A Reply to Cynical Young Singaporeans
August 25, 2004

I refer to the article, An open society? We'll see Young Singaporeans sceptical about promised changes , dated August 25, 2004.

As a young Singaporean who has had similar sentiments like my other country mates interviewed in the article, I believe that their opinions are justified.

However, I disagree with the attitude that they are taking, towards the repressive political and social climate in Singapore.

Lest I be accused of being naive, I strongly believe that Young Singaporeans should believe in our Prime Minister’s National Day Speech, be optimistic, brave enough to offer differing views and challenge the status quo.

While the grass is always greener on the other side, nothing beats fighting for one’s own rights in our own backyard.

Migration is not the solution to cynical young Singaporean’s problem. They are merely running away from it. Singaporeans who migrate face issues including adjusting to a new society, gaining trust from natives, integrating into a foreign culture, and becoming a “second class” citizen in some cases. Moreover, one cannot supplant his entire family, friends and feelings for our familiar surroundings entirely into a new environment.

For too long, Young Singaporeans have been griping about our system but unwilling to take the plunge to transform their complaints into positive affirmative action.

I strongly encourage them to step out of their comfort zone and follow the footsteps of youths in other parts of the world.

History has shown that the young can make a difference. The Reformasi movement in Indonesia and Malaysia, People Power I and II, and the uphill constant battle that the Burmese students take in challenging the military regime are some examples which will hopefully inspire us.

Societal and political changes in Singapore can and should be peacefully transformed.

There are many ways that young Singaporeans can be proactive, including, forming legal societies or joining an existing NGO and effect societal changes. Write letters to internet newsgroup or newspapers and voice out without fear or self-censorship. Join an Opposition political party if one wants to challenge the one party system. The possibilities are endless.

As Malcolm X once said, “Nobody can give you freedom. Nobody can give you equality or justice or anything. If you’re a man, you take it.”


An open society? We'll see Young Singaporeans sceptical about promised changes
Wednesday • August 25, 2004
Lee Ching Wern
chingwern@newstoday.com.sg

A KEY challenge in this age of globalisation is to give young Singaporeans both "wings" and "roots", said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the National Day Rally on Sunday.

Announcing a slew of changes aimed at creating a more open and diverse society, Mr Lee said if Singapore wanted its young to remain committed, it needed to "empower them, to give them a say in their lives to make them feel like they can make a difference".

What do young Singaporeans who are contemplating a move to what seem like greener pastures have to say?

Today spoke to 10 Singaporeans in their 20s and 30s who are either planning to move or are thinking about it.

All said that the PM's message, while refreshing and much welcomed, would not influence their decisions. They find it "stifling" in Singapore and do not think this can be changed overnight — not even with the new Prime Minister sending such a strong signal in his maiden Rally speech.

"Saying it is one thing. Seeing it actually happening is another," said Mr Luke Bachymuthu, a 29-year-old writer.

"How fast can it filter down to becoming reality? I don't want to wait 20 years and at that point realise that, yah, we tried and things didn't work out. I can get the kind of life I want by moving to some place where it's been proven and tested. If you want a beach, you go to a beach, not to a swimming pool and pretend it's a beach or hope it will become one later."

Mr Marc See, a 27-year-old banker, said: "I'll wait and see. They always say things. But whether things happen or not is another thing. Even then, if they say let's allow this, there will always be a little star, and at the bottom, small print explaining the catch and conditions attached.

"It's like they say you don't need a licence to speak at Speaker's Corner but you have to register. You can create a youth agency or rename a ministry but these changes are cosmetic. Unless you go beyond this, people still won't dare to go down and buy JBJ's books."

Mr Dax Ng, 26, who studied in Australia, said: "It's not an event, it's a process. The new PM might have kick started it, and that's great. Things might change but for major mindset changes, it's going to be in the long run. Maybe the younger generation will see it."

But what exactly do these young people want that they can't get in Singapore?

"The feeling is I can do whatever I want there," said 25-year-old Mr Wong Guohua of his days as a student in Belgium. "There, I felt I had the power to do things, even though I was a nobody. I want the freedom of choice and for that I'm willing to put up with the law and order issues that may come along with it. That's the beauty of it. Don't enclose us and call it paradise."

A 29-year-old who is applying for permanent residence in Australia said: "It's not to say I will actually do these things but I want to be able to. For example, I'm not even sure I can hold a placard and walk along Orchard Road barefoot and shout something."

Added undergraduate Lee Weiyi: "Why are we cynical? Because for the longest time, everything has been regulated and not transparent enough."

Commenting on the scepticism of some young Singaporeans, MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol Charles Chong said it was important that real change take place. "If nothing happens and ideas are not accepted, the youth will be even more disillusioned than before."