We may have to re-think some of the policies that have shaped Singapore successfully in past years, but have become disadvantageous today.
Liu I-Chun wrote a letter that was published in the Today paper recently. It was titled, “I will miss this home.” The sub-title said, “In Taipei, hospitality and kindness abound, making it an extremely liveable city”.
Here’s what she wrote in her letter:
I am an expatriate who has been living in Taipei for the past three years, and have grown to like this place
Cultural vibrancy, a convenient public transport system and excellent healthcare system aside, it is the hospitality of the Taiwanese people that I will dearly miss when I leave this city.
People automatically give up their seats on buses and trains to the infirmed and the elderly …..
Shopping is such a pleasant experience in Taiwan. Sales staff often go out of their way to meet the needs of customers …..
I am also full of praise for the healthcare system. Patients are treated with respect, patience and empathy. Nurses often offer words of encouragement and ask how the patients are doing when they undergo uncomfortable or painful procedures.
This hospitality extends to food stall owners as well. I have been treated to off-the-menu special dishes and free up-sized orders. Such generosity actually comes from owners who are barely able to keep their businesses afloat.
The Taiwanese have taught me much with their graciousness, kindness and generosity.
My recent visit
My daughter has been working in Taipei for the past year. She is enjoying her work and life in Taipei and has a similar liking for this city.
At the turn of 2008, I spent a few days in Taipei with her. I personally experienced much of what is said by I-Chun during my short stay. I liked the excellent taxi service and mass transit system. I enjoyed the courteous and helpful service of the sales staff in the shops and the friendliness of the people.
My recent experience is in sharp contrast with my first visit to Taiwan more than 30 years ago. At that time, Taiwan was under martial law. People were fearful. I was told to be careful about robbers and crime.
What has caused this big change in the people of Taiwan since then?
A democratic and free society
The people of Taiwan have enjoyed true democracy and freedom for the past twenty years, after the lifting of martial law. More importantly, the people feel that they have a voice in shaping their future, the freedom to choose their leaders and to hold them accountable.
Although the economy of Taiwan went through a difficult patch in recent years, the people are still optimistic and happy with their situation.
Our local media likes to highlight the rowdy behaviour of the politicians in the legislative assembly in Taiwan or their unusual practices in attracting people to attend election rallies during election periods, to show what being democratic or living in a democracy will do. The Taiwanese people seem to find these types of behaviour to be quite acceptable and a true reflection of a free society.
Our neighbouring countries
In Jakarta, I watched a television program with three actors mimicking President Yudhoyono, Vice President Kalla and former President Gus Dur. The audience included many young undergraduates in their college uniforms. They enjoyed the humour thoroughly. My friend said that this weekly program is very popular with the people. It made the political leaders quite like ordinary people, which they really are.
I asked a few friends how life today was, compared to the days under President Suharto. They said that people are generally happier and that they appreciated their freedom. This is in spite of the setback in the economy caused by the fluid political situation.
Another friend said that Malaysian businessmen are now more optimistic about the future of their country after the recent election setback of the ruling Barisan National. They believe that the Government will be more accountable to the people.
Lessons for Singapore
I hope that Singapore can learn from Taiwan and build a more gracious society. This was the goal set by Mr. Goh Chok Tong some years ago, when he was Prime Minister. This goal seemed to have been shelved in recent years. I hope that it can be re-launched, as it is worth pursuing.
If our people are happy and proud to be Singaporeans, they will be more generous, gracious and helpful, like the Taiwanese.
Perhaps, we should address some of the following issues:
1. Give our people a larger voice in shaping the future of our country. Make them feel that their voice really matters.
2. Make our people feel that it is a privilege, and not a burden, to be a Singaporean citizen. For example, we must address the disadvantages faced by our male citizens who have to perform national service. Let us help them more adequately to face the competition for jobs in our own country, to offset the disadvantages caused by this liability.
3. Help our people to enjoy life and living in Singapore. They should not have to work for long hours to pay for the high cost of living in Singapore, and still feel uncertain about their future.
4. Let us make public transport, healthcare, education, housing and other essentials affordable to ordinary people. We should put people first in providing these essential services and not treat them as opportunities for businesses to make profits and more profits.
5. Let us treat our citizens as people and not as mere digits.
If Singaporeans are happy with life here and more confident about the future, they will not be thinking of migrating to be second-class residents in other countries. They will want to make Singapore their home. They may be happy and confident to start a family and have more children.
We may have to re-think some of the policies that have shaped Singapore successfully in past years, but have become disadvantageous today.
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Hi Mr Tan
Thanks for your response. I respect your decision but if you do change your mind on the elected presidency candidacy, I think there are many who will support your election because we think you can do it well.
A certain unionist, Mr Walter Reuther once said:
There is no greater calling than to serve your fellow men. There is no greater contribution than to help the weak. There is no greater satisfaction than to have done it well.
Best Regards
Many times when I show my overseas friends around, they tend to be greeted by friendly but whining taxi drivers. And at many social occasion, my foreign friends also find many of my friends tend to talk about bad experiences and the harsh aspects of life.
I can’t help but to think that it has become a Singaporean culture to whine.
We should not ignore the bright side of life! :-)
(When is the last time you talked about happy moments?)
How to be happy when the average Singaporeans are so stressed in all fronts. Jobs, they have to compete with foreigners. Once over 40, they are discarded like a used towel. Low wages and high cost of livng means every month money not enough. Then the MSM insulted our intelligence by twisted and weird reports to justify the Leegime’s harsh policies. The Leegime used absurd reasoning to con Singaporeans. Housing are being driven by foreigners with the Leegime tacit support to way beyond Singaporean means. The ride to and from work is so unpleasant. Squeezed like saddins. The kids are so stressed and pressurised at school. The hot and humid weather only makes matter worst. Where is the bright side of living in Singapore for the 80% ?
