When will we ever have a say?

I remembered Uncle Tan mentioning earlier that his company wanted to build a stadium cum a shopping mall near a residential area in Zurich. The project didn't materialise because most of the residents voted against it. First, it would mean a lot of construction work, which will result in a lot of noise and air pollution. Secondly, they prefer the peace and quiet they enjoy in the neighbourhood and wouldn't like the place to be flooded with people and cars, not to mention the tall building might obstruct their precious sunshine. Their voices are heard. They made the decision.

To a Singaporean: Stadium and mall? Good ah! So convenient. My house property value also sure go up! "Tan Dio" leh! (gain something good)

The building of casino was one classic example where despite the numerous consultations and protests from various groups, our "gar-ment" still went ahead to build not one, but two casinos. I am not against this idea for I see the economic value it can bring to Singapore. Yeah, I too, am a practical Singaporean. But what frustrates me is that what we say don't seem to influence the final decision. A typical reply from a Singaporean, "No point lah."

Another example below - a news article from CNA on the building of a dormitory in Serangoon Gardens.

Channel NewsAsia - Saturday, October 4
Dormitory decision upsets some Serangoon Gardens residents

SINGAPORE: Despite the various mitigating measures being proposed, some residents in Serangoon Gardens did not take too well to the news that a foreign workers’ dormitory is going to be set up in the area.

The dormitory will be at the former Serangoon Garden Technical School site, just right across the road from the residents.

There is going to be additional fencing to keep workers in as well as planters to screen the site. But is this a satisfactory compromise for residents?

"I am fed up!" a woman screamed from her car.

"I am thinking of moving out," said a resident.

"We are living with people; they move around. If you fence them up, and say ’this is your area, this is my area’, I don’t think it is going to work," said Angela Yeo, a resident at Burghley Drive.
Although the dormitory is for foreign workers in the manufacturing and services sectors, residents said it does not mean security is less of a concern.

Chen Sung Sheng, a resident at Burghley Drive, said: "I think it is the same, isn’t it? It all boils down to the same... foreign workers, regardless of what they are working as. Of course, we can’t say that all foreign workers are bad. But majority of us are not very happy about it."

The other issue that irks residents — the way the decision was made.

"The whole consultation process, while it was useful, it kind of makes the residents feel ’what was the point?’" said Lim Chia Joo, a resident at Burghley Drive.

However, some felt the proposed measures have helped allay their concerns.

Rose Tan, a Serangoon Gardens resident, said: "If, after that study, they think that it is feasible to go ahead with the project, I am sure they would have taken steps to address the many concerns that were raised by the residents."

Residents are asking the police to step up patrols in the area. They also want the police post, which operates from noon to 10pm, to extend its opening hours.

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I can understand the concerns of some residents especially on the safety issues although I would say that not all foreign workers are trouble makers. They too come here to earn an honest living to make life better for their families back home. (At least most of them don't con or cheat people like SOME...)

However, I can't empathize with those who 'make noise' just because the existence of the dorm would depreciate their property values.

We often associate foreign workers with rowdiness, hygienic issues, unsafe etc. Hence, it would pose some difficulty in trying to sell the house near such a dorm to any locals who share the same perception of the foreign workers. Imagine building an apartment to house foreigners, who are working professionals. That doesn't sound like an issue to anyone right? Perhaps engaging someone like John Hancock's PR consultant might help to change their image and the misconceptions people have on them.

To be honest, some of us still hold the archaic "colonial" mentality where the caucasians are more "atas" (upper class). I'm sure some of you have experienced the different treatments given to an ang moh vs an asian. The same goes for renumeration packages. An ang moh expat would be given an apartment in prime town locations like Orchard, Raffles Place etc. An Asian expat would be given an apartment in the subprime areas like Eunos, Simei etc. Well, some are even given "hardship allowance" for coming to a place like Singapore to work.

Having no choice but to live with 4.8 million people, guess we have to learn to be more tolerant and understanding. Being a resident of another country for 6 mths, I am thankful that I was treated with respect most of the time and didn't receive too many unfriendly glares or slighted looks.

It is not easy to work in a place far away from home alone. Let us try not to let our biasness cloud our perceptions (thou for me I'd be selective, you know who i meant lah haha). Well, I've recently met one polite and considerate lady whom I've reciprocated her kind gestures graciously.