It was a Saturday night and the outdoor tables at Wee Nam Kee chicken rice at Thomson Road were almost full. There were only 2 spaces with elbow room, first, to share with a Chinese couple, the second, to share with a neat young Indian man. I chose the latter.
Before taking my order, the middle-aged waitress (a weathered Chinese lady) beckoned to me. She pointed to the table with the Chinese couple, and threw me a knowing side glance to the Indian man opposite me.
Gee auntie, I'm just sharing a table with an Indian man!
She look quite miffed when I waved away her concern.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Expect Some Brickbats - LKY interview with Tom Plate
Tom Plate recently interviewed Lee Kuan Yew on a wide range of topics (see transcript of full interview). One excerpt, the one on Malaysia Singapore relations, made me think "Here we go again!". So expect some brickbats from my erstwhile countrymen on this comment:
"Q: Who will come after you? Who would come after you?
"Q: Who will come after you? Who would come after you?
Lee: There are assets here to be captured, right?
Q: Some unnamed bad regime?
Lee: When [Malaysia] kicked us out [in 1965], the expectation was that we would fail and we will go back on their terms, not on the terms we agreed with them under the British. Our problems are not just between states, this is a problem between races and religions and civilizations. We are a standing indictment of all the things that they can be doing differently. They have got all the resources. If they would just educate the Chinese and Indians, use them and treat them as their citizens, they can equal us and even do better than us and we would be happy to rejoin them."
The second part that caught my attention were the words he used to characterise the military junta in Burma. No mincing words here!
The second part that caught my attention were the words he used to characterise the military junta in Burma. No mincing words here!
Q: (blah blah) With regard to Myanmar -- and I realize anyone's guess is as good as anyone else's -- but did you see that it's plausible to ask China, as it did at the Six-Party Talks, in some way to work skillfully and work behind the scenes to assume a role in moving Myanmar forward out of the Middle Ages and maybe into the real world?
Lee: I'm not sure the Chinese have got that power. And in Myanmar, these are rather dumb generals when it comes to the economy.
Q: They are!
Lee: How they can so mismanage the economy and reach this stage when the country has so many natural resources?
Q: It's a gift!
Lee: It's stupid. So I'm not sure. The Chinese, they've tried, and, in fact, we have tried to talk them out of isolation. I tried through a general called Khin Nyunt. He's the most intelligent of the lot. I sold him the idea, or at least he bought the idea, that the way for them to go forward was to get out of uniform and do it like Suharto, form a party -- Golkar -- and then take over as a civilian party. But halfway through, Suharto fell. So, it ended up as the wrong advice, they back-tracked. Then they chucked Kyin Nyunt out.
Q: Timing is everything!
Lee: Meanwhile, I had advised several of our hoteliers to set up hotels there. They have sunk in millions of dollars there and now, their hotels are empty. But, you know, you've got really economically dumb people in charge. Why they believe they can keep their country cut off from the world like this indefinitely, I cannot understand. And you know, you need medicines -- they smuggle in from Thailand. It doesn't make sense.
We will see how it is, but whatever it is, I do not believe that they can survive indefinitely. Look, the day they decided to close down the government in Yangon and go into this Pyinmana, or whatever the place is called where there's nothing and they are putting up expensive buildings for themselves and a golf course -- and the top general had a lavish wedding for his daughter which was then out on YouTube -- the daughter was like a Christmas tree! Flaunting these excesses must push a hungry and impoverished people to revolt. But what will happen, I don't know because the army has got to be part of the solution. If the army is dissolved, the country has got nothing to govern itself because they have dismantled all administrative instruments.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Economiust article on eve of Malaysia's 50th birthday
The Economist wrote a damning article on Malaysia's politics and governance on the eve of our 50th Independence day entitled "Tall Buildings, Narrow Minds".
Ouch. Truth hurts.
Ouch. Truth hurts.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Singapore - Widening inequality between Malays and other races (2)
This is my response to an Insight article in Singapore's Straits Times article entitled "Malays' Progress: Why is Good Not Good Enough?"
It's a big problem with no easy, short term solutions. But I feel strongly that education is at the core of all solutions:
Education suggestion 1:
Allow Malays to choose Mandarin as a second language at primary and secondary schools instead or in addition to Malay. Education Ministry should not force Malays to choose Malay as a second language at school.
