I am 21 year old Singaporean male, undergraduate in 1st year of university. Amidst all the complaints and resentment that Singaporeans have against our government, I would like to express some of my personal views and probably a gauge on how the new younger generation would think about certain social issues. (Disclaimer: I am not exactly representing what people from my generation would think).
The Bukit Panjang LRT delay that happened earlier this morning while I was making my way to my tutee's set me thinking about some of the social issues that Singaporeans are facing. Even though I was late for my lesson, which I had my pay deducted as part-time tutors like me are being paid by the hour, it was more of a blessing in disguise. I had some time while travelling and being caught in the delay to think about these issues To begin with, the issue of the recent or upcoming fare hikes for public transport has caused a lot of debates among Singaporeans. As economics students, we were taught the that public transport is a public good, which essentially means that it is set up to improve the overall welfare of the society and it should not be an avenue for profit making. However, the Singapore government privatised our public transport services unlike most countries where the government retains every right to the organization providing this service.
There have been critics slamming the government by stating that SMRT had became profit-oriented instead of providing cheap and affordable public transport services to the public. This probably explains the numerous fare hikes implemented to increase the profits for the company in order to meet demands of shareholders. However, before we judge, we might want to consider the other view that the act of privatising the transport companies was actually more efficient in the past when public transport services first begin in Singapore. Being a privatised firm, there was incentive for the company to function efficiently, to keep cost to the lowest to maximize profits. This might have been the driving force for the rapid improvements to the transport system and personally, I am truly thankful for such an efficient and convenient transport system that the government has built for us. However, in the current context, the government might want to consider converting it back into a public good rather than leaving it as a privatized company in order to avoid future fare hikes which seems rather unjustified in the eyes of many Singaporeans.
This brings me to my next point about the fare hikes. I wouldn't mind the fare hikes if the system was improved and high service standards were demonstrated. I understand that as the transport infrastructure gets old, breakdowns are inevitable due to wear and tear. During the breakdown of the LRT service earlier this morning, I had expected SMRT to respond by sending staff to the ground to usher the commuters to alternative transport to get to their destination. It would be also be good if a feeder bus service is being activated to fetch the commuters affected by the breakdown. Sadly, much to my dismay, nothing was done. Not even a single announcement was made in the stations and there were quite a lot people stranded on the station platforms, wondering what happened to the train that didn't turn up on time for them to board. With the display of such service standards, I seriously do not think that the fare hike is justified. I believe that if I am paying premium rates for a service, I would expect premium service, just as I would have expected from a profit-oriented firm providing services. I had to take the train in the opposite direction to make a loop to get to Chua Chu Kang. This really made me doubt whether the government really knows and understands whatever they are doing.
The next issue is about the high influx of foreigners into Singapore. Back in the early 2000s, I believed that the government had the foresight that the population is ageing and more human capital is needed to sustain the economy. I truly respect the leaders in the parliament back then to be able to anticipate this coming. Probably back then, opening the floodgates to foreigners into our country was the best solution to salvage the situation. However, there has been severe repercussions, which I believe I wouldn't need to raise it up here as many of us would have known. I do see that there has been efforts recently to rectify these problems but they haven't showing results yet. I would like to bring up the issue of our outrageous pay checks that our ministers are receiving, coupled with the ridiculous amount of bonus that they declare for themselves annually in relation to the previous point.
Throughout the train delay, I kept trying to stand by the view that was ingrained in me (through the education that I have been receiving all these years) that the high pay is meant to deter corruption and motivate our leaders in leading the country well. Truly, I am thankful for the low corruption rate in Singapore as compared to many other countries. However, i would like to highlight that this seems more like a form legalized corruption. The more I look at it, the more I feel that Singapore is being run like a corporation/firm rather than a country. Ministers are drawing CEO level of pay for such quality of work that they produce. If we are paying them such high salaries through our taxes, shouldn't we expect a proportionate service standard from them speaking from a corporate view. Yet the quality of work that they had delivered is not proportional to huge pay check that they are receiving. I'm sure we'll expect much better solutions to the huge social issues as a result of the high influx of foreigners in Singapore for that kind of pay.
I believe that these 2 issues are the rather pressing ones which the society is facing right now. I am sure that there are many more issues which I have not raised here too. Since young, I have been taught about the merits of the government through the propaganda in the education system. I am not trying to shoot propaganda down as it do has its merits too like getting the whole community to move cohesively in a particular direction which is actually vital for national progression. However, as I grew older and as life starts to hit me, I find myself doubting more and more in the "beliefs" that school has always taught us. Of course, I start to discern certain issues and views myself too before taking a more balanced stand.
In conclusion, I would like to give our government the benefit of doubt that they are still placing the interest of Singaporeans first in anything that they do. I do give credit to them for the national progress that has taken place so far, especially for transforming a third-world country to a first-world country within 2-3 generations. I truly respect whatever the early generation of leaders in the cabinet had done. However, I would like to strongly urge the government to start listening to the people before planning and implementing anything, If you are out to serve Singaporeans, please listen to whatever concerns that we have. We don't need leaders who are high and mighty up there who do not understand what is happening in the society
below. We need leaders who can empathize with us. Please don't destroy the good image of the government built by the older generation of ministers. Please don't make me change my vote in 2016 when I cast my first vote in the general elections.
Cheers!
PS: I'm only providing a point view from my experiences and what a young adult have gone through from young till 21. Please feel free to provide alternative views.
21 yr old
TRS Reader