Endoh’s Dungeon

The letter from a PR published in our mainstream press has sparked outrage and likewise, having read through the contents of the letter I am equally outraged. I have no idea how long Mr Amit Nagpal had been here, but I guess I will come to that later. What I was unhappy about, was that sweeping statements made by Mr Amit were allowed to stand while the voices of authentic Singaporeans were suppressed.

For a long time, most Singaporeans recognized the contribution of foreign talents but yet at the same time, we are also wary of them depleting the livelihood of Singaporeans. In fact, most countries slap a quota to safeguard the interest of their citizens before anything else. From tax levies to housing arrangements, the citizens should always be first taken care of. Regardless of how successful the country was in the past, presently, or in the future… this will not change.

But for Mr Amit, I sympathized with him for having his private information being dished out openly in public. Much like Odex’s case, where the plantiffs personal details were similarly published in full glory. This is something that I do not encourage, and felt overly under-the-belt. Ironically, my sympathies stop only at that. To make such audacious demands, a reasonably highly-educated and well-travelled Mr Amit should have forseen the possible repercussions.

The reason why I pondered about the length of Mr Amit’s stay in Singapore is because reading through his letter gave me the impression that he doesn’t really know much about this land he is stepping foot on. With it, the sweeping statements and accusations are by far - worse than the policies slapped on us.

Mr Amit said;

A lottery decides who gets to own the flats. Snaking queues, with hundreds of required documents, no salary or income cap and no cap on the number of flats applied for are a few of the scheme’s characteristics. The balloting is fraught with irregularities. Most successful applicants sell the flats almost immediately in the open market for a huge premium.

Has Mr Amit taken into consideration the vast land available in India compared to that of Singapore? Also, should Mr Amit subject his unhappiness with his country of origin on the shoulders of Singaporeans?

Singapore has our fair share of balloting from home ownership to primary school registrations too. While saying that, Mr Amit probably didn’t realize the irregularities in procedures and therefore, I highly recommend him to read more. I am not going to touch alot on India’s state, since I am not a resident there.

Second, I am 33 years old and live here with my wife and two children. I consider myself well educated, worldly wise and useful to my employers.

I am surprised that a well educated and worldly wise expat isn’t aware of the “citizen-first, others-second” policies. How well educated? How worldly wise? I shall not jump to conclusions and leave it to the mass to judge. However, being a lowly educated Singaporean, I am fully aware of this syndrome whenever I step out of Singapore. And no, my school didn’t teach me that. Having friends of international heritage and opening up our eyes help more. Education matters little in this case.

Mr Amit may be useful to his employers, I am useful to my country. No holds barred, I am a Singaporean serving the Republic of Singapore. Not only my employers.

Is Mr Amit aware that more Singaporeans are educated highly beyond tertiary levels, and many of whom are employed overseas immediately after their studies there? That’s to tell, Mr Amit is not the only well educated individual on this small red dot. That again, seemed to be a little mocking towards Mr Amit’s claims of being “worldly wise”. How much exactly does he know about Singaporeans?

What am I doing in Singapore, leaving my parents, family, friends and comfort zone back home? Why did I strive to become a Singapore PR, and perhaps a citizen in future?

Mr Amit has to be aware that nobody pointed a gun at his head to relocate to Singapore. While others have expressed their hatred towards expats, I am not so. I welcome expats as long as they play by the rules. What are Singaporeans doing in Singapore, coming back to their parents and family, striving together with their friends of all races, and forsaking the luxuries they can enjoy in US or Australia? Why did most Singaporeans strive to remain a citizen here, and ruling out the possibilities of forsaking their own country of origin like yourself?

The reason is simple, and a powerful one. We are Singaporeans.

Most important, the Government promotes harmonious living and equality for all. Many Singaporeans take these virtues for granted. I don’t blame them because they probably don’t know what it is like elsewhere, including a country like India which may have the world’s fastest growing economy, but is fraught with corruption and an unsafe environment and does not have what Singapore has.

I wondered how did Mr Amit came to the conclusion that Singaporeans are not aware of worse conditions elsewhere. Harmonious living has always been a key policy due to the mixture of heritages and races we have in Singapore. By the way, just to counter the “wordly wise” statement, the current world’s fastest growing economical powerhouse is China, not India. That’s something for you to read up on through World Trade Organization’s publications. And no, I do not need to be a University graduate to know that.

Singaporeans are fully aware of the complications if certain laws are removed. The recent Section 377A saga if Mr Amit is even aware of, was a good indication how involved Singaporeans are. Coupled with that, we are thankful nobody has campaigned for the removal of firearms act, for Singaporeans do not wish to see bloodshed on the street as in US.

I hope our well educated Mr Amit is able to tell the difference between loving/hating government policies apart from loving/hating Singapore as a country.

