June 2023
Table of Contents
My travel notes - June 2023
Pre-Travel Notes
1. Any type of protesting?
2. What are biggest problems in Singapore right now?
3. Does Singapore have cultural districts? China town.
4. What type of humor?
5. Balancing act between indivual freedoms and community goodp
6. Many languages?
7. What happened that caused Singapore to become independent from Malaysia?
8. Did Singapore open itself up to foreign investments? Low taxes. Low labor costs.
9. One big asset: strategic port location
10. Fixed housing crisis. No segregation. Enforced quotas based on cultural groups.
11. Mandatory social savings account for people less than 55. 20% and employers contributed 17%.
12. Super easy to open business in Singapore
13. High quality health care
14. Singapore taught the value of unity and solved with nationalism (e.g., everyone serves in military)Multi-tiered wealth system - lots of foreign workers
Is there any protesting in Singapore? Against the law?
Public transportation?
Doesn't even compare to the United States!
Diversity
Singapore has of districts (e.g., Chinatown) like many other big cities around world.
Difference in humor?
Less sarcastic?
Individual freedoms vs community good - it is a balancing act!
Many languages!
Horrors from Japanese invasion
Economy ruined
Singapore had their back against the wall
• Devasted by Japanese invasions in World War II
○ Economy and infrastructure in shambles
• Malaysia overtaxed Singapore and another massacre in 1960s
• England moved out - left Singapore in shamble
• !aaa!a
○ No army to protect
○ No lands, no industry, massacred population, no natural resources, small land, tension between cultural groups
§ British empire, biggest employer, leaving
• How did this little country become one of richest countries in world? No army, no jobs,
Opened country up to foreign investment? Very tax friendly deals and low labor costs
Mandatory military service?
One of important and only assets it had: strategic port location
Fixed housing crisis. No segregation. Enforced quotas based on cultural groups.
Mandatory social savings account for people less than 55. 20% and employers contributed 17%.
Super easy to open business in Singapore
High quality health care
Singapore taught the value of unity and solved with nationalism (e.g., everyone serves in military)
Lesson #2: Mindless socialism, conscious capitalism, evil capitalism Mindless socialism: Government gives us unnecessary subsidies not for progress of people but to buy votes Evil capitalism: Government and companies try to make money even when charging for cancer medication Conscious capitalism: Government puts restrictions on citizens. Spends every piece of money on return of investment. Runs country like corporation. Uses profits towards welfare of its citizens.
Invaluable lessons on how to develop a country. Important that politicians learn from success and failures of countries. Become constructive critics of policies.
Don’t buy a car in Singapore! Crazy expensive
Is there a young movement desiring change politically?
Buit high rise buildings for people. So now had proper indoor plumbing. But some people still urinated in lift. So built elevators to stop if urination. So installed camera on outside, if uriinated from outside the lift. Haha
View in immigration?
Strong national identity?
How does Singapore view family? Important?
How is the media in Singapore? Does it inform? Or propaganda?
Singapore --> safety, efficiency NY --> excitement Is Singapore welcoming to foreigners? No locals vs outsiders
Does the opposition party get fair play? Do you hear both sides of the political argument?
Problem: different races and cultures. How do we integrate them into society? Grcs? Race quotas best for country? Race quotas?
Relationship between Malaysia and Singapore?
Singapore is fascinating because it is a melting pot in Asia. Unlike Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan - Singapore is not homogeneous
Media reports often have inaccurate information.
Have there been demonstrations or protests? World should be more just.
Singapore is like a melting pot. Malays, Indians, Chinese. Are all of these cultural groups integrating well in Singapore? Are some integrating less well?
Lee Kuan Yew: "I always tried to be correct, not politically correct."
Do you need dual income to afford to live in Singapore?
Autonomous driving solutions?
Aging population?
Infrastructure? Water quality?
Uniquely trusting of government
Government using smart technology to improve lives of its citizens
Spike in real estate? How does this impact cost of living?
Can you really leave your phone on the restaurant table?
