Heartware is just as important

Categories: Wormie Says

When Singapore got its independence from Malaysia, it was left with one big problem. How do you run a country with a very small land area and no natural resources? How do you ensure you own security in the midst of seemingly unfriendly nations? (Remember that Singapore was expelled from Malaysia, and Malaysia at that time was embroiled with Indonesia during Confrontation).

Therefore right from the start, Singapore leaders had a seiged-mentality. In order to survive, they have to depend on themselves. They cannot seek help from its neighbouring countries. Against all odds, Singapore had managed not only to survive but to prosper culminating in its entry to the ranks of developed nations; at odds with the developing nation status of its neighbours in South East Asia.

The government of the day had emphasised on developing Singapore's economy and infrasturcture. It has developed its only natural resource, its people. Even before the age of IT, Mr Lee Kuan Yew has the foresight to see the value of developing its people. With a more educated population, Singapore has an advantage over its neighbour. It is able to promote itself as a business hub for South East Asia. It all makes sense because not only can Singaporeans understand what the foreign companies needed, they are also able to understand people in the region. So if a foreign company wants to do business in South East Asia, Singapore was the obvious choice.

It has been able to motivate its people thus far by promises of a better life and brighter future. If they work hard, they will reap the benefits because a stronger economy translates to better housing facilities and infrastructure. With such promises the people worked hard and catapulted Singapore into a First World economy in a spate of less than fifty years.

In order to maintain and expand its economic prowess, the country need to make itself known. This is especially so when neighbouring countries like Malaysia and Thailand are slowly catching up with Singapore. Hence Singapore needs to differentiate itself from the rest of the flock. It knows that it cannot fight on pricing; it has to create a climate of excellence, business-friendly environment and political alliances with other countries. With time, 'to be the best' becomes the catch phrase. The big picture prevails, everything else is secondary. Whatever policy carried out must be beneficial to sustain the economy. It is therefore not surprising that somewhere along the line, heartware gets neglected. Development usually means more roads and buildings; whereas economic success means more money. Intangibles like perceived well-being, compassions and respect, the all important heartware, are never featured in the quest for survival.

Locally it explains Why the Opposition won in Hougang and Potong Pasir.
Despite the best effort of SM Goh and $180 million carrot, the voters still voted for the opposition. The two opposition while may lack the charisma of government candidates, they come across as sincere and compassionate. Incidentally I suspect that is also the reason why SM Goh is tasked with the job of trying to win back votes. Unfortunately, he dangled the wrong carrot and lost the constituencies.

Regionally it explains Why Tun Mahathir closed Malaysia's airspace to SAF and stop the sale of sand to Singapore.
During the financial crisis in 1997, Tun Mahathir had asked for a loan from the Singapore government to tide over the period. Instead of providing the loan, the government wanted to make the loan as part of a package of the then ongoing negotiation on the outstanding issues. Imagine, here is a friendly neighbour, humbling himself, asking for help and got humiliated in return.

Internationally it explains Why Singapore proclaim to the world it is standing behind US in its invasion of Iraq.
I will quote from a very good post by I-Speak on what was said by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Bilahari Kausikan to a question on why Singapore openly declared its support for the Iraq invasion:

"The Americans were deluded, it doesn't mean we supported them because we thought it would work. I believe the question you are too polite to ask is, did we suck up to the U.S? Well, yes, our basic interest was to show support for the USA, you are right. But what did we really commit to it? How much of our assets did we lend to Iraq? We put one plane in the air and one ship in the sea. And were we more of a target because of it? To which I reply...we were already a target before the invasion."

Such arrogance, much like the ones we heard during times of elections.

Good infrastructure, nice and clean surroundings makes a good place to live in. However, if the people lack the hearts and compassions, then such structure are mere hollows. A society lacking in heartware lacks a soul, for heartware is the soul of the society. And money cannot replace the soul in a society.