"The ultimate test of the value of a political system is whether it helps the society to establish conditions which improves the standard of living for the majority of its people, plus enabling the maximum of personal freedoms compatible with the freedoms of others in society"
This is attributed to the late Mr. Lee Kwan Yew, founding Prime Minister of Singapore.
The present day Singapore is a testament to the party he co-founded way back in the late 1950s and that party is credited for the successful development from a sleepy port and trading centre to a gleaming metropolis today, attracting the best and brightest the world over to invest and participate in industries such as banking, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, clean energy, supply chains, pharmaceutical the list goes on. Singapore has one of the highest GDP per capita (US$ 94,500 per citizen) and is admired worldwide for its proactive and efficient Government, there is lots of greenery in this garden city, and there is world class airport, public transport and internet connectivity. The port of Singapore is the world's second busiest and our Universities are ranked within the top 10 in worldwide (in terms of papers presented).
It however, has strict laws from everything from littering, taking drugs (even when overseas),and recently vaping. The feeling that the city is rather boring prevails, because the nightlife is not as vibrant as New York or London or even Hong Kong. It is one of the biggest two challenges facing Singapore as a 'global city', that and the rise of AI in industry disrupting many young people's lives - it is very difficult to snare an entry level job - let alone keep that job for long term.
Yes, there are sacrifices made. Yes, the going was uncomfortable at the beginning and over the past decades. There is a new world order with many uncertain threats and tariffs, making the region more unstable.
We need to bond together, huddle together, support each other and strategise. Together, with all the steady collective minds and a firm belief that with adversity, the opportunities and cohesiveness of the people will show and we can overcome what ever comes.
Like the Romans 2 millenia ago, when the enemy attacks, form a circle, or a rectangle, put up the shield and hold firm.
Photo courtesy of Nick Carrey
By Neil Carey https://www.flickr.com/photos/ncarey/ -
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ncarey/144042243/, CC BY-SA 2.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2428371
We will pull through even the toughest crises.
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