Comments, opinions and an occasional ramble
Singapore is like a Lexus
I thought it was interesting that David Martin, a U.K. citizen who moved to Singapore a few years ago, described Singapore as a Lexus in an article in Time magazine. Martin was quoted to have said,
“Lexus could be the most well-made car out there, but it will never be as attractive as a Mercedes or BMW.”
This certainly is very thought-provoking. Singapore is going all out to transform itself to become the next New York, Paris or London. The integrated resorts drive, and more recently, the wooing of Formula One to hold its first race in Singapore is completely different from the image of Singapore in the minds of most people. Singapore is more likely to conjure images of a clean city, highly efficient government (to the point of appearing cold) and draconian laws rather than that of a fun city.
I concur that Singapore is like a Lexus. By many measures, the Singapore system towers above many other countries and large cities. Education, healthcare, public transport, governance and security are amongst the best in the world, although one will have to quietly surrender certain personal rights to enjoy these benefits. Why then do people not aspire to come to Singapore, or for Singaporeans, why do they not aspire to remain in Singapore? Why are countries like the United States, Britain, Switzerland etc so much more attractive, even though logically, Singapore is as good in most areas?
I guess the Singapore government can do its best to make sure that everything works in Singapore, but it cannot change the image of Singapore in the minds of many people. It is going to be difficult to shake off the notion that Singapore is boring. Sure, things work, but its boring. It just like a Lexus. Sure, it looks nice and seldom breaks down, but hey, it’s just made by Toyota, who makes cars for the average man. There’s no “status” in owning a car by a manufacturer that makes cars that any Tom, Dick or Harry can buy.
However, Toyota is one of the most profitable automobile companies in the world. Who cares whether people think that Toyota is “boring” or have little “status”? The company is laughing its way to the bank, and I’m quite sure the Toyota executives are thinking, “You [other automobile companies] can keep your image, we prefer to keep our profits.” I suppose this is what the Singapore government is betting on. Sure, Singapore might not conjure the most glamorous image in the minds of people, but if people are willing to park their money here, who cares?
And, the strategy appears to have been working. Billions of dollars are entering the Singapore banking and finance sectors. Immigration rates are rising. And the global rich have snapped up luxurious private properties in Singapore. Perhaps the strategy of aspiring to own a Mercedes or BMW but making do with a Lexus works.
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about 4 years ago
And, the strategy appears to have been working. Billions of dollars are entering the Singapore banking and finance sectors. Immigration rates are rising. And the global rich have snapped up luxurious private properties in Singapore.
Hi Aaron!
True, we are getting more investments and immigrants. However, if Singapore sacrifices its citizens’ personal rights, to be so efficient, clean and attractive, some immigrants will not want to settle down here because they value freedom more than Singaporeans in general.
Additionally, immigrants who already have settled down here may decide to leave because they want their personal rights back.
Keeping Singapore like the Lexus will backfire one day. Although it is impossible to create an utopia, I think that Singapore needs to be more balanced in efficiency / freedom.
The solution? Vote wisely.
Michaelk
about 4 years ago
Sir,
I think that he is implying that the government is always telling other people that we are of Mercedes or BMW quality but we behave like a Lexus. As simple as that, nothing to do with profits.
about 4 years ago
The Lexus is a good car, don’t rubbish it! And Singapore is not as clean, efficient, etc as we lead ourselves to believe. Let’s wake up before we are shaken up.
about 4 years ago
A Lexus is a vehicle. It is mobile. Sin-gapore is an island, a piece of land. It is static. Therefore, I don’t think it is appropriate to use Lexus as an analogy.
I would rather think of Sin-gapore as a hospital. To be very precise, the ICU of the hospital. It is clinically very clean, sanitized, sanforized, and most important of all, sterilized with antiseptics.
about 4 years ago
But those people who live inside are protected from external contamination, so much so their resistance to aggressive bacteria, germs and viruses are so weak that they easily get overwhelmed by these microbes that have neither human decency nor feelings.
And in the end, they landed up being too fearful of changing the status quo, i.e. dare not leave the ICU.
about 4 years ago
And become fully dependent upon the highly paid doctors, nurses and specialists, who are now in the position to demand extraordinary pays for their extra ordinary “talents” basing their justifications upon some weird device called the MR4.
about 4 years ago
Michael,
Sounds like what I wrote earlier about Singapore being a good parking lot.
