Each year, thousands of well qualified Singaporeans move abroad to look for work and a large majority of them stay on with many becoming citizens of that adoption country. Today, we feature Fadil, a Malay engineer who could not find ready employment here and yearn to search for opportunities abroad. There is clearly some form of racial discrimination against the Malay community here.

Describe a bit about yourself e.g. personal particulars, educational qualification, work experience.

I am a Malay man reaching 29 soon. I have an engineering Master’s from a local university, a year’s experience in project management (contract job) and have been in the wilderness of unemployment for 2 years now.

Where are you living now and why do you choose that location?

I’m still here in Singapore. Your article on Ms Asha was quite inspiring, so I’m taking baby steps to apply for a work visa as per our email correspondence. Sometimes I wished I made the move much earlier to spare myself the tedium of job applications and fruitless interviews.

It is a downright depressing experience – most of your readers will readily identify with this classic line delivered with conviction andHollywoodpanache. “You will hear from us in 1 or 2 weeks”, a month or more has passed and still not a call from them.

Did you face any adjustment problem initially when you make the move? Any regrets so far?

Not applicable.

How is the family coping currently? Are they happy or do they want to move back to Singapore?

All of us are still based in Singapore unfortunately. My family’s financial situation isn’t too bad, but I’ve long sensed that my contribution was sorely missed. I have been actively looking for a full time job, but nothing has come out of it. Employers conveniently give the lame excuse that I am overqualified or not experienced enough for any entry-level jobs.

The truth is employers have only foreign workers in mind. Even if they can barely muster a proper statement in English, to employers they’re gold. The government must be held solely responsible for this and much more, but their “efforts” (if one can call it that) to correct their mistakes are at best, commendably laughable. There will always be loopholes that employers can exploit.

What precious lessons did you learn from living abroad? Will you do it again if given the choice?

Although I have never been overseas before, I’ve talked to a few of my friends who had such experience. They gained independence, learnt to view life and work differently and more positively as opposed to the Asian mindset and most importantly, are maximising their potential to the fullest.

Opportunities like these do not exist here inSingapore, more so for people of my race.

Was it difficult to get jobs while staying abroad? Describe your job search experience and how different it is from Singapore.

The general feedback is that the job market is far more positive and employee-friendly in Australia/New Zealand as compared to Asian countries. Please let me get back to you on this once I’m inAustralia?

Do you want to return to Singapore eventually or prefer to settle down in your new place permanently?

If I had a choice, I wouldn’t choose to leave Singapore at all. My parents are not in the best of health, especially my mother. I can’t event count on my siblings to take care of them either. Ideally I would be close to my parents while raising a family of my own.

Now it seems that too many factors have conspired to drive me out of my own country. The foreign “talents”, high costs of living, the very thought of taking out enormous bank loans just for a house, racial stereotyping and discrimination, the list goes on. It is often said that the problems of today are harsh indicators of the state of the future – I can’t find any evidence to dispute this statement. It will probably get worse in the future, so the only logical solution is to settle down in Australia permanently. When my financial situation is more stabilised, I will bring my parents over to retire in comfort. They deserve it.

What are your main reasons for wanting to move overseas?

Here are my top five reasons for wanting to move overseas.

Top of the stack – the unfavourable job market and job security. Other than the obvious social problems associated with the foreign “talents”, employers generally (or prepare to) drop you at the most minute sign of economic hardship. Your contributions count for nothing if you’re not at the top of the pecking order. With employers are mercenary as them, is it any wonder staff loyalty is now a luxury premium?

Second, the Asian mentality that is terribly obsessed with work and professional success. The whole “work-life balance” concept is nothing more than a farce. Employers literally drive their subordinates to the floor. They are expected to work harder, faster and for longer hours. All in exchange for measly petty gains like a miniscule profit margin. If you don’t comply, there is that Filipino, Indian, Chinese or Myanmarese who would gleefully take over your position. Reservist makes it even harder to swallow – be gone for two weeks and you might find your position usurped.

Worse is this insistence that one is equally conversant in Mandarin. The stance that most employers take is of blind and illogical subservience to all thingsChina, as if they are going to conquer the world one day. To me, only English is the medium of instruction and business, while Malay is our national language.

Third, the ever increasing cost of living. I don’t think this needs further explanation.

Fourth, stagnant wages. I can’t stomach the fact that Singaporean professionals, except those in finance, are amongst the lowest paid in the world. Further, in tough economic times, you would receive a sizeable pay cut (if you’re unlucky to survive retrenchment), but employers keep theirs to the minimum. When the economy recovers, theirs would be the first to be reinstated to pre-recession levels and even receive generous bonuses. Where is the justice? I would rather work in a country where my skills are recognised for its worth, and not just serve as some disposable statistic.

Fifth – 30-year loan for an HDB flat. Add 10 years if you’re buying your own car. How does one start a family while servicing hefty loans? Plus, not even first time couples are guaranteed a roof over their heads.

All five reasons are highly inter-related, even a secondary school student can see there are some political undertones. In any case, it would be hard enough if not impossible, to carve my future inSingapore.

What is your advice for those Singaporean migrants who have newly move abroad?

First of all, my heartiest congratulations. You’ve made that bold step towards achieving your dreams and aspirations. It also means that such opportunities to pursue that passion or interest probably don’t exist inSingapore, which is hardly surprising.

My advice is, as a guest or a newly minted citizen in another country, you should do your best to assimilate into their culture. It doesn’t mean changing your accent overnight or pretending like you’ve lived there all your life though. Many of us felt highly indignant at the way the immigrants and foreign “talents” have muddied our national identity and attempted to turn our own country into their backyard. So spare a thought for your newly adopted country.

Any last words from you?

I used to foolishly think that we were living in the best country in the world in terms of security, jobs supply, education, political stability and whatnot. But I’ve woken up, this is the new and constant reality. We Malay graduates, no matter how highly qualified will always face discrimination or unjust stereotypes in the workplace and society. The labour market here is intensely cruel, our political leaders no longer of the character, integrity and humility our country deserves and the weight of expectations from a time long past will surely crush your backs in today’s context.

An ex-university mate succinctly described my situation in one line. “Why restrict yourself toSingapore?”. I was dumbfounded.  I realised I had unwittingly set invisible limits on myself. Fortunately, I still have youth and health on my side, so I can still afford to take a gamble by venturing overseas. For my Singaporean brothers and sisters, I would encourage you to do so too, especially if you have a young family or are still single.

 End of interview and thank you.

Thank you Asha for allowing Transitioning.Org to interview you online:-

Describe abit about yourself e.g. personal particulars, educational qualification,  work experience.

I have a Master of Engineering degree, mid twenties, Malay with 3 years of work experience in research and development.

Where are you living now and why do you choose that location?

Currently, I am living with my parents in Singapore while waiting for my PR application to be processed. With my current job in Singapore, that is just about all I can afford.

Did you face any adjustment problem initially when you make the move? Any regrets so  far?

When I first moved to Sydney, of course there were some culture shocks. I wasn’t used to the way they spoke and they weren’t used to the way I spoke. But it was great that everyone was patient about it – I’m glad they didn’t need me to pick up a fake accent to be understood.

How is the family coping currently? Are they happy or do they want to move back to Singapore?

My mom wanted me back in Singapore, and I obliged.  But after being back for almost a year, she realise that I had to move back to Australia to earn a decent income that can allow me to continue to be filial, and at the same time, have substantial savings for the future.

