Be thankful to Canada, Mr Brooks
Thursday, 6 August 2009, 8:55 am | 437 views
The following is a letter by Mr Cheong Wing Lee, a Canadian, in
response to Mr Eric Brooks's letter in the Straits Times titled, "Be
grateful, Singapore".
Dear Editor,
As a fellow Canadian I am embarrassed by Mr Eric Brooks' remarks to
Singaporeans. Mr. Brooks is a visitor with a superficial knowledge of
Singapore history. He should refrain from making such ridiculous
sweeping statements.
I was born shortly after the Second World War and raised in Singapore
before immigrating to Canada. I have worked and lived in more
countries than Mr Brooks. There is no doubt that most Singaporeans
deeply appreciate the outstanding work done by the Singapore leaders
in bringing the country from third world status to the present world
class status. However, gratitude evolves with time and social changes.
Singaporeans are now better educated. They travel, see, learn, compare
and adapt. Singaporeans are not stupid or naive.
Singaporeans now have a higher level of thinking and are more
demanding. This demonstrates progress. Higher aspirations, greater
expectations come with evolving progressive social changes. A society
that remains complacent and stagnant deteriorates and eventually
collapses. No country can excel with a mindless society of puppets.
The Singapore government should be grateful that its citizens are
matured and not treat anyone with opposing views as public enemy. Most
of them are as passionate as the government in making Singapore a
better society.
Singaporeans are smart enough to see through spins and propaganda and
evaluate the truths for themselves. It is difficult for most
Singaporeans to remain silent whilst government leaders lecture them
to be thrifty, not to be materialistic and not to demand for higher
pay. On the other hand, the leaders reward themselves with pay
packages that exceed the leaders' of the eight richest countries in
the world combined.
The Singapore ministers' argument that their pay package is only a
small fraction of the country's GDP is weak and debatable. The
Canadian prime minister draws less than 10 per cent that of the
Singapore prime minister's but he governs a country 15,000 times the
size of Singapore, with a population that is eight times larger and
with a GDP that is ten times more. Vancouver in Canada is constantly
voted the best place to live in the world. This example put the
Singapore government's argument out of context.
The government gives S$360 a month as financial support for the poor
and needy. If such an amount is computed by the government as enough
to survive, why then do they need to pay themselves by millions?
I cordially invite any member of parliament and/or news media reporter
to come and stay with me for a period of time and I will show them
that it takes only a small tiny fraction of their salaries to live
happily and healthily in a beautiful environment with a good standard
of living.
Is it a surprise that Singaporeans are discontented? It is just human
nature. Confucius was quoted as telling the emperor on good
government:
"How can the emperor be happy when the people have nothing? How can
the emperor not be happy when the people have everything?"
Does Mr. Brooks know that 79% of Singapore students after studying
overseas do not return to Singapore? Are they not grateful too?
So Mr. Brooks, before you further make a fool of yourself in
Singapore, be grateful to Canada and not complain because of a
temporary disruption in garbage collection in Toronto. Be thankful of
the good healthcare system and the generous old age pension. If you
truly like Singapore you should be a citizen. There are lots of
Singaporeans who are willing to trade your citizenship if it is
possible.
Yours truly,
Wing Lee Cheong
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