Anyway, I managed to get my Kubuntu up and running by buying a wireless USB stick with a more friendly chipset.
about 4 years ago
Rona,
Singapore as the ICU? That’s an interesting one. And by that analogy, do you mean that we Singaporeans are always on the verge of death?
about 4 years ago
Another Reader,
Basically, the key question is can the 乌鸦å˜å‡¤å‡° (crow turn itself into a phoenix)?
about 4 years ago
Hi, I think the Lexus analogy is quite good. To Rona, when we use analogies, it doesn’t have to be perfect from all angles. It’s which aspect of the Lexus we’re talking about. In the way that Aaron describes it, it’s quite good. And your ICU analogy is quite funny but apt too.
But all in all, we are indeed living in a very sterile environment. To Michaelk, we want to vote, but can we? The GRC system effectively locks us out of voting. But still, if I were to vote, I’d be guessing I will still give my vote to PAP, not necessarily because they’re good, but because the opposition is worse.
about 4 years ago
Um… Singapore is an olive tree that pretends to be a Lexus that wants to be a BMW/Merc.
Sorry, couldn’t resist.
about 4 years ago
well… the dominant force in the government might be better off but i’ve always felt that they’ve lacked passion. seems like they’re really in it for the money more than anything else. but hey, i do digress.
about 4 years ago
I wonder the author had Thomas Friedman’s book “Lexus and the Olive Tree” in his mind when he penned the piece…
Singapore is indeed one of the finest cities of the world. But, it cannot become New York or London or even Hong Kong for that matter, unless it “opens up”. By opening up, I don’t mean allowing bar-top dancing or “sexying up Singapore”. I mean real political reforms or at least free-media, something that would provide fresh air for breathing.
I’m a foreigner in Singapore for last few years. I like Singapore, but in a long run I fear I might get choked here. It’s not just money or dollars, as the conventional view goes, that attracts people to US or UK or Australia. Maybe some Singaporeans think like me and want to move to some other place one day due to lack of fresh air here.
about 4 years ago
Aaron Ng: Jun 5, 2007 at 11:06 am
“Rona,
Singapore as the ICU? That’s an interesting one. And by that analogy, do you mean that we Singaporeans are always on the verge of death? ”
No, Aaron, Singaporeans are always on the verge of fear. Thats why the terms “kiasu” and “kiasi” came about. A nation without moral courage!
about 4 years ago
They want to vote for the opposition but they fear the quality of the opposition. The “clutch” or “kiasi” mentality.
They want to vote for the PAP but they fear for their future. The “wanting the cake and eat it” or “kiasu” mentality .
They want to emigrate but they fear of having to adapt to a new environment. The “kiasi” mentality.
They like everything about Singapore but they don’t like the PAP govt, which is the one that provides the everything. The “chronic illness” mentality, thats why needs an ICU.
about 4 years ago
Coo,
The Singapore government (at least in my opinion) has always betted that people will be willing to give up certain rights in order to have a safe and efficient environment. I don’t foresee major shifts in the policy, unless its efforts to woo foreigners fail. Until that happens, it will be hard for the Singapore government to open up.
Besides, as Rona has pointed out, Singapore is a little too sterile. In places like London and New York, you have people sleeping along the sidewalk or under bridges. In Singapore, you see none of them because the authorities round them up. I think that it’s good to have some law and order but a vibrant city needs a little rough edge to it (at least in my opinion).
about 4 years ago
singapore may be “a lexus to a brit”. but might be “a toyota crown to a japanese”. it depends which view is required, that of a “brit” or that of a “japanese”.
about 4 years ago
Aaron, I agree and it’s perfectly sensible to have that environment if the people are willing for the trade-off.
In my view, all the rules and regulations so far have definitely helped Singapore to be among the finest cities of the world. But to climb even further (I assume Singapore wants to), she would need to jump the “S-curve”, and for that perhaps some “real” reforms would be needed.
And would the jump be to woo foreigners? I don’t necessarily think so. Things change and so the “business model” needs to be adjusted to the time – for Singaporeans and foreigners alike. For example, The Straits Times of the past worked well to present government’s point of view (and only that view). But, with internet views of others became visible. The situation of today is that I see a growing “disconnect” between main-stream media and internet. So, perhaps needs of today would demand a more “liberal” approach of Straits Times – to keep active discussions alive and reach out to most people of the city-state.
about 4 years ago
Coo,
I think you mean the “J-curve”- http://www.singaporedemocrat.org/articleJcurve.html
The J-curve is actually very relevant to this discussion. Check it out.
I’m unsure about the “S-curve” though. What do you mean by S-curve? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logistic_function
Thanks!
