Smart Savvy Saucy Singapore
Dr Maung Maung Nyo
I have been to
I always passed by it or looked at it nonchalantly
I was not interested in its internal affairs fervently
I mean the Singapore Monastery in Pazundaung
Built by devout Buddhists in
(Singapore City Skyline)
So, it sounds familiar to my feeling
Whenever
Whether it’s good news like economy and education
Or bad news as deporting Burmese by its immigration
Or punishment as caning an American for vandalism
Or detention of Burmese activists for demonstration!
(British Surrender of Singapore during WW II)
I first heard of
When HMS Prince of Wales was torpedoed and subdued
Together with another warship with thousand of crews
The all mighty Brits suffered a defeat at the hands of few
Japanese, supposedly more daring, patriotic and sharers
They offered decolonization and co-prosperity in
(Map od SEA showing Singapore and its Neighbors)
It was then part of
British had been making
To its scheme of colonizing and exploiting
South East Asian nations around Malay basin
Thus Singapore Fort was built an invincible Fortress
Yet, Japanese Infantry took it with smashing success.
(Statue of Raffles and Singapore Skyscrapers)
So, when
And separation from Malay Federation
I was struck with disbelief, awe and suspense
I was studying in
I shared Malay and
That what would happen in the long run?
(Lee Kwan Yew and Son are Prime Miniters of Singapore)
Lee Kuan Yew was to be congratulated for its success
It’s now the most developed nation in the region
It has the highest standard of living and education
Its health services are on par with
Its doctors can operate Siamese twins and others.
(Singapore General Hospital)
No wonder, many Burmese flocked to it for jobs
Many found suitable works and become heart throbs
Some do not find suitable jobs, but survive any way
Their income is much better than their homely pay
However, life in
All the people are to run on a treadmill like a maniac.
(Durian-like Dome of Singapore Esplanade Theatre)
So, I refused to apply for a job in
When available job was informed by nephew
So was another time when friends came back
From
I just accepted an easier job in
Thus I got and enjoyed my current job best.
(Clean green, but Empty Road of Singapore Outside Airport)
One day, my nephew invited me and my wife
To pay a visit to their abode in
While they were living there and we’re quite
Near and able to afford time and money to get there
We in short visited them from
I was examining students at a KL university centre.
(Singapore means the Lion City)
The atmosphere at Immigration Point was eerie
The office was clean, cold and looked orderly
However, Burmese Passport holders were treated coldly
Officer asked us why we wanted only 3 days in the City
I told them just to see my nephew’s family, that’s all
He took us about an hour to verify our passports to gall.
(Singapore River-Side Walk and View)
Once outside the Immigration Office, every thing was on your own
We took a taxi and told the driver to take us to my nephew’s home
He was polite and pleased us by answering all my inquisitive questions
He was a Singaporean Chinese, but lived in Joho for economic reasons
The house prices in
Malaysian Joho houses were cheaper and surroundings so comfortable.
(Singapore High Rise Apartments and Laundry Sticks)
My niece in law welcomed us warmly
Her husband was sill in the city working calmly
Doing his job of electrical and electronic communication
He is a graduate of
That is fulfilling the needs of neighboring nations
He earns good pay compared to
(A Singapore Food Court)
My nephew gave us a good dinner at night
We went out to the City Centre alright
After he came back late in the evening
We had a good chat and cordial interaction
He said life in
He had to work from dawn to dusk to finish timely.
(Singapore Orchard Road during Christmas Season)
We saw people shopping and hopping to cross
Main and side roads full of cars and vans of all sorts
The street was lighted and looked like lighted lofts
Similar to the pagoda festivals held in
It was Anyar or
(Singapore Shopping Mall)
Prices in
I wanted to buy a photographer’s jacket to wear
It was exactly three times as high as in Sarawak Kuching
It may be due to the exchanged rate of moneys existing
So we spent our time walking, window-shopping and whining
We noticed many Singaporeans solemn, sober and grave looking.
(Food Court in Malaysia Looks at Ease)
We ate at a Chinese food court shed
All the tables were occupied with guests
It was similar to food courts in
All varieties of food were available there
It was a boisterous and balmy atmosphere
I preferred eating in homely and hospitable
(A Bridge Over Singapore River in the City Centre)
The next day, my nephew drove around the city
He showed us every thing what we should see
It made me think
Full of high rise buildings, bridges and bundles
Of overpasses, bus stops, asphalt roads and parks
But, few people were found enjoying their luck.
(National University of Singapore)
We noticed the radiant
There was his statue standing up and stare
The Englishman salvaged the island for a fare
He made it a British trading post and gambled
That led to brisk business with Cantonese coolies
It was profitable and British made it a Crown Colony.
(Burmese Protesters in Singapore)
There is a statue of lion too
It denotes the name of city true
It must have come from the environ
(Burmese Buddhist Temple in Singapore)
Shipping, communication, banking
Convention and education centres, universities
Esplanade or Durian Dome for theatre facilities
Old ugly dwarf building are constantly pulled down
New modern bright buildings are emerging in town.
(Singapore's Attitude to Burmese Democracy Movement)
However, I felt claustrophobic there
Sweet smiles and sincerity are rare
People are on the toe and do not care
Whatever happens to any one that dare
It’s like an ant mound meshed with activity
But, it’s for each survival and not for humanity.
(Premier of Myanmar General Thein Sein and Premier of Singapore
Mr Lee Hsien Loong Greeting)
It transacts trade and money through
Many Burmese are residing and working true
Burmese companies abound and all new
It has more than thousands of Burmese people
Many are employed, some jobless and others in queue.
(Prewar Architecture in Rangoon)
Oversea people cited it often as a success
In reality, it copies Rangoon Municipal Act
That was acclaimed on British behest
British Colonialists made
We have some Burmese marrying Singaporeans
Religion and customs reinforce the intimation
The Nyonya have been plying between two nations;
(Nyonya or Malay-Chinese Beauties)
However, I do not see
It has not enough land, natural resources and water
It’s only the wits of the people making it rich to prosper
Politically it’s not an open democracy we all aspire
It’s an authoritarian state with democratic attires
Do
(A Nyonya Model)
Dr Maung Maung Nyo
16.01.2009 (original)
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