Author: Raymond

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A casino for Singapore? Why Not?

The recent Huang Na incident in which an 8-year-old girl from China was found murdered has put Singaporeans in the spotlight again. This time, the attention is not so much on Singaporeans’ sympathy piled on the dead girl’s family, but rather, on Singaporeans’ craze for lottery.

Thousands of people turned up at Huang Na’s wake, presumably to offer their condolences to the family of the dead girl. But, the newspapers have it that many went there to look for lottery numbers on anything found at the wake that had numbers on it or could be related to numbers.

And, as if to justify the actions of such people, the newspapers reported that some of these numbers came out in the recent 4-D draws and people won money as a result.

This, of course, fuelled attention in Huang Na’s funeral. More than a thousand Singaporeans turned up for her funeral and a report has it that the priest attending to the funeral rites had to stop many from offering incense as the situation was getting out of control.

Just imagine – all these things happened though we do not have a casino in our midst. So why blame a casino for the excesses of Singaporeans? Even without a casino, Singaporeans are already ugly for all sorts of reasons. Remember the Everitt Road saga, and the takeaways at corporate shareholders’ meetings?

We should not pile blame on the casino proposal for Singapore. Rather, we should look at the proposal objectively. Much has been said about the casino proposal in the newspaper forums, as well as on the Government feedback Web site. It has been reported that opinion is almost evenly divided on this matter. There is no need for me to revisit those comments already voiced out in the forums. Let me offer another perspective.

I am already in my late forties. I have seen Singapore in its best times. I have been fortunate to have been born in the post-riots era so I missed out on Singapore’s worst times.

I would say Singapore experienced its best years in the early 1980′s. I would also say the good years peaked in 1984. Singaporeans will agree with me on this. We had many expatriates here then – a sign of the good times. I think we went downhill after that. I also think we won’t have such good times again. But, that doesn’t mean that we can’t have good times again.

I would say good times will come around again if we have a casino in Singapore. But, it’s not because we can party at the casino till we go broke. Rather, it’s because a casino will help bring in much needed revenue both for the Government and us people.

The Government gains through taxes. We gain through the money that comes in at the sidelines – through increased spending in our shops and restaurants which translates into more job openings, and consequently, more money for the family.

We need not worry about the crimes that go hand in hand with casinos. Our police have been doing a good job maintaining security in our streets. In fact, we have an international reputation for clean and safe streets. Surely, we can’t be thinking that our police will be any less effective in combating crime if a casino opens here!

I am offering serious thought on the casino proposal because I am afraid that if we do not have a casino, we may not be able to draw in sufficient income into Singapore to bring in the good times again.

If the good times do not return, I am afraid that more Singaporeans may think of emigrating with their families to start a new life elsewhere. Though this may not occur in the near future, there is a distinct possibility that it may occur within the next ten or twenty years. These able Singaporeans have no second thoughts about setting up home elsewhere – their personal well-being comes first on their minds.

In case you haven’t been noticing, our younger workers are generally less enthusiastic about their jobs. They have no qualms about switching to less demanding jobs. It is sad to note this, but in bringing about such high standards of living, the Government has inadvertently created what I would call the soft-Singaporean mentality which has already infected our younger generation, particularly those in their early 30′s or younger.

My fear is that these younger Singaporeans will not think twice about emigrating to another country, thus creating a Singaporean diaspora.

Do we need to wait till such a situation occurs in our midst before taking action? I say no! Our Government is known for its pragmatism. It has been its pragmatism that has brought us thus far. We may not like the way the Government puts things in our face, but we can’t deny we have prospered as a result.

Again, the Government is putting the integrated resort, of which a casino is a part of, in our face. Because we are used to the Government planning ahead for us and know it has already worked out the mathematics behind such a proposal before letting us know of it, we can’t deny it’s for our good.

The casino proposal is not new to Singaporeans. Over the years, as the Government realised that Singapore was finding it increasingly difficult to keep growth rates up there, it had been considering the casino proposal.

In the words of Prime Minister Lee, “We’ve said, ‘No’ to the casino for a very long time. I’ve said ‘No’ to the casino for a very long time. In 1985, we had a recession. I remember the late Mr Teh Cheang Wan wanted the casino, argued for it. We said, ‘No’. We didn’t proceed. This time round, we had the ERC (Economic Review Committee). The Subcommittee has put up the proposal for a casino.  On the ERC, I said, ‘No’, a majority of the members said, ‘No’.  We didn’t recommend it. But the subject didn’t die and we have to reconsider because the argument comes up, the situation changes.”