What precious lessons did you learn from living abroad? Will you do it again if given the choice?

Besides gaining a newer sense of independence, I have understood the value of being kind and having good friends.  In a place where you are alone, everyone counts – and if they are alone, you would understand how hard it can be being alone.

Was it difficult to get jobs while staying abroad? Describe your job search experience and how different it is from Singapore.

I used to think it was easier getting a job in Singapore. But the only problems I had about getting jobs abroad were visa related. Other than that, work places in Australia are willing to invest in training fresh graduates through graduate programmes that I believe is not only positive for fresh grads but also the industry. Also, in meetings, everyone spoke in English in Australia despite our research team was made up of people of different nationalities. However in Singapore, Singaporeans and PRCs alike, all conversed in Mandarin and ignored the others who didn’t understand the language. Personally, I think its just unprofessional.

Do you want to return to Singapore eventually or prefer to settle down in your new place permanently?

I’d like to settle permanently in Australia. Besides the better pay and living standards, I can be assured that my children can pursue a university education and hopefully their post graduate studies under the government plans. Over there, research degrees are free for citizens and PR- while in Singapore, we’ve been told over and over again that there’s no free lunches.

What are your main reasons for moving overseas?

I must say the salary is a huge influence to moving to Australia. Also, being Malay, I have recent problems in working with companies based in Singapore- especially with their sudden need in Mandarin speaking employees. I came from a generation where Mandarin wasn’t taught as a core subject and there weren’t an option then to learn Mandarin in schools for me. Hence, put me in current Singapore economy, I feel like I am disadvantaged.

What are your advice for those  Singaporean migrants who have newly move abroad?

Realise that you are a guest in someone else’s country and act as such. Learn to assimilate their culture and show respect to everyone you meet. It doesn’t pay to think that you are better than everyone else just because you are a Singaporean. In Singapore, we have our way of doing things and expect FT to follow suit. So, when we move overseas, lets practice what we preach.

 Any last words from you?

I wish the government would do something for its people like how you see in other countries. Its awfully sad to be treated like a second class citizen in your own country- especially all throughout my school days I’ve been taught that Singapore is a meritocratic society where all races are treated equally. Yet, it is common knowledge that Malays have been prejudiced in Singapore in more ways than one. If not by government, in workplaces and by general public. Might as well I be treated like a foreigner in a place where I’m ACTUALLY a foreigner with better pay.

End of interview and thank you.

This article first appeared here on 2 Dec 2010.

We have recently posted a few articles on race-bias  discriminatory hiring and a Malay reader, Suzanna,  is kind enough to provide us with the following online interview:-

Can you state your race, age and educational qualifications? Where are you currently living now?

I’m a Malay, age 32  and working as an Engineer in Australia.

You have mentioned that you have been discriminated back home in Singapore, can you relate some incidents?

During one of my interviews, the lady who interviewed me told me that she wanted a Chinese – why interview me if she have already made up her mind?

In my previous employment , the meetings were conveniently held in Mandarin, barely an English word was spoken. In my mind, its similar to withholding information from me to do my job. Its also work discrimination at its worse.

Is  such discrimination only job-related or  are there other variant incidents? Please specify.

I have been told by my friends in school that Malays are lazy. In which, they explained to me, still under one breath that I am different and I am not a real Malay. Which did not matter either way, as I still felt offended.

My sister  was told, during an interview by the owner/interviewer, that she did not trust a Malay as an accountant. I have no idea why she interviewed my sister and offered her the job later on.

Do you think that Singapore has equal opportunities for all as  we are a meritocratic society without giving any preference to any race?

No. Pretty sad and disappointing to the point of disillusioned. I have pledged everyday earlier in life, “regardless of race, language or religion” and I personally don’t know what to make out of it now. It’s not real.

Comparing Singaporean and Malaysian Malays, what do you think is the main difference here?

We, Singaporean Malays often think that Malaysian Malays are less motivated than us. Maybe we have been conditioned by the Media or perhaps trying to set ourselves apart from them to make us look better. My perception changed recently when I came to know a driven hard working Malaysian Malay that is just as motivated and even more talented than any Singaporean that I have known.

I have long realised even when I was living in Singapore that each community/race has their good and bad. Its the individual that we should judge and not the race/nationality. Working abroad just simply reinforced the opinion.

The main difference is not between us and them. We are the same – still human. The main thing that can make a difference is to change our own perception.

Are you happier now in a foreign country than back home in Singapore? Why so and do you plan to return home some day?

I am happier living in Australia. I feel I have a better quality of life. Frankly, there is no love lost about leaving Singapore. You have nothing much to lose if you have very little. The ties that bind me are just my family/friends. Nothing else. I will most definitely prefer to be a second class citizen in a foreign country rather than a second class citizen in my own country!

I do plan to return at some stage as I am very close to my family and now that my parents are getting older, I will like to spend more time with them. Not a single day in my life here that I don’t think of my family. I always feel that I am sacrificing a big portion of my life for the sake of career/better life.

I felt that the situation in Singapore is getting from bad to worse. Even if I do return home, it will be very hard to work under the system/policies that I can’t trust and believe. I have heard the same complaints before I left for good. Only know  that now we have the Foreign Talent issues. Nothing changes.

A lot of Malays told me not to return. If they have the opportunity, they will want to move out of Singapore too.

What can the government do to improve on work opportunities for the minority races?

Any changes to be effective should start from top down. The government should be working on themselves first to develop a greater sense of accountability, integrity and duty of care. Just by saying aloud the pledge and then doing the opposite is the biggest hypocrisy.

I don’t trust them to work on issues of their own deliberate making. They have known this for a long time. They have practised some form of discrimination themselves. The top politician blatantly mentioned that races are not equal. They have created the model for the society to emulate.

The only way this government can improve the situation is for them to step aside. Its very telling that their policy will never work long term. Democracy and transparency in Singapore are only lip service. In reality, the two words are just hummed into the media to attract foreign investors. Never for their own people, be it Chinese, Malay, Indian or Eurasian. I think the government has lost its way.

Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate all  good that the government has done so far but we can’t live life on past glory alone. We need to live on the present and for the future. And presently, its not working. I stop short  thinking about the future if this carries on.

If the government is really serious, they would have commissioned one of their ministers who has no portfolio to oversee this and create a healthy platform for all Singaporeans to compete/contribute. They could have done this long time ago..littering, spitting, drugs, chewing gums, are serious offences..so why do they need the citizens to tell them how to manage discrimination within the minority? We don’t need special preferential treatment. Just equal opportunities.

I don’t know what’s the deal about speaking Mandarin to get a job. By the way. English is still a business language. If Mandarin  is the criteria to landing a job, then make Mandarin a compulsory subject and not English. Absolutely ridiculous!

Do you think Singapore should concentrate  on having one homegenous national race e.g.  Singapore Singaporean than Singapore Chinese, Malays, Indians which does not really help in national identity?

Of course, in most healthy countries, they do just that. They regard themselves as their nationality first. It certainly does not help in terms of national identity let alone a sense of pride/patriotism if we are always view as a Chinese, Malay or Indian first. Obviously, to have race in our Identity Card is a form of discriminating one race from the other.

Do you think having specific race-based social welfare groups such as Mendaki for Malays, Sinda for Indians and CDAC for Chinese further segregate the general population?

Similar to the above. Thats what Singapore is known to do and its their intention to segregate in every aspect. Easier to control when you breakdown to smaller portion. Pretty much science in terms of implementation than anything else.  We can see this segregation from HDB flat allocation and  our educational system.

