Just who exactly is 'we'?
n interviewee in the video Singapore: The New
Hub for the Rich, Mr Antoine Casey, talked about Singapore and
the newly built casinos as a draw for the super-rich around the
world. He enthused: “I would never have believed that we would have
two massive casinos here when I first arrived ten years ago but
here we are, sitting on the roof of one now.” (1:40)
Just who is the “we” that Mr Casey is referring to? It sounds a lot
like Mr Casey may be referring to himself as a
Singaporean.
youtube link
Mr Casey arrived in Singapore 10 years ago and now sits atop a
sprawling casino complex, enjoying the most splendid glitter that
money can buy. Good for him.
What he, perhaps, doesn't realise is that Singaporeans have had
little say in whether we wanted the casinos to be built in the
first place. Are such projects the way to go for our economy? What
are we doing to battle the money-laundering hub that we have
become? Is the social impact of gambling and, together with it all
the other vices, worth all the gold that is brought in?
There was no debate. Singaporeans did not have a say.
Now we have folks like Mr Casey making it sound as if we are all
enjoying the wisdom of the PAP's strategy of turning Singapore into
a playground for the rich, and that somehow we are all in this
together.
Reality check: We are not. If the money were to dry up, those who
are here just for the bucks would make their way to the airport
faster than you can yell "sell!" Let's be absolutely honest, how
many of our foreigner friends will sink their roots here, that is,
give up their citizenship of their country of birth, and fight for
this island come hell or highwater? How many will subject their
sons to National Service to defend this country?
There is no doubt that we need foreign talent. In an age when
people, and along with them their skills, are so mobile it would be
silly for any society not to welcome talent into our economic
midst. But it is not just talent the PAP wants to attract. It is
money, in whatever shape or form. But didn't someone once say that
all that glitters is not gold?
This is what the
Singapore Democrats are concerned about: That the PAP is dragging
Singapore down the wrong path by attracting foreigners to Singapore
who have one thing and only one thing in mind - to make money and
live the high life here. Damn the consequences for the
locals.
The F1 Grand Prix that the video highlights is a manifestation of
this syndrome. The race is a sport in which Singaporeans show
little interest. We don't even have participants in the race, for
goodness sake.
And yet much expense and fanfare is given to stage the event. How
do the people benefit? Shops in the Marina Bay area are hard hit,
some reporting that business was down by as much as 70 percent.
Those in nearby Chinatown also saw a dive in takings of
about 60 percent.
The road closures and inconvenience to motorists are another bane
to Singaporeans.
In fact the cost-benefit outcome is so questionable that the
Government is unsure about hosting the race beyond
2012.
But again do we have a say in whether our country should host such
an event?
Open up or else
Even as many Singaporeans struggle to keep their heads above water,
other governments are pressing ours to open up our economy even
more and give more jobs to their citizens. The Economic
Times recently ran afrightening
report that
India has asked Singapore to open up more services to allow a
greater number of Indian professionals access the
island...A comprehensive bilateral trade agreement
between the two countries is being reviewed. “We
want to take advantage of the second review to get more in services
and are exploring all possibilities,” a commerce department
official told ET. (emphasis added)
Besides requesting Singapore to take deeper commitments in medical,
health-related and education services, India needs to ask for
expanding the existing list of 127 occupations by which
professionals are allowed entry into Singapore, pointed out Amit
Mitra, secretary general, Ficci. “The additional list has to
include chefs, physiotherapists, nurses, school teachers,
nutritionists, professionals in entertainment and hospitality
sectors,” he said.
Whether the PAP eventually agrees to such demands is not a matter
Singaporeans have a say in. With the climate of fear, control of
the media, and an election system that guarantees all but the PAP's
victory, the people are at the mercy of this Government.
And let's not
forget that Government has said it wants to raise the population to
from our current 5 million to 6.5 million, mainly with
foreigners.
But these questions are furthest from the minds of our foreigner
friends. Some even defend and support the authoritarian system.
Why? Because they stand to make money from it.
But where these people come to make money and play, it is where we
bring up our children and where our future is inextricably bound.
Unlike them we cannot simply pack up and leave when things turn
sour. This is our home.
To be sure, the problem is notwith the foreign expatriates. It is
with the PAP Government. Having no idea of how to bring our economy
forward, it now has to resort to turn Singapore into a tax haven
and a hub for vice.
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