Yes, indeed, the situation has changed. And Prime Minister Lee, no doubt, has access to information that the ordinary Singaporean doesn’t have. That PM Lee, who previously didn’t support the proposal, has laid the proposal on the table for Singaporeans to take a look at it again shows the gravity of the situation.

We need to decide. The situation has changed. PM Lee was a nay-sayer to the idea of having a casino here, but he has relented and let us decide. Those among us who have previously said ‘no’ should think again.

It’s not a case of doing what the Government wants us to do. Rather, it’s a case of deciding in favour of Singapore’s continued prosperity and preventing a Singaporean diaspora from taking place sometime in the future.

I repeat – it was pragmatism that has led us thus far, and it will be pragmatism that will lead us safely into the future. In the end, we must ask ourselves whether we are pro-Singapore or just plain complaining.

Date of article: 22 Nov 2004

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Invasion of the China dolls

The local Chinese and English newspapers have been chockfull of news recently on the China girls going after our men at coffee shops in the HDB heartlands.

I can’t read Chinese newspapers but my wife tells me the evening Chinese tabloids have reported that some local wives have been so afraid of their husbands falling prey to these China ladies that they have resorted to waiting downstairs for their husbands in the evenings when it was time for these men to return home from work.

Is the situation that bad now? Let’s look back. On 1 Nov 2003, immigration rules were relaxed to allow citizens of the People’s Republic of China to stay in Singapore for a period not exceeding 30 days without the need for a visa.

In December 2003, a month after rules were relaxed, tourist arrivals from China went up to 71,0131 from 56,678 in October 2003. The figure also represented a 21% increase over the number of tourist arrivals from China for December 2002 – a year earlier. Now, that reflects the strong performance of the Chinese market.

In welcoming the foreign exchange that these Chinese visitors bring into Singapore, we have inadvertently drawn the attention of those who seek to visit Singapore not for its sights, but to peddle their flesh in exchange for money. These chaps disguise themselves as bona-fide tourists. After arriving in Singapore, they disappear without a trace, leaving the travel agent who brought them in in hot soup.

Why, just last week, there was a report in The Straits Times about six Singaporean travel agencies – specialising in the China market – being blacklisted by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). It appeared that together they accounted for more than half of all errant tourists from China.

Frankly, we need the foreign exchange China tourists bring in. Theirs is a rapidly growing market. Our hotels and shops need their business. As workers, we benefit as business gets better. It means there are more jobs to go around. There’s more money to pass to our families.

But, the errant China dolls, as I call these China callgirls, have become braver. They have not stuck to the traditional red-light Geylang area but have crept into the HDB heartlands, such as Toa Payoh and Ang Mo Kio. They have been said to hang around coffee shops and public telephone booths, boldly accosting our men, most of whom are in their fifties or older. Who among these men can resist a fling or two, for these China girls are young and fair maidens. Who among them would think twice about parting with a hundred or two hundred dollars for a dalliance?

In her Thinking Aloud column2 in The Straits Times last Saturday, ex-Project Eyeball editor Bertha Henson let out why those China girls worried her. Bertha said, “They pounce on men in broad daylight. One reader called in to complain that one girl opened the passenger door of his car while he was waiting in it. She got in, buckled up and made her pitch”.

Bertha ended her column with a plea to “please stop importing more problems than it (society) can take”. She’s got a point. These errant China girls engage in vice. Such activities will surely attract men who want to muscle into the new illicit business, by hook or by crook. And I am sure there are ruffians from China who may think they can disguise themselves as bona-fide tourists too and when they reach Singapore instantly transform themselves into pimps for these China girls. Need I say more?

In yesterday’s Straits Times3, journalist Li Xueying wrote that Joo Chiat MP Chan Soo Sen said of the hookers, “Sometimes, they’re sitting on men’s laps in the kopitiams.” Mr Chan was also reported to have said that “I was cycling around one evening when I saw a woman cross the road, knock on a lorry that was stuck in a jam, and jump in”.