Last but not least, is Mr Amit aware of the countless praises for Singapore being a land where a woman can safely walk out on the street at 4am with little risks of sexual attacks? For that, from Singaporeans. Mr Amit, are you aware?

So it pains me when I read letters which say that PRs like me should not be treated well enough. I know we cannot be given the same rights as citizens, but why demand no rights at all?

If Mr Amit is aware that he cannot be given the same rights as citizens, what is he campaigning for now? It hurts Singaporeans even more when we read letters which PRs wrote in to demand to be treated equally as citizens. And how has Mr Amit been denied his rights?

Public buildings are still accessible to Mr Amit. I am sure Singapore does not impose a higher fuel charge on foreigners living in Singapore despite bearish prices. If Mr Amit is to walk into NTUC or Cold Storage, he pays the same price as per any Singaporean. I believe Mr Amit is also eligible for the same CPF interests like any citizen here. The even more ironic fact that your letter had been published in our national newspaper, you have also been given your freedom of speech.

Mr Amit, would you open up your house and let me lord you over in your own property? Common sense prevails. But hey, just in case Mr Amit thinks I am racially abusing him or insulting him, it takes me great pleasure to let him know that I have said this also on another occasion. So Mr Amit, proven beyond any doubts - nothing personal against you.

Do be aware Mr Amit, you are well educated and worldly wise. I am sure you know how to do your sums, and being given rightful benefits is a far cry from being expected to be treated like a VIP. Singaporeans will take no such nonsense from you.

So why can’t I buy a flat directly from the HDB? And although I came as a permanent settler, why treat me like an enemy?

Does the denial of special benefits alocated for authentic Singaporeans meant that you have been made an enemy? In full glory of the world, particularly in Singapore, you have made an enemy out of yourself. There are differences between policies indicted for a special group of people - take for example: Women’s Chapter to protect women. Based on your theory, have the High Courts of Singapore made an enemy out of men? Clearly, it isn’t so.

As with various bank loans and credit cards that are lined with their individual set of approval requirements, does it mean the banks have made an enemy out of those who do not qualify? Get real, get back to earth, we know that’s not the case. So snap out of the dillusion.

What’s even worse for a wordly wise person not to realize the risks involvement incurred when too much flats are being sold to PRs like yourself and where are Singaporeans going to stay? India?

So what is Mr Amit looking at now? It’s fairly simple. Singaporeans may look vulnerable but what Mr Amit is realistically looking at now is how Singaporeans can quickly band together hand in hand to fight off threats to our livelihood. Mr Amit, we are trained by our army (since 18 years of age) and government to live as one, work as one and die as one. You have the privilege to see how far we have come through our training all these years, and I hope this will add on to your worldly wise apitude.

In our army, the first thing we go through is to recite the military pledge. We pledged to defend our land, save lives and properties, this is something Singaporeans will gladly do so.

So why are Singaporeans outraged by you, Mr Amit?

1. Singapore’s men spent two and a half years serving National Service to train to defend this land. Singapore’s men also sacrificed time for the next ten years being recalled for military service. Singapore’s wives have to take up the chore of manning the household when their husbands are back in camps. Mr Amit, where do you stand?

2. Singaporeans are getting more educated these days and their travelling experiences have been diaried in their blogs which can be easily located by a simple Google Search. Such that, Singapore has begun embarking on higher education institutions to come to Singapore, along with attracting foreign students. Mr Amit, where do you stand?

3. Singapore has gone through a major transformation, not just the ministers but also the citizens of Singapore. The transformation didn’t come overnight. For your information, coming National Day Parade is Singapore’s 43th Birthday and I proudly tell you so. 43 years of hardship and improvements through the hands of Singaporeans majorly, since the days of our independence. Mr Amit, where do you stand?

4. Singaporeans are not given “expat relocation fees” by their employers. Talking to various friends I have gotten to know in the expat forums, they confirmed that most expats who relocated to Singapore have their relocation expenditures sponsored by the employers. From container shipping to initial hotel charges, from housing to private transportation sometimes, they are all covered. What about Singaporeans? Every cent they earned, are fully spent on the necessities. Mr Amit, where do you stand?

5. I have spoken to many expats as I wrote above. Many of them agree with me that coming to live and work in Singapore is integrating themselves into the cultures of Singapore. Not changing it to the way you hope for it to be. Mr Amit, where do you stand?

6. Walk along the old neighbourhoods or back lanes, bring your children along if you’d like. Take a real good look at the old folks who can’t afford a home or those who have to be picking up drink cans for the entire day for just a SGD$2 meal. More than half of them are twice your age, some older than you and your wife combined. They have been here slogging even before Singapore became independent. Mr Amit, where do you stand?

7. And lastly, because Singaporeans are born here, live here, grow up here, study here, serve the army here, work here… and for countless, they died here too. We proudly Singaporeans - 100% in the blood. Mr Amit, where do you stand?