Salt * Wet * Fish

Singaporeans in general suffer from a big problem of handing over almost most expects of their lives to the state and the government. To be fair, this is an effect of the good work of the government which have provided much of the security and economically growth over these past 40 years or so. Unfortunately, this means that the state/government control most expects of the lifes of the citizens, from what you read in the newspapers to how you should have sex in your own bedroom privately. As such, it comes to no surprise that there is a constant barrage of complaints from citizens about the problems in society, asking someone else, that is, the state/government, to do something about it.

Recently in our main (government-controllerd) news papers, the Straits Times, there has been complaints about people eating in our MRT trains. Most wanted the “authorities” to do something about such “antisocial” behaviours. Anyway, it may be a surprise to some Singaporeans, but eating and drinking on subway trains is not necessarily an antisocial behaviour everywhere. In Japan, for example, its okay to eat and drink on the trains, but not okay to talk on the phone or have your (stupid) ringtone blasting away in the trains.

Anyway, I sent a letter to ST forum about this matter and its printed today, 21 July, in ST forum. Title was changed though, but contents remained intact: “Reader’s suggestion of plainclothes wardens on MRT will mean a Big Brother situation“.

TKM commented on my reply in Whose Brother Huh?

This is my original letter:

Do we want big brother everywhere?

I refer to Nelson Quah’s call for plainclothes wardens to deter antisocial behaviours, in his letter “Plainclothes wardens and surveillance cameras will deter antisocial behaviour on MRT” on 19 July, 2006.

Why don’t Mr. Quah speak up politely on the spot about such behaviour instead of waiting for someone else to do it? It would be helpful if other passengers also reinforce the message by agreeing with Mr. Quah on the spot. This is definitely more effective than getting to authorities to police social behaviours.

Does more laws and reinforcements make us better social beings? It only makes us behave socially correctly because of punishment, not because we are more gracious, caring and thoughtful. This is not different from people showing their respect to tyrants only out of fear and would overthrow them at a moment’s notice. This is also one of the reasons why the countless anti-litter campaigns have done little to stop people from littering, instead we have more road sweepers sweeping up more litter then ever. Thus we have a situation in Singapore here the citizens are leaving everything to law and the state, but does nothing themselves to shape the society they wish to live in.

It is important for all of us to be an active citizen. The question we need to ask ourselves is whether we want a society where people only obey the laws because of its punishments and because big brother is always watching or a society where despite having only basic laws and no big brother watching, everyone behaves in a gracious, caring and thoughtful manner? If we want the later, then we have to work hard ourselves to get it and we must be active in that transformation process. However, if we want to former, we will always be dissatisfied because there is always some behaviours that we want the law to control and some behaviours that we want big brother to check on.

Incidentally, Jerry post on active citizenry was published in the ST forum today, although not talking about the same thing, but I believe the thread is similar.

Active citizenry - the way forward for Singapore

Singapore has developed very rapidly from a Third World country to a First World economy within a short period of 41 years.

Our population has become increasingly educated and mobile, and many of us have grown in affluence. However, this endless pursuit of material possessions is not bringing happiness to many Singaporeans. It is no surprise that Singaporeans are the least happy people in Asia. Despite our First World economy, our social grace is still stuck in the Third World domain. With increasing competition for talents in our interconnected world, we lose capable Singaporeans when they uproot in pursuit of happiness in another more socially conscious First World country.

As we face the next lap, it is not economic pursuit but active citizenry that will be critical for Singaporeans to develop a sense of belonging and rootedness to this country, and in the process, restore our passion, our sense of happiness and social graciousness in keeping with our First World economy. One area of being an active citizen is to be involved in a social, political or interest group, advancing social or political issues.

Take the recent National Youth Forum as an example. Works should not just end with a proposal, but youths need to take ownership and execute their proposals regardless of whether it is well received at the forum.

As long as it is something that they believe in and are passionate about it, they should implement it.

Volunteerism is another area of active citizenry. One can be a volunteer with any charity or organise a group of friends to start voluntary work.

Instead of harbouring mistrust towards Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWO) since the National Kidney Foundation saga, we can become volunteers and understand how a VWO operates.

At the very least,active citizenry involves us having a sense of ownership in our community:our neighbours, our public space and our environment.

During my stayin North America, it is normal to see people protecting public property in their neighbourhoods and helping one another, even to the extent of house-sitting for neighbours on vacation.

Active citizenry does not necessary mean laborious, time-consuming or highly intellectual activities. It involves doing what inspires us in many different fields of interest, and even in simply living as civic-minded citizens. Many of us reason that we do not have the energy after working long hours to be involved as active citizens. Our weekends are meant for rest and family outings.

However, many of us do have something that we are passionate about. Yet, we procrastinate and hope that the day will come when we have earned enough or when we have retired before we actively involve ourselves. This day may not come.

Your profession, age, social or economic status does not matter. We should make active citizenry a part of our lifestyle, involving our entire family in voluntary works or in an interest group.

In many of our community projects, we have volunteers from different age groups and even an entire family, from grandparents to grandchildren.

Active citizenry can also be brought into our workplaces. Take the example of how the ST Pocket Money Fund was started by a group of journalists who were concerned about the welfare of students from poorer families. Active citizenry does not belong only to the elite. All of us can be active citizens at any time.

Moving forward as a First World country, we should cease calling upon the Government for every solution, and complain at the slightest inconvenience. The Government should allow citizens to be actively involved in our next stage of nation building.

We need to live our passion instead of an endless pursuit of material wealth which may not necessarily make us any happier.

Last year, over 100 volunteers, many with disabilities, staged ‘A Nation In Concert’ at the Esplanade. Even with no full-time staff, we managed to channel close to $200,000 to five charities and our show was so well received that we are answering the call to re-stage it this year.

Volunteers found fulfilment despite our differences and our busy schedules. Singapore has developed rapidly as an economic powerhouse. However, it is time our people also become active citizens and be stakeholders of this nation. Jerry Siah Eng Kiat Honorary Executive Director Spaces Community.