Singlish? Why? "on the lights" "off the lights" it is efficient! Instead of a 20 page document, it might be one page and super clear
Singapore is very similar to America - in that you attract the best talent from around the world
Singapore is blessed but it is not paradise. A lot of great attributes
Singapore government is very smart. Will stop being competitive without foreign talent influx. Chinese and Indians working hard and have great skills. Climbing corporate ladder in US and Singapore.
Can you have security and liberty? It seems like you can. Very good balance. Send your kids on public transportation? That is real liberty. Just don't be a criminal.
Pay low taxes for something that works very very well. It is so efficient. Easier to govern because small country,
Political party over your country
Strong vetting process for govty officials?
Venezuela -> Chavez take from rich and give to poor. But then poor say why do I have to work. Become lazy. Massive failures in Venzuela. Big waves of people fleeing country.
What thing brings Singaporeans together? Soccer?
Protesting allowed in the Singapore?
How is mis-information handled?
Have you ever heard of an economy TAXED into prosperity? Does government or private enterprise drive economy?
If you tax people who work, and give money to people who don't work -- get a lot of lazy , non working ppl. If you understand human nature, you understand economics
Socialism - central planning
Stopping at two policy --> Singapore. Solution is migration. Immigration would need to increase. Singaporeans against?
Problem: Youths don't know what its like to be poor
Are there robust debates on Singaporean congress? Polite and civil?
Many countries disfunction with regards to politics?
Lots of lies/exaggerations within politics and media. Honest and integrity are a must for standards!
Many countries have "simple slogans" to complex problems.
Singapore definitely needs serious politicians but not those offering lip service / empty promise which can easily attract innocent voters
Singapore has protections against absolute power. Checks and balances.
Trip Notes
• Front door bellman of five star hotel
○ Lives in Malaysia. Commutes to Singapore daily.
○ Wakes up at 3:15am every morning. Rides motorcycle to border, then takes bus to MRT station, then MRT to hotel.
○ A total of 3.5 hours of commuting each way. Works weekends as well.
○ Motivated by the financial opportunities of working in Singapore.
• Abortion
○ Abortion is legal in Singapore. It is your body. Tour guide was very proud of this.
• Protesting
○ Singapore does allow protesting, although you need to apply for a permit and use a designated area.
○ It is against the law to protest on the streets because of the disruption.
• Police
○ I don't remember seeing a single police officer in Singapore.
○ The reason for this is that surveillance cameras are everywhere.
○ Cameras can zoom in our your face and then track you throughout country.
• Littering
○ Littering is against the law. The first offense is $200 SGD. The next offense is wearing a uniform and sweeping the streets for a day.
○ If the officer is not satisfied with the sweeping, it will continue the next day.
• Expensive tour
○ I signed up for a full day walking private tour for $480 USD. However, they arranged for a car to pick me up. So asked for an additional 240 SGD .
○ I was riding in a 10 person van with just me, the guide, and the driver. Guide hinted at a bigger tip because I much be rich (he was joking around)
○ So I gave a 150 SGD tip. This was by far my most expensive private tour. Not unexpected since this is Singapore.
• Health Care
○ Government subsidizes a certain percentage of health care.
○ However, if you cannot afford an operation, government will make sure you still get the surgery.
• University Expenses
○ Government subsidizes a certain percentage of higher education cost
○ However, if you cannot afford, government will pay all costs
○ In this case, you must work for a Singaporean sponsored company for first two years
• Daycare Costs
○ Government subsidizes a certain percentage of daycare costs
○ However, if cannot afford, government will cover full costs
○ Kids are taught at an early age to respect parents, not liter, etc.
○ Singapore encourages more babies. Even has baby bonus.
• Insurance - it sounds to me like insurance is not used as much. Instead, government is the insurance. For example, for big operations.
○ Note: I did not ask this question about insurance, but I would not be surprised if health insurance is not heavily relied upon
• Foreigners, however, must pay huge money to put their kids through education system
• Taxes - people making less than 36K do not pay taxes
• School principal makes 25K/month.
• Religion is not discussed in Singapore. It only leads to arguments.
