Do you enjoy studying the history of your country?

Hi Angemac, compare to Singapore, Canada is such a big country with rich culture, history and nature, all the things that Singapore lack.
Many Singaporeans love a trip to Canada, some even migrate there.
Sorry to say I do not know much about Canada, except that it is very cold in winter. I hear about Quebec and the uniqueness of this place.

Hi Dragon54u, your country has very interesting history, and the idea of freedom is the theme that affects a few hundred years of history.
I guess the President is working hard to bring the economy back to track. The whole world is looking forward to economic recovery. Right now, whenever USA squeezes, the stock markets in the whole world suffer mighty fall.

Hi Lampar, we are lucky to have Mr Lee Kuan Yew, not just for his determination and resourcefulness, more for his integrity, and ability to keep a clean government. I think a clean and moral government is better than anything.
Those political leaders of Mr Lee Kuan Yew generation will never contemplate the idea of casinos in Singapore, and they never forgive those who take bribe.
Until now the civil servants are clean. If anyone offers a hundred bucks to the traffic police or immigration officers, chances are, they will be charged with offering bribe.
Actually Singapore was kicked out of Malaysia, not because Mr Lee chose to break away. There was really no choice. After the major rioting between the Chinese and Malays, over the "Malays Malaysia" and the "Malaysian Malaysia" issue, the Prime Minister of Malaysia kicked Singapore out.
Until now, Malaysia is still a Malay Muslim country, holding true to "Malays Malaysia". Singapore is a multi-cultural country, even the national anthem is made up of two languages.
Actually many young Singaporeans are thankful for the foresight of Lee Kuan Yew and his government. All young Singaporeans, even as young as 10 years old, know about the water issue. Lee Kuan Yew was very smart to negotiate for the supply of water from Malaysia for many years. Without that negotiation, I think Singapore will not survive, everyone will die of thirst.

The ethnic cleansing in Malaysia (May13th,1957) actually is not a race riot, it is a planned attack on Malaysians of ethnic Chinese origin in Kuala Lumpur by a former Malay state minister from UMNO, with the intention of inciting racial unrest to have an emergency rule declared and over turned election victory of significant opposition party inroad into Parliament.It was called race riot to bluff international news media at that time. The same threat was used against Mr Lee 's after his party won substantial parliament seats by Malay extremists faction within UMNO to have a hegemony power over all other racial group in Malay Malaysia. Even till today, non Malay Malaysians had limited rights in their own country and are regarded as non bumiputra (second class)under their law. So you can imagined the difficulties Lee Kuan Yew had to face at that particular moment of history and decide either to be cleansed by violence or control a tiny island name Singapore without any resources for survival, it is fair to say without him, there is no prosperous Singapore.

haha Lampar, you do know the history of my country better than me. How do you know so much?
If Singapore has no Lee Kuan Yew back in 1965, the communists will gain power, and Singapore might become a communist country. That would be a real mess. Malaysia and Indonesia had a hard time controlling the communists in their countries, and they would not tolerate the communists in Singapore. Then China would step in to support the communists.
In that case, there would not be such country as Singapore in the world map!

Hi, my friend, i would not claimed i know more than you in Singapore history, i happened to have a chance to learn and read about SEA nations history quite a bit and fascinated at the cultures, languages, people, historical past, and etc... in that part of the world. Communism is always a threat in the later part of Singapore nation building since there are a large population of ethnic Chinese in this island and many did feel emotionally tie to the mainland China strongly and can be easily manipulated by the communist China political propaganda, not mentioning China is at a very close distance up north from SEA; the same threat also is real in Indonesia and Malaysia especially among their minority population of those Chinese educated living in the rural area, but overall, many had no liking over the communist ideology and despised their violence past of arms struggled for political power in China history. I am sure many non-Malay Malaysians and Indonesians are just as loyal to their own countries of their birth than any one else based on my encountered with many of them in the past even though historically they are being marginalized in political rights (second class citizen) since the independence.

Hi Lampar, many of us find it more interesting to listen to those uncles and aunts telling their stories.
My ex-boss was a retired policeman, and he could remember the Hock Lim bus riots. Once we went to a wake of a colleague. His father passed away at 80 years old. My colleague mentioned that his father worked with Hock Lim bus company, was involved in the famous riots.
The world is so small. Can't imagine that so many years ago, my ex-boss and his father were at opposite side of the riot. They probably hit each other's head.
That's the interesting human element!

"Hock Lim riot" - is it happened in Singapore? I haven't got a clue of this event at all. Any way, majority of Singapore's elders know very well of the past history of Malaysia too, most of them had been through some sorts of racial heighten tension routinely chalked out by the dominate political party whenever election result did not shown out as expected. Even until today, political activism is always quite a dangerous career to pursue for many of their minority population, any quest for equal rights can be treated as a treason and incitement of racial hatred which threaten national security by Malaysia dominate party. It is the younger generation of Singaporean that is enjoying all the hard works and vision of their leaders like Mr.Lee and few others, they are quite uneducated about the past struggled of their older leaders at the beginning of Singapore history.

