tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081742307252789733.post5205241832863903772..comments2024-02-14T04:53:18.295-08:00Comments on Singapore Dissident: One year has passed. A word of thanks.Gopalan Nairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15399145588654603667noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081742307252789733.post-78792270782195547392008-03-08T23:59:00.000-08:002008-03-08T23:59:00.000-08:00To anonymous who started with "I really enjoyed yo...To anonymous who started with "I really enjoyed your perspectives about Singapore" I say thanks, and that my experience in life was similar to yours.<BR/>Thanks<BR/>Gopalan NairGopalan Nairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15399145588654603667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081742307252789733.post-64963273826377244382008-03-08T07:22:00.000-08:002008-03-08T07:22:00.000-08:00A forummer posted the Singapore Pledge in Sammyboy...A forummer posted the Singapore Pledge in Sammyboymod website.<BR/><BR/>That is when I realised just how different the real Singapore is from the pledge, esp with the words democractic, justice and equality - Singapore is moving away from these aims.<BR/><BR/>RIP - Singapore Pledge.<BR/><BR/>Happy Anniversary, Singapore Dissident.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081742307252789733.post-2116029215405028852008-03-07T23:03:00.000-08:002008-03-07T23:03:00.000-08:00Hi Gopalan, I really enjoyed reading your pro...Hi Gopalan,<BR/><BR/> I really enjoyed reading your prospectives about Singapore. I would like to share with you my story as a typical Singaporean "quitter/loser".<BR/><BR/> I had a rather mediocre childhood, doing what most kids would do during the 80s and 90s. All the midmare started when I got my PSLE result. It was really bad and everyone reckoned I would be going downtrack from there. I went to a neighbour secondary school and did ok for my O'levels. At this point I didn't really know what I want in life. The pressure was really severe and from time to time, I would hear my mum or dad commenting about "someone's kid has gotten straight A's or some kind of scholarship"<BR/><BR/>Like the rest of my school friends, I went to a polytechnic to learn to be a building engineer. There was no motivation to be one, just the fact that getting a place was easy and there is really nothing else I can do since I couldn't get into a JC. Thus I had 3 mindless years in a polytechnic, passing time from skipping lectures to playing billard at the local parlour. Not surprising, I did not see passion in my poly friends as well. Their main preoccupation was often to dress up and look good for others. After that 3 years, we went to NS, once again being mindless....<BR/><BR/>Mum was concerned about my future so she suggest I further my studies in Australia. Initially, i was more interested in working and getting money so that I can lavish myself with the latest handphone etc. But my mum had other plans. So she put me on a flight to Australia after NS to do a bachelor of science..<BR/><BR/>Initially, there was nothing but complaints from me because I never did well in school. After one year of Australian tertiary education, i started to enjoy studying. By the end of studies, I graduated with a honours degree in Chemistry. <BR/><BR/>I came back to Singapore and was offered a phD position in NTU and NUS. I spend some time there and realised that the academic integrity within our universities were very appalling and people were as mindless as before. They just simply keep their mouths shut and followed instructions. Imagine I had to spend 3 months assigning quotations and quotations to the finance department just to purchase 2 chemicals for a reaction. At that junction, I had enough and decided to go somewhere else for my PhD. As such, people around me were branding me as a quitter and loser.<BR/><BR/>Dad's business had gone busted and he had to declared bankrupt. Everyone in my family reckoned I should stay to get a job and help out. But I went ahead with my studies because I wanted to pursue a passion I never thought I had. They were kind enough to support me while others were less sympathetic.<BR/><BR/>I bought an airticket back to Australia and got a PhD scholarship. I spend 4 years doing research and had published in many international journals. <BR/><BR/>During these 4 years, while I had established a fine reputation for myself in research by day, I was a kitchen helper and a waiter by night. I managed to struggle through uni by scrapping the bottom of the barrel due to my family finanicial predicament.<BR/><BR/>One striking incident had left a everlasting impression in my mind. Towards the end of my phd last year, I attended a conference and gave a presentation. It was very neatly done and after the presentation at the reception, I was immediately offered a faculty position in a top university in Korea on the top, while another Japanese group in Tokyo university wanted me to join them for a post doctoral position. A group of Singaporean phd students came up to me and asked me which JC or secondary school I was from. I was puzzled but I told them my background. Their response from it was less than kind and I was sort of humiliated on the spot.<BR/><BR/>Before I finished my PhD, I was offered an academic position in one Australian University with a world ranking within the top 100 (NUS is at 145 or so while NTU is somewhere closer to 500). Furthermore the pay is nearly double what I will ever get in Singapore and the academic integrity and freedom is what I sought for as a researcher.<BR/><BR/>Yes I am quitter but apart from learning my ABC, Singapore had provided absolutely nothing to my achievements as a Nanotechnologist todays.....