Rationale: The nexus of global economic growth is likely to remain oriented towards North Asia. Do not handicap Malays by disallowing them to pick up a language best positions them for professional advancement.
From a personal point of view, I remember Malay parents being envious at those Malay parents who managed to beat the system and get their children to learn Mandarin at primary school - it's sad that one has to "beat the system" to do this.
2. Education suggestion 2
Sex education for Malays. Throw out our religion's bias in this area. I like the way one how one Straits TImes forum contributor puts it - say no to pre-marital sex, but if you must, please use a condom. Make condoms easily accessible in toilets of popular malls.
Unfortunately, the moment religion gets put into the educational mix, there's no discussion about contraceptives, with attendant consequences for teenage pregnancy, young marriages etc. and 2 generations of social and economic problems.
Anecdotally, teenage Malays are more sexually mature and aware than their Chinese counterparts. Let's be pragmatic and deal with the issue.
3. Education suggestion 3
Whilst we can and should encourage more participation in the secondary and tertiary sectors, I think there's scope for natural competence for Malays in certain sectors, e.g. hospitality, military, sports, music and media. Encourage further skills advancement in all these areas.
IRs are coming up and higher skill sets in the hospitality will be demanded (with higher remuneration prospects). Again, do not let religion get in the way (I can just hear parents saying "haram, tak boleh"). Working in the gaming industry does not make you a bad person, just a pragmatic one. What's wrong with putting food on the table and earning extra to educate our children as far as we can?
4. Don't leave Malays to figure out all the solutions by ourselves.
We need the contribution of the best Singapore brains and pragmatists to help reduce the widening inequality (imagine Philip Yeo on the job) . Comments on policies should not just come from representatives of Mendaki or Association of Muslim Professionals, we also need external feedback. And for our part, do not be sensitive if comments are not sugar-coated. We are now at the stage when Malays can look back on good progress, and be self-confident that all comments are for purposes of improvement and advancement, and not snide criticism v
It's a big problem with no easy, short term solutions. But I feel strongly that education is at the core of all solutions:
Education suggestion 1:
Allow Malays to choose Mandarin as a second language at primary and secondary schools instead or in addition to Malay. Education Ministry should not force Malays to choose Malay as a second language at school.
Rationale: The nexus of global economic growth is likely to remain oriented towards North Asia. Do not handicap Malays by disallowing them to pick up a language best positions them for professional advancement.
From a personal point of view, I remember Malay parents being envious at those Malay parents who managed to beat the system and get their children to learn Mandarin at primary school - it's sad that one has to "beat the system" to do this.
2. Education suggestion 2
Sex education for Malays. Throw out our religion's bias in this area. I like the way one how one Straits TImes forum contributor puts it - say no to pre-marital sex, but if you must, please use a condom. Make condoms easily accessible in toilets of popular malls.
Unfortunately, the moment religion gets put into the educational mix, there's no discussion about contraceptives, with attendant consequences for teenage pregnancy, young marriages etc. and 2 generations of social and economic problems.
Anecdotally, teenage Malays are more sexually mature and aware than their Chinese counterparts. Let's be pragmatic and deal with the issue.
3. Education suggestion 3
Whilst we can and should encourage more participation in the secondary and tertiary sectors, I think there's scope for natural competence for Malays in certain sectors, e.g. hospitality, military, sports, music and media. Encourage further skills advancement in all these areas.
IRs are coming up and higher skill sets in the hospitality will be demanded (with higher remuneration prospects). Again, do not let religion get in the way (I can just hear parents saying "haram, tak boleh"). Working in the gaming industry does not make you a bad person, just a pragmatic one. What's wrong with putting food on the table and earning extra to educate our children as far as we can?
4. Don't leave Malays to figure out all the solutions by ourselves.
We need the contribution of the best Singapore brains and pragmatists to help reduce the widening inequality (imagine Philip Yeo on the job) . Comments on policies should not just come from representatives of Mendaki or Association of Muslim Professionals, we also need external feedback. And for our part, do not be sensitive if comments are not sugar-coated. We are now at the stage when Malays can look back on good progress, and be self-confident that all comments are for purposes of improvement and advancement, and not snide criticism v
Singapore - Widening inequality between Malays and other races (1)
Here's an article in the Singapore's Straits Times on Tuesday on the progress of Malay community in Singapore. The full report can be found at :
http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/pdf/20070903/Progress%20of%20Malay%20Community.pdf
My personal take? I think Malays in Singapore have set themselves a reasonably good foundation for future economic advancement. But unfortunately it's not enough. Other Singaporeans have progressed much quicker through Singapore's meritocratic (but rather unforgiving) system.
