Political parties should address 2 strategic issues

May 5, 2006
The Straits Times

I WATCH with impatience as election fever builds up. There are two strategic issues that underpin the very survival of our nation that have not been addressed to the fullest. The issues: the rise of China and India and the cost of living.

On the surface, the rise of China and India might seem a little irrelevant, given that we should be focusing on more pressing bread-and-butter issues. Nevertheless, if we continue to be myopic, the problem is likely to be transferred to future generations.

Last year, when I was in Guangzhou, I visited a salon to get a haircut. I asked about the closing time and was told it was 10pm. As it was then 9.30pm, I was about to walk out when I was assured that opening hours could be extended.

The enthusiastic hair stylist suggested that I colour my hair. When I reminded him that the salon was about to close, he said that would not be a problem. When the colouring was almost done, he asked me if I would like to perm my hair. I looked at the clock which had just struck 1am and asked in Cantonese: 'Young man, don't you need to sleep?' He replied: 'While I am young, I should work hard for the money. Money comes first, sleep comes second.'

If I had been in Singapore and it was 9.30pm, I would have been ushered to the door. The mentality of Singaporean workers is different. Would Singapore be able to compete effectively with the giants of China and India, populated by the likes of the young hair stylist?

Because of the nature of my job, I get to speak to businessmen, who constantly lamented the attitude of Singaporean workers, especially those in their 20s. Older workers complain of low wages while younger ones complain of long working hours. Will we lose our competitiveness in the long term?

Born in the 1970s, I witnessed the hardship of Singapore in the early days of nation-building. I saw how my uncles and aunties toiled day and night. Now, my niece, who was born in the 80s, has no qualms about changing jobs three times within a year. Her justification: Long working hours and unreasonable employers. She said she needs to live life to the fullest by spending less time on work and more time on more 'fruitful things' which, in my view, are leisurely, mundane things masquerading as 'fruitful'.

I am worried. How are we to compete effectively vis-a-vis China and India?

Mindful of the challenges posed by the two giants, the Taiwanese are equipping the younger generation with proficiency in Hokkien, Cantonese, Mandarin and Teochew.

The Singapore Government should allow multilingual programmes to be aired so that the young will get more exposure to other dialects and languages and maintain the intrinsic value of being multilingual.

It is very easy for opposition politicians to suggest implementing a minimum wage to solve the problem of rising cost of living but have they considered the consequences - rise in costs, resulting in more businesses relocating to other countries. The end result? Fewer jobs which, in turn, will put a strain on the economy.

Yes, the cost of living is rising but there is a more urgent issue to be addressed - teaching financial prudence.

My mother-in-law had been a blue-collar worker all her life and had to fend for the family of five children for the past 50 years. At 70 years old, she has amassed a comfortable sum in her savings account and a fully-paid HDB flat. She could have been a poor, lonely woman wiping tables and clearing dishes at a hawker centre but because of her frugality and good financial planning, she is able to retire comfortably.

I am not saying that all the men and women who are working in their old age deserved it. Many people fall into financial difficulties, especially in the later part of their life, because of poor spending habits and poor financial planning. I once helped a lawyer-friend to issue a writ of seizure to a man for not servicing a loan offered by a cooperative. When I went to his house, I was dumbfounded at the sight of three TV sets bigger than the one and only TV I had, a sophisticated hi-fi system, a new washing machine and air-conditioning in all the rooms in his humble four-room flat.

My hope is that the Government will institute a national body to create greater awareness of financial planning and impart knowledge on how to manage finances prudently.

Hoe Cheng Heng (Mdm)