• Mandatory retirement - However, can continue working if desired. Companies giver a extra month bonus, and sometime extra 3 months of that employee is very good
• Certain types of housing has a 999 year life span, whereas most government provided housing is only 99 years
• Cars can only be kept for 10 years. Would require re-purchasing a certificate.
• Houses with the address of 8 get an extra 200K SGD. Hoses with 4 sometime sit vacant. Very superstitions.
• 75% of population is Chinese. 15% is Malay. Rest Indian, etc.
• Malay are more lazy and Chinese are more business minded
• Imitation items are not sold in Singapore. It is illegal.
• All of these extra subsidies are afforded ONLY to citizens and PRs.
• School kids and health care
○ If a child is overweight, they will be given a sticker to wear and assigned additional PE
○ A meeting will be arranged with parents to talk about proper nutrition
• Chicken and rice is the national meal
• Biggest events in Singapore are National Day and F1 racing event
• Savings accounts
○ Government requires companies to put 20% of paycheck in. The employee should also put in 20%.
• Companies in Singapore must have 80% Singaporeans. 20% foreigners.
• Prime minster makes 4 million SGD a year. US president makes 400K a year. This is designed to prevent corruption.
○ Police officers and educators also receive extremely high salaries.
• All projects get submitted to a bidding process
• Salaries are determined by whether you have a PHD (for example) and where you graduated from (Harvard and Oxford grads get a little bonus)
• Corporate tax rates top out at 17%. This attracts a lot of foreign investment. They like stability Singapore provides, educated workforce, less government bureaucracy.
• Highest income tax bracket is 22%. Lower income tax is 17%. So tax on citizens is quite low.
• Singaporeans are not interested in doing manual labor jobs. As a result, bring in foreign workers (India, Philippines, etc) to fill
○ A dishwasher can earn $4,500 a month because no one wants to do this job. It is considered a huge hit to your reputation.
• Weddings
○ Wedding banquets are a big deal. Invite 500 to 1500 people. The more people indicates that you are a very powerful person.
○ So business owners will invite all employees
○ All gifts are cash, and are given in an envelope. Each envelope is opened in front of everyone.
○ Each amount is also recorded so that if the giver ever has a wedding, the know exactly how much to provide
• Some Singaporeans think that Singapore is too small and boring. It is very safe and predictable.
• Singapore imports everything, including water from Malaysia.
○ They treat the waste water and then sell it back to Malaysia.
○ Have a 100 year contract with Malaysia
• Malaysian people will visit Singapore in buses. They only stay the day because too expensive. They will return to bus many times to change clothes so that pictures look like it was a week-long trip rather than just a day trip.
• Malaysia requires everyone to speak Malay, including Chinese.
• Malaysia required Singapore to be second class citizens. Malays got preferential treatment with all programs. This led to Singapore being forced into independence from Malaysia.
○ Only took two years before merger failed and went independent
○ Lee Kuan Yew borrowed money from world bank and invested it in educating his people
○ Also wanted to bring all nationalities together so introduced building quotas
• Singaporeans want to be called Singaporeans and not Malays or Chinese, etc.
• A large percentage of land is used for landfill. After 15 years (I think) of letting trash sit in landfill, concrete is poured and then Singapore expands size of its island and builds more buildings.
• English is the business language in Singapore. They are encouraged to speak their own dialects at home.
• Wifi is fasted in the world
• Foreigners who wish to get a PR in Singapore must have 2 million SGD in cash in bank account. It earns 0% interest for five years. This 2 million does not include other portfolio (e.g., real estate).
• Younger Singaporeans like that countries like America are more open minded (e.g., accepting of gays). It frowned about in Singapore.
○ Note: I remember listening to a lecture from Lee Kuan Yew that seemed to hint at the opposite of this
• Singapore has a population of 5.9 million. Many are hesitant to see it expand because it is already crowded.
• Owning a car
○ A certificate is required to buy a car. A car can only be on the roads for 10 years, then it either needs to be retired or a new certificate bought. The certificate is more expensive then the car.
○ Government makes cost very high to discourage car ownership.
○ Malaysia has 32 million population and 30 million cars
• Immigration
○ They are open to immigration, but must fill a need. They do not want immigrants to be a burden on the system.
