Choosing to stay
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Choosing to stay
Saturday, 07 February 2009
Muhd Husrin bin Tahale
Guest WriterSometimes when I have conversations with my friends I find that many (if not all) share one thing in common: they have an utter lack of faith in this country, they have absolutely no sense of patriotism, and their desire to leave this country is immense. I find this really sad.
It's sad when patriotism and loyalty is replaced by greed and convenience. It's sad when you reject the country that has raised you, nurtured you and shaped you the way you are. I don't mean to sound preachy. I apologise if I do.
The number one reason for my mates wanting to fly off and not come back is the government. The PAP has vastly succeeded in creating a highly stressful environment. Who the hell wants to live in an environment like this all their lives?
The government treats us like cash cows. Part of our salary is taken and put into our CPF, which in turn is used to invest in risky portfolios. Remember, this is our money they're using.
The government doesn't give a damn about our welfare. Oh sure once in a while you read in the papers about how a government agency is doing this and how another charity is doing that, but these are all just token measures. These are all just to give people (mainly foreigners) a good impression. That's it.
Now who would want to live in such an environment where we're nothing but expendable beings who cannot retire when we want to because we don't have enough money in our retirement accounts.
But like I said Singaporeans are people of little faith. Not many know this but despite its rather authoritarian stance, Singapore has political parties besides the PAP. Despite repeated persecution by the government, these parties actually present a real alternative to the PAP that has been ruling us since 1959.
What these parties represent, and what they are trying to convey to Singaporeans is that there is hope. Change is possible. In fact change is inevitable. But for this to happen, the people need to do their part.
But it's hard when many just leave the island never to return. And it's all thanks to our government. It's hard when at the first sign of trouble, the first thing that most Singaporeans can think of is to flee the country. It's hard, with such a mindset. It's pathetic.
I'll tell you this right now. I love Singapore so much I could cry. I dunno why. You can call me weird, or freaky, or whatever. If only we had a government that really cared for us and listened to the people, it would be perfect.
Singapore as a country has done so much for me. I have lived my entire life here. Everything I live for is here. Whenever I go overseas, usually short trips to Indonesia, a little hop down to Australia, or a holiday to Scandinavia that I had with my Dad in 2000, it was always reassuring to have someplace to call home, someplace familiar, someplace where you know you feel safe, and that's Singapore. That's how it is.
I'm going backpacking next year, and I'll know in some way I'll always have Singapore as my home. I'm proud of my country. I'll share things about Singapore to my backpacker friends. But I can't say the same about my government. I will spill my blood for Singapore because I know I owe her that much. This soil has protected me, raised me, taught me how to live. This country has given me an identity and I wear it everyday like a badge of honour.
You see people in other countries like Germany, or the United States, or Denmark or wherever, you see how proud they are of their country. Germans, Americans, the Danes, you can see the pride that bubbles in them when you ask them where they're from. Could the same thing be said about my fellow Singaporeans? I doubt it. Really. I must be the only patriotic fellow among my group of friends. That alone speaks volumes.
Personally, I have faith in Singapore. It's a historical fact that authoritarianism does not last forever. It will always fail as a system. Singapore can and will change for the better. The opposition parties are more than ready to take the reins of power as a true representative of the people. And when that happens, Singapore can then be said to be comparable to other First World nations like Germany or the US. Singapore's society will become more vibrant.
When all this happens, Singaporeans will truly be proud of their own country. I know they will. Because I have faith in this country. I hope my fellow Singaporeans feel the same way.
Be proud of your identity, the language you speak, your culture.
I love Singapore. I hope you do too. -
Singapore is not made a welfare state, lee hsien loong said this and he further reiterated this a number of times (this proves how heartless he is as a public servant, not fit to serve the public). lee hsien loong, his senile evil dad and PAP can't afford to provide more welfare for Singaporeans because they need to make sure they have sufficient to pay themselves filthy obscene world class salary. Instead of giving welfare to the locals, their main focus is to earn as much $ from the singaporeans as possible. So people who still are ignorant, please wake up and vote PAP out.
lee hsien loong, old senile dictator should just change Singapore to Singapore Pte Ltd and change PAP to PAP Pte Ltd.