Our police are not stupid. They must have known such things would happen with the loosening of the rules. Most probably they are keeping a close eye on the situation now. Bertha has suggested that we copy Malaysia which requires China women aged between 18 and 25 to be accompanied by either their husbands or fathers if they want to enter Malaysia.

However, a report in yesterday’s Straits Times4, headlined “KL scraps rule on China women”, mentioned that Malaysia has shelved this tough new rule which was put in place in Malaysia last month.

So, the China doll syndrome isn’t peculiar to our shores. Malaysia, Hong Kong and Japan are also grappling with the problem.

What can we do about the problem? We need the foreign exchange bona-fide China tourists bring in. We don’t need China dolls in our midst.

Should we do an about-turn on our immigration rules? I think not. The problem won’t go away. These China dolls will just find some other way to get into Singapore. Already, there are some China study-mums who leave their husbands in China and come here with their kids supposedly for their kids’ education. Then, they find Singaporean boyfriends while their children are preparing for school entrance exams. I have taught some of these kids. I have seen their mothers and their mothers’ Singaporean boyfriends.

I think that as long as our Singaporean men are willing and eager to flirt with these China dolls, whether they be prostitutes or study-mums, the problem won’t go away. It’s simply supply meeting demand.

Our post-middle-age Singaporean men want to feel attractive. They want women to ingratiate themselves with them – something that might not be forthcoming in their homes. Most of all, I think they all want to feel young again. And these China dolls do know how to make them feel young and attractive.

I think the answer has got to be education – making these men realise that they are courting trouble both at home and with the law.

Have a good week!

1 Tourism Statistics December 2003, Singapore Tourism Board

2 Straits Times 3 Jul 2004 (H19)

3 Straits Times 4 Jul 2004 (12)

4 Straits Times 4 Jul 2004 (13)

Date of Article: 5 July 2004

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When children commit suicide

Just when I am relishing being alive on this good earth exactly 45 years after my birth, along comes a stark reminder that this fragile thing called life may not be sweet-tasting to some others who would rather end it all at a tender age than choose to grow old.

I was jolted into silence last Tuesday when I heard on television a Primary Six boy had jumped to his death that morning. He was a pupil of Canberra Primary School in Sembawang.

It brought back memories of another suicide which happened in 2000. A 16-year-old student of Victoria School fell to his death after a quarrel at home. Apparently, he had rushed out of the flat into the corridor and plunged to his death. It was the June holidays then.

It appears the young contemplate suicide at an age when they should be enjoying the privilege of being young. I use that word – privilege – because on hindsight I now realise how much I miss those care-free times and yearn, albeit in vain, to relive that phase of my life again.

Is something wrong with the system nowadays? Are our students stressed out by the workload at school? Two days ago, some readers wrote to the Forum Page of The Straits Times. One of them, Dr Winston Lee, said of the boy, “We should take stock of the pressures he faced and find ways to help other children in the same situation.”

Dr Lee continued, “Being a child in Singapore is not much fun; today’s children do not have the opportunity to lead a full life. The pressures of coping with the overwhelming demands of an overloaded syllabus will definitely take a heavy toll on the overall development and well-being of the younger generation.”

Another reader, Dr Thomas Soo, said, “Alarm bells must ring when children die tragic deaths… Something must be very wrong with our society if we allow teenage deaths to continue in our developed society.”

One thing’s certain – more young people are contemplating suicide. According to the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS), children and teens make up about 10 per cent of those who attempt suicide here. In 1999, 15 teens aged between 10 and 19 committed suicide. In 2000, there were 21. And in 2001, 28 teenage suicides were recorded.

In his book Too Young to Die- An Asian Perspective on Youth Suicide, Singapore’s first private psychiatrist Dr B. L. Chia stresses that suicide is personal and that suicide in the young results in great horror and disbelief for both the family members as well as society.

I read the Chinese daily Lian He Zao Bao’s report on the boy’s suicide. His suicide note was appended. What disturbed me most was my realisation that the boy had found peace in his decision to leave this world. He left instructions for paper offerings, among which are a large house, a car with a driver, some servants, food snacks and lots of money, to be burnt for him. Let me quote the concluding part of his last words:

“…promise me not to cry except at my funeral or else hee…hee… and be happy for it’s my last request and remember ok?”

Perhaps, the time is ripe for a review of the young suicide trends.

Date of article: 19 May 2003

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No smiles for those who use discount coupons?

