YB LKS’s trip to Sabah and series of tweets are deft political response to BN’s hijacking of Merdeka theme by a partisan slogan “JanjiDitepati”. Rais said that BN won’t change that theme. So LKS uses that theme against it by showing via power of sharp contrast how the slogan is contradicted at every turn in Sabah! Sabah is good choice for such an exercise in contradiction because (i) its just about the richest state in terms of natural resources but poorest in terms of receiving development aid from Federal Govt and (ii) its one of the two fixed deposit states in which inroads by opposition will threaten BN’ prospects in the imminent GE! Now its fundamental to propaganda objective that one should showcase one’s strength (rather than weakness). Sabah showcases the weakness. The tweets are to show JanjiDitepati is a hoax The opposite- “Janji Tidak Ditepati – is the case! This rubs the locals here more and make the slogan backfires. Smart political counter move by LKS – since one can’t change the Merdeka theme, make use of it by seizing the most dramatic example available in Sabah to point to its hollowness! Some more the picture of him standing on a rock at tip of Borneo looking out to sea in sunrise or sunset(?) makes him look like visionary. Ha ha ha!

It must seem strange that even as “our neighboring nation is heading toward the world wealthiest nation” why so increasingly (as evinced by last GE there) there is a gathering momentum amongst (local) S’poreans esp educated/young for change. Its not becos its the fashion or blowing of wind from Arab Spring from West or 308 tsunami from North! There is an untold story there if one takes closer look beyond the link & popular perception at how wealth is created in this so called “financial centre”, who really finds it a haven…It must strike any reasonable man as odd why the super rich whether Eduardo Saverin, Facebook co-founder or Jim Rogers, the co-founder of the Quantum Fund (privately owned hedge funds) of all places prefer to move to the tiny red dot…whose quality of life weather and even amenities are certainly not the best in the world that their money can buy; more particularly as the world’s super rich (some elites of corrupt regime hedging their bets) and their money (both legit and illegit) increasingly be channeled to and through this narrow funnel in support of the rising Sing$ and property prices (with an interest rate in FD less than 1% per annum) more and more average locals get dissatisfied with many getting out with those remaining clamoring for change (like “4th world Bolehland here) Are S’poreans mad? Of course not….The grass on the other side always look greener from here.

Somehow Singaporeans I asked were not happy. S’pore has low crime rate, supposedly good education system (pressure cooker) & of course good public transportation.(Cost per private car is exorbitant). Hawkers food (in Batok housing estate, Tiong Bharu still affordable (good value for money) – & hygienic. But other basics eg costs of housing, rental, medical, cars, food in better restaurants?At the moment, 31 per cent of women and 44 per cent of men are opting out of marriage and not leaving a next generation. (Why they are like that if life were not hard?) For S’poreeans its aging population. They’re replaced by immigrants and workers from nearby China, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Indonesia, expatriates from US & Europe (competing for jobs health care transportation housing etc) and the super rich with monies to deposit/invest to get PR (and support the Sing Dollar which in turn attract some more of the rich (many of whom are even corrupt taking money out of their own country) to bring into S’pore as safe haven for their currencies. With FD interest lower then 1% per annum they dump their monies into properties (never mind no yield/rental) as long as they think they will appreciate further by wave after wave of those coming after, bringing in money in search for safe haven, throw their money into properties, to maintain the self feeding cycle. [Except for those born rich or or high level executives, lucky to get high paying jobs (from multinationals) what about the average? Their aging parents are Ok cos their properties have gone up in price/there’s also CPF but they younger set are leveraging on credit cards to maintain lifestyle of 1st world. Banks lend on credit for cards and properties. Much of bank monies are absorbed by Temasik which pays 2% pa to banks for their monies and churn the deals. Local fund, wealth managers, investment advisors and financial consultants can’t get many deals from within S’pore and have to look outside to source for funds. I sense its really tough there and only fittest amongst the fittest prosper.

First of all no comment expressed here intends to compare and argue that Malaysia is a better place now or in the future than S’pore. Its just to underscore the risks of gamourising life is great there. Indeed its hazardous to compare. S’pore is probably unique. A referenced CIA World Factbook (if it can be believed) suggests the total fertility rate of Singapore is 0.78, the LOWEST of the 222 countries listed. Now when country develops a lot of factors why people don’t marry (in traditional sense) or if they do, divorce – personal autonomy (esp women), disillusionment with traditional premises of sanctioned marital relationship etc. It does not explain why total fertility rate is (say) 1.74 in Denmark and 1.67 in Sweden – more favourable than S’pore. In red dot a more plausible explanation – life is not good/too stressful to raise family, and many reasons that locals there can explain better – competitive, long hrs, dog eat dog, escalating high prices of basics (housing/medical) and relative inferiority if any of social security welfare net for the ordinary/average. The ordinary/average are better selling their properties (including inherited) and take the strong Sing$ to Perth, maybe for Malay S’poreans buy properties in Iskandar & commute daily via 2nd link. Per the link by Bunch of Suckers above: if the small island is importing non stop and increasingly taking in the super rich from world over (& by reason Sing$ becomes main attracting point and leverage) where do ordinary S’poreans stand (looking a head a decade or two)??? They are being replaced. S’pore will be to Asia like like Monaco to Europe a playground for the rich & famous, with taxis being BMWs, Mercedes 300+ and average/ordinary displaced.