EP/PR trials & Glenn Ong
I’ve lived in Singapore for 11 years, my husband for 12. I’m currently on an Employment Pass and he’s a PR. He - and many others - keep asking me why I don’t become a PR.Hmmm… the thought I could have benefited from employer’s contributions towards CPF all these years does bug me. But my reasoning has always been I can save my own money and decide where I want to put it myself. Problem is I don’t think handbags and shoes have an increasing market value! I’d also lose a few other company benefits that would be equalised. So for me, it’s been a no - to date.
Senior Minister Goh’s recent comments make me think being an EP holder is not a bad thing. I was really surprised at the vitriol some heartlanders obviously feel towards PRs, but I guess if the situation is not carefully managed they would feel the impact within the job market and and of course within the housing sector - where prices have been known to soar and crash by up to 40% in a year. You can read more about the Senior Minister’s interesting responses to some probing questions from Singaporeans here
Then this morning, I was surprised to hear Class 95 DJ Glenn Ong - who to this point I had always found quite sexy and fun - pass comment that he can’t stand "smartarse ang mohs". At first this ticked me off. But then I realised I also group some people into a stereotype. Particularly those who live in our island home who cannot drive, but for some unknown reason have been issued a driver’s license without understanding the concept and consequences of not indicating and then cutting in on other drivers. So, I can forgive him for grouping us together - it happens.
But hopefully to those Singaporeans I come into contact with daily and those who know me personally , they recognise me as a fellow island-dweller, considerate person and a grateful ang moh - rather than one of the smartarse variety…
the point about driving and angmohs strikes a cord with me. everyday at the dempsey area, you can see “smartarse ang mohs” driving huge cars, parking in 2 lots because there us sooooooooo much space in dempsey so it doesn’t matter if they drive cars they cannot park/handle properly. It’s selfish and says ALOT about one’s character, all smiley and nice outside, but………. there are some local divers who behave the same way but by and large, its the “smartarse ang mohs” who are the majority in this situation.
Hmmm, I myself experienced this just a few days ago when trying to park outside Jones The Grocer and was feeling very cramped in between two huge seven-seater cars. To be honest, I didn’t stick around to see who was driving - as I couldn’t even open my door to squeeze out - so had to park elsewhere. But I think this says more about the small size of the parking bays at Dempsey, rather than the size of the cars - which do seem to fit OK at other parking areas. I think many people in Singapore seem to be selfish when parking and driving - of ALL nationalities!