KFC Translation

Singapore sucess

Singapore passport

My passport run out of pages while I was still in Hong Kong. Initially, I was worried as my busy schdules has made it diffcult for me to plan a trip back to Singapore to do a new one. Out of desperation, I went on line to enquire and I was surprised to learn that I can actually go online to apply for a passport. Once everything is done, I could even collect it in Hong Kong!

Wow! Our civil service standard has certainly improved! Great job!

Yu Sen - Lo hei dinner

Many Singaporean will eat Lou hei Yu Sen dinner during Chinese new year period. Do you know when and who strated it first?

Tthe first "Yu Sen lo hei" dish was invented in 1967 by the Lee Wah reastaurant at Bendemeer road! This mean that Singaporean has been eating this Lou Hei dish for 40 years! Happy 40th anniversary of Lou Hei!!

HDB - Singapore invention

The HDB is really an amazing Singapore invention. Why? Every Singaporean should be gald that we have the HDB to help them make their dream come true. Our public housing policy are so good that all their buidling are so carefully planned and well executed that the population at large need mot worry about greenery and landscaping or even building maintainace and upgrading.

Just look at the old apartment blocke and old housing in Hong Kongm you will understand the meaning of lucky. Old windows falling from the sky, air con water leaking are just examples of the inefficiency in HK housing policy.

I didn't have the luck to enjoy the benefit of owing the HDB as I bought my first condo with my mom in 1993 which has made me not eligible for the scheme. However, I am always amazed at how the HDB housing have managed to upgrede themselves so much that it is sometimes difficult to diffeerntiate the condo vs. the HDB apt.

The summer weather in Hong Kong is very similar to that of Singapore. However, it is much hotter in Hong Kong then in Singapore owing to the lack of green plants and trees (which many Singaporean has taken for granted).

In addition, the HDB way of builing flats has also helped bring the overall temperature down. How? Just look at most of the HDB flats. You will realized that the ground floor is always empty. Many used the void deck for funeral or for wedding, or for playing football (I did that when I was young). However, the open space in the ground level actually allow the free flow of air thereby helping to lower the temperature in the area. Amazing!

Working Overseas

My University class of 90 is a very unique one as there are many of us who have ventured and worked abroad (Hung Seng in Cairo, Bangkok, Angelena in japan, Harvindar in Dubai, etc). Working overseas is good as it gives one the additional perspective. At the same, it also allows one to appreciate what one has at home.

My son Keith is Primary 4 this year and he is studying at my old primary school Maris Stella. Even though I am working overseas, I have the very "safe" and "secure" feeling that the system is taking care of him. Now, he is a prefect for his school as I am so proud of him as I was also a prefect in Primary 4..

The bilingual system will ensure that he will be able to communicate both in English and Mandarin. I am glad that I am the "product" of Singapore being a biligual in both English and Mandarin language. In addition, thanks to our neighbouhood system where I could learn how to speak Cantonese, Hokkien, Teochew and Hainanese..which has made it easy for my assimilation into Hong Kong or Taiwan..

My 4th overseas posting have made me a different person, I appreciate every cities that I have stayed and worked and the people that I have met. Most important, I also appreciate my home, Singapore....

Next month will be celebrating Singapore National day. I have always notice the NPD as I was born 3 days before the indepedence. I remembered I have alsways told my classmates when I was in primary school that I was born 3 days before Singapore independence so that I could do Great things in the future!

Ha ha..I am still trying my best!

Singapore dissidents

I was serfing the internet the other night and I happened to serf past several blogs on the topic of Singapore dissidents. Being a political science students in the past, I could not help but went on to read what was the content.

I was rather shocked to see these "opposing" views being expressed in the blogs. After 42 years of nation building, one can easily see the economic development and progress Singapore has made. However, there seems to have much greivences on the speed of political development and the extent of freedom in Singapore.

After traveling to many parts of the world and working & staying in Vietnam, Cambodia, Taiwan and now Hong Kong, I can truly say that Singapore is one of the best developed country in the world and one of the best place to live. Given the fact that Singapore is only a small red dot with no natural resources, its achievement is really remarkable.

Yes, there may be others who prefers to increase the pace of political development in Singapore. However, one of key element for democracy is the requirement of large middle class and literate population as well as certain standard of civic behavouirs among the population. Are we ready for Western style democracy? I don't think so...

Stability and economic development comes with a price. Some would argue that the recent NKF episode has tarnished the image of Singapore system. However, this was only one of the few isolated incident. Which country can be really free from corruption?

The human mind is the most dangerous if not guided properly. Many of the dissidents have their own views and strong beliefs. However, the danger of having extreme views are that it might clutthered the mind so much that one is not able to see the big picture and the greater interest at large.

The Singapore system is evolving and changing slowly but surely...Ultimately, it will be there!