"Count on me Sg" ? Get a damn life

Nov 11, 2006
FROM THE GALLERY
Want change? Young must help make it happen
By Peh Shing Huei

WHILE most young Singaporeans know the lyrics of Count On Me Singapore by heart, there seems concern in Parliament these days that, actually, they cannot be counted on.

The issue kept popping up in the House in the three days of debate thus far, as MP after MP stood up to opine on the apparent lack of rootedness among the young here.

Listening to their worries, it would appear that, at the first available chance, these post-independence rugrats will make a dash across the seas to other lands.

How valid is this perception?

Judging by a survey by Singapore Press Holdings in July this year, the MPs may not be far off the mark.

The survey found that 53 per cent of youth here would consider migration, more than Indians (39 per cent) and Malaysians (28 per cent).

As Dr Amy Khor (Hong Kah GRC) said on Wednesday, it is a 'very telling and worrisome statistic'.

The Government certainly believes so. In President S R Nathan's Address last week, he spoke about the need for a 'new social and political compact' for this new generation and to deepen its sense of mission.

MPs were not short of ideas on just how to do this.

On Thursday, Dr Khor said that, even as the Government entices foreigners here, it must make special effort to retain Singaporeans.

Yesterday, Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Hong Kah GRC) offered something more specific. He asked the Government to do more to remove the climate of fear and dispel perceptions that dealing with it is akin to being on a 'one-way street'.

He said there are these other perceptions, 'that the Government does not listen, that your feedback goes into a black hole, that the Government has already made up its mind when it consults the public or that government policies are drafted by locking three scholars in a room - without any sense of how the issues are viewed from the eyes of ordinary, humble citizens'.

In her maiden speech yesterday, Non-Constituency MP Sylvia Lim said Singaporeans need to feel they can make a difference before they will feel rooted to the country.

'That they can be agents of change in the society, and on their own terms,' she said of their longing.

The Workers' Party chairman added that 'restrictive laws and policies' like the ban on political films and restrictions on political expression should be repealed.

Will doing what she says keep the young rooted here?

To be honest, I can't be certain.

But I suspect that a lofty, arrogant and even authoritarian government is not the only monster causing the young to yearn for permanent flight.

Another factor could lie with the lack of a romantic ideology that defines what it means to be Singaporean, one that would make this island inhabitants deeply proud of who they are. Pragmatic values are good for making a good living but hardly the stuff that makes you love a place.

As Dr Terence Chong, a fellow with the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, was quoted saying in The Straits Times recently: 'Our nation is built on pragmatism and... it doesn't inspire people to stay. They are actually exercising the inculcated pragmatism by leaving for better opportunities.'

To be sure, these are issues the Government is familiar with. As the President's Address hinted, the Government seems aware of the desire among the young for greater freedom of expression.

Said Mr Nathan: 'The P65 generation is better educated and more globally exposed than their parents, and completely at home in the Internet age. They need avenues to try out their ideas and fulfil their ambitions.'

If the Government indeed recognises the restlessness the young feel, then I would argue that it needs to act faster.

Its pledge to open up has often been captured in the metaphor of a group trying to cross a potentially treacherous river, guided by the Government of course, by feeling its way forward, stone by stone.

It may be time to take a bit more risk and do a little skip or two.

Yet, even as the Government attempts to speed up the crossing of the river, the young should not fall back on the pace of change as a convenient excuse for their own inaction and indifference.

In his Address, Mr Nathan also spoke of the need for the more successful among them to feel a sense of mission to help those in need and take responsibility for the country.

Young Singaporeans can choose two routes: Be passive and wait till the Government moves, or take the initiative and start moving.

As Mr Zaqy, 32, said: 'I think my generation will also need to learn to meet the Government halfway.'

Count on me, Singapore? It's your call too, young Singaporeans.

I actually got this piece of article from a certain forum which i read almost daily to keep myself up to date with current affairs especially with the political scene.

I can't help but feel that i need to complain abit. And of course, i can say, i'm one of the few who wants to get the shit out of this place. Talk about rootedness? My bloody ass.
Ever since we were young, we were instilled with this whole sense of belonging to the country crap. I remember in Kindergarten, every National Day, we had to colour the flag (which till know i still remember i absolutely abhor it, because the flag was huge, and my hands were tired from all the colouring). Then they taught us how to sing National Day song, and honestly, i think 'One People, One Nation' was the nicest amongst the tacky ones like 'Chan Mali Chan'

So as i grew older, ironically, i feel less rooted to my country. There are 101 things i'm so pissed off about. 10001 things which i want the govt to change, and do for it's people. But with reports like the bloody transport fare hike (even when petrol prices remained the same. Where is the justification?), or the lack of freedom of speech (even when i'm typing this..im trembling with feeeaaaaarrrrrr. haha), and worst, the engangement of foreign talents (which i can go on and on and on.....)

I mean, pre-election, they (noticed i used "they") were practically sucking up to us. Give goodies like santa claus, only to take it back from us indirectly by raising the price of every shit. They promised to provide affordable medical care this and that..but...really, with they pay they are getting each month, on top of their day job's salary, i expect them to do much more. And not fucking fall asleep in parliament, which i've seen many doing.

One thing i couldn't understand, they know that there are many not so well of famlies in this country, yet they still gave the green light to raise transport fares. Oh, but they also said they spent 1million giving subsidies to these poor family. Eg, each family gets a rebate of i think $20. And do you honestly think that meagre sum of money is enough to cover your transport cost for the whole year? Not even a bloody month. If they have had the damn cow sense, they would not let that transport company run a monopoly.

I was also reading an article on Today's a while back, with regards to how Life Science Students are trained for something found only in their dreams and imagination. I'm talking about R&D work here. Although i must say, only a handful of these students can actually fufil their dream into becoming a budding scientist, while the others? do the sai kang aka be a "test tube washer". How fucking demeaning eh. Were they short sighted on their part? Making such a big hub-bub about this whole bloooming biomedical industry, only to hire all the foreign talents. Of course, sure they can say we're still establishing, therefore we need to get the experienced ppl to set the foundation. But i still feel that we, life sci students should at least be given a chance to practise what we've learnt. Afterall, we're from your World Class Uni aka N. U. ASS. And not make us do crap like prepare chemicals, wash machines and start the damn automations. It was short sighted on my part that i trusted them too much. They sounded so promising. They made it sound as though Life sci students have a great prospect ahead of them. I feel cheated, and utterly disappointed. For myself, and for the rest of my coursemates. We wasted 3 yrs of our youth studying rubbish which we could never see or touch.

Much to my amazment, I see what They and NUASS have in common

Remember those SAT days where they had this reasoning section

eg: Hat: Glove
Head: Hand
(some shit like that)

So heres my version

XX Politcal Party in Sg: N U ASS

Esplanade : UCC cultural centre
Foreign talents: Foreign student (all the same lah)
Hike in every thing : Hike in sch fees
Members get paid alot: Lecturers get paid alot
Little rootedness (according to article): Lesser ppl paying back to alumini
Lavish spendings: Dig and dig and more renovations

Two authoritative groups compliment each other so well. Like salt and pepper, mustard and ketchup.

With a system like this where do the poor souls like myself go? Of course look for greener pastures lor. Which explains why i feel that migrating might be a better choice. I had enough of the bloody rude sales assistants and the fake 4 million smiles. It is rather ironic that countries with sky high taxes, ppl are still so patriotic. I think that is one special factor 'My Home' is lacking. It's time they start scratching their heads.