Commentary: Reflections on Singapore by Overseas Singaporeans Editor: Professor S Gopinathan Published by The National University of Singapore Society (NUSS) Kent Ridge Guild House 9 Kent Ridge Drive Singapore 119241 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher. Printed in Singapore. Contents 2 Foreword 4 Reflections of a Quitter By Han Meiniang 11 A Seeker’s GPS By Dr Low Sor-Ching 19 Like Going Home Again By Jek Kian Jin 26 Home Thoughts from Abroad By Kwek Ju-kay 34 Life is Like a Peach By Juat Leng Halliday 42 Editorial Board REFLECTIONS ON SINGAPORE BY OVERSEAS SINGAPOREANS COMMENTARY VOLUME 20, 2011 1 Foreword s Singapore continues to ‘champion grumblers’. grow its external economy, AA more and more Singaporeans In response to a speech given by SM choose or are assigned to work Goh, an undergraduate said, “When overseas. Many have taken up I was younger, I was very proud of permanent residence abroad, with being a Singaporean. But that was an increasing number electing to five, 10 years ago. Five years later, become new citizens in their host with all the changes in policies and countries. Individuals and families the influx of foreign talent, I really leave for very different reasons. don’t know what I’m defending any Some go in pursuit of dreams that more...I feel there is a dilution of the cannot be fulfilled in our tiny city Singapore spirit in youth...We don’t state, others to seek a slower pace really feel comfortable in our country of life or better educational anymore.” opportunities for their children. But some Singaporeans living For years the government of abroad see things differently. In Singapore has been concerned 2002, the Report of the Singapore about the numbers of Singaporeans Overseas Network (US) Working who have migrated. Physically the Group carried the following country has reached the limits of observation of Singapore from expansion. Yet the population Singaporeans living in Boston and continues to grow. It is one of the San Francisco: “In spite of most densely populated countries Singapore’s vulnerable position, in the world, and nearly a quarter many Singaporeans are artificially of its people are foreigners. shielded from the harsh realities of Singaporeans complain so regularly the world through the protection and insistently about such things as offered by a benevolent government.” rising home prices, congestion in American journalist Tom Plate goes public transportation and on the even further in characterising roads that MM Lee has said that Singapore as “this era’s Neo- as a nation we have become Utopia, a living example of getting 2 COMMENTARY VOLUME 20, 2011 REFLECTIONS ON SINGAPORE BY OVERSEAS SINGAPOREANS into as utopian a shape as is even wistful. Nonetheless, we hope humanely possible.” What good each essay would help to stimulate reason could there be to leave the some reflections on the condition of country? being Singaporean in or out of Singapore. Singapore is not, and can never hope to be, home to every Professor S Gopinathan Singaporean. No country can ever National Institute of Education satisfy all the needs and interests Nanyang Technological University of each and every one of its citizens. So, it’s not simply a matter of being a stayer or a quitter. The reality is more complex. It is not surprising these days to hear of parents wanting to go, and children insisting on staying. Each has his or her own reason for leaving, or staying; indeed some of these reasons may change over time. In this issue of Commentary we offer five essays, each of which contains a unique perspective of a Singaporean living abroad. In the essays, they share aspects of their experiences living abroad that they thought would be of interest to readers in Singapore. Needless to say we were pleasantly surprised by the stories each had to tell. Readers will note that some are more cheerful and optimistic; others are somewhat more sober, and REFLECTIONS ON SINGAPORE BY OVERSEAS SINGAPOREANS COMMENTARY VOLUME 20, 2011 3 Reflections of a Quitter Some people view Singaporeans who live overseas, for whatever reason, as quitters. But are they? The writer explores this question. By Han Meiniang et’s get something out of the way thoughts turn to the future – whether I first. I never actually sat down and should remain in London or return to LL deliberated, and made a decision Singapore – these remain stubbornly to leave Singapore. There was a inchoate and confused. sudden, serious illness in the family (of the incurable, eventually fatal, variety), The Ugly Singaporean and I found myself