• Homeless
○ There really is no homeless problem because the government will put you in government housing (even if use drugs)
○ They will train you and find a job for you.
• Major income sources
○ Port. Busiest port in world. 1100-1200 ships per day. One ship every 3 seconds.
§ Very deep port and strategically located
○ Import oil, refine it, then resell
○ Make computer chips
• Majority party
○ Has been in power since 60's. Opposition party exists but little power.
• There are 50 ministers. Examples: Minister of youth, minister of education, etc…
• Singapore does not takes sides in geo-political issues
• 7 million trees to reduce temperature by 2 degrees. Planning to add 1 million more trees.
• Young Singaporeans will get part time jobs so they can go out to expensive lunches, etc.
• Young Singaporeans also will own their own businesses. It is a good opportunity to learn. They close business whenever they want, even during middle of day.
• Very best passport in world. Travel 195 countries without visa. Except India and Australia as.
• 7 Million trees. Planning 1 million. Reduces temperature.
• Very deep water. Perfect location. Close to Australia and India.
• Immigration - They don't want ppl to be burden
• Business owners will travel to India to meet parents so that they can vet our kids as potential workers
• Never forget what happened, but forgive what happened (Japanese occupation of Singapore) - this adds to the safety feeling in Singapore
• Population is y million. Want to increase population. But Singaporeans concerned about how crowded already is
Raw Notes
Stable politics
Choose over qualified ppl
Everything is well run
Imported everything
Very safe and organized
Protect investment - make
Business language - Also schools
Mother tongue encouraged
Communication wifi super
5.9 million population
2 million in bank account
Pay tax and retiremt regularly
Then you can apply
They don't want ppl to be burden
Can apply for jobs online
If set up company in Singapore must 80% Singaporean. Rest can be foreigners.
Invest by foreigner company pays 17% tax. Then invest money. Very safe and well educated.
Major income. Busiest port in world. 1100 or 1200 ships per day.
Import oil then export.
Make computer chips
Biden - which side? But don't take sides.
Very best passport in world. Travel 195 countries without visa. Except India and Australi as.
7 Million trees. Planning 1 million. Reduces temperature.
Very deep water. Perfect location. Close to Australia and India.
Pay govt millions lose corruption lose
1960s merge with Malaysia
But only two years
Malaysian kicked then out
If born in Malaysia pay less special treatment. Singaporeans treated like second class citizens. Prime Minister borroweoney from world Bank. So invested in education rather than education. Also wanted to invest. So mixed using quotas. Singaporeans want to be called Singaporeans and not Chinese, Malay. Etc
Imitation items are not sold.
DDon't see people walking dogs in city, subway. Taxi. Etc.
75 percent chibeese 15 percent Malay.
Need to buy certificate to buy car. Try to encourage not to buy.5.9 population. 1 million cars. Have to sell car after 10 years.
Malay are not business people. Malay are more lazy.
School holiday. Border crossing. Can see many different things. Like a therapy.
Not lot of uniformed police officers. Use surveillance instead. Then report to under cover officers.
Mandatory retirement. They can work if they want. Offer 1 or 3 month bonus.
Sick more than 14 days then no more pay. If admitted to hospital then company will still
Beach road - normally landfill 15 years then pur concrete and build
Land very limited..
Waiting for 4th towers
Water treatment facilities and resell to Malaysia. C l
Protest in legal area. Not on streets.
Dont discuss religions..
Young generations..
Children .
300 ticket for literring. They will then be asked to sweep syreet for one day.wears uniform. If officer not satisfied then repeat.
Daycare. drop off kids. Govt subsidized 60%. Encouraged Singaporeans have more babies. Baby bonus.
Foreigners have to pay huge amounts for education.
Major operation. Govt will pay if can't pay.
Singapore world class health care. Under 36k don't pay tax.
Firigners pay 17%. Max tax rate is 22%.
Special savings account.
SSingaporeantourisn.50k month. Minus 20%. Then emplyer added 20%.
How much make 1 month. 25k.
Police. phd
Get paid more if Harvard or Oxford.
Singapore registe
red company. And