In that ‘Poser on Handicapped Parking’ letter, Mr. Adnan complained about how some Singaporeans abuse facilities for the disabled, namely parking their cars in lots reserved for the handicapped. He recommends legal penalties and mandatory enforcements by the relevant authorities to instill social responsibility. He also noted that social grace is not part of a Singaporean’s nature.
Mr. Adnan cannot be more right about the lack of social responsibility in Singaporeans. However, I do not agree that legal penalties and mandatory enforcements will solve the problem. As it is, Singaporeans are so used to being restricted and regulated by the laws that unless there is threat of a fine, no Singaporeans in their right mind will follow a sign that states ‘do this’ or ‘do that’, much less an unwritten code of conduct.
Social responsibility has to be nurtured. People must see themselves as an inherent part of a larger society to want to willingly do something necessary even if it means a little personal inconvenience. The biggest hurdle for a Singaporean to show responsibility to society is his sense of Kiasu-ism. We all know what it is. Even if I don’t park my car here, someone else will come along to do it! Even if I don’t litter, someone else will litter! Being Kiasu, a Singaporean believes that instead of someone else, he must be first, even if it means committing an offence. What the heck, one is not guilty unless caught. Illegal parking, littering, stealing, and anything unethical-if one can get away if it, then all the better!
While we are talking about social responsibility, let’s also talk about being environmentally conscious. I believe being environmentally conscious is a integral part of being socially responsible. If we feel responsible to society as a whole, then we will want to save it from an imminent disaster and do our part at reuse, reduce and recycle. Here is one thing Singapore can learn from Japan. Having lived seven years in Japan, I can vouch that Japanese is the most socially responsible and environmentally conscious people on earth.
Eco’ is a huge theme in the Japanese way of life. From a young age, Japanese are taught about the necessity of recycling, use and reuse. Household rubbish has to be separated and brought out to the collection stations. In schools, recycling drives are carried out regularly. In supermarkets and departmental stores, in fast food restaurants, at train stations, in parks, at cinemas, almost everywhere, there are recycling bins! They are part and parcel of the Japanese way of life. Seven years living in Japan, and I am so accustomed to this way of life that each time I go back to Singapore, I had a hard time convincing myself that it is OK to throw my drink bottle down the rubbish chute together with all the other rubbish.
Japanese are people who respect their surroundings and public properties. When I first started life in Japan, I was often amazed by the fact that there are open taps in most neighborhood playgrounds, not to mention public toilets in many of them. Where I come from, where there is an open tap, you would find people lining up to get their cars washed. I wouldn’t be surprised if people start to carry pails of water back home! This is the reason why all public taps (for washing of the streets) are kept padlocked in Singapore. But in Japan, the taps were never misused. Even the toilets at the playground were so clean, considering the fact that there are no regular cleaners for them. The local neighborhood committee takes charge of cleaning the playground and its toilets. I have to take my hat off to the Japanese when it comes to respect for both public and personal properties. It is this respect that stop Japanese from illegally copying someone else’s work. There is very little copyright infringement in Japan compared to the other parts of Asia, where copyright infringement is rampant. One cannot find an illegally copied CD, DVD or CD-Rom sold on the streets of Japan.
I have never seen a street cleaner in my neighborhood. In fact, I have never seen a street cleaner on the streets of Yamagata. People here take personal responsibility in cleaning up their own streets. Every household is in charge of the street in front of its house and a number of times a year, the neighborhood committee will organize cleaning campaigns to clean up the streets in the neighborhood and to ‘pull up’ grasses in the neighborhood playground. In Spring and Summer, residents turn up in campaigns to rid the local playground of grasses. Grasses are pulled up and rubbish is collected. In Autumn, residents participated in sweeping up fallen leaves at the playground. Mind you, these are voluntary efforts, not enforced. Residents see it as their responsibility in helping to keep their neighborhood clean and pleasant.
I hope this community attitude of the Japanese can be spread back home. Singapore is well known for its clean streets. But I must say that the cleanliness is not so much an effort of the people but the effort of the army of sweepers and cleaners employed to heap away the rubbish Singaporeans throw mindlessly. Singaporeans take these cleaners for granted and know that whatever rubbish and mess left behind would be cleaned up. Take away these cleaners, and I am sure the garden city would turn into a rotting dump in a few days. The last time I went back to Singapore, I was horrified by the sight of recycling bins filled with all kinds of rubbish. Instead of plastic bottles, paper and cans deposited at the respective bins, I saw unwanted food, discarded personal items and what have you, dumped mercilessly into the bins. Being a hot and humid country, the recycling bins stank and were swamped with flies.
So what makes the Japanese different? I am sure it is not just because they are rich and can afford it. Many Singaporeans earn higher wages than the average Japanese. Nowadays even Chinese are richer than the Japanese. I happen to think that education plays a huge part, although I must admit that personality has a lot to do with it too. Without a system of fines or arrests, Japanese are able to manage their rubbish disposal and to keep their cities clean. Japanese see themselves more as part of a larger society than as an individual. Perhaps if the rest of the world were to learn from the Japanese, we would have lesser problems with resource depletion and global warming.
As a start, let’s start educating our kids about social responsibility in schools. Let’s have more grassroots activities and events that involve the local residents. Make people feel that they are part of a bigger picture. Let us just stop being kaisu and boh-chap! Let’s give each other a tight slap so that we can all stop being so childish and selfish.
Grow up, my fellow Singaporeans! Stop Kiasu-ism! AND stop calling those law-abiding folks ‘Kiasi’!
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