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of cos i hv fate in singapore, coming March, got rebate and cash, die die also must hv fate.
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Originally posted by Fantagf:
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lee hsien loong, old senile dictator should just change Singapore to Singapore Pte Ltd and change PAP to PAP Pte Ltd.
Oh sori, if the organisation is public listed, you hv to remove the Pte, or else you cannot get the business license. Since singaporeans are the shareholders and the foreigners are stakeholders cum shareholders, u hv to name it as PAP Limited -
The government doesn't give a damn about our welfare <<
Singapore isnt a welfare state as Fantagf had said. It is because the ang moh for example england, was a welfare state then they are in a bad financial situation. They may oso need to tap into the IMF for cash which is quite humiliating for a developed country. Welfare state > all relies on government > complacency > no one works hard > ...
Correct me if i m wrong
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SDP seems to be playing reverse psychology with this article.
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Eh honestly lah you wan migrate, migrate..... don't stay here and irritate the rest of us
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that is not irritation. everyone has the freedom to express themselves. suppression is bad for health.
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Yeah you do, ok i take back what I said. Forgive me for my previous post. I was wrong. Of course you are free to to express yourself. And you're also welcome to continue behaving like a typical Singaporean. All talk no action, like a dog whose bark is louder than his bite.
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Originally posted by Chris88110:
Yeah you do, ok i take back what I said. Forgive me for my previous post. I was wrong. Of course you are free to to express yourself. And you're also welcome to continue behaving like a typical Singaporean. All talk no action, like a dog whose bark is louder than his bite.
are you demanding I report to you on what I do? hey, find fault huh? -
I never said you should report to me on what you do, i was merely expressing my opinons which as you so vehemetly proclaimed earlier, everyone has the right to do
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Originally posted by Chris88110:
I never said you should report to me on what you do, i was merely expressing my opinons which as you so vehemetly proclaimed earlier, everyone has the right to do
duo ci yi ju! -
Originally posted by Fantagf:
duo ci yi ju!Could you kindly explain to me what did i do that was unnecessary?
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Originally posted by Chris88110:
Eh honestly lah you wan migrate, migrate..... don't stay here and irritate the rest of us
don't understand this. sgp is where i was born and bred in, it's my home. why must we migrate out of this country?
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Originally posted by maxtor:
don't understand this. sgp is where i was born and bred in, it's my home. why must we migrate out of this country?
Because you don't like it here? -
Originally posted by Chris88110:
Because you don't like it here?no, thats not true. i love it here.i just think some of the policies here can be improved on, policies that are discussed/ criticised daily in forums like these.
for example, just because i don't like chicken rice in my neighbourhood hawker centre doesn't mean i sell my house and relocate to another neighbourhood....
migration is an option, but it's not the ONLY option. no matter where u migrate to, u'd never feel that it's home.why must i move out of this country i call home?
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I never said you MUST move out. I am merely expressing my fustration at forumers who love to complain about government policies and critize the ruling party. Bottomline, its up to you. Sure you're welcome to give constructive feedback, but if you wanna go around insulting other people then what good is that? Even Chee Soon Juan, i would'nt tell him to migrate because i know he loves his country. Difference between him and the forumers here is that he actually does something about it rather than insult people online, abeit in a non too smart manner
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Originally posted by Chris88110:
I never said you MUST move out. I am merely expressing my fustration at forumers who love to complain about government policies and critize the ruling party. Bottomline, its up to you. Sure you're welcome to give constructive feedback, but if you wanna go around insulting other people then what good is that? Even Chee Soon Juan, i would'nt tell him to migrate because i know he loves his country. Difference between him and the forumers here is that he actually does something about it rather than insult people online, abeit in a non too smart manner
look at your post below:Originally posted by Chris88110:Eh honestly lah you wan migrate, migrate..... don't stay here and irritate the rest of us
Please lah everyone has the freedom to say what about the govt of singapore. if you don't like what is being said here and it is affecting you then you can consider to surf PAP website, this will make you happy. Or you can go suggest to PAP to penalise us who speak the truth and reality about them.
No wonder nobody interested to respond positively to your outing.