Stifled...

Thursday, January 10, 2008

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Here's a touchy topic that I've kept in myself for a long time.

Have you notice that Singapore is starting to be filled with more and more foreigners. Seriously, I don't remember so many foreigners walking around a few years back. Now, they are everywhere, and I don't really like that, not a bit.

Angie says I'm racist. Maybe I am, but I would prefer to say I'm nationalistic. I have slightly more problems with foreigners than with Singaporeans of other races.

I heard that the invasion of the foreigners is a whole plan by the government to bring in foreign talents and shit like that. But from what I can see, we are bringing in way too many of them.

I saw an article in the news that Singapore's population will be up to 6 million in a few years' time. 6 freaking million and we are still bringing in people? What are we, sardines? Queues will be longer, public toilet will be dirtier, and don't get me started on public transports. Have you been surrounded, on a train, by a bunch of Mainland Chinese talking very loudly in their high-pitched, irritating accent? You'll feel like you've entered some twilight shit zone.

Carrying on with the politically sensitive theme, I'd like to talk about ERP. Fuck, the price of ERP went up again. Passing by a fucking gantry may incur you a $4 or $5 charge. It was first implemented to reduce traffic, but the number of cars on the roads are not reduced. The amount of money in our pockets is.

On top of that, the price of cab fares are raised. What used to be a $14 ride now costs $23 with the peak hour charge, ERP charge and the 35% charge all rolled in one. People used to talk a cab when they are in a rush. Now, it seems more worthwhile to be late.

With all that going on, the price of public transport, namely bus fares and MRT fares are also raised. The fares are raised but neither the frequency nor the quality is improved. Sure, there are a few newer buses going around, but go to any bus interchange and you'll still see some broken down double-deckers with no air-con. You'll still see single deck feeder buses that that forever to move outta the interchange. There's no justification to raise the price of public transport.

Couple all these with the foreigners coming in and you'll get a nation of sad, sad sardines. It's no wonder people get irritated. And they still have the cheek to say we are not gracious. Faced with such frustration, who can remain gracious for long?

Think this is bad? Wait till the 2 IRs open.

Sometimes, I feel that all these are just part of a giant conspiracy by the government to milk everyone high and dry. It's just my opinion, but maybe, just maybe, it's true...

End...

Hanged @ 1:49 PM

Anonymous said...: We're the minority in our own country even now at 4.5m not to say when our population reaches the 6.5m aim set by our dear government. At 4.5m, foreigners take up 1m, remaining 3.5m are residents, yes, including PRs. We, Singaporeans, are merely 2m out of 4.5m at the moment. It'll be 2m out of 6.5m in the future, provided that our Singaporean population does not decline. (Think birth rate problem.) All the crowds now are preparing us for the future, the sardined-country. -JM; 11:02 PM