Lastly, what is your sentiment regarding our local Malay politicians? Do you think that they have spoken up for the Malay community in general?

 I believe Halimah Yaacob has the passion. As far as I can tell, I think she is sincere.

Its very hard for me to follow the politics from here. How far the rest can go to speak on this, I am not sure. I hope they have tried their best and persevere. Thats all you can do.

The worst position to be in any party or organization is if you are selected because of your race. Its just as bad as not being selected because of your race.So, I hope the government has selected these politicians based on their merit and passion and not just to fill in the party’s Malay quota.

End of questionaire and thank you.

Editor’s Note: Racial discrimination is a very sensitive issue and we hope that readers will treat this matter with an open mind. It is not our intention to fan up any racial disharmony in this site. If you belong to the minorities races and have being discriminated at the work places,  please email me at gilbert@transitioning.org. All mails will be treated with the strictest confidence.

This blog is all about traveling better for less and getting the most out of your money by living abroad. So I’m happy to run the following guest post is from John Linnemeier, author of How an Average Man Lived an Adventurous Life.

Take it away John!

I’ve traveled to over 120 countries, and along the way, I have discovered some affordable paradises. In my book How an Average Man Lived an Adventurous Life, I included a chapter called, “Six paradises where you can retire comfortably for $500/month.” If you need a cook, a gardener, and a nanny it will cost $1000/month. I’ll tell you where these paradises are, and if you’re really serious about escaping from wherever you are, email me at himalayansp [at] hotmail.com, and I’ll help you any way I can.

After you look at this list, buy the appropriate Lonely Planet Guide, spend a day or two doing Google searches, and you’ll have what you need to know. Once you’ve done that, you’re ready for an exploratory visit. Or maybe just keep it in the back of your mind so that if everything goes to hell in your life sometime in the future, you don’t need to give up hope. These places can be your “get-out-of-jail free” card.

I define a paradise as somewhere that’s safe, beautiful, has a pleasant climate, good food, adequate health care, a community of foreigners to keep you company, and is, of course, cheap.

Here’s the list:

Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

It’s the only one of my paradises that you can drive to from the U.S. or Canada. For some reason, it’s comforting to know that you can load a truck up with whatever stuff you want to take with you, point it south, and in three or four days, be in one of the most beautiful places you’ve ever seen.

Lake Atitlan (pictured at the top) is twenty miles across, one thousand feet deep, and crystal clear. It’s surrounded by volcanoes, lush, green vegetation, and is elevated enough in the highlands so the temperature is always spring-like. Do a Google Image search and see what I mean; it’s gorgeous.

You’ll first arrive at the town of Panajachel, often referred to as “Gringotenango.” It’s a jakey-looking place, but very inexpensive. It has some rather pleasant little places to stay, which are tucked off of the main streets. The food is fantastic, of great variety, and real cheap. Any business you need to transact can be done here easily. This is as far as most people get, and if you want to watch CNN, smoke reefer all day, and live for peanuts, this may be your spot.

On the other hand, there’s a boat that circles the lake every day. It stops off for a few minutes at all the little villages surrounding the peripheral of the lake. Each village has its own personality from party-central to new age hippy deluxe, replete with solar warmed hot tubs. If you want to be the only gringo in town, there are tiny villages for that too. Somewhere along that continuum, you’ll find one village that will fit you to a T.

Unlike the next five spots, it can actually be a little bit dangerous in Guatemala if you don’t do the right things and go to the right places at the right times. I wouldn’t drive it at night, but a lot of people do. In general, talk with the local expats and follow their advice about what is safe and what isn’t.

Any of the many valleys that go up into the Himalayas

I’m most acquainted with the area just north of Almora, but all of the others would work as well. I stay in a little place that is a forty minute walk back from the road. The view stretched in front of you includes some of the tallest mountains in the world. Absolutely stupendous. The place I’m talking about is set on a series of terraces planted in every kind of organic fruit and vegetable. There are a dozen little cottages, mostly out of sight of each other, sprinkled around the area. You get a nice little place with a kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom/living room. You’ll also get a veranda that looks out on one of the greatest views on God’s earth. Cottages rented for $40/month the last time I was there but may be closer to $60/month now.

If you’d like, they’ll deliver milk every day and freshly baked bread every two days directly to your door. You can do your own cooking or, if you arrange ahead of time, there’s a French lady who’ll cook for practically nothing. The owner of the place walks his daughter into town every day, and if you’d like, he’ll bring back a copy of The Times of India for you.

The nearest internet connection is an hour’s walk away, and it is tenuous at best. Frankly, I call this a plus. You can buy groceries in this little town, hang out at the restaurant and socialize with the wider community. I’m not going to give you the name of this place because I don’t want it overrun with people. If you’re really determined though and use the clues in what I’ve written here, you’ll surely find it, and maybe I’ll run into you.

Goa, India

This has been a hippy paradise since the ’60s. It’s a lot more crowded now but also offers infinitely more diversions, including every kind of food, yoga, Tai-chi, and meditation class imaginable. If you want to learn about singing bowl treatment or any of another billion activities, then you’ve come to the right place.

Find the beach that suits you. They all have different vibes, from five-star international la-de-da, to bare-bones little cement boxes that don’t cost much of anything. If you get there before the season starts (late October to early November), you can rent some extraordinary houses if you’re willing to stay for the whole season.

The weather is near perfect until late January when it starts to warm up a little too much. It’s the dry season, so you most likely won’t see a cloud while you’re there. A few hardcore expats stay straight through the monsoon season. Just about everything is closed down by then, but a few people like it that way because everything is green, and it’s mango season.

I’ve seen an awful lot of ruins in my life, but the ruins of Hampi are my favorite. See them by the full moon, and you’ll never forget them. Hampi is a one day train ride through beautiful jungle with waterfalls, monkeys, and gorgeous birds. Incidentally, both Hampi and Goa have full moon rave parties that set the standard for world class craziness.

Pokhara, Nepal

Nepal is not dangerous, no matter what the press says or what you may think. It’s where I started the Jomsom trail, one of the great experiences of my life. Pokhara is picture perfect, a tiny little town surrounding a lovely lake with Machupuchari in the background. Again, do a Google Image search and be prepared to be wowed. The Nepalese are wonderful cooks and innkeepers, and they will treat you right. Everything is cheap as can be.

Lake Toba, Indonesia

Sumatra is the sixth largest island in the world. In the midst of it is Lake Toba, and in the center of this is a lovely little tropical island. Accommodations are more than comfortable and the architecture is very unique. People play chess a lot, and the loser normally has to give the winner a back rub. The food is good, and everything is super cheap. The locals have a fascinating culture. Just a few generations back, they were cannibals. If they’re really sore at someone, they’ll say “I pick the flesh of your ancestors from between my teeth.” These days though, the place is safe as can be.

Bali

Even though westerners have been coming here since the thirties, the Balinese are still gracious to strangers. There’s a tradition of art, music, puppetry, and dance that is truly unique. Everyone seems to be an artist of some kind, and people care deeply about beauty. You’ll be amazed by how gorgeous your little rented house or hotel room is. Prices are ultra cheap, so as long as you stay away from the international style hotels, you can get by for very little.