Michaelk
about 4 years ago
Nah… I think it’s a stretch to liken Singapore as Lexus. Being the the top-selling luxury brand in the United States, I think Toyota won’t be too happy to be compared with Singapore. :p
Lexus, while generally cheaper than a Mercedes or BMW, is still a markedly more expensive than a $60/70 K car.
Is Singapore really wildly profitable, just like Toyota? I apologize for being utterly ignorant but do enlighten me.
about 4 years ago
Kelvin> Yeah it’s profitable (for some).
about 4 years ago
Coo and Michael,
I agree, to advance to the next level or stay in the competition, Singapore has to go beyond mere aping of other countries and have an environment which gives space to alternate views be it in the media, in the arts scene, in politics etc. However how can this come about is a rather thorny problem. Either the powers that be become more forward looking or the critical mass of the populace forces them to do so through the ballot box. However both are at this point in time rather unlikely prospects.
Clarence,
Why do u conclude that the opposition is worse?
about 4 years ago
I don’t think being a lexus is all that bad. I can say lexus the engine and how they engineer the car is definitely very different from what toyota is doing. Seriously, I not really a car expert here but the design of quietness and innovation of Lexus is definitely cannot be found on toyota series. Having tried 3 cars before, I can say Lexus definitely don’t lose out with BMW and Merc, Just that people always got a misconception there that toyota=low class which isn’t true. Is just that whether you can understand it and appreciate it.
For example I got a friend who lost a rolex this indonesia village. When he offer $50 USD for someone who found the watch. Surprisingly, Someone gave him the watch back. Seriously a rolex sure worth more than that. What i driving is that if you put something to somewhere where people who don’t understand value of it. It is just like a junk. Depend on individual. So actually I don’t quite agree that lexus is not far better than BMW and Merc, Just that people don’t have the understanding of its status value becos some ppl just foolishly always link it with toyota.
What “Fellow Singaporean” said is quite true. We got to wake up before we screw up big time.
about 4 years ago
I think what the author is trying to say in not so many words when he compared singapore to a high end jap car is this. He is saying we are very good at aping but often fall short on content. Take a look at UNSW and EDB case. They engaged one of the leading architects to build a space age high tech institution, but what is the point when it is not complimented with the same standard of human software. Nowadays, I am not even getting a real education, it is all abt money and money and money. My parents are not rich and I work part-time, but I think something is very wrong when my student administration keeps threatening me and my mum that if we dont pay the school fees, they are going to stop me from taking my exams. Something is very seriously wrong with the Singapore lexus. I think someone needs to check kick the show girls out and check whether there is actually an engine underneath the bonnet!
about 4 years ago
To Animal Lover,
I think that is pretty sad that things like that happens. Just want to know which school you are studying it? I don’t think NTU or NUS will do something like that, it is kinda sad that such things happen in a first class- developed country where ppl got no sense of compassion(Actually we all already know that). So like what i always say, we should stand up together and make Singaporean wake up that we are no longer in a comfort zone but somethng tragic might happen if we not going to do anything.
about 4 years ago
Sorry for writing late.
Michaelk, I referred to “s-curve” which is basically a business concept, taught in business schools. I quoted this, generally speaking, as Singapore looks like a (good) business model to me! And while it’s apolitical, I think it’s something interesting to ponder about.
Anyway, as far as I remember, in the s-curve graph, the y-axis is (technological) progress and time, the x-axis. It says that it takes time and a lot of effort for one company’s progress to start [Phase 1], but once things are decided and settled, progress is very quick and the graph shoots up [Phase 2]. But, eventually, rate of progress starts to decline [Phase 3], as with time situation/environment changes, more competition and procedures become old. To escape from Phase 3, the company must “jump to another curve” above and enter new Phase 1, by implementing new business procedures/model.
In Singapore’s case, say, in 50/60′s Singapore was figuring out what to do. In ’63 she joined the Malayan union, but things didn’t work out and got independent in ’65 [Phase 1]. But then Singapore had to put things in order (the only way out) and work hard towards improving lives of her citizenry [Phase 2].
It did that perfectly. And with time, it would be entering/entered Phase 3.
So, to avoid Phase 3, she would have to “jump from the curve” and for what she may have to “re-invent” itself by having political reforms, etc, and to face competition from other cities/states. But, “when” is the question? 5 years, 10 years or 50 years? Time would determine, perhaps!
(Hope you didn’t find this stuff boring and I explained fine!)
about 4 years ago
Hi Coo,
Thanks for the explanation. I think the end of Phrase 2 won’t come within 10 years, looking at all the investments the government has made in stuff like the iN2015 IT masterplan and the Biopolis.