These fast-food restaurants are always throwing up special offer meals which they label as promotion meals to entice us to patronise their restaurants.

And the promotions have worked because basically the meals which are sold are at hard-to-beat value. But, I gather that another reason for the promotion prices is that the restaurants wish to show their appreciation to us, the customers, for our support over the years.

Big names like McDonald’s, KFC and Burgerking have been taking turns to dish out promotion meals lately. We are used to tearing out coupons from flyers placed in our letterboxes and newspapers. And we have been turning up in droves at these restaurants to place our orders.

Now, I have always been used to coming up to the counters at McDonald’s and exchanging their coupons for discounted-price meals. And McDonald’s have always been glad to have me carry out the exchange, so much so that I never once had to feel I was a cheapskate for stooping at getting such discounted-price meals. That is – until I stepped into the Burgerking branch at the basement of Raffles City.

The moment I handed the discount coupon to the staff at the ordering counter, I noticed his facial expression change. Suddenly, he wasn’t wearing that welcome look in his face. And the change was so drastic, I immediately felt discount coupons weren’t welcome at Burgerking.

But, if that is so, then why bother distributing flyers with such discount coupons. I thought that perhaps, the chap wasn’t in a good mood that day. I waited for him to hand to me the free Coca-Cola collectible plate that went with the meal. You see, the reason I was so keen on the promotion meal was that I could get my hands on that plate – I am a die-hard Coca-cola fan.

But he didn’t make the offer so I had to show him the flyer that I had with me – the one that indicated the offer. I got my free Coca-Cola gift after he referred me to his supervisor.

After that experience, I was keen on proving to myself that that was an isolated experience. A few days later, I visited the Burgerking branch at the basement of Peninsula Plaza. This time, I wasn’t bent on getting the Coca-Cola collectible; I just wanted to prove myself wrong. But it didn’t happen! The counter staff’s face changed colour when I handed over the discount coupon.

Last Saturday, I happened by Marina Square and hopped into the Burgerking branch there. I still had a couple of the coupons left and went to the counter to place my order for a discounted-price meal. I was glad I went there that day, for the staff who attended to me flashed me a smile when I passed the coupon to him. I noted down his name – Hong San.

The poor chap didn’t know why I was grinning at him so I told him that he was the very first person at Burgerking to smile when I produced a discount coupon to buy a meal.

So I was wrong after all. The chaps at Burgerking aren’t really unhappy that I am buying discounted-price meals from them after all. I am not being thought of as a cheapskate – it was only my imagination gone wild!

But the fact remains that the incidents have left an unfavourable impression on me. I keep remembering the entirely different experience at McDonald’s – queueing up at McDonald’s for my Hello Kitty and other collectibles and upon reaching my turn at the counter, seeing the McDonald’s staff so openly glad to let me choose the collectible toy I wanted. That experience at McDonald’s certainly made a world of difference!

Date of article: 25 Mar 2002

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Give what’s left of our nature spots a break

In recent weeks, Singaporeans have been turning up in droves to remote parts of the island in search of nature’s offerings.

When Chek Jawa’s continued existence was threatened by the imminent reclamation of Pulau Ubin, people were quick to pour out their displeasure over the destruction of one of the few remaining nature spots in Singapore.

Yet, many of these same people have thronged Chek Jawa to such an extent in the wake of the excitement that its very existence has been threatened, so much so that the island’s authorities have had to set up a booking system to ensure everyone gets a chance to visit Chek Jawa, and at the same time, Chek Jawa gets to take a much needed rest from curious hordes of people treading on its grounds.

And when the existence of a hot spring was reported in the local newspapers recently, hundreds of health-seeking individuals, of all ages, turned up in Sembawang, where the hot spring is located, bringing along pails to take turns to bathe in its waters.

Things got so bad, there was a long line of vehicles parked illegally along the road leading to the hot spring. Also, the number of people trampling on the grounds around the hot spring, dirtying the place, shows the ugly side of the Singaporean once again.

Mind you, the hot spring has been around for the past 100* years! It is said “Curiosity kills the cat”. In this case, it appears nature has taken a battering.

I am not against the idea of partaking in the appreciation of nature’s offerings. What I regret is that in our mindless drive to be the first there – whereever there may be – we have unintentionally threatened what we hold so dear – the few remaining nature spots in Singapore.