I believe the way forward is a continued and relentless focus on education of Malays. And some bold strokes at the root causes of the community's current areas of dysfunctionality - teenage pregnancy, consequently early (forced) marriages, consequent high divorce rates, consequent single parent families, consequent child discipline problems, consequent truancy, consequent teenage pregnancy - the cycle continues...
Report card on Malay community out
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (above) gave an update on the Malay community's progress at the Mendaki 25th anniversary dinner and awards presentation ceremony on Sunday. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM
THE Government has released a report showing the progress of the Malay community since 1980.
More Malays are in school and getting better educated. They are also holding higher-skilled, better-paying jobs.
In 2005, 70 per cent of working Malays had secondary or higher qualifications, compared to just 19 per cent in 1980.
But at the same time, social problems remain, noted the report released at Malay-Muslim self-help group Mendaki's 25th anniversary celebrations on Sunday.
Divorce rates have risen, and the number of early marriages and births to teenage mums remains high.
In 2005, 16 Malay women out of every 1,000 married resident women divorced, whereas in 1980, only seven Malay women out of every 1,000 married women did.
http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/pdf/20070903/Progress%20of%20Malay%20Community.pdf
My personal take? I think Malays in Singapore have set themselves a reasonably good foundation for future economic advancement. But unfortunately it's not enough. Other Singaporeans have progressed much quicker through Singapore's meritocratic (but rather unforgiving) system.
I believe the way forward is a continued and relentless focus on education of Malays. And some bold strokes at the root causes of the community's current areas of dysfunctionality - teenage pregnancy, consequently early (forced) marriages, consequent high divorce rates, consequent single parent families, consequent child discipline problems, consequent truancy, consequent teenage pregnancy - the cycle continues...
Report card on Malay community out
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (above) gave an update on the Malay community's progress at the Mendaki 25th anniversary dinner and awards presentation ceremony on Sunday. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM
THE Government has released a report showing the progress of the Malay community since 1980.
More Malays are in school and getting better educated. They are also holding higher-skilled, better-paying jobs.
In 2005, 70 per cent of working Malays had secondary or higher qualifications, compared to just 19 per cent in 1980.
But at the same time, social problems remain, noted the report released at Malay-Muslim self-help group Mendaki's 25th anniversary celebrations on Sunday.
Divorce rates have risen, and the number of early marriages and births to teenage mums remains high.
In 2005, 16 Malay women out of every 1,000 married resident women divorced, whereas in 1980, only seven Malay women out of every 1,000 married women did.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Easing Singapore Taxi Woes
The Reach portal recently asked for views on how to alleviate taxi supply issues that has been a bug bear for residents and commuters:
Despite having one of the highest taxi-to-population ratios in the world, there is still a demand-supply mismatch where the demand for taxis during certain times of the day, especially in the morning and evening on weekdays, far outstrips supply. This is compounded by the fact that most of this peak demand is uni-directional (either suburbs to city, or city to suburbs) and confined to certain areas ofSingapore
My response:
Problem is a classic transportation problem - how to manage peak time demand. Same problem occurs for buses, MRT etc in urban centres all over the world
If one were to build capacity (i.e. supply more taxis) for peak time demand, this would mean that during non-peak times, there will be an over supply situation , making it not financially viable for taxis companies and taxi drivers.
Suggestion 1: Allow private cars to double up as taxis during peak time periods e.g. 5pm to 8pm. Private car owners can tregister to become part-time taxis. They will be issued some simple removable signage that indicates that they are in taxi mode, and perhaps a simple meter (even meter is not necessary as one can just use the odometer and charge per km). Signage can also include where the "part-time taxi" intends to go, so that normal car commuters can pick up passengers on the way home.
Suggestion 2: Encourage taxi companies to move "shift-changing"times to 3pm, not 4-5pm as is the case today
Suggestion 3: Remove all taxes on green taxis (incidentally, goverenment should remove taxes on all green cars e.g. Prius)
Suggestion 4: Encourage multiple pick ups for taxis (i.e. pick up passenger 1, then passenger 2, maybe even passenger 3 going along the same route). The current taxi meters actually allow for this.