Hi Anonymous (50)
I do not fear retribution, but I have to respect the wish of my wife. I do not want her to be put in a difficult position.
There are very few people in Singapore who are like Dr. Chee. There are plenty who have the ability, capability and kind heartedness. Rare are those with the courage, conviction and the willingness to sacrifice himself and his family for a couse he absolutely believe is just and righteous like Dr. Chee. Dr. Chee belongs to a rare breed of humankind and I only hope that Singaporeans treasure him.
/// Tan Kin Lian on July 6th, 2008 12.01 pm (40)
I had trouble understanding what is a Freudian slip. I checked Wikipedia and found the following definition. ///
In what context, did the come across Freudian slip?
I received this e-mail from a Singaporean who lived in Taiwan.
Dear Mr Tan,
I am a fan of many of the articles which you have contributed to the press. This one on the Taiwanese people is also a great piece of article but somehow I am doubtful if our government will ever listen.
I too have lived and worked in Taipei Taiwan for a year from 2005-2006 and found my experiences there to be very memorable. I totally agree with your points but sadly I think our leaders look down upon the average Singaporean and therefore treat us as mere “digits”. It is the scholars who will make the decision for the rest of us….regrettably.
Best regards
Hi T (#57)
Someone asked me in an earlier post (#38) if I have committed a Freudian slip.
Dear Mr Tan,
I attended a talk you once held for young people at NTUC. Your obvious concern for the young people of Singapore touched me and I thought, “Here’s one of the ‘few good men’ of Singapore.” So, I am very pleased to have found that there are people who agree with me and would like to see you as President. I would, too, and since I have passed voting age, I would vote for you in a heartbeat.
As for graciousness, I think Singapore has gone to the dogs. I take the long, tedious journey from Pasir Ris to Tanjong Pagar every workday and I have yet to see anyone give up their seat for a pregnant lady or elderly person (not that there are much of the latter during peak hours) in the 3 years since I joined the workforce. I see working professionals pushing and jostling to be the first to get out of the station. I see doors slamming into the person behind simply because the person who opened the door couldn’t be arsed to hold it open just a minute longer. I see people cutting into others’ path without so much of a by-your-leave or an “excuse me”. I see so much to be disgusted by, and yet there are angels of graciousness and mercy who have made my day brighter. Once, a total stranger went off to get me a pair of slippers because my the strap of my leather sandal had broken when I slipped on a wet pavement.
Singapore has come a long way in 43 years, there is no doubt of that. But at what price? The price of our civility, courtesy and happiness? Or is a low crime and corruption rate, excellent infrastructure and No. 1 airport enough?
Harry (53) has a point when he asked how it is possible to be happy here. 3 years of working in this extremely-stressful environment and I am already sick of it. I want to emigrate or at least be posted overseas because I do not want to spend the next 20-30 years of my career working to pay off the price of a car and miserably-small flat, and get peanuts from my CPF after 55. I do not want to be told that a Singaporean woman’s ‘national service’ is to pop out babies for the nation. I am not willing to wait another generation for this land to finally accept and encourage the arts as a viable career option. I do not want to live in a land so technologically-advanced, yet so 3rd-world in its civil and social liberties. Freedom of press or speech? That always draws a guffaw from me.
I’m not saying the grass is always greener on the other side; that would be an incredibly immature thing to say. It’s just that the world is so vast and the opportunities are equally vast. Why limit myself to one small dot?
Singapore might be the land of my birth, but I cannot bring myself to make it the land of the rest of my life. After all…I do have that choice, do I not?
i want to now more abt gracious ppl
Some Singaporean are rather rude, for example TTSH Eye Clinic my father visited on 3 Sep. I had 100% paid cash upfront for the lasik surgery, counter staff and nurse keep asking “Have u paid money?”. IT WAS THE FIRST QUESTION WHEN MEETING CUSTOMER ! Why can’t the staff read the patients medical record file before they ask any question? Such a rudeness in TTSH was not worst than kopitian.
I disagree Taiwan is a gracious society at macro level where you can view the rudeness/fighting during senate debate or paliament meeting. Corruption and seperatism in Taiwan are never gracious ! Please watch Cable TV Channel 49.
Dear Mr Tan,
On the website, another rare gracious citizen’s name has been suggested as next President – Tommy Koh.
After Ngiam T D, yourself and now Tommy Koh – there are very few people who are up to the mark, and prepared to participate on their own free will as the possible real people’s choice. Can you please re-consider ?
Thank you.
it should be like this, because if the patient will be receiving words of encouragement from the doctors and nurses he obviously recovers soon.
Arden Kaisman
I think being an ungracious society does not exactly relate to democracy. In my opinion, Singapore in general is ungracious because most of the people here have been accustomed to the idea of winning. We are more concerned of ourselves and about having to compete and survive that we tend to forget about the people around us.
Besides, there are so much other factors to consider.
And by the way, Singapore is more democratic than Cuba, but Cubans are hospitable and gracious people.
Just a comment on this…
“Help our people to enjoy life and living in Singapore. They should not have to work for long hours to pay for the high cost of living in Singapore, and still feel uncertain about their future.”
> Singapore will always have to be uncertain about their future because it has limited resources; we have to work harder, which is why we have so many laws and regulations — the country can’t afford mistakes you see.
But yeah I do agree with the whole idea that having a gracious environment makes a place more livable. It enhances our lives. But Singapore has a long way to go.