Some of us have read the commentary, Future of Singapore, by
Derek Wee, a 35 year old Singaporean. The commentary has made its
rounds in cyberspace and is reproduced below for those who might
not have come across it yet.
The purpose of this thread is to highlight a response to Derek
Wee's commentary from a very bright RJC girl. The response is taken
from her blog. She shares the same surname as Derek. Her academic
achievements are impressive. She was from the elite gifted program
at RGS who went on to top Singapore in the GCE 'O'-levels in 2004.
She also won the Prime Minister's Book Prize for purportedly being
effectively bilingual in Chinese and English (even though she often
expresses her disdain for the Chinese language). And she is fluent
in French. Her dad is one of the men-in-white. Naturally, hers is a
highly affluent and privileged background. And without doubt too,
hers is the perfect pedigree for joining the ranks of the highest
echelons of the government.
Reproduced below are firstly, Ms Wee's response to Derek Wee's
commentary and secondly, the original commentary by Derek
Wee.
*************************
From Ms Wee's blog:
http://www.suchvividnothing.blogspot.com/
Thursday, October 19, 2006
mom's friend sent her some blog post by some bleeding stupid
40-year old singaporean called derek wee (WHY do all the idiots
have my surname why?!) whining about how singapore is such an
insecure place, how old ppl (ie, 40 and above) fear for their jobs,
how the pool of foreign "talent" (dismissively chucked between
inverted commas) is really a tsunami that will consume us all (no
actually he didn't say that, he probably said Fouren Talern Bery
Bad.), how the reason why no one wants kids is that they're a
liability in this world of fragile ricebowls, how the government
really needs to save us from inevitable doom but they aren't
because they are stick-shoved-up-ass elites who have no idea how
the world works, yadayadayadayada.
i am inclined - too much, perhaps - to dismiss such people as
crackpots. stupid crackpots. the sadder class. too often
singaporeans - both the neighborhood poor and the red-taloned
socialites - kid themselves into believing that our society, like
most others, is compartmentalized by breeding. ridiculous. we are a
tyranny of the capable and the clever, and the only other class is
the complement.
sad derek attracted more than 50 comments praising him for his
poignant views, joining him in a chorus of complaints that climax
at the accusation of lack of press freedom because his all-too-true
views had been rejected by the straits times forum. while i tend to
gripe about how we only have one functioning newspaper too, i think
the main reason for its lack of publication was that his incensed
diatribe was written in pathetic little scraps that passed off as
sentences, with poor spelling and no grammar.
derek, derek, derek darling, how can you expect to have an iron
ricebowl or a solid future if you cannot spell?
if you're not good enough, life will kick you in the balls. that's
just how things go. there's no point in lambasting the government
for making our society one that is, i quote, "far too survival of
fittest". it's the same everywhere. yes discrimination exists, and
it is sad, but most of the time if people would prefer hiring other
people over you, it's because they're better. it's so sad when
people like old derek lament the kind of world that singapore will
be if we make it so uncertain. go be friggin communist, if
uncertainty of success offends you so much - you will certainly be
poor and miserable. unless you are an arm-twisting commie bully,
which, given your whiny middle-class undereducated penchant, i
doubt.
then again, it's easy for me to say. my future isn't certain but i
guess right now it's a lot brighter than most people's. derek will
read this and brand me as an 18-year old elite, one of the sinners
who will inherit the country and run his stock to the gutter. go
ahead. the world is about winners and losers. it's only sad when
people who could be winners are marginalised and oppressed. is dear
derek starving? has dear derek been denied an education? has dear
derek been forced into child prostitution? has dear derek had his
clan massacred by the government?
i should think not. dear derek is one of many wretched,
undermotivated, overassuming leeches in our country, and in this
world. one of those who would prefer to be unemployed and wax
lyrical about how his myriad talents are being abandoned for the
foreigner's, instead of earning a decent, stable living as a sales
assistant. it's not even about being a road sweeper. these shitbags
don't want anything without "manager" and a name card.
please, get out of my elite uncaring face.
posted at 12:08 PM
*******************************
Derek Wee's original commentary which prompted Ms Wee's response
above.
By Derek Wee
Oct 12, 2006
When I read the Straits Times article (dated 24 Sep) on PM Lee
calling the young to be committed and make a difference to
Singapore, I have so much thought about the issue.
I am 35 years old, graduated from University and gainfully employed
in a multinational company. But I cannot help but feel insecure
over the future of Singapore. Lets face it, it's not uncommon to
hear, "when you are above 40, you are over the hill".
The government has been stressing on re-training, skills upgrading
and re-adapt. The fact is, no matter how well qualified or
adaptable one is, once you hit the magical 40, employers will say,
"you are simply too old".
We have been focusing our resources and problem solving on low
unskilled labour. But in reality, our managerial positions and
skilled labour force are actually fast losing its
competitiveness.
I travel around the region frequently for the past 10 years. It
didn't take me long to realise how far our neighbours have come
over the past decade.
They have quality skilled workers, and are less expensive. When I
work with them, their analytical skills are equally good, if not
better than us.
It's not new anymore. Taxi drivers are fast becoming "too early to
retire, too old to work" segment of the society. I like to talk to
taxi drivers whenever I am heading for the airport.
There was this driver. Eloquent and well read. He was an export
manager for 12 years with an MNC. Retrenched at 40 years old. He
had been searching for a job since his retrenchment.
Although he was willing to lower his pay expectations, employers
were not willing to lower their prejudice. He was deemed too old. I
wouldn't be surprised if we have another No. 1; having the most
highly educated taxi drivers in the world.
On PM Lee calling the young to be committed and make a difference.
Look around us. How dedicated can we be to Singapore when we can
visualise what's in store for us after we turned 40? Then again,
how committed are employers to us? But we can't blame them. They
have bottom lines & shareholders' gain to answer to.
Onus is really on the government to revamp the society. A society
that is not a pressure cooker. A society that does not mirror so
perfectly, what survival of the fittest is.
But a society, where it's people can be committed, do their best
and not having to fear whether they will still wake up employed
tomorrow. Sadly, Singapore does not offer such luxuries and
security anymore.
On the issue of babies. The government encourages us to pro-create.
The next generation is essential in sustaining our competitive
edge. Then again, the current market condition is such that our
future has become uncertain. There is no more joy in having babies
anymore; they have become more of a liability. It's really a
chicken and egg issue.
Many of my peers, bright and well educated have packed up and left.
It's what MM Goh called "quitters". It's sad but true, Singapore no
longer is a place where one can hope to work hard their lives and
retire graciously. It's really the push factor.
A future is something we sweat it out, build and call our own.
Unfortunately, people like me, mid 30's going on 40's, staying put
by choice or otherwise, we can't help but feel what lies ahead is
really a gamble.
To PM Lee and the Ministers, we are on a different platform. Until
you truly understand our insecurity, the future of Singapore to me
remains a question mark.
Note: the blog had been been closed