Do we always have to be the first ones there? Do we have to make a beeline for the newest shopping centre when it opens? Do we have to be the first to get at the free textbooks laid out for needy people? But that’s the typical mindset of us Singaporeans, me included!

Is it possible for us to change? I don’t think so. Many things have been said of the ugly Singaporean. I need say no more.

At least, when it comes to places, such as Chek Jawa and the hot spring, which hang on a delicate balance, we Singaporeans should take a step back and refrain from making that mindless dash. If not for Chek Jawa or the hot spring, at least do it for our future generations who may never get to enjoy what we  unwittingly may not pass on to them.

*The hot spring was discovered by Chinese merchant SEAH Eng Keong in 1909.

Date of article: 21 Jan 2002

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Sharing life with a hamster

My little pet hamster died last Tuesday. She managed to cross that threshold between the old year and the new and didn’t show any symptoms of impending death – till that fateful day.

Little Mimi had been keeping me company for a whole year. Her mate, Mama, and their four offspring all died within the year. She was the only one to live a full year.

Having a pet hamster means having to share our life with it. From cleaning the cage to feeding the pet, the amount of work multiplies, especially when the pet gives birth. Of course, there is the joy of giving – yes, giving all that attention and labour in exchange for the companionship of the hamster.

A pet hamster can perk up your day! But, at the same time, it can also cause sadness. As with all things alive, there is a day for dying. I watched little Mimi grow up, find a mate, give birth, take meticulous care of her young, grow old and then die – all within the space of a year.

Even as I write these words, my heart shudders when I compare little Mimi’s cycle of life with that of my own. There are similarities. I wonder what life will be like for me when I grow old, for that matter, I wonder whether I will have that fortune of getting to be around to enjoy the gift of old age.

I had watched Mimi lose her agility at climbing up the grilles of the cage. I had also watched her lose more of her fur as she mellowed into old age. In the last two months, I saw her fight a losing battle to keep her fur specklessly white – she had begun to sport urine stains in the fur on her behind.

When she left this world, I was glad I was there with her, stroking her ears and fur, till she breathed her last breath.

Perhaps, I shouldn’t have compared myself with her, but then, she’s also a living thing. I went through the whole process of getting to know this little stranger, and becoming fond of her. I am sure she also went through the same process.

In short, life is all about experiencing the interaction of other living things, whether human beings or animals. It’s how we relate to one another that makes for living a fuller life.

Date of article: 7 Jan 2002

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Taking life for granted

We are already more than a month into the end-year school holidays. In three weeks’ time, the new school year will start and students will return to school life once again – it’s a cycle that is being taken for granted by many students.

But, some students may not get to return to school after this holiday season. In fact, some not only drop out of the school cycle, but also out of life itself. Sad, isn’t it?

Last Friday, a 14-year-old boy went about his holiday routine – having fun – but I am sure it never crossed his mind that he would not wake up to see another day on this good earth. Harry CHAU, from 2A1 at Montfort Secondary School, died after attempting a bicycle stunt in a practice session at the Asia Xtour event held at Ngee Ann City’s Civic Plaza.

When school reopens at Montfort next January, I know that many of his classmates, as well as schoolmates, will miss having him around. So will I, when I return to relief teaching at Montfort in the new year.

It saddens me every time I hear of a young person struck down in his prime – never getting to taste going to university, doing national service, becoming a spouse and a parent, and growing old. It brings to mind some saying in a book – The Gift of Age – I reviewed recently. In it, local celebrity David Kraal said, “To all you young ones who have no time for the old, I say, ‘Don’t pity us, the grandfathers and grandmothers of this world. In fact, I pity you – because you have to wait so long to taste the fullness and the extreme happiness that comes with being a grandparent.’

Well, Harry CHAU will never get the chance to grow old and to taste that fullness and extreme happiness that comes with being a grandparent – something the gift of age bestows.

I have always made it a point to tell my students, just before a holiday period, to have fun, but make sure they come back after the holidays – in other words, do safe things during the holidays. And my students, whether they be in Sec 1, 2, 3 or 4, will flash me that impish grin. I guess when I return to school next year, these young chaps will reflect silently the next time I dish out such advice.

My condolences go out to Harry’s family. It is said that when young people die, their souls are reincarnated very quickly. If that is true, then Harry is on his way to a new life. Good Luck Harry!

Date of article: 10 Dec 2001