Reflection: Singapore National Day (Independence Day) 2009

Singapore is celebrating its National Day (Independence Day) on 9 August 2009. It will be the 44th birthday of Singapore. For a country, forty-four years old is still a very young age. Even for a human being, forty-four years old is a very young age, about half the average lifespan.

I am younger than Singapore. As the older generation likes to say, we are “the younger generation who does not know hardship.” By that, they mean that we do not know the hardship of building Singapore from a problematic, humble, and poor nation to a powerful nation today.

I think they are both right and wrong in saying that.

Of course, we do not appreciate all the problems facing Singapore then. The best we can do is to study history and use our imaginations to visualize the Maria Hertogh riots of 1950, the race riot of 1964 that led to the retrenchment of Singapore by Malaysia government.

We cannot visualize the labor strike of Hock Lee Bus strike in 1955. We, the younger Singaporeans, cannot imagine why people want to go on strike, when we know that a labor strike does not benefit anyone in the long run.

It is very fortunate that we have many writings from the pioneer leaders to help us imagine the “day of anguish” on 9 August 1965, as Lee Kuan Yew announced the Independence of Singapore.

I enjoy reading the two memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew. Through the two memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew, I get to understand the reasoning behind many national policies. Obviously some of the policies turn out to be not so ideal on hindsight, but at that particular point of time, it made perfect sense.

However, that does not mean that we have an easier time. There is a saying in Chinese that “starting a business is difficult, maintaining an existing business is even more difficult.”

We, the younger generation of Singapore, witnessed the mass departure of manufacturing companies from Singapore to China. We witnessed the retrenchment of PSA and HDB, and knew that we were entering a new era.

The new era is not attractive. The new era means that there is no more permanent job anymore, even iron rice bowl cannot withstand the test of fire. There is no more job security in Singapore, in fact, no such thing as permanent and secure employment in every part of the world.

The older generation in Singapore cannot understand the fear that the younger Singaporeans feel. We, the younger generation of Singapore, fear that tertiary education is not even enough to make a living.

We, the younger generation of Singapore, fear that even hard work does not guarantee that the company will keep us when there is a recession. The subsequent recession shows that sometimes, education and hard work are no guarantee of job security. We need a new battle plan to deal with the economy in the new era.

The Singapore government is obviously working hard to retrain and re-skill the workers. The Singapore government, through concerted effort of many agencies, does a good job in helping the lower income families through upgrading skills, and getting higher paying job.

However, for many PMET (Professionals, Managerial, Executive and Technicians), the effort of the Singapore government is not enough to help them. PMET folks have to deal with the new era using different working strategies. After all, the positions on top are fewer, and the competition is very tough.

The older generation of Singapore simply cannot understand why the younger generation of Singapore cannot hold a job for thirty years. The fact is, there is no such job available in Singapore or developed countries anymore. Companies hire and fire. Money speaks louder than before. Long service award has lost its meaning.

All employees are ultimately treated as just statistics. The value of an employee is also measured in statistical value. Use a dollar to hire an employee, the employee must generate a hundred dollars in value. This is the fear of the younger generation of Singapore.

I feel that taking up courses after courses is not effective for PMET. After all, PMET is a group of experienced and knowledgeable Singaporeans. They need more creativity and more courage to try new things, rather than all the textbook knowledge.

I hope the Singapore government can find some ways to harness the wisdom and experience of PMET in national building. It is such a waste of talents to let all the PMET fences for themselves. Let us see what the National Day Speech 2009 will reveal.

The older generation of Singapore also cannot understand the fear of the younger generation of Singapore when SARS invaded Singapore.

We, the younger generation of Singapore, realize with a dread that the hard work of the past forty years could reduce to ashes when a strong pandemic hit Singapore. There is simply no way to keep virus out of Singapore. Singapore is too small, and too crowded. Any stronger virus than SARS has the potential to bring the economy of Singapore to a standstill.

The older generation of Singapore may not live long enough to see such a strong pandemic attacking Singapore, but we may.

The Singapore government is prepared to deal with pandemic. Many companies are prepared to deal with pandemic. The policies, procedures, the medical facilities, the medical professionals, and the people are prepared.

The year 2009 is a bad year for many countries in the world, including Singapore. What is ahead? Of course a brighter future is ahead, after all, recession cannot last forever. Whether it bottoms out this year or next year, the future is brighter. By the time, Singapore celebrates the 45th birthday on 9 August 2010 the better days are here!

Singapore, a small nation, will be stronger, since Singapore manages to weather recession, swine flu, and the coming El Nino (El Nino effect will be over by 9 August 2010).