Suggestion 5: Encourage share a cab policy in taxi ranks. Hmmm, how to convey this - maybe a whiteboard that allow people to list their destinations. Or encourage shopping centres to have an attendant asking passengers where they are going and if they are willing to share a cab (it is in best interests of shopping centre to reduce congestion in their taxi ranks e.g. Robinsons Centrepoint, Takashimaya
Despite having one of the highest taxi-to-population ratios in the world, there is still a demand-supply mismatch where the demand for taxis during certain times of the day, especially in the morning and evening on weekdays, far outstrips supply. This is compounded by the fact that most of this peak demand is uni-directional (either suburbs to city, or city to suburbs) and confined to certain areas of
Many suggestions have been made to enhance the current fare system, but the LTA said the industry has been largely deregulated since the late 1990s, and fares are thus determined by the taxi companies and the market forces of supply and demand.
Other suggestions have been to do away with surcharges altogether. The
What other suggestions do you have to ease the taxi woes in
My response:
Problem is a classic transportation problem - how to manage peak time demand. Same problem occurs for buses, MRT etc in urban centres all over the world
If one were to build capacity (i.e. supply more taxis) for peak time demand, this would mean that during non-peak times, there will be an over supply situation , making it not financially viable for taxis companies and taxi drivers.
Suggestion 1: Allow private cars to double up as taxis during peak time periods e.g. 5pm to 8pm. Private car owners can tregister to become part-time taxis. They will be issued some simple removable signage that indicates that they are in taxi mode, and perhaps a simple meter (even meter is not necessary as one can just use the odometer and charge per km). Signage can also include where the "part-time taxi" intends to go, so that normal car commuters can pick up passengers on the way home.
Suggestion 2: Encourage taxi companies to move "shift-changing"times to 3pm, not 4-5pm as is the case today
Suggestion 3: Remove all taxes on green taxis (incidentally, goverenment should remove taxes on all green cars e.g. Prius)
Suggestion 4: Encourage multiple pick ups for taxis (i.e. pick up passenger 1, then passenger 2, maybe even passenger 3 going along the same route). The current taxi meters actually allow for this.
Suggestion 5: Encourage share a cab policy in taxi ranks. Hmmm, how to convey this - maybe a whiteboard that allow people to list their destinations. Or encourage shopping centres to have an attendant asking passengers where they are going and if they are willing to share a cab (it is in best interests of shopping centre to reduce congestion in their taxi ranks e.g. Robinsons Centrepoint, Takashimaya
Friday, June 22, 2007
Pontification and Propaganda
Recently attended a RadioAsia 2007 conference held in Singapore this week.
In a session on news radio. a Malaysian representative from Radio and TV Malaysia (RTM), the state broadcaster, was asked to speak on role of radio on national development.
Much to my chagrin, she started her second slide with a picture of Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi (malaysia's current Prime Minister). The next slide was a direct quotation from him on something about role of media.
The rest of the presentation was needless to say, mindless drivel about role of radio in bringing about national development. Every so often, PM Badawi would be quoted again. There was a second picture of him further along the presentation.
Such is the sorry state of Malaysian public sector leaders. Honestly, the presentation reminded me of the newspaper "The Light" published by the Myanmar military junta. No two guesses about the degree of propaganda in that publication.
It is already bad enough for every Malaysian leading news story to begin with "Yang Berhormat Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi kini berkata.....". But to have a presentation on professional topics before international audiences being the done the same way is sad, very, very sad.
In a session on news radio. a Malaysian representative from Radio and TV Malaysia (RTM), the state broadcaster, was asked to speak on role of radio on national development.
Much to my chagrin, she started her second slide with a picture of Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi (malaysia's current Prime Minister). The next slide was a direct quotation from him on something about role of media.
The rest of the presentation was needless to say, mindless drivel about role of radio in bringing about national development. Every so often, PM Badawi would be quoted again. There was a second picture of him further along the presentation.
Such is the sorry state of Malaysian public sector leaders. Honestly, the presentation reminded me of the newspaper "The Light" published by the Myanmar military junta. No two guesses about the degree of propaganda in that publication.
It is already bad enough for every Malaysian leading news story to begin with "Yang Berhormat Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi kini berkata.....". But to have a presentation on professional topics before international audiences being the done the same way is sad, very, very sad.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Temasek Divest ment of Telekom Malaysia - What Took You So Long?