Hi Lampar, actually most younger generations do understand, even though we are enjoying the good times.
All male Singaporeans still have to put in the two years of national service. And most of us appreciate a clean government who does not take bribe.
That time when the government announced the plan for two casinos, Mr Lee Hsien Long had a hard time to defend the policy change. Even though many younger people understood the economic benefits, but we were unable to stomach the so-called "moral dilution". A local movie director, Jack Neo, produced a movie to mock the government.

Talking about Singapore casino, i doubt it really provide much benefit to average Singaporean except probably having more international gamblers stream into the country and provide low level, low skill employment to the people there, much of the gain is going into the casino billionaires own corporation coffer through gaming, just like the case in Malaysia's Genting Highland. The local got low level hiring n low pay jobs, but the corporate owner Goh Chok Tong family reap big profit and become billionaire instantly with politically connected licensing monopoly in the country where not everyone is allowed to operate casino without special license. So in term of economy benefit, i can assure you to Singaporeans at large, it will create more social problems among the family than benefit except economy revenue to the government in the form of tax. So it all depend on whether Singaporean really want to see these types of jobs opportunity ( casino checker, blackjack gamer) plenty in the country or not, just look at Las Vegas, Nevada in USA will provide you a glimpse look of the community you will get when a casino industry has established in a state.

Hi Lampar, Singaporeans will not take low skilled low salary jobs!
That is one point that many people fired at the government, saying that the projected jobs will all go to the foreigners.
Even in Genting Highlands, Malaysia, you can see they hire many foreigners to work in the casino. There is a distinct difference between Malaysian Chinese, and China Chinese, and we can see many China Chinese workers, plus the Bangladeshi cleaners.
Singapore has too many low-skilled low salary jobs in the hospitality industry, healthcare industry, construction and marine. In construction industry, for every single Singaporean hired, the company can hire seven foreigners, mainly skilled laborers from India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and other countries.
That's why many people wonder what's the point of having two casinos.

Yes, since many Singaporeans had gone through few years of N.S, and many did acquired certain technical skills in the military and some even with university degree, it is not surprise many will not want to work in a casino except in a supervisory position which command higher pay scale. I can understand that. That is why i am saying casino does not really bring much economy benefit to a country except may be big revenue for government in the form of gaming tax, that is why i think the present younger government leaders want to have casino in Singapore and don't mind having two at a time, also if you look at some of the ownerships of both casino probably you will get to see the answer, if i am not mistaken, some these casino stocks are held by TAMASEK Singapore Incorporate, which i assume you know who is the big boss behind it. By the way, having those foreign workers also gave the government a big income tax source.

At the very least, that is what Malaysia government is constantly doing when they allowed so many Indonesians, Pakistanis, Sri Lank an into the country, especially those with islamic faiths. Who know, may be your government want to compete with Genting Highland in getting all these free cash from international gamblers and tourists that frequent there often, so they approved two casinos instead of just one to empower their publicity and appeal to those gambling travelers from the west and middle east royal oil tycoons.

HI Lampar, some information are not really accurate.
Temasek holdings and Goverment Investment Corporation (GIC) have no stake in the casino. They do not gain from direct investment. If they try to take a minor stake in it, there will be an uproar in the parliament.
A few weeks ago, Temasek Holdings announce a loss of few billions, and the Minister of Finance had to answer to parliament.
However, Temasek Holdings have indirectly benefitted. Some of the companies under Temasek Holdings successful bid for certain projects in the construction of the casino. I think after the two casinos open, many of outsourcing projects will go to companies under Temasek Holdings. I think SIA may want a linkup with the two casinos for some airlines promotional tour packages.
Another point you made about foreign workers and income tax is not that accurate. More than half the workforce in Singapore do not need to pay income tax, and most of them are foreign workers. As long as their annual income falls below S$20,000 a year, they do not need to pay income tax.
However, the company that hires foreign workers may have to pay levy to the government. The highest amount payable is S$295 per month.
Actually where total cost of hiring foreign workers are factor in, there is not much difference between hiring foreign workers and local workers. The only problem is that locals do not want to take up low end jobs.
The third point is the casino in Genting. Malaysia is a Muslim country, and all Muslims are not allowed into the casino. I had seen some tour groups from Middle East in Gentings, but they were not allowed into the casino, they could enjoy the facilities outside.
I think you are right in that Singapore governments want the rich Muslims to go into the casino. Right now the share price of Genting in Singapore stock exchange is over-heated. Wonder why so many people want to pour in so much money to support a casino that is losing money in UK, and not even open in Singapore.