The town of Ubud in the highlands is a nice choice. The food is out of this world and very inexpensive. If the main street in town is too busy for you, just do an about face, pace off 300 yards through the rice patties, and you’ll be surrounded by tranquility. Some people have moved on from Bali to the next island, Lombak. Parts are as beautiful as Bali and less crowded, but it doesn’t have the lovely Balinese culture. Stay out of Kuta Beach, which is awful anyway, and you’ll be safer than you would be living in a little town in Nebraska.

Story by John Linnemeier

Photos are Flickr Creative Commons shots, courtesy of the photographers. Click on the individual photos for their portfolios.

This comment appeared under the article “14 year old Singaporean vows to leave Singapore if PAP is not voted out by the next general election (Temasek Review)”

mil says: January 15, 2011 at 8:33 pm

At seven  years old, my parents brought me on a holiday to Perth and on the way back, I told them I would live in this country when I am much  older.

At 19, we visited Melbourne and when we had to leave , I cried my heart out saying they are ruining my life. At 21, I studied in Adelaide for 5 years, doing  degree after degree and  trying  my best not to return  home.

At 25, I received my permanent residence status.

At 27, I finally moved back  to Melbourne, married a European and thought, maybe we should try going back to Singapore to make a living. During the next four  years, we went back to Singapore six  times, tried to find a job and see what sort of lifestyle  we can expect and what did we find out?

1. Pay is peanuts in Singapore – we won’t be able to cope with all the high cvost of living.
2. Any sort of Electricity or Gas bill monthly is three  times our monthly bill in Australia
3. I am starting  not to recognise the Singaporean majority population in Singapore.
4. My friends can’t even meet up and have coffee with me on Saturday evenings – they are sadly still tied up at work.
5. I have no CPF and as my husband is a foreigner, I can’t get a HDB flat unless we get him to register and be there for 6 months.
6. Everyone is angry and overworked and upset with foreign workers.
7. My sisters’  kids are going mental at schools, unable to cope with the crazy educational system.
8. Almost everyone has a maid- making them lazy and abusive to their home helpers ( what will our future generation be living  in that kind of environment?)
9. My parents are homeless as they are retired and have gone above the quota of buying any brand new HDB –  I cant even help them as I am living overseas, married to a foreignor and not 35 ( went to HDB like 4 times without avail).
10.I don’t want to spend at least 60K on a crap car and be on debt for 10 years and then  see my car being salvaged!

I thought I was being rebellious as a kid as I do  not want to live in Singapore all my life, but what is currently happening in Singapore make me realised that my survival instinct has  kicked in even when I was at seven  years old! Do not think that a forteen-year-old  can’t think…

Now at 33, I am happily  working 2 jobs in Melbourne – which both my companies know about. I am able to lobby  for higher pay as the union backs me up and have an automatic increment system according to inflation rate to cope with living.

I am still studying as I  love the universities here – doing my 4th degree PART TIME as well and its all subsidised!

With  regards to racism, I do not feel any way abused or being looked down upon as a coloured person. My workplace have more than 15 different people from every part of the world and lastly, I am not being monitored by the government for any rebellious actions. I am also covered by the government for any hospitalisations and extended health care.

IF I live till 80, I will not worry about who is going to pay for my bill. Its inclusive. DONE DEAL.

THIS IS LIFE. THIS IS MY HUMAN RIGHTS. I say, if you want to go, nothing can stop you. All you need is belief and hardwork!

We continued the part four of our series featuring Singaporeans who have migrated overseas in search of a better lifestyle. We are also somewhat surprised that many Singaporeans from the minorities races have left our country due to racial discrimination.  This particular interview featured Nora (not her real name) – a Malay professional who has left Singapore for London 8 years ago, returned to her home land and found great difficulting adjusting back to life in our small red dot.  After 1 1/2 years, she has decided to return to London for good.

Nora, can you let us know abit more about your personal particulars, educational qualification and work experience?

I am a Singaporean Malay, with a BA from NUS. Like all good graduates, I immediately started work upon graduation.  After two years working hard, it suddenly occurred to me: “Is this all there is to it?”   I was always keen on travelling, did some research and jumped at the chance on travelling to London on a Working Holiday visa.  The intial plan was to try it for 2 months.  Now 11 years later, I am still here, doing event management with a worthwhile charity.

You have mentioned that you have faced racial discrimination in Singapore, can you provide us with more details on this? Is it just work discrimination or there is something else more sinister?

On reading Suzanna’s interview on your site, a lot of it struck a chord.   I did not face any violent racist attack or anything overt. Growing up, I felt race was never an issue.  I was a firm believer that the meritocracy system we had in place would mean I had a fair chance.  It was only when I started looking for work I had my fair share of “Oh we need Mandarin speakers”, “Malays are bad at Maths” or “Malays are lazy or cannot be trusted”.

The majority of Singaporeans may feel that racism does not exist in Singapore but I hear too many anecdotal stories from my Malay peers who were informed point-blank by interviewers that they are not going to be hired due to their ethnicity. One of my friends came back crying from her first interview after graduation when the interviewer confirmed that she had the right attitude and skill set but they are not going to hire her because she is a Malay.  Like me, she migrated from Singapore and is now a VP for a major Switzerland bank.  Similarly,  a good number of my Malay friends and acquaintances had migrated to Australia and Canada for better opportunities.

On a personal note, two incidents stood out for me.  One, hearing a middle-aged Chinese man complaining to his friend in the MRT about his shoes being stolen.  He then go on to say that he will go downstairs to check on the Malay boys at the void deck to see whether they are wearing his shoes, since Malays cannot afford to buy such expensive shoes.  I was standing nearby and until now, I regret not speaking up.    The second is when the boss at my temp job was pleasantly surprised at the quality of my work, remarking that I am “the new Malay breed”.  Again I did not comment.

That has always been the way. The racism is incidental in most cases and we just turn the other cheek and not rock the boat. It is just the way things are in Singapore.I used to be very gung-ho about it, believing that “OK, they say Malays are lazy/stupid/backward, I’ll work harder and show them”.  But after more than 30 years, I just feel that enough is enough.  My thoughts are “How long must Malays keep proving themselves over and over?  Why are we always being told that we are not good enough?”

How long have you live abroad and do you face similar discrimination there as a minority race migrant?

I have been away for 11 years.   London is very cosmopolitan and truly multi-racial. Although it was a steep learning curve trying to learn the quirks of my adopted country,  I am comfortable fitting in here. One thing I found they did not care two hoots for my degree, preferring solid work experience and the right attitude. I have been lucky to have had good colleagues and bosses, who appreciate my work and tell me so.  It is liberating to be in a place where there is no pre-conceived ideas or judgement on what I can or cannot do.Furthermore, there are solid recourse to justice should I feel that I face any discrimination here, be it racial, ageist or sexist.  There are avenues for you to bring up your grievances instead of having it swept under the carpet.

What are your reasons for your recent return to Singapore and what changes have you observed after been away for so long?

As a family, we thought our sojourn abroad was always temporary and we will return back to Singapore.  After about 8 years away, we decided to relocate back to Singapore.  It was very naive of me to expect Singapore to be the same Singapore I left 8 years ago but it pains me to see some of the changes.  It does not feel like my Singapore anymore.

Judging by physical infrastructure, Singapore seem prosperous but I found the sheer number of people overwhelming and stressful.  Each patch of personal space is hard fought.  The racial make-up ergo the goods and services offered is so much different with the influx of more foreigners from China and India. Cost of living is high, even compared to London.   Whilst families may look prosperous with lovely homes and own a car, it is often on credit.  I was quite alarmed and saddened at the presence of tent cities on the beaches.

