In October 2013, a seminar was held by the Institute of Policy Studies and Avenir Suisse - Singapore and Switzerland: Learning from each other. While not all models and systems of running the individual countries may be easily transferrable, I find that it is essential that our leaders (or "the Supreme Leader", as you may) are able to take in what is required in building our Nation not just economically but with common sentiments with my peers, socially as well. It is trite fact that both of the above countries are highly similar in the following non-exhaustive list: Employment statistics; Literacy rates; Life Expectancy; and even Economic Statistics (per capita). We are so similar that even Mr S Iswaran, Second Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Trade & Industry appreciated so in the above seminar.
We see that in a keynote address by Mr Jean-Pierre Roth, Chairman of the Governing Board of the Swiss National Bank and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank for International Settlements (at the Swiss Business Association, Singapore, 18 September 2006), it is further noticed that both countries rely heavily on human capital but in 2006, 20% of the Swiss population were made up of foreign immigrants (ringing any bells here?).
Here is the beef of the sandwich: Our leaders have been learning so much from this small country right smacked in the middle of the European Union and what is it that they have exactly learnt? I can only come out with these: Defense, Establishment of the Economic Development Board and the monopoly of R&D by A*Star and SPRING (another misfortune for private sectors venturing into this area but that is another story). All these are good, if not great advancements but they only dwell in the boundaries of the Singaporean economy.
My key idea here is this: The recommendation of a more-than-pseudo-referendum system in Singapore, hinging on the social and political realm of our little island nation.
Of course, we can claim that we have "Our Singapore Conversation" as such a measure but what really goes on in the minds of those who hear our thoughts (and mind you, I am using the word 'hear' instead of 'listen' for a reason), are our opinions bringing actions by those who (claim to) represent us? I am thinking: Nought.
We can whine all we want about how "people up there" are not listening to our views and we can sign all the petitions we want in our lives but in the final analysis, we know that things will not happen if the people do not have a legitimate say in the matters of the nation. Deep down in our beings, am I right to say that we have become people bounded by regulations that even the notion of a freedom of speech is one governed by such rules? What I am not implying is that we should all start overturning vehicles and setting fire to ambulances but it is time we the people have a voice. We need a nation by the people, for the people regardless of man's selfish ambition or political righteousness. It is about time that we are listened to. You may ask about the method we are going to go about doing this and honestly, my answer will be to raise up the next generation of leaders. Leaders who are chosen not simply because they are elite and well-connected but because in their heart of hearts, there is a residue of The Singaporean Pride. Not for the fame (or notoriety) nor the status of being a well-paid politician living in an ivory tower, but for this home that we have.
The last thing that I want to show from the case of Switzerland & Singapore, which I believe is an issue core to all well-informed Singaporeans: Foreign Immigrants
Just hours ago, on the 9th of February, Swiss voters passed a referendum capping immigration. The vote was prompted by this reason:
"The curbs are needed because a rise in the number of immigrants has created too much competition for jobs, raised property prices and rents, and overtaxed the local transportation system." (sounds familiar?)
About 64,000 EU citizens have settled in Switzerland every year over the past decade, according to the Federal Office for Migration and if we were to do the math, it equates to 640,000 immigrants in the past decade against the total population of close to 8 million and looking at our little nation, the numbers of foreign immigrants and labourers been growing in approximately the same number as Switzerland from 2006 (~875,500) to 2012 (~1.46million) and these numbers are only from a 6 year period, stacked against a total population of ~5.26 million.
Are we really going to be sitting down in front of our computers and ranting about the 'Gahmen', or are we going to be active in this? Let us all be a tad bit wiser in this year and we shall see Singapore not as an invasion but as a country we can truly say, "That is our Home."
Zonsean
TRS Contributor