Land of milk and money – and the politics of envy
Posted by theonlinecitizen on June 21, 2007
Singapore has changed.
And I am not talking about physical changes such as the new MRT
Circle Line or the new shopping malls or even the upcoming
Integrated Resorts.
One can almost feel the fundamental changes that are taking
place – in the hearts and minds of Singaporeans.
Although economic progress is of course important for our
livelihood, it is beginning to become the overarching, some would
say over-bearing, force that threatens to consume us into an
endless, meaningless cycle.
A selfish nation
The first change one would have observed is the government
itself setting a different tone for society – with the rise in the
salaries of government ministers. The issue has been debated
vigorously and heatedly, with the government electing to go ahead
with the increase.
The tone of society has changed.
If those at the top put such absolute importance on monetary
rewards, then it is not possible for them anymore to preach about
values such as selflessness, charity, compassion and service.
When leaders set such standards, the rest of society takes the
cue.
We are at risk of becoming a selfish nation. Indeed, some people
think that we already are.
Caring for the old
The Minister in charge of ageing issues, Mr Lim Boon Heng, is
quoted by channelnewsasia as saying: “I would like to maintain and
promote… that it is the duty of the family to look after its old.”
(Channelnewsasia)
On the surface, this looks like a reasonable argument. But when
one considers that MCYS Minister Vivian Balakrishnan had said that
the government prefers a “many-hands approach” to caring for the
needy, one would have to ask Mr Lim Boon Heng if the government
would be willing to do more to help the family care for the
old.
The perception among some Singaporeans is that when it comes to
the needy and the elderly, the government pushes the responsibility
to the family. These same family members are then persuaded to work
longer, retire later (if ever) and have the withdrawal of their CPF
monies delayed.
All this while the government too opens the door wide to foreign
workers who is here to help “average down the wage cost for
employers”.
It seems like Singaporeans are caught between the devil and the
deep blue sea.
An “all-for-money” nation
If one reads the newspapers or watch our local television
channels, one would be inundated with stories and reports of how
well we are doing – the stock market reaching new heights, the
property market is booming, we are clinching deals everywhere, from
India to China to Dubai.
Almost everyday, you would read about millions of dollars here,
billions of dollars there being invested by the Singapore
government.
The question some have asked is: Do all these benefit the
average Singaporean?
Endless cycle of rising costs
With the continued influx of foreigners, wages remain depressed.
Indeed, this is the very reason which our then deputy prime
minister Lee Hsien Loong cited for letting such huge numbers of
foreigners into Singapore:
“If we did not have some foreign workers to average down the
wage cost for the employers, are you sure the employers can survive
in Singapore?”
<!--[if !supportLists]-->- <!--[endif]-->DPM Lee
Hsien Loong, Straits Times, Oct 29, 2001
The recent spate of cost/price increases has thrown up the
question of whether Singaporeans themselves can survive in
Singapore instead. And now, there are rumblings by the foreigners
(or expats) in Singapore as well, about high rental. It has also
been reported that Singapore is now one of the most expensive
countries in the world to live in.
A prediction coming true
Many people predicted that once the PAP is elected into
government again, price increases will undoubtedly take place. –
and indeed, they have.
From the latest announcement of an increase in electricity
tariffs to the previous increases in polyclinics and hospital fees,
from cable tv subscriptions to the introduction of means testing,
from the ERP to even postage stamps, Singaporeans are facing an
incessant barrage of such news.
In the coming months, Singaporeans can expect increases in the
GST (July), NETs (July), and also transport fares (Oct).
Already, food prices have increased – from those at your hawker
centres to those at your supermarkets.
So, who is benefiting from the “sizzling” economy?
It seems that the only people benefiting from this ‘sizzling’
economy is big business – especially those which are
government-linked. Most of these are monopolies. And as monopolies,
they pay scant regard to protests from average Singaporeans.
Also, watchdogs such as the Consumer Association of Singapore
(CASE) and the Competition Commission seem not to be doing anything
at all. Even if they do, such as in the case of CASE, they’d rather
spend their time and resources “catching” and warning small
businesses like hawker stalls and coffeshop stalls holders about
increasing their prices.
Not a word about big companies and government-linked companies’
price increases.
What can the average Singaporean do?
Short of public protests and boycotting certain
products/services, it would seem that there isn’t much Singaporeans
can do.
Which brings us back to the point at the beginning of this
essay.
There is a growing sense of envy among Singaporeans – envy that
the rich are getting richer and the poor, well….the poor staying
right where they are.
This is the very thing which our prime minister wanted to
avoid:
“We must not allow ourselves to be divided between haves and
have-nots, or winners and losers … if we let a politics of envy
drive a wedge between us, our society will be destroyed, and all
will suffer. That must never happen.” (Link)
With the government’s seeming disregard to cries and protests
about the rising cost of living amidst the latest round of price
increases, we may indeed be in the process of being “divided
between the haves and have-nots”.
Our income gap divide still remains one of the widest in the
world.
While the top echelons of our society are making a killing right
now, the poor - like those on public assistance who continue to
receive only $290 per month from the same government which preaches
about “a politics of envy” - continue to worry about their
livelihood.
So, what can the average Singaporean do?
Not much, really.
It is hard to do anything when what you’re faced with is an
all-powerful, all-pervasive government, monopolistic companies and
civil servants who give non-replies to questions asked.
It would seem that the politics of envy is not being propagated
by anyone else other than the PAP government.
Glitzy and dizzying news headlines and all.