On a more positive note, I found Singapore infrastructure is a little more child friendly now.. There are little pockets of creative retail such as the ones at Ann Siang Hill and Haji Lane and  the presence of alternative media websites gladden me since it means Singaporeans are getting to be more adventurous.

How do you think  Singapore can improve on the way minorities races are being treated?

At this point of time, do we really need to differentiate race anymore? What happened to “We are Singapore, Singaporeans”? I was quite tickled by the reports of MCYS spending SGD10 million on integration initiative for new migrants. I mean, how many Malay or Indian friends do you see socially? How many Malay or Indian weddings or festivities are you invited to on a regular basis? And how many of you still think Hari Raya is the Malay New Year?

Many people have say that our government has allowed in more migrants from China and India to even  out the population imbalance as only the Malay community seems to have more than two kids per family unit. What is your opinion on this?

I have to say that I feel particularly insulted.  On one hand, you are griping about the low birth rate and with the same breath, saying that the Malays are breeding far too quickly.  Why is it so wrong if the percentage changed a little?  Too often they will bring out the Malaysia bogeyman ie. this is the type of economy if the racial balance is tipped; Malaysia is third world country.    Like a fool, we are often taken in. I have met my fair share of successful, corporate and creative Malaysians both in London and KL to know that they are more than capable.

As a migrant living for so long abroad, do you face difficulty re-adjusting back to life in the melting pot?

Yes, coming from UK where people apologise if you bump into them, it was quite an experience to be back here.  You would think that living in such a high density area, people would be more fine tuned and more polite but it is just the opposite.  I think that in order for Singaporeans to cope with the such high density stresses, they tend to have a personal bubble around them – hence the blank stares and the absence of basic courtesies.

As a minority race, I only speak a little Mandarin.  It was difficult very frustrating when we were faced with service counter staff who could not speak basic English.  Perhaps it will not be so galling if they are apologetic about it but  more often than not, I would be scolded for not speaking Mandarin.  After such a long spell away with free speech and opinions are giving equal airing, I did find adjusting back to spoonfed propaganda quite uncomfortable.

Faced with a worse work-life balance, overcrowdedness and the rising costs, we made a decision to move back to the UK after 1.5 years back in Singapore.  It was a painful decision for us because of the sentimental ties we have.   

Do you sincerely feel that Singapore has practised meritocracy values in a multi-racial environment?

I was a firm believer when I was younger and felt that it was a fair system.  Only after much reading and soul searching that I have to agree that meritocracy can only work on a level playing field.  For example, yes, through meritocracy system, I was able to go to a good secondary school, JC and university but at the same time, I had to work much, much harder, coming from a dysfunctional family.  Of course there are other limitaions such as quotas for Malay students enrolling in the Medicine Faculty, for example.  I won’t even go on the limitations faced by our Malay boys in the Armed Forces.

On another note,I was offered a PSC bursary with a 6 year bond – I was aghast to find out that another student with lesser results than mine was offered a full PSC scholarship with a shorter bond. He was a Chinese male.  Similarly, one of my bestMalay friends did particularly well and was accepted to Cambridge – one of the very tiny percentage of Malays who would probably have the chance to do so.  Sadly, she could not raise up the funds despite applying for scholarships and bursaries, even from self-help ethnic groups like Mendaki.

Do you feel that our Malay/Indian  politicians have spoken up for the minorities  community in general? What can they do to advance the cause of the minorities races?

I have not been in SG for some time and have not been following the local political scene, especially in respect of minority representation.  Perhaps the fact that it has been rather low key speak volumes.

Lastly, do you think that we may see a  Prime Minister from the minorities races in the near future?

No, not really.

End of interview

We continued our second part of the series on Singaporeans migrating overseas either for work or personal reasons.

In this online interview, we  featured Jenny  -  a successful human resource specialist who is now living in Adelaide Australia on her own and loving the experience…

Tell us  abit about yourself e.g. personal particulars, educational qualification,  work experience.

I graduated from  University of Tasmania in Business Administration with a major in Human Resource Management in 2001.  I returned to Singapore and found  work  in the HR field.  I really enjoyed my 2 years as a contractor  working in a HR environment  although I spent almost 10 hours daily at  the workplace.   Though I liked the work,  I could not stand the long working hours and decided to make a move abroad in search of a more balanced lifestyle.

Where are you living now and why do you choose that location?

I am now living in South Australia – Adelaide. I love the peaceful and quiet life here which is very different from bustling Singapore. There is hardly anyone walking on the streets after dark and you have more time on your own. You can literally smell the roses here!

Did you face any adjustment problem initially when you make the move? Any regrets so  far?

I was lost when I first arrived alone in Adelaide a few years ago.  I was confused and worried. I arrived during the winter period and  was trying to adapt to the cold winter.  I had a sleepless night because  it was freezing cold without any heater on my first night here.   I was also worried that I could not find work readily available as I am a foreigner here.  

Things are extremely expensive  and   life would be miserable if I could not get a job soon.   I believe that this is part and parcel of the  experience faced by any  migrant  moving to a foreign land all on your own. I also do not know of anyone  who could help me around then.   

I took  it as one of life’s major   challenge and  have never regretted my decision to move abroad on my own.

How is the family coping currently? Are they happy or do they want to move back to Singapore?

Not applicable as I am still single but there is some resistance from my mum who always asked me to visit her more or even move back to Singapore permanently! I guess she missed me much when I moved overseas.

What precious lessons did you learn from living abroad? Will you do it again if given the choice?

Independent, learn to take challenges, making  your own decision,  solving  problem creatively and trying to survive cheerfully!  All  problems that I have encountered, while living abroad, are in fact challenges in life whereby I learned how to be  to be more adaptive and resilient. I also need to think out of the box to solve problems on my own.

Was it difficult to get jobs while staying abroad? Describe your job search experience and how different  is it from Singapore?

When I first started my job hunt, it was a nightmare.  Thinking my relevant experience in HR would give me the advantage that led me to the same kind of job –  I was wrong.  The culture and the way things work here are  somewhat  different from back home.

 I applied job online daily and registered myself with many recruitment agencies   I was so desperate that I wouldn’t mind working as a cleaner back then! 

 Eventually, I landed myself a  temporary position in the public sector after 4.5 months of job search through a recruitment agency.  Once I have the relevant  local work experience, looking for the  next job was much easier. 

Job  hunting here is very much different from Singapore -  employers here  don’t really look at your educational certificate and everything is based on trust and honestly. Of course, you must have the relevant work experience.

Do you want to return to Singapore eventually or prefer to settle down in your new place permanently?

After I have gone through all these years to set up and establish myself here, I would consider Australia i my home.  I would want to live in Australia permanently if I have a choice.

What are your main reasons for moving overseas?

1. To lead a relaxed and peaceful life with lots of freedom and time on my own.
2.  To achieve a  balanced lifestyle involving my  work and social life.
3. To gain independence and most importantly, to have self confidence to overcome any obstacle in life. 

What is your advice for  Singaporean migrants who have newly move abroad?

I  would encourage them not to be afraid and always think positively in life.  Take life as a  challenge rather than  as a problem.  There is a will, there is always a way and nothing is impossible. 

Lots of patience are also  needed and my motto is:  “Never give up and fight on till you have done your best.”

End of interview and thank you.

