1) Stop looking for a Singaporean Identity

In a separate article titled ‘Singapore Inc.’, I had argued that the Singapore government should stop promoting a Singaporean Identity. This is what I had written:-

In the 70s and 80s, when I was still a kid growing up in Singapore, the government was very keen at promoting a Singapore Identity. Having separated from Malaysia in 1965, we were still a very young country trying very hard to be recognized. During those early years, the National Day celebration was a grueling parade of armies, service men, artilleries and civil servants who had to march many hours through the housing estates in show of their patriotism. As kids, my siblings and I had stood along the road where the parade passed by and waved our flags. Later on, the long hours of marching were done away and National Day Parades were held inside the National Stadium. Every year, my family watched the live telecast of each National Day Parade faithfully. At these times, patriotism became magnified, and I was always so proud of my nation and to be a part of it.

In the mid-80s, the Singapore government, in wanting to promote unity and patriotism, started encouraging locally written nationalistic songs to be made. These songs became National Day Parade theme songs. It was during these years that many of the songs like ‘Stand Up for Singapore’, ‘We are Singapore’, ‘Count On Me, Singapore’, ‘One people, One Nation, One Singapore’, became a household hit. Growing up singing these songs, I would like to think that people of my generation truly believe that there is something unique about being a Singaporean. Throughout the 80s and 90s, as Singapore became more and more affluent and developed, the sense of pride at being a Singaporean got deeper. Once ashamed, we were proud of our Singlish. Once divided, we stood side by side our fellow Singaporeans of all races. My generation, people in their 30s and 40s now, (I’d like to call myself the ‘golden’ generation) grew up searching, then finding and becoming proud of who we are. We all had this common identity, the Singapore Identity.

Then came the past decade, in which the influx of foreigners seemed to have eroded this sense of identity. A major portion of the Singapore population now does not share the same set of ideals and thoughts that we hold so dearly. Many of them don’t even speak Singlish! Worse, (this is my best part) some don’t even like curry! As the proportion of native Singaporean gets ever smaller, the sense of unity among Singaporeans is bound to break down. Already, there is a clear divide between Us (native Singaporeans) and them (foreigners). As the number of foreigners outweighs the local-breed Singaporeans, social disorder becomes a real threat.

I think the first thing the government should do immediately is to stop promoting a Singapore Identity (it is dead). Promoting a Singaporean identity will only highlight and accentuate the differences between local and imported Singaporeans. Any form of division, be it race or country of origin, should be minimized. A Chinese from China is so different from a native Chinese Singaporean. Likewise, an Indian from India is so different from a native Indian Singaporean. This is true for all the other races. So why bother to categorize the population into races? Country of origin? Does it matter now that these people are holding Singaporean passports? Categorizing people leads to stereotyping and prejudice.

Singaporeans should just be listed as Singaporeans, regardless of race, language or religion. The Singapore government may find itself loosing critical knowledge of the masses and in turn, the tight control that it is used to have over its citizens. But I think, in the long run, the Singapore population will become less divided. In the future, the Singaporean should evolve into someone who can be of any colour, religion and culture. Multi-nationalism will become the new Singaporean identity. We are anything and everything all rolled into one.

I always boost that Singapore is the only nation in the world in which you can find a Jew next to a Palestinian; an Indian next to a Pakistani; a Christian next to a Muslim; Cambodians next to Vietnamese next to Thais; Americans next to Chinese next to Koreans next to Japanese. We are a nation of all mix and matches. People from all over the world arrived in this small plot of land to seek their fortune and a place where racial, tribal, religious, political, historical and cultural animosity do not exist. It is this cosmopolitan environment that makes us so unique. So why try to draw a line and try to divide between what is Singaporean and what is not? As I had said, we are anything and everything all rolled into one.

We took about 2 generations to build a nation called Singapore. Most of us, adult native Singaporeans, have grandparents from another nation. It was their cultures, practices and beliefs which had been mixed and blended into what we see in Singapore today. We will need another 2 generations to assimilate these ‘imported’ foreigners and evolve into a new Singapore Identity. Be patient. Let nature takes its course, such matters of the heart cannot be rushed and enforced.