For those who have faithfully been checking back in, I apologize for the long absence. 2006 is just around the corner, so just thought I’ll post a few last posts before the year is over.
This blog was started while was I still overseas, but I’ve since graduated, and have been back for a few months now. As with every new graduate, job hunting was slow and painful, but fortunately, the hunt for me is over.
In these past few months though, being jobless left me time to go through the Straits Times daily, and I have to say that I’m rather disappointed with it’s standards in news reporting. I wouldn’t really treat it as a serious source of news, but much more as a source of lame entertainment.
The sentiments among the younger generation is still the same though - they want change, and a loosening from the current draconian measures the State has chosen to take. They want a say in society, and they want to be heard, and at least to be considered. Quite a number still yearn to migrate.
A lot of young people, having been bombarded by the american way of life through Hollywood movies and american tv programming yearn for those kinds of freedoms, a more liberated way of life, opportunities to persue their dreams, the chance to just be who they are. With that concept in mind, this speech caught my eye:
“Taken in context, what I was saying was that, compared to Europe, America is a very young country and we are still growing as a nation. It is a shame that the metaphor I used was taken so radically out of context and slung about irresponsibly by the news media. There was no anti-American sentiment. In fact, it was just the opposite. I am an American. I love my country and have great hopes for it. It is for this reason that I speak candidly and sometimes critically about it. I have benefited greatly from the freedom that exists in my country and for this I am eternally grateful.”
“France and the whole of Europe have a great culture and an amazing history. Most important thing though is that people there know how to live! In America they’ve forgotten all about it. I’m afraid that the American culture is a disaster.”
(via E! online, Depp Proud to Be an American)
Paraphrasing in the context of Singapore, it would go something like:
“Compared to America, Singapore is a very very young country and we are still growing as a nation. It’s a shame that those who have chosen to speak of the problems of the country and the changes that are needed were so radically out of context. There was no anti-Singapore sentiment. In fact, it was just the opposite. I am a Singaporean. I love my country and have great hopes for it. It is for this reason that I speak candidly and sometimes critically about it. I have benefitted greatly from the stability and safety that exists in my country and for this I am eternally greatful.”
But I guess there is no such thing as a perfect society. Even Europe has it’s problems, with riots and chaos that took place in Paris only a few weeks ago. Every society has it’s strengths and weakness. It makes sense to maintain it’s strengths and work on it’s weaknesses.
I do have great hopes for Singapore. Being small gives us great advantages. Just as it took us less than 30 years to reach first world equilvalency in terms of economics and technology, I believe that the much required liberation will come hopefully with this generation of leaders, if not my generation of leaders. After all, change is a neccessary transition in life.
As for the direction of Singapore Watch, we’ll continue posting things of interest and of relation to Singapore. Elections are coming up next year. If you have the opportunity to vote, do vote wisely. 
I doubt I’ll have the change to exercise my vote. Tanglin never gets contested.
Nguyen Van Tuong
Yesterday, Caleb departed this horrible place we call Earth, for a better place. No doubt his actions committed 3 years ago was wrong, so wrong, and as much as his intentions was for the love of his brother, it was still wrong.
Two wrongs don’t make a right, and fight they will, those against the death penalty for drug carriers, but as I’ve said before for Shanmugam, I say it again for Nguyen:
The law dictates that he be hung for his actions. Emotions aside, the Government will not waiver on this issue, because this will set a precedence for all future cases to come.
Because clemency, mercy, or whatever you call it will be twisted at the arms of drug lords in the future, used for their advantage. Because at the end of the day, if Nguyen is pardoned, indirectly, more people will suffer.
Maids
What has been brought to my attention recently, is the treatment of maids in Singapore. We have become a maid-dependent society, when merely one generation before, most of our parents were living in kampungs, totally independent of maids. Some may argue that ‘ah-mas’ existed then. Yet somehow, it seems that ah-mas then were treated a lot more like family then maids are treated these days.
Employing a maid is no easy task. It may have been made simpler by the numerous maid agencies in Singapore, but what is astounding, is that these agencies usually charge the maids close to $2k to get placed in a Singaporean home. Based on the average Indonesian maid’s pay, $2k is about 7 months salary! That’s about 1/3 the amount that she would have earned in the total contract of 2 years! I’m clueless when it comes to laws governing these areas, but is that even legal? Definitely no Singaporean would agree to work on terms like that! On top of that, employers usually have to fork out $200-$300 themselves for the agency’s services.
Another concern is the high levy the government has placed on this industry. A maid’s pay might be about $280 and over, but to the employer, they’ve to fork out more then twice that amount, plus provide food and lodging. All together, it costs close to $1k, if not more, a month, to have a maid in the house. When you’re spending that much money on a maid, the Singaporean tendency is to ‘get your money’s worth‘. This leads to maids being treated as servants, rather than helpers, and in some cases, even abuse.
I’m quite appalled at the way this industry has turned out to be. With Singapore outsourcing all these ‘lowly’ jobs to foreigners, our young are starting to be taught of a class system, which might not be that distinct amongst Singaporeans, but is growing more and more distinct, between ourselves, and our foreignly employed workers.
Although it seems like these people are being paid peanuts, when converted to their own currency, it is a small fortune. It is for this reason that most are willing to leave their countries, to work in jobs which we ourselves do not want to take up. But with time spent in this country, it’s only a matter of time before they realize that they aren’t really getting the better end of the stick. Because of that, some resort to other means of getting money, and fear and distrust grows between employer and employee.
Have I mention that some maids have no off days? I know that work is being done about that in that area, but laws aren’t enough. Somehow, it seems like we have successfully legalized slavery, by adding ‘pay’ to it. I’m not sure where this industry is heading, but it’s definitely here to stay. Hopefully, our country will mature as a society, and start treating our helps as respectable human beings.
Something has to give.
Related Chatter
“First S’pore employer convicted of pimping maid speaks” by Maureen Koh at The Electric Newpaper (Dec 05, 2005)
“Servants no more” by Caleb in A Gonzo Diary (Dec 06, 2005)
Employment Act need not be extended to cover foreign maids: MOM” by Margaret Perry at Channel NewsAsia (Dec 06, 2005)
“Singapore: Domestic Workers Suffer Grave Abuses” by Human Rights News (Dec 07, 2005)
“Human Right Watch report an exaggeration: Manpower Minister” by Hasnita A Majid at Channel NewsAsia (Dec 07, 2005)
“A maid-to-order society won’t do” by Ong Soh Chin at The Straits Times (Dec 09, 2005)