On 4th May 2007, the press reported that Temasek was selling a 3.3% stake in Telekom Malaysia (TM), as it transpired, at RM10.60 per share or RM1.21 billion.
This was sold at a discount to TM share price on KLSE, which prior to the report, was at RM11.00.
Note that Temasek was reported to have acquired a 5% stake for RM1.6 billion in March 2, 2004. According to my stock chart, TM's share price on 1 March 2004 was RM9.85.
TM was forced to issue a press release on 8 May to calm investor unease by saying that this was part and parcel of Temasek's normal exercise to "realign its portfolio".
Errr, thanks TM, but this still means that you're no longer part of that group who Temasek thinks is deserving of their money...
Actually my first reaction to the news was, "What took you (Temasek) so long?". I remember when I first heard of Temasek's investment in TM, I'd thought that this must have been a political decision to signal warming relations between Singapore and Malaysian governments. No self-respecting market driven investor would be so short on due diligence that they would not know that TM's fixed line revenues were declining , and Celcom, TM's mobile arm, was losing market share to more organized (Maxis) and nimble (Digi) rivals. But Temasek's other telecoms investments (via Singtel) tend to be safe rather than risk/reward driven anyway, always going for so called the largest entity (read AIS in Thailand, Bharti in India, Telkom in Indonesia, Globe in Philippines) rather than the challenger (you don't get fired for choosing the incumbent - únless its a S$1.5 billion loss like AIS).
So whilst TM's rivals shares have powered ahead, Temasek had to bear with an anaemic stock performance, not surprising since TM suffered classic incumbency issues such as lack of proper incentives but abundance of improper ones, bloatedness, lack of customer focus (ex-Malaysian civil servants, as many TM's staff are, are not renowned for their customer service).
Temasek (excluding dividends etc) achieved a return of a mere 7.6% over more than the 3 years it invested in TM. Comparable numbers over the same period for Digi and Maxis are 433% and 76% respectively (this excludes 2 rounds of capital repayment for Digi).
So a right decision at long last. Dear Temasek, maybe its time to check out the challengers?
This was sold at a discount to TM share price on KLSE, which prior to the report, was at RM11.00.
Note that Temasek was reported to have acquired a 5% stake for RM1.6 billion in March 2, 2004. According to my stock chart, TM's share price on 1 March 2004 was RM9.85.
TM was forced to issue a press release on 8 May to calm investor unease by saying that this was part and parcel of Temasek's normal exercise to "realign its portfolio".
Errr, thanks TM, but this still means that you're no longer part of that group who Temasek thinks is deserving of their money...
Actually my first reaction to the news was, "What took you (Temasek) so long?". I remember when I first heard of Temasek's investment in TM, I'd thought that this must have been a political decision to signal warming relations between Singapore and Malaysian governments. No self-respecting market driven investor would be so short on due diligence that they would not know that TM's fixed line revenues were declining , and Celcom, TM's mobile arm, was losing market share to more organized (Maxis) and nimble (Digi) rivals. But Temasek's other telecoms investments (via Singtel) tend to be safe rather than risk/reward driven anyway, always going for so called the largest entity (read AIS in Thailand, Bharti in India, Telkom in Indonesia, Globe in Philippines) rather than the challenger (you don't get fired for choosing the incumbent - únless its a S$1.5 billion loss like AIS).
So whilst TM's rivals shares have powered ahead, Temasek had to bear with an anaemic stock performance, not surprising since TM suffered classic incumbency issues such as lack of proper incentives but abundance of improper ones, bloatedness, lack of customer focus (ex-Malaysian civil servants, as many TM's staff are, are not renowned for their customer service).
Temasek (excluding dividends etc) achieved a return of a mere 7.6% over more than the 3 years it invested in TM. Comparable numbers over the same period for Digi and Maxis are 433% and 76% respectively (this excludes 2 rounds of capital repayment for Digi).
So a right decision at long last. Dear Temasek, maybe its time to check out the challengers?
Labels: digi, investment, malaysia. mobile, maxis, performance, telecom, telecommunications, telekom malaysia, temasek
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Dunking Donuts ... err, Without the Donuts
An earlier post mentioned the great service attitude of the ladies at A&W at the overhead rest stop off Melaka.
This is in stark contrast to the Dunking Donuts outlet at the Sungei Buloh overhead rest stop. I drove there one morning about 8.15 am to grab a couple of donuