Letter to Singapore
Dear Singapore,
You’ve watched me grow up, and I’ve heard stories about you from my parents and their parents and their friends’ parents. I think we know each other well enough. It’s your 43rd birthday and I thought I could write something nice for you.
How’s life going? I heard you’re going to host the Youth Olympic. That’s a big deal, man. I’m happy for you. And proud of you. Though you’re 20 years my senior, you still manage to do alot at that age. My mum can’t even converse in English and she’s the same age as you. You’re totally awesome.
Of course my mum can do some things better than you. She can cook for her own family on her birthday single-handly but you can only do that with the help of so many other people. But I don’t blame you, you have too many relatives and friends who come on your birthday, although you’re only 43.
Anyway, I also heard that you brought back alot of foreign friends? Where did you get all that friends from? Clubbing? You don’t even have a nightlife. I’ve heard some bad things about your foreign friends, and apparently your family doesn’t like them. I’m very concerned for you because there were some nasty fights between them. Your friends seems to be taking over rooms in your house from your family members. At least that’s what I’ve heard. Anyway, I think you should be able to handle this. You should have a nice talk with both of them someday.
Oh yes, and I heard about your father too. He’s in some fight again recently with some uncle of yours who don’t seem to agree with him on your future. The way I see it, your father will win. He kicks ass. Look at that guy, he’s 80+++ and he still goes for swim everyday and he’s on the paper every other day. The last time I heard that he lost in a lawsuit was like….never?
I think he’s the man of the man. But not many people would agree with me, especially now when times are getting harder. You know, oil prices shot up and so did everything else. The last time a full tank cost $50 and kopi cost $0.50 was like…...shit, I can’t even remember. Now a full tank is costing me $80 and kopi $0.80. But your father and his friends doesn’t really seem to care, especially when they are earning like…a few millions a year? I have lots of respect for your father, but sometimes he just needs to listen to us more.
Anyway, enough of your father. I remember the times where we treated everyday like your birthday and sing you a song every morning. Let me think….oh ya that was during school days. They would raise your picture up every morning and sing you a song, but after a while, it gets a little bit boring and I stopped singing. They have the PA systems anyway. And those teachers who work for your father’s friends’ friends, they were going around catching anyone not singing. How retarded. All I did was open my mouth and pretend to be singing and they really believed I was singing.
And then I remember the first time I attended your birthday party. It was in 1995 when you were 30. I didn’t want to go at first, but they forced us anyway. Well…you know, the teachers, your father’s friends’ friends.
Boy, was I shocked. You had so many people coming that you have to hold the party at Kallang Stadium. Most of us couldn’t even fill the Kallang McDonald’s. You even need to hold it on a few nights because there were too many people. That was the first time I realized that I was singing for someone really important every morning.
Of course, after I found out it was just a rehearsal, I was disappointed. Since then, I watched the TV telecast of your actual birthday every year. Well, at least for another 5 years. Then I started to realize everything was almost the same. The F-16s, the commandos parachuting, the songs and finally, the fireworks. You are the only one who can get fireworks on your birthday here, and I’ve been thinking of going to your actual birthday party someday.
Well, that day didn’t come for another 10 years. I still didn’t manage to go to your party. Sorry man, but I was too busy with my life. I had O levels, A levels, and then Army…oh yes! How could I forget that.
They say you were weak and we had to fight for you, so all the boys sacrificed 2 years of their lives for you. OMG, doesn’t that sound romantic?
Though the times spent defending you wasn’t romantic at all. There were some nasty things said about you, about why you couldn’t just get along with your neighbours, why your father keeps doing what he does and why your father’s friends’ friends keep doing what they do. After some time, the boys started to hate you. They hated you for stealing away 2 years of their lives.
I don’t hate you. I hate the people who wasted my 2 years. Your father’s friends’ friends’ friends. They are the useless bunch and they can’t get things done. They think that by giving away their whole life for you, they are the greatest. They’re not.
I heard one of your servants who tried to sabotage your house had escaped. What’s that guy’s name…arh! Mas Selamat. Hey, you be careful, I’ve heard nasty things he did in Indonesia. Where’s he anyway? Still in your house? I bet you a 10 bucks that you don’t know. But I bet you a hundred that your father and his friends’ friends knows.
Alright, why do I keep mentioning your father and his friends’ friends? I promise from this sentence onwards I won’t mention them.
OK, maybe just once more. You know nowadays it’s too crowded to get out. And expensive too. Recently they added alot more ERP gantries at some of your corridors. What does ERP stands for anyway? Every Road Pays? Come’on, give us a break and tell your father’s friends’ friends to chill out a little.
We’re really having a hard time getting in and out of your house lately, and some day some of us might consider leaving. Especially with all your foreign friends around and the ERP shit. It’s really been a hard time for us.
I know it’s not your fault, but it’s just the way it turned out. There are some of us who won’t understand at all, but there are some of us who will stay even though we really don’t agree with your father and his friends’ friends. My parents are one of them. They love you so much that they don’t care to understand. They’ve watched you grow up and they won’t abandon you.
My dad used to live with your neighbours, but he came here because he believed in you. My mum is the same age as you but she didn’t enjoy the good life you have. They have been to other houses but they just prefer yours. It’s their home anyway.
I don’t expect anything from you but I just want you to know how much you mean to us, despite all that has happened.
I still look forward to going to your birthday party someday, but it won’t be until I can afford to at least get in and out of your house easily. Or at least not with your father’s friends’ friends.
Regards,
KH