Editor’s Note: Singaporeans who have migrated and want to be featured here can email me at gilbert@transitioning.org.  Thank you.

I am trying to do a series of interviews with fellow Singaporeans who have migrated due to work or other personal reasons. This is my  first interview with someone whom I know in Sydney:-

Describe abit about yourself e.g. personal particulars, educational qualification,  work experience.

My name is Alan. I aspire to be a counsellor and believe with deep conviction that I can make a difference in my generation. I graduated with a Masters in Counselling. I started my working life by serving   national service for the island nation of Singapore for 2 ½  years. I have worked hard in many diverse industries. I have worked in the bookshop industry moving on the government sector in Ministry of Law and finally found my life passion in the social service industry. 

Where are you living now and why do you choose that location?

I am currently residing in Sydney Australia with my beautiful wife. I chose the location due to the close proximity  to Singapore. In addition, the weather and opportunities contributed to the decision. I am currently working in the community service sector here.

Did you face any adjustment problem initially when you make the move? Any regrets so  far?

I have faced adjustment mainly due to  my own worldview with regard to lifestyle and work ethics. There are no other regrets thus far.

How is the family coping currently? Are they happy or do they want to move back to Singapore?

My family is supportive of my decision. This was achieved because of extensive groundwork in explaining and debating with my family about the pro and cons of living in a foreign country and an agreement was made to move. I cannot stress enough that it was this process of involving all stakeholders in the decision-making process that helped my family come to terms.  

What precious lessons did you learn from living abroad? Will you do it again if given the choice?

I have learned humility and seizing opportunities when they come to you.

YES! A million YES! 

Was it difficult to get jobs while staying abroad? Describe your job search experience and how different it is from Singapore.

It was not a question of difficulty but a question of accountability. It may seem strange to mention accountability.  I have learned while living aboard to remain accountable to yourself. Jobs are always there. It is up to us to find creative ways to find work. This follows on the principle of sowing and reaping.

Do you want to return to Singapore eventually or prefer to settle down in your new place permanently?

I cannot emphasis enough that Singapore is not a back-up plan or some would call plan B. I am learning my craft in Australia so that my fellow citizens will benefit from my experience and lives could be helped and improved.  I will move back to Singapore eventually to contribute.

What are your main reasons for moving overseas?

Improve quality of life

To be financially secure

Gain an enhanced worldview

Get out of my comfort zone

Spirit of adventure

What is your advice for those  Singaporean migrants who have newly move abroad?

Remain humble. Remain accountable. Open to options and not wait the next time

Any last words from you?

Live your life in the cutting edge. Get out of your comfort zone and see what you can achieve with life. Live out strong and impact your generation!

End of interview and thank you.

People must be able to feel at home here

Ryan says:

October 25, 2010 at 8:58 pm  

This comment appeared in the post Views of A Singaporean Migrant In Switzerland

I was in Zurich a few months ago so I was really surprised to read this exceedingly negative post about life in Zurich. Here is why:-

1. You rather own an apartment but not much spare cash? I rather have much spare cash and not an apartment. I rather have money to buy food and rent an apartment rather than go hungry and broke in a nice apartment.

2. You think the Swiss don’t go to cinemas or eat out because they cannot afford to do so? I don’t think so. I can understand why they don’t spend their two hours in a dark room and prefer to take the cruise on the scenic Lake Zurich or visit one of the many excellent museums or ski in the beautiful snowy mountains. And frankly speaking, most ‘angmohs’ that I know prefer to cook at home rather than eat out. Cooking is a life skill that is going extinct in Singapore. With the amount of fresh produce that are available easily in Switzerland (and also probably the time that they have as it seems they don’t work late much) I would even contemplate cooking for myself everyday.

3. You think they are poor because many of them don’t travel beyond Europe? Europe is so big (classified as a continent) it will take years to explore all the countries. Furthermore, not travelling out of the continent can mean they are perfectly happy and contented to be in Europe.

4. Funny, you complained about the price of a cup of coffee which is a little higher than in Singapore. You might want to compare other objects as well such as cars…. You can always make your own cup of coffee but you can’t build your own cars…

If you are really staying in Zurich right now, you gotta to be joking when you wrote this article! The point of this post of mine is not to encourage everyone to start applying to work in Switzerland now. Every country has its pros and cons. But the cons of staying in Switzerland are surely not what you have written. Some of the cons could be these:

1. Well-known to have extremely strict immigration laws. So it’s hard for you to be a resident there.

2. I don’t think you can get a live-in maid over there, so you got to do all housework yourself (not a con to me personally actually – I prefer not to have a stranger staying in my house)

3. English is not commonly spoken, you need German and/or French

4. Cold weather during winter

I would also offer a list of pros as well but this post is getting too long…

Desiree says:

October 23, 2010 at 2:41 am 

This comment appears in the article Singapore ‘average wealth per adult’ owned by less than 20%

Tax havens tend to have skewed average income figures. And I don’t understand why Luxembourg is even on that list. The population of Luxembourg is about 500,000, which is the same as Jurong, Clementi and Choa Chu Kang combined only. A commune of more than 1500 gets granted “city” status?
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_in_Luxembourg)

There are more people living in one HDB block than in their entire “city”. Furthermore, their high income is due to flexible border crossing and lax banking regulations.

“…the average income in Luxembourg is *not* $54,430 a year. Luxembourg is a small country of less than 500,000 people with very favorable banking laws. Each workday very large numbers of Belgians and Germans commute to Luxembourg to work in the financial industries located there for legal reasons. The labor these commuters perform adds to the size of Luxembourg’s economy, but these commuters do not add to the size of Luxembourg’s population. So when this tiny country’s economic output is divided by its population the figures come out far too high. ”

-http://www.success-and-culture.net/articles/percapitaincome.shtml

My point is that, most statistics are skewed if you do not possess more information on the nature of the state in question.

Switzerland has the same problem. In fact, it’s even more pronounced here (I’m living in Zurich at the moment).

To be honest, I’d rather own an apartment and not have much spare cash on hand than the other way around. At least if times get tough, I have a warm and safe place to live in.

Also, Singaporeans don’t understand how rich they truly are till they’ve seen the average lifestyle in other countries. People here go to the cinema once or twice a year. They cook at home almost all the time and eat out only on very special occasions. Roadside snacks are a luxury.

Of all the people I know, only about 5% have even travelled beyond Europe. Their holiday weekends are spent going for hikes and walks in nature. And it’s next to impossible to find anyone to go shopping here, because they have no shopping malls, and there is no shopping culture. You really need something, go get it, otherwise, don’t waste your money.

If Singaporeans would save all the money they spend on dining, entertainment and shopping, they would notice that they are indeed rich.

And just to point out, though Singapore is at the bottom of the list, virtually every country above it has a much higher living cost, especially when you compare city to city.

As you said, Singapore has no countryside, thus our average living costs may appear relatively high, though that is absolutely not the case. A simple cup of coffee costs CHF5= SGD6.60 approximately in Zurich. And there was a place that sells coffee at under CHF4 a cup (SGD5.30approx)… It made it on the news.

If you want to be happy in life, which is what I assume everyone wants to be, may I gently suggest trying not to sell yourself short. Get the full picture,  realise and count your many blessings.

This is my advice as a Singaporean who left for what she mistakenly presumed to be greener pastures.

