Against Singapore

I know that the small-dose vitriol that I have for Singapore is due to the country's hypocrisy. I wrote this in two mini book reviews at Amazon (well i used the book review as an opportunity to hit Singapore hehe):

(Review of Lee Kwan Yew's From Third World to First)

The book is very good in its sincere attempt to deliver the story on how Singapore was built. Perhaps with an intention, on the side, to 1) lay down guidelines that other asian countries could follow, and 2) further promote Singapore to foreign investors. Lee Kwan Yew's emphasis on discipline and strict policies for the general public--that may be deemed oppressive in other countries--to jumpstart progress could be well-intentioned points as well. The reader cannot miss the pride on every passage that highlights the successes of Singapore as a small state-country. 

But not everyone can agree with Lee Kwan Yew's setting-aside, for example, of a free press. Freedom of expression is a right; the fruits of progress is not complete without it. 

An authoritarian government cannot hide, as well, the hypocrisy that is probably vital to compromise certain liberties, in exchange for a 'highway' towards progress. Sometimes one can also see how money is used in Singapore to discipline, and as a only parameter in decision. One case in point: a young professional Singaporean shared a story that Lee Kwan Yew once pompously said that as long as he is alive, there will be no casino in Singapore. Well, yes, he is still right, there are two casinoes now being built simultaneously in the Marina area! And what with the Geylang red-light district that the government has to acknowledge quasi-legally? Is the rationale for both of these is that they are still business ventures that Singapore will still profit from in the end? 

Lee's omission of his own compromises/hypocrisy in fact weakens the book's commentary and criticism of other countries' priorities. (He has tons of advise and lay downs on neigbors in southeast asia--taiwan, philippines, malaysia). Singapore is known as a good place to work at, but not to live in. 

The book is very thick. Ive concentrated most of the history on early Singapore (good read!) and some of his opinions on the state of Asian countries today. There are some repetitions and convolutions on this latter part. I think this book could have used a good editor before publishing. 

Still a good buy, but 3 stars only for not being as in-your face that I would have personally wanted. Hypocrisies that he should still acknowledge (and explain).

(Review of Lonely Planet Singapore)

The city guide is good in laying out bus routes, transportation, shopping sites, and noted restaurants, but I was counting on Lonely Planet to deliver a guide paired with an honest side-commentary, the same way that they did in their guide for Thailand (that one is really useable, highly recommended!). 

Well perhaps it's because Singapore is a not a very good place for tourism, bottom line. (Shopping, probably yes). Sentosa overall is a waste of time; even the dolphins they use in the dolphin show look tired and anemic. The presence of Geylang red-light district that government turns a blind-eye on also lacks the full acknowledgment in this book. Well, it's there in some passing notes, but for there is no comment like: "for a 'disciplined and moral' authoritarian state, Geylang is a famous hangout for the business travellers, and prostitutes are trooping that long street like gold mine." The book should have had a good commentary on the hypocritical presence of this place. 

A young professional Singaporean, a former colleague, shared a story once about how Lee Kwan Yew once pompously said that as long as he is alive, with chest-thumping, there will be no casino in Singapore. Well, yes, he is still right, there are now two casinoes being built simultaneously! I hope the next edition includes these comments. 

In exchange for the discipline that Singapore brags about, you cant deny upon your first landing that the country is an authoritarian state. And hypocrisy is prone in authoritarian states. Also undeniable: the press isnt free. Open the newspaper, and the local op-ed pieces discuss nothing, but taxi routes... Interesting national issues! These honest trivias and insights should be in the LP guide. 

This review might appear as a criticism more of the place than the book. But Im saying that the book should have highlighted these criticisms honestly. For example, in the intro, the overall warning at the start of the book should be that Singapore is for business travellers and shoppers only, not for interesting visits. 

These side comments (a la Theroux) add to the spice of any travelguide/travelogues. 

I was thankful for the bus routes and resto though, so 3 stars!

Ive been back to the country recently (after three years), and saw the greatest density of Filipino outside the Philippines today, perhaps even greater than in Hong Kong. Could the Singaporeans have accepted us? Should we be thankful?

Hhhhhmn. We need to ask some friends who've been there for at least two years.