First off,I'm a Singaporean first and foremost.I am serving NS
now,I have lived here most of my life besides 2 years in
Australia,from which I returned to serve NS,studied in SJI and St
Michael's.
I'm of mixed background,Chinese,Indian and Portueguese.
I have realised,even as I grow older,that there is a feeling of
marginalisation among all the many races of Singapore.They are
always saying that we are a multi-cultural,multiracial society,that
we are an egalitarian society based on justice,equality,progress
and all these other words.
We all know the reality.Within my lifetime,within 2 to 3
generations,Singapore will become a Chinese city,with an
overwhelming Chinese culture.It won't be Singapore anymore.It will
be Lee Kuan Yew's vision of what he wants Singapore to be.A Chinese
outpost,a part of Greater China.
The Why?Ask any person of minority background,and a very
significant number will tell you that they perceive a
marginalisation of their own cultures,of a general insensitivity by
the Singaporeans of Chinese background around us.
In our media,East Asia,specifically Taiwan and China,are played
up,more so than necessary.While both are economic powers,thir
presentation in our media is given great import,more so than
needed.Meanwhile,other markets,promising ones at that,are
ignored,such as the Middle East and South Asia.
Even in movies such as "I Not Stupid", where are all the other
races?It is a movie set in Singapore,filmed in Singapore,made for a
Singaporean audience.Where are the others?
Similarly,the Speak Mandarin campaign promotes the utilisation of
Mandarin.Very well,it does confer an economic advantage to its
speakers,but the working language of Singapore,the common space,is
English.What you have,are people speaking in Mandarin because they
are so used to it,among others who don't understand it.Just because
one is Chinese or partly so doesn't mean I speak Mandarin.I might
speak Hokkien,Hakka,Cantonese,or not a word of any dialect at
all!They are promoting it to the detriment of English.
You have many normal Singaporeans speaking Mandarin among those who
don't understand it,and it is incredibly rude and insensitive,no
matter the culture.In my platoon,where there are 3 non-Chinese
speakers,they frequently give briefings in Mandarin,talk about work
in Mandarin,or chit-chat in Mandarin.That excludes us from the
fabric of the platoon,the bonding of us as a part of the platoon.I
use this an analogy,something that perhaps other non-Chinese or
part-Chinese would have experienced.Why do you think so many
Indians and Malays or others in a workplace or school would form
cliques of dark-skinned people?Certainly,the example I provide is a
contributing factor to it.
I do not look the remotest bit Chinese besides my eyes,and look
more like a Brazilian/Malay/India/Nepali rather than a Chinese,yet
have people asking me questions instinctively in Chinese,despite
them not knowing my background.Similarly,in camp,when I answer
phone calls,the first words answered are also Mandarin.I have
nothing against it,but you are operating in a common space with
people of various backgrounds.Use the working language as its meant
to be used.
This sign of a language becoming more dominant,more so than
necessary,is what many would feel to be an indicator of Singapore's
future.A decreasing standard in English?Blame the Speak Mandarin
campaign.
Similarly,there is also a perception that if one is Chinese in
origin,you are more likely to be granted citizenship,employment
passes,promotions or permanent residency.Whether rightly or
wrongly,this is the prevailing conception,and this, worries
me.
Will there be a place for me and other like me,part-Chinese or
otherwise,'minorities',in this country?More and more,I feel like an
alien in Singapore at times.Will there be a political and social
reform,or will things go as they are and evolve to their natural
state?
This is my home.I have sweated for it and at times bled for
it,though only a few minot scratches.I have certainly endured
discomforts for it,as well as constraints placed upon my time and
my personal life,just like every other male Singaporean.These are
where my roots are.
Will it be my home in the future?And that depends on what type of
future it will be....
