaporean, and so are my two youngest children. Yes, Singapore is a very good place to live and work in, probably one of the best globally. Singapore is very well 'managed' and that's where its difference from many other countries lies. Singapore is not governed, but managed as a company with 4.7 million shareholders.
You have a vision and you have good managers who understand how to implement that vision and its strategies.
You hire the best to ensure you remain competitive and highly profitable in order to secure the future of your citizens.
Singapore's business model achieves its aim, and I am sure many of its achievements can be 're-packed' into potentially highly successful export products.
Success is the creation of balance, stability and prosperity between the managers, employees and shareholders or citizens. Western democracies, on the other hand, have their successes too.
Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Norway and Finland - as well as some Middle East countries - are all worth studying and emulating.
Putting China and Singapore on the same page because both are so-called authoritarian states is wrong. There is nothing common to both, except for the ethnic origin of the majority race.
China is a country of 1.3 billion, pushed into a highly regulated, market-driven economy at lightning speed, causing lots of collateral damage.
We all know what Singapore is. I am sure Chinese and Russians, and many other nationalities, visit Singapore to study and learn its best traits.
They also visit many other countries - as do Singaporeans- which do certain things better than the Republic.
It's na�ve, (or arrogant?), to think that the whole world visits only Singapore.
The meaning of the word, 'hate' should be carefully weighed before using it. There are two meanings to hate: intense hostility and aversion usually deriving from fear, anger, or sense of injury; or extreme dislike or antipathy.
I have travelled the world for the past 32 years. I have never encountered or heard a single person or group who hates Singapore - or even dislikes the Republic. At most, Singapore is criticised for banning 'chewing gum' and for its lack of freedom of speech.
Mostly, however, and especially among Westerners, Singapore is praised for being clean, affordable and secure, and for its wonderful food.
The world has other problems, and people elsewhere simply do not care about having Singapore on their radar screen of dislike.
Bruno Serrien
the 4.7 million share holders make me laugh
seriously, i think the world has got other worries on their hand to be bothered about singapore
Chua Lee Hoong is a propagandist, not a journalist. woh woh to Pay and Pay.
Originally posted by youyayu:the 4.7 million share holders make me laugh
yes, we must learn to write like this ft - balance, fair, intelligent and humourous.
it's okay.. we don't like the world either so we're even
I also notice lately that Singapore leaders have this fixation in trying to equate China with Singapore.
Not too sure if they are trying to subconciously drill some kind of message into the minds of Singaporeans. ![]()
Originally posted by the Bear:it's okay.. we don't like the world either so we're even
haha well said.
The rest of world have their own problems to worry about, then to hate another country for nothing.
It is just another "false" smoke grenade throw out by the old man.
The old man is so senile in thinking that his opposition is trying to "fix" him.
It is a joke that the lackey can echo the nonsense from the master without any proper thought or research.
The people already equate MM as Mad Mad and SM as Super Mad and the words they sprout lately as nonsense as they are doing nothing in their position in helping any one except for their royal clan.
He is getting a bit more paranoid these days, you must admit.
No idea why. ![]()
Originally posted by Medicated Oil:The rest of world have their own problems to worry about, then to hate another country for nothing.
It is just another "false" smoke grenade throw out by the old man.
The old man is so senile in thinking that his opposition is trying to "fix" him.
It is a joke that the lackey can echo the nonsense from the master without any proper thought or research.
The people already equate MM as Mad Mad and SM as Super Mad and the words they sprout lately as nonsense as they are doing nothing in their position in helping any one except for their royal clan.
If he continues this way, he will end up in IMH and may die there. Siao lao tah pore!
LKY needs a trip to a psychiatrist to determine whether his paranoia is associated with pschotic illness or schizophrenia.
Originally posted by googoomuck:LKY needs a trip to a psychiatrist to determine whether his paranoia is associated with pschotic illness or schizophrenia.
ke ke ke ![]()
Great and sincere response from the Belgian. And yeh Chua Lee Hoong is a propagandist. Highly paid! Dun pray pray lol. No sense of shame going against the spirit of journalism.
This from the ST Forum?
Originally posted by charlize:I also notice lately that Singapore leaders have this fixation in trying to equate China with Singapore.
Well, since many westerners still think Singapore is part of China, they might as well go with the flow. ![]()
Anyone who thinks the World doesn't like Singapore is deluding himself that this piece of rock is even worth anything in the scheme of world affairs. Insufferable self-inflating of importance.
Most of the world don't even know Singapore EXIST.
How to hate SG ? LOL.....
Originally posted by googoomuck:LKY needs a trip to a psychiatrist to determine whether his paranoia is associated with pschotic illness or schizophrenia.
Sometimes senile old people behave that way.
Originally posted by jojobeach:Most of the world don't even know Singapore EXIST.
How to hate SG ? LOL.....
x99999
i was playing some online games and they ask me where im from
i said singapore
and their reply was "which country isit in"
my reply "singapore is a country"
their reply "never heard of it before"
_____________________________
if singapore get into semi final of world cup i bet the world will know
We're really just a bit player and not as great as we sometimes make ourselves seem. If this island should suddenly sink into the ocean, we won't be missed.
Originally posted by youyayu:x99999
i was playing some online games and they ask me where im from
i said singapore
and their reply was "which country isit in"
my reply "singapore is a country"
their reply "never heard of it before"
_____________________________if singapore get into semi final of world cup i bet the world will know
playing with whom? you'd be surprised that folks from many countries are not very well versed with the affairs of the world.
for example, the more you go away from the coasts, Americans are actually quite sua ku. Some of the folks I'd met have never even left their home state.
singapore is convienient, safe and efficient is becaus eof its small size. Other countries are larger and much harder to manage. Why shpuld this guy do a comparison?
Malaysia and Indonesia politicians definitely dont like Singapore political system because our economic success over the years have made their politicians look incapable. Thats also the reason why many of the bright and capable indonesians and malaysians end up working in Singapore instead of their home country.
The same goes to American who cannot accept the fact that China is progressing so fast without democracy and thats why America has to use dirty tricks like trade barrier and human rights to fight against mighty China.
China is big, but it is not managed as one country but in seperate states and provinces but under the same authoritarian communist approach.
I am just curious which middle east countries are really worth emulating if you dont have the oil?
Originally posted by Veneta:Malaysia and Indonesia politicians definitely dont like Singapore political system because our economic success over the years have made their politicians look incapable. Thats also the reason why many of the bright and capable indonesians and malaysians end up working in Singapore instead of their home country.
The same goes to American who cannot accept the fact that China is progressing so fast without democracy and thats why America has to use dirty tricks like trade barrier and human rights to fight against mighty China.
China is big, but it is not managed as one country but in seperate states and provinces but under the same authoritarian communist approach.
I am just curious which middle east countries are really worth emulating if you dont have the oil?
Dubai?
Originally posted by nullifi3d:Dubai?
Dubai is not a country, it is a emirate, it is financial hub for the middle east oil money, a whore house for the arabs and play ground for the rich and famous.
Dubai is ruled by Emir and there is no such thing as democracy.