IF NOT for his meagre salary, Mr Ko Guan Chui is convinced he
would have married by now.
Two years ago, the 37-year-old warehouse assistant was set up on
a blind date with a woman from China, but she ceased all contact
after learning he earned only $1,200 a month.
Recently, he went on a date with a Malaysian woman arranged by
his parents at McDonald's. 'The same thing happened,' he said.
'After she heard what my job was, she stopped talking. She was more
interested in her fish burger than in me.'
The number of singles in Singapore has been on the rise for more
than three decades and it has become common to defer marriage into
the late 20s or even 30s.
But bachelors like Mr Ko - low-income, lowly educated and
pushing 40 - actually do not mind getting hitched. The only hitch?
They cannot find a mate.
Since the issue of educated men marrying down, rather than their
educational equals, was first discussed openly in 1983 by then
Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, the situation has changed. About
two-thirds of graduate men now marry graduate women, compared with
37 per cent in 1983.
-- ST