<BR/><BR/>RegardsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081742307252789733.post-90041849270964193292008-03-05T14:07:00.000-08:002008-03-05T14:07:00.000-08:00Ameera,for your assignment, the best book that cr...Ameera,<BR/>for your assignment, the best book that critically analyse underlying Singapore issues is <BR/>The Singapore Miracle: Myth and reality<BR/>by Rodney King<BR/><BR/>You can find it in any popular bookstore.<BR/>It is only available in National Library as reference book.<BR/><BR/>It may want to photocopy the book as it is very costly around $80Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081742307252789733.post-83773796750083821862008-03-04T19:14:00.000-08:002008-03-04T19:14:00.000-08:00To Ameera, maybe you can tackle employment law in ...To Ameera, maybe you can tackle employment law in Singapore. It is flawed beyond recognition. Have a take on fair employment practices and why many job agencies seems to condone this practice of employing people based on language and age. <BR/><BR/>Another topic is requiring elderly people who are cash poor to continue working instead of giving them a monthly pension. It is not right for people who has paid most of their money in hidden taxes and charges where the government eventually attain these money. <BR/>GST, PUB, transportation are some areas where the goverment attain their money from the public. Please enlighten them on why they have to provide pension to all elderly Singaporeans irregardless of their monetary standing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081742307252789733.post-59604320606238901432008-03-04T14:13:00.000-08:002008-03-04T14:13:00.000-08:00To Anonymous who wrote on the case of the expats i...To Anonymous who wrote on the case of the expats in Singapore, I have not read the report. I need not. <BR/>If I were an expat in Beijing, I would love it too. Excellent place to live temporarily. I need not be concerned with lack of human rights. It does not concern me. I am only there temprorily. <BR/><BR/>Beijing has excellent women. Excellent wine and excellent everything. What more can a man want?<BR/><BR/>To me, as an expat, Beijing is the best place in the world. But a Chinaman there, suffering under the yoke of Communism may not agree with me.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for leting me say this.<BR/>Gopalan NairGopalan Nairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15399145588654603667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081742307252789733.post-46719144810607979902008-03-04T11:36:00.000-08:002008-03-04T11:36:00.000-08:00Ameera, you should have taken most of the issues f...Ameera, you should have taken most of the issues from opposition party site. They raise practical and social issues that expose the wayangness of the establishment.<BR/><BR/>Read their blog will give you the relevant details for your research.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081742307252789733.post-38842733205943230552008-03-04T11:04:00.000-08:002008-03-04T11:04:00.000-08:00Seems the expats love Singapore! What's wrong with...Seems the expats love Singapore! What's wrong with this picture??? ...<BR/><BR/>http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/03/04/business/AS-FIN-Singapore-Quality-of-Life.php<BR/><BR/>SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Asian expatriates have ranked Singapore as the best place to live in the world for its safe and clean environment, while Europeans chose Copenhagen, a survey showed on Tuesday.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081742307252789733.post-53245658377443732822008-03-04T09:30:00.000-08:002008-03-04T09:30:00.000-08:00Hello Ameera,Thank you for the comment. Unfortunat...Hello Ameera,<BR/><BR/>Thank you for the comment. Unfortunately due to pressure of work, I am unable to write anything for your paper at this time.<BR/>I do apologize.<BR/>Thanks<BR/>Gopalan NairGopalan Nairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15399145588654603667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081742307252789733.post-34408493837155392152008-03-04T09:28:00.000-08:002008-03-04T09:28:00.000-08:00Hello there Mr Nair!I am a second-year student in ...Hello there Mr Nair!<BR/><BR/>I am a second-year student in NTU doing Sociology & hoping to minor in Public Administration. I have been reading your blog for a while now & it has definitely widened my horizons (for lack of a better term) & made me even more cynical if that was possible of Singapore that I was before. I love Singapore. I am a patriot at heart & maybe it is the youthful idealism that is still oozing out of me that makes me want to make a difference. I hope this burning flame will not be snuffed out too early though. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, I am emailing firstly to congratulate you on your first blog anniversary. :) <BR/><BR/>Secondly, if its not too much to ask, I need some help for a term paper. For my PA (Public Admin) module, I am required to submit a paper evaluating a certain policy in Singapore and give recommendations to improve it etc etc. The problem is, I feel that there's too many 'flawed' policies in Singapore ranging from CPF (and the new annuity policy), our healthcare policies, our education policies... that I'm at a loss. I think it'd be great if you could just give me your ideas on which policy, or which area of Singapore society I should focus on in order for me to narrow down my choices. If you were in my position, (I mean, I can't change any of the policies, sadly this is merely a term paper) what would you have chosen?<BR/><BR/>Do hope to hear from you soon. And continue writing!<BR/><BR/>Regards;<BR/>AmeeraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com