in a position of There have been two occasions in my having to move to London as a result. life when I have been ashamed, even appalled, to be a Singaporean. I subsequently learned that Perhaps when you’ve been away for a Singaporeans who live away from their period of time, you begin to see your country of birth for whatever reason are, own, and other people’s behaviour, apparently, quitters. There has more clearly. The first time was at subsequently been more of an Helsinki Airport. There was a small emphasis on reaching out to overseas queue at the boarding gate, comprising Singaporeans, with websites set up for some Singaporeans and ang mohs. A this purpose, job fairs around the world, large number of Singaporeans were and Singapore Days in cities where sitting down. I’d taken advantage of Singaporeans congregate. the long stopover to see Helsinki and was tired, so I remained seated, I attended a Singapore Day once, resigned to the fact that I would end up shanghai-ed by a friend to help out at at the back of the queue when it was his display. There were food stalls, and time to board. But, as it turned out, the entertainers like Jack Neo and the Dim other Singaporeans were not so Sum Dollies, to remind you of home. I resigned: The moment boarding was guess the idea was to make you feel a announced, they all morphed into the little nostalgic – perhaps nostalgic front of the queue, to the bemusement enough to consider moving back to of the ang mohs. Singapore – or, at least, think kindly of it. Anyway, perhaps because I never The second incident took place in made a conscious decision to leave Singapore. I was in a car which Singapore, I now find that, when my stopped at a traffic light near the School 4 COMMENTARY VOLUME 20, 2011 REFLECTIONS ON SINGAPORE BY OVERSEAS SINGAPOREANS Reflections of a Quitter for the Blind. A blind man with a white stronger than any sense of fairness. cane was crossing the road. He was a And the second incident exemplified little slow, and the traffic light turned what could happen if you take that green as he was halfway across the proud Singaporean trait – kiasu-ness road. The cars immediately started up. – to its logical conclusion. I must The man found himself standing in the admit that living abroad constitutes middle of the road with traffic rushing part of an ongoing battle with myself past him on either side. I still remember to eradicate the traits of the ugly the look of bewilderment and fear on Singaporean. It’s a comment on how his face. It was an extraordinarily ingrained such qualities are to dangerous situation. To my eternal acknowledge that it’s probably a shame, I just froze in horror. After what battle I’ll never win. seemed hours, a driver got out of his car, and guided the man safely to the Who’s a Quitter? other side of the road. Every so often I meet a fellow quitter at a restaurant in Chinatown, and we Why do I still burn with shame when I rehearse the same old arguments. All think of those two incidents? Surely these conversations invariably assume that is to tar all Singaporeans with the that it is preferable – politically, morally same brush? After all, there was that – to remain where we are in the West: person – a Singaporean presumably – How do Singaporeans stand the lack who got out his car and took the blind of freedoms in Singapore? Do they not man safely across the road. Why do mind? these two incidents stand out so strongly when I think about Singapore Why don’t they care about the death and whether I should return penalty, detention without trial, the permanently? poor treatment of domestic workers, rules like the ban on (the sale of) Perhaps the first incident suggested chewing gum? Why is it that all they that, for Singaporeans, the sense of can talk about are the five C’s – cash, kiasu-ness (afraid to lose out) and car, credit card, condominium, country kakinang (our own people) was club membership? REFLECTIONS ON SINGAPORE BY OVERSEAS SINGAPOREANS COMMENTARY VOLUME 20, 2011 5 Reflections of a Quitter And there is a certain smugness in the other words, where the children were assumption that it is somehow morally most likely to remain in Singapore. superior to remain where we are in the West. Yet, as my former schoolmates befriended one another on Facebook, In any case, what is wrong with living it became increasingly obvious that abroad? Singapore welcomes foreign many of us were living abroad. Some talent, but if the flow goes the other way, married ang mohs and moved to well, then there is something wrong with Canada or the UK as a result.