Mind the gap between skills and jobs

Hi Gilbert,
 
I am still struggling  to adapt in Perth  since we relocated here mid last year. There is always this unsettling feeling about  getting a job – losing hope already, weather – freezing cold, lifestyle – doing the same thing each and everyday including weekend, city and train unprovoked violence, etc.  I have this anxiety of wanting to return to Singapore for good. 

 It doesn’t help that my wife is now happily working away as she is posted here by her company so automatically she has a job waiting for her. To make things worse, we also don’t have many friends here and I live life like a social recluse.

For me, it is like a body without soul, don’t know when will I  have the courage to step forward and do something different for myself. Even though I am flying back to Singapore for 2 weeks soon, the thought of coming back here without a job really put me in a lousy mood. Thankfully, with a church friend’s help,  I managed to get  2 weeks  of ad-hoc  job but after that there was nothing.

I am also not into volunteering as you have advised me to due to my introverted nature. I hardly venture out of my home especially in this cold winter period. The self-imposed confinement is literally driving me nuts!

 Actually for me, I really don’t know what I want out of life considering that I have a supportive  loving wife and a well behaved son.  I have  been searching for the answer since last year and still could not find it.  I am not that religious and noble as you (it is meant to be a compliment to you and not take it as an insult )to do those kind of things you are pursuing. 
 
Maybe,  I just have to listen to my wife and pray to and trust God and be able to get out of this misery soon as I am finding life is really meaningless – always get bogged down in this frustration maze!

What should I do if I’m feeling very very very tired of living and the feeling keep getting stronger and stronger with each passing day, as there is nothing for me to look forward to………..please pray that I will not snap one of these days.

Regds,

Jimmy (not his real name)

***************

Hi Jimmy,

Thanks for your mail.

 I guess a main part of the problem will be solved if you can find something to occupy your time. When we are very free, the mind sometimes wander aimlessly and this can be bad if we don’t use it wisely. Not having a goal in life is also not helping the situation.

To find work abroad, you can’t simply send in your resumes to potential employers like in Singapore – you have to literally ask  around for work and this is tough for us Singaporeans! While we have our own network of friends whom we can tap on when we job search at home, the same can’t be said if we are doing it abroad.

 We are also too self conscious for our own good  and this will set us back when we want to look for work while  abroad.

 Have a plan  and decide that you want to find work within a certain time frame. List the advantages of working so that when you face any obstacles while job searching, you can go back to that list for motivation. A very strong positive mindset is required for the jobless looking for work  abroad.

 Plan to visit a potential employer using the cold call method. Email first, call them if possible and then drop in with a resume for a face to face visit. The worst scenario that can happen to you is  that they have no vacancies for the time being!  They won’t scold you or tell you off…

 Studies have shown that normally after the sixth or seventh cold-call try, there will be an employer who has a potential vacancy or opening for the genuine jobseeker. It may not be a full time position but at least you have overcome a major hurdle psychologically and has learned to move out of your impasse.

 Also, if you choose to volunteer, this will definitely bring you out of the house and make you feel that you are contributing to others in a beneficial manner. Volunteering can sometime lead to a potential job offer as the organisation may have certain vacancies in place and will surely offer it to the volunteer who has show commitment and sincerity.

 Staying at home will not help the situation one bit so have a plan for the next few weeks that will bring you out of the house.

 If you have found work back home and  seriously consider taking it  up –  go for it though that means your family may be living apart.

 Hope this has help you.

 Be brave and dont give up!

 Regds,

Gilbert

Comments Made by Ex-Singaporeans on Singapore

Posted by redshirttt on 12 Sep 2010

Hi John .. this is an awesome analysis. I’m from Singapore, but I’ve since become an American citizen. Detached from my native country, I often read articles and blogs online about the political issues in Singapore. My father would often complain about the PAP when I was a kid, but as an adult, I’ve come to realize that maybe the PAP, possibly, at the moment, offers the best leadership for Singapore. I remember, as a student, the good teachers had to tread the very thin line between encouraging students to speak up and think for themselves, and stopping the discussion when it got too political. It’s just my guess, but it does seem  they were afraid of getting into trouble.

But you are right. The media (not just in Singapore, however) often fails to ask challenging, thought-provoking questions. As I talk to my friends back in Singapore about issues like the death penalty, controlled press, lack of a fair election, the government having a monopoly on civil service businesses like transportation and the phone company… I know the issues bother them. They’re aware of them, and they complain about them. But when asked what they plan to do about it, the response is always the same – there’s nothing we can do. I guess even the US is guilty of a variation of those issues, with the Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse, doctored press photos from BP on the oil spill, the bailout of Wall Street lining the pockets of bank executives, etc.

Anyway, I just want to thank you for your candid analysis.

This comment appeared in the article: Press Freedom: Views of a foreigner studying journalism in a Singapore local university

  **************

Posted by Vick on 12 Sep 2010

I was a Singaporean once and now I live in Scotland with my parents and sister. Life here is so peaceful compared to life in Singapore. Education system is not stressful and I can manage my studies buy although I miss the culture in singapore. However I would prefer staying overseas because it is much more easy, but it depends which country you are willing to go to. I suggest you go to places like the UK, USA, Australia…etc. You should go to countries where they speak English language. I have to admit migrating to a different environment  is not easy either but it’s worth it.

This comment appeared in the article: 14 year old Singaporean vows to leave Singapore

 **************

 Posted by Poontang on 22 July 2010

Sorry, but I disagree with Kathi-lyn. Like this 14-year-old boy, I feel the same. That’s why I made the decision 20 years ago to migrate. Life in Australia is totally different from S’pore. The Government really looks after its own citizens despite taking in refugees every year. They don’t have money-faced politicians and  the opposition members in Parliament are not afraid to question any dubious acts passed. Likewise the media there is constantly looking to dig up any attempt at cover-ups to give maximum exposure.

Although the country is rich in minerals, they don’t fritter away their reserves as they are answerable in parliament. As for medical attention, they have world-class facilities which are  available to both the rich and poor. Being a retiree, everything from bus fares to hospital care is subsidised.

There is no need for the jobless to collect cans from the rubbish, sell tissues or fold cardboards to make a living. The elderly here retires with their dignity intact. Although there are sporadic acts of racism, these are short-lived. Being someone of  a minority race, I’ve experienced far worse racism in my own country! I really feel sorry for those in Singapore who don’t have the choice to move out, what with it’s oppressive environment where the ordinary Joe is treated like dirt.

Where the politicians behave so arrogantly knowing full well that nobody can shake them from their iron rice bowl. Where they denigrate the very citizens who voted them in with names like “daft”. Where when they made serious mistakes, do not take responsibility despite being paid million-dollar market-rate salaries and  are not required to step down eg. LKY, HC, WKS, etc. I wish all the best for this intelligent 14-year-old and  hope he makes it to the other side !

God Bless Singapore.

This comment appeared in the article: 14 year old Singaporean vows to leav Singapore

Outside of China
Fly to Xiamen International airport. There are direct flights from Singapore, Penang, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok and many other international airports.

Within China
Fly, take a train or long distance bus to Xiamen. There are direct road, air and rail links to/from Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen.

Airport to Xiamen city
Unlike many other airports in China, the distance between Xiamen airport and the town is only a short 20 minutes or more. In fact, you are within Xiamen city once you leave the airport.

There is a tourism office at the airport where you can pick up tourist brochures. You can also ask for cheap or promotion hotel offers. The ladies manning the desk are polite and helpful. Alternatively, there are 2 computers with URL links to hotel websites that you can surf yourself.

