October 17, 1997
Dear Sir:
An Oasis or a Mirage?
I refer to Warren Fernandez's 'PM Goh's vision of the Republic' ST October 16, 1997. I found the metaphor of a sheltering oasis somewhat disturbing since an oasis is only an ephemeral stop on a long tiring journey in a desert. I believe that people will not make an oasis their home if they know that there is another land of flowing milk and honey & they will only exploit an oasis as a pit stop on the route to true paradise.
PM Goh is correct to observe that Singapore, like most nations, have thrived on foreign talent but Singapore's next lap of development depends on a plurality, diversity and tolerance of alternative ideas of not only foreigners but also native Singaporeans. Moreover, I am sure that there are not a few individuals that will consider PM Goh's invitation to 'make Singapore their home and make a difference to it' somewhat charily. Especially in view of the perception of how the government has dealt with Singaporeans and some foreigners with alternative ideas in the recent past.
PM Goh's observation that Singaporeans have to be 'more disciplined' in the drive to make Singapore more attractive will be of little use if the talent that is attracted merely uses Singapore as a launchpad for better climes, a more tolerant and a quality of life. I do hope that the PAP government can separate those that abuse their welcome to Singapore for transient reasons - where they use Singapore as a quick and easy trapdoor to escape the miserable economic from their home country & harbor for a while in Singapore before moving on. Singapore loses something but the Singaporean loses most.
Ironically, in the pursuit to preserve what the PAP believes to be a distinctively Singaporean 'core culture' may actually hinder and retard the process of Singapore evolving into a more cosmopolitan society. A cosmopolitan society does not berate nor snuff out opposing ideas and those that propose them. A cosmopolitan society cannot arise from a government that marginalizes or manages alternative opinion by ruses like the Nominated Members of Parliament system (NMPS) as these NMPS lack the basic democratic legitimacy and hardly give voice to the republic since they were not directly elected by the public. A cosmopolitan society does not arise from a political party that uses the naked hardball political carrot of HDB upgrading to win elections.
I have long observed Singapore's long march to drum up the knowledge-based industries. Creativity, the well-spring of knowledge, have to be tolerated. Creativity is also a function of opposing views where the creative genius is unorthodox, different, risky, perhaps even absurd.
Sadly, I think that the culture and environment of Singapore cannot tolerate such unorthodox opinions because alternative views are frowned upon and criticised. Universities, which are the incubators of research and development, should be liberated from an academic fiefdom. It is rumored that academics in local universities have to yield to stifling & stringent media rules governing 'economic, political, social or legal content' and it will be very surprising if Singapore can attract Nobel-caliber R & D people with such laughable and paternalistic terms. True advancement of learning needs to be motivated by the spirit and resolve of freedom as typified by the clash of Galileo and the Papacy - but alas - we will not be able to even get Galileo to the negotiating table with such a climate of intolerance and control.
PM Goh's hopes of Singapore becoming a training center for European or American managers before future assignments in Asia is again a damp squib. Global savvy MNCs already know that Singapore can hardly provide the appropriate training environment for management and navigation of corruption ridden and bureaucratic jurisdictions in the Asia-Pacific. Singapore, with its corruption-free, no-nonsense law & order environment is far removed from transactionary 'grease-the-wheel' costs in less than transparent jurisdictions. Training in Singapore would be no better than having a 'clean room' simulation in Peoria, Illinois.
Finally, PM Goh must not let this talent search alienate the sons and daughters of Singapore's soil. We already have a creeping alienation of feeling from Singapore's own strand of Generation Xers who see that they will never get what has been promised by their parents, their teachers and the state and their own expectations.
Now coupled with this feeling of not attaining the Singapore dream, they will resent the prospect and maybe even react against the reality, of a PAP government bending over backward and handing out material goodies to attract foreign talent to Singapore. The average Ah Kow/Ahmad/Rama in the street who serves or sends a son to serve in National Service begins to wonder what is it all for. I think that it is not unreasonable to welcome others to the table but even I will object if the visitor wants to from my plate as well.
Lest it be forgotten, that in life, no one makes an oasis a permanent home because when the oasis is dry, the wandering visitor will leave but the sons and daughters of the soil will stay.
Yours Sincerely
John A. Tessensohn, Esq.
New York, New York