Well, my friend Tamasek holding had so many subsidiary company under its fold, it is such a complex web to even know how many really exist in Singapore and foreign countries. I do know this is one corporation in Singapore that has a lot of clouts and can do many things where not many S'pore registered corporations can, it is one of a key player in corporate raids internationally, and many of their dealing are not required to report to the registrar of corporate office in Singapore due to its special status. If you look closely at the shareholders of Tamasek, you will know the reason why.

It is indeed new to me muslim is not allow into Genting's casino, but that is not what i saw few years back, actually they are allowed to join the fun too except in crazy state like 'kelantan' where it is strictly forbidden. If you ever visit Las Vegas,Nevada, you will agree with me, my friend. Those from oil rich states from middle east are having a great time there, it is really not some sorts of sin like you think. i guess may be in Singapore, it is illegal for them to gamble due to religious authority pressure, but over here, they contributed substantial oil $$$ into gaming business too.

Hi Lampar, Malaysia and Indonesia are strictly Muslim countries.
Since Genting is in Malaysia, and many Muslims are pressuring Malaysia government to shut down the casino, the management of Genting dare not risk letting any Muslim into the casino.
Singapore has no such restriction. You can see Muslims buying lottery tickets.

My friend, i am wondering whether the management had been charged for refusing someone from entering their casino due to religion belief. Unless it is stated clearly in M'sia or Indonesia law the business owner can do so to prevent muslim from gambling area. If that is the case, then probably middle eastern oil tycoon had to enter through the back door and play in a secret room in Genting now. lol!! I had no idea thing had gone that far in that country now that muslim is not allow to enter into casino, after all, it is not even hell or heaven, just a casino, what is the big fuss about it?? So it is better off to stay in Singapore than Malaysia, if that is the case. Kelantan is the only one i thought is having all these crazy law around, have no idea craziness had spread so far out now...

Hi Scheng1! Thank for your BR pencil in the discussion.

Hi Canellita, I like those history stories with human factors too. That's why I hate those history textbooks very much.
The textbooks are factually correct, but nothing about the fear, indecision or doubt faced by the political leaders or hero.
Many of the historical novels are far more interesting than the dry textbook knowledge.

I used to enjoy historical novels. They make history romantic and appealing even when there is no romance in the story line. I don't read as much fiction as I used to though.

Hi Karen, too bad the "founding fathers" of your country did not leave a thick book of their memoirs. It will be nice to read the first person POV written by them, and to read about their fears, courage, doubts, love and other feelings. At those days, they did not have such things as copyrights, or else they would make a lot of money writing books.

In fact, there are some journals, documents, etc. in original form in museums and the library of Congress! So that is a great plus.:)

Hi Kalav, India needs another Gandhi. He is really a very great man. Too bad none of his family members have half of his good qualities.
I like to read about him, and like Mr Lee Kuan Yew's comment about him and his daughter. Mr Lee Kuan Yew likes him better than his daughter.
India is such a great country, with great culture. The written history is less organized than history of China. Even then there are enough writings. I hope you can write something about the rich history of India, and post in AC.

I too thought in these lines Scheng but it is too vast and complicated for me to venture into it.And I do not much like the modern period that has evolved after independence.Mine is a fairytale appreciation of bygone glorious days of ancient kings, culture, tradition and rich heritage and excellent sense of values in our country in ancient India.Even now I am reading the ancient history of Tamil Nadu, a particular era which has colorful stories and the war descriptions are enchanting.It is all only for personal apapreciation because it is only nostalgic and not very relevant to the day.

Hi Kalav, I think it's much better to write about ancient history than modern history.
I prefer to write about historical persons who lived thousands of years ago. I think you can pick up those famous generals, or kings or princess, and write about them, instead of writing very lengthy history.

That is a good idea and I CAN ALSO DO A GOOD JOB OF IT sCHENG!

Hi Kalav, that's great! I look forward to reading your articles. I bet many readers in AC will enjoy the articles about India history.
Many people are enchanted with the culture in India, but there are not enough interesting and short articles on the famous people of the ancient India.

Hi Coolbollywood, that's really very unusual. Most of us did not appreciate history lessons. History examinations were the worst of all, we had to remember all the dates, and could not change the historical dates to suit our imagination.
I agree that reading history, no matter what country, is great. I like to read history, for the sake of learning how the ancient people feel. I love to imagine living in ancient times, wonder what I will be!
I hope you can write some short articles and introduce the world to the beautiful history of your country. I'm sure there are many ancient heroes and great people you can write about.

Hi William, we have to study the history of Singapore in school too.
Fortunately Singapore is a young country and there isn't too many things to remember.
Since my forefathers came from China, and many of the distant relatives are still living in China, I take an interest in learning the history of China too. i dont think I will enjoy if studying history is compulsory. I prefer to read and enjoy the history.