Taxis are available easily and run by meter. It will help to have your destination written in Chinese as taxi drivers speak little or no English.

Train or long distance bus station to Xiamen
The train and bus stations are within Xiamen city. Once you are out of the station, take a taxi to your hotel or to the developer’s office. There are 2 main long distance bus stations; one of which is located in Hubin Nan Lu (Hubin South Road) itself.

Recommendations for accommodation
Xiamen city is not very big but it does help to decide beforehand where to stay. There are big international brand names hotels like Sheraton, Marco Polo, Crowne Plaza and others. You can also opt for cheap but clean simple hotels like Days-Inn, 8-Flag and other local hotel chains.

I recommend that you stay at Hubin Nan Lu which has various simple hotels as well as a couple of good 4-star hotels. I normally stay at 8-Flag (220RMB) if I am on budget or the Jinyan hotel(580RMB) if I am in a more generous mood.

Getting the contact
The developer office is within walking distance if you stay at Hubin Nan Lu; otherwise, it is a short taxi drive away as it is considered pretty downtown area. Before going, please call Ms Ren, who is my sales person. She can advise you on the route to her office depending on which hotel you stay.

Please email me before arriving in Xiamen so that I can provide her mobile number. I do not want her mobile number on the open internet here. (Note that she and her colleagues do not speak English. You will need to speak some Mandarin or have a friend who does before you can communicate effectively).

Note that shuttle service to the development will leave at 8am sharp each morning. Try to be there early so that you can catch a free ride. Otherwise, the provincial bus station is also within walking distance if you are staying in Hubin Nan Lu. Buses leave regularly (1/2hr) and you can catch a bus for less than 20RMB. The traveling time is about 45minutes in moderate traffic.

Once you are at the development, Ms Ren will arrange a conducted tour. You can also talk pricing with her. In total, this should last about 1-2 hours. (Note: There is no business obligations involved here. You can stop discussion anytime if you think the price or the compound is not right for you. On the other hand, if you are really keen, please ask all the questions you need at this point. I am not employed by them and will not be able to advise you on actual transaction requirements short of my own personal experience.)

You can have your breakfast or lunch there as they have a nice cafe at the club house. You can then choose to walk around on your own within the compound or even outside the compound. Just a short 10 minutes away and you can do activities such as water rafting, horse riding, air gliding, rock climbing and gun shooting.

You can take a bus from here back to Xiamen. Or you can go back to the development and catch the 4:30pm shuttle back to Xiamen. (It is best that you pre-arrange with Ms Ren if you intend to catch the shuttle).

Have a good holiday!
Regardless if you are just visiting Xiamen or seriously interested in the same RV compound, I wish you all the best. I am sure you will enjoy XIamen and I urge that you try their food, hotspring and foot reflexology to complete your holiday.

You’ll find yourself spending lesser to enjoy more than in any other parts of the world or even in China itself. You’ll also like the better air, less chaotic traffic, better retail service and generally polite people that you can find in Xiamen compared to many other parts of China.

Most importantly, I hope that you will write back in this forum so that future readers will benefit from your experience!

http://retire-in-xiamen.ning.com/forum/topics/faq-visiting-changtai-xiamen

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Account of a Singaporean couple  retiring in Xiamen, China

http://www.chinese-culture.net/html/retire_in_xiamen.html The final process went very well, thank you very much! I arrived in Xiamen on 31 June 2008, Saturday morning. As usual, I boarded the shuttle bus to the new apartment. Together with me were another 20-30 excited new owners – though most of them chose to drive – being residents of Xiamen itself. Breakfast were served to us on arrival, how thoughtful, and the entire paperwork process to establish ownership took a quick 20 minutes. In twenty minutes, I was holding the keys to my new apartment in Xiamen, China! It was now time to inspect the apartment. I was impressed that the clubhouse was recently renovated. Landscaping and greenery were very well-done throughout the entire development. Shared amenities such as tennis courts, cafe, gym, children playground, grocery store were operational. The swimming pool was also ready but not operational as it seem that the filtration system was not yet working. All in, pretty satisfactory. View from front porch of apartment. Note how far and wide is the entire development The exterior of the apartment block looks good. Glass lifts. Impressive lobby. And now… for the final moment of truth… unlocking the apartment. The fantastic view from the balcony remains. The apartment interior deco was as what was promised in the brochures. All the air-conditioner, fridge, oven, LCD TV and furniture were in place as promised. Except that the some renovation finishing were poor by international standards, there were paint marks and there were renovation debris still in nooks and corners. Poor finishing mar an otherwise almost flawless project. I was adamant that they changed the entire balcony wooden platform as the cutting was uneven and the base dirty and uncleaned. To my surprise, they agreed to do so. The developer was also surprised that I spent an hour or more inspecting every nook and corner. Most other owners spent a quick 10 minutes inspecting their new apartments and went away happy. Not me. I just did some renovation work in my current house and hence were able to tell what and where had gone wrong. Front porch/Entrance to the apartment View from balcony The Kitchen The Clubhouse Cafe I spent the next two days inspecting the apartment. I stayed in Xiamen but took the shuttle every morning to inspect the improvement work. I was glad to see that most of my requests were taken care of. Some requests, such as re-running of air-conditioner pipes and change of glass panels were not accepted, and I had to live with it, this being the acceptable standard in China. All in, a satisfactory exercise. I ventured to buy a new apartment in the suburbs of Xiamen two years ago and I am glad to see it come to fruition smoothly. The entire development has taken on a life of it’s own and I see yet even more villas and condominiums being built. Apparently, this project has struck a chord with many people about the need for a green and healthy lifestyle and hence, continue to enjoy healthy sales. The developer also told me that they were just granted approval to build a 5-star hotel, an indoor heated swimming pool, and a golf-course within this development. Owners and residents will also be able to enjoy these new amenities. Was this apartment worth my time, money and effort? I should certainly think so. Coming from an expensive country like Singapore, paying about US$45K for a fully furnished 81sqm apartment in a fenced and serviced community-living compound is certainly worthy. In fact, coming from a congested city, just to have the fresh air and fabulous view from the bedroom and living hall was worth the money in itself! If you are interested in this project for either holiday, leisure, investment or retirement purposes, do get in touch with me at this email: cheong_@_chinese-culture.net and I’ll help as much as I can. (Drop the two _. This is to prevent spam getting through) Oh yes, just in case you thought this trip was all work and no play, check out this fabulous hotspring spa, Riyuegu Hotspring Spa, nearby that we spent a fabulous time. You can read more about it at my wife’s blog.

You can keep in touch, get to know more, recieve updates or join our next on-site visit by subscribing to our mailing list! Email First Name Last Name Mobile Country All information captured remains highly confidential and will not be shared with anyone or anywhere else Why did I buy this apartment? I pioneer a group of Singaporeans looking at the feasibility of having a holiday or retirement home in Xiamen, China. Singapore is an island state located in South East Asia. The pace if life here is hectic and cost of living is high. There is also no social or medical security when we retire. Hence, many of us are looking towards a slower, healthier pace of life after retirement and where cost of living is also lower so as to stretch our savings. Many have chosen to go to Australia or Thailand. Most Singaporeans are Chinese by ancestry and some of us can even trace our ancestry to Fujian, the province where Xiamen is located. If you have similar plans, or wish to live in China with English speaking Singaporeans, we welcome you to join our group! Chronology of Events: How I discovered this apartment Organising a group Organising a visit Progressive visit Taking delivery of apartment Latest Developments