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I’m not really sure if I have the capacity to be objective about this issue. In fact I think I might tend towards borderline racism as I type this. It will be offensive to some and I know my vocabulary might not suffice, especially in expressing difficult concepts. It is also a topic which I prefer to avoid since most people tend to fall into the trap of SG locals vs Foreign Talents/Legion. It bores me to be honest.
But nevertheless I will try to be as objective as possible. This post is meant to be thought provoking anyway.
My post today is a social issue, the ever increasingly China-risation of Singapore. Firstly let me start by defining what I exactly mean by this term, China-risation.
Now it is no secret that historically Singapore has a huge Chinese population. It stands somewhere around 75% I think. However it is also no secret that in the past decade, the rise of China as a global economic power, coupled by rather lax immigration laws has resulted in an influx of new Chinese into this island. This creates a social and racial imbalance within Singapore.
I think it is really hard to sympathise if you’re not an actual non-Chinese i.e. a minority race like Malays or Indians.
The problem with this imbalance is that it creates an environment where Mandarin is a de facto working-life language. Sure Singapore is known for its meritocratic ways in hiring workers. But when a majority of jobs start having lines like “Must be bilingual in order to communicate with Mandarin-speaking customers” does it not occur to you that inherent discrimination is occurring here? I recently tried to look for a part time job and while thankfully I did get one, that line appeared in at least 15 job articles.
As a non-Mandarin speaker I am absolutely horrified to be honest. Perhaps Singaporean employers are not racist at all but such subtle discrimination is something to be afraid of in my opinion. Furthermore (back to the new Chinese) many of these new immigrants barely speak English. I almost laughed while watching a Malay old man scolding this Chinese bus driver because the driver couldn’t speak English. The poor driver had to get another passenger to play the role of translator. At least the driver was nice enough to apologise to the old man in broken English.
It’s even more disturbing when I had friends sending their kids to kindergarten and those kids were forced to learn Mandarin instead of Malay. Something is very wrong isn’t it? Even worse is this “project” where non-Chinese students in Secondary schools learn conversational Mandarin while the Chinese learn other conversational languages. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing but again it brings up this question, “How important is it to learn Mandarin instead of Malay or Tamil?”
Our society is becoming increasingly “China-rised” and while this may not be necessarily a bad thing, little is done to make life comfortable for the non-Chinese. When I was younger, every hawker centre or coffee shop had at least one Malay/Indian stall. Today I need to take a 15min walk to the MRT station and buy fast food if I want to eat. Perhaps it’s just a Sembawang thing. Or is it becoming a national trend?
Is halal food becoming an endangered species?
They say war is an atrocity committed in the name of survival. Of course I’m not saying non-Chinese should wage war to protect their interests! Another racial war isn’t the idea. It’s a rather stupid response actually. But should something be done no? Should the lingual and racial rights of Malays and Indians be protected? This is especially when it is painfully obvious that the new immigrants are rather aggressive in cementing their position in Singapore. Without a second thought as to who might be displaced.
I feel like a foreigner in my own country.
And my fear for Singapore is that it becomes too foreign for me and many other individuals, so much so that we are unwittingly driven out of our country.
Not by force but by discomfort.
On a more political note, I am considering dipping my toes into the political scene. I had my experiences with PAYM, which is inherently PAP despite their vehement claims of being neutral. It was a nice experience actually. However I’m not really keen on joining any Opposition Youth programmes as I don’t really trust our Opposition parties anyway. Perhaps a social or environmental groups?
I do want to see both sides of the coin.
Wednesday, 18 September 2013
I got my results back. Aside for the B+ for FYP, scored As and Distinctions for virtually everything else. This pleases me greatly. It's such a great response to my last semester's disaster.
I spent a great deal of time also consoling and tending to those who didn't do well. Spent an hour tending to my little girl. Seeing her sad just makes me even more sad. While hearing that my New York girl got drunk again riles me up. Why do I have such naive girls in my life? It brings out the big-brother-complex in me!
I realise I have a lot of girls in my life but no girlfriend. This confuses me greatly.
I think i have a compulsive disorder. It's like an inherent need to make the people around me happier or else I feel completely distressed. Although I wonder if it's a good thing or not? Caring so much for others? Sometimes I show a lot of concern just to make sure that people would be bothered with me when the time comes. Apparently it doesn't work that way.
And honestly I was more worried about her results than mine (which is stupid) but yeah... I even got into a grumpy rage with one of my friends. She was talking about freedom and stuff and how she wasn't obligated to reply me.
I still find myself so repulsive for being so needy.
Can you believe how needy I am? Look at my chat. I'm like going around randomly seeking attention. Haizz I hate this. I really do hate this side of me.
And I don't think I'm going into politics anymore. I mean just this morning I hear that Singapore wants to tighten abortion laws?
"Life is sacred! Abortion is murder!! Abortion is against religions!"
Abortion isn't about murder or controlling the number of children someone has! It's about CHOICE. A right to have control over one's body. And I am suppose to convince imbeciles like anti-abortionists that Singapore needs change and soon?? Nah I doubt I can handle such people.
I just rambling up to this point. I have no idea what I'm typing anymore. Must be the fact I'm cooped up in a room all the time. You know sometimes I hear voices in my head? They talk to me. I find it entertaining. At least I'm not alone. This isn't a good sign right?
I'm probably losing the plot soon.
And I have a new fascination now with Pusheen the fat cat. OK I'll admit the only reason why I like it is because it reminds me of yeobu (minus the fat part). It's SO CUTE! So smart. So pretty. I think Pusheen is a girl by the way. Pusheen can do just about anything!
Reminds me of her. Stupid Shaz is stupid. I still get cheap thrills whenever she replies my tweets.
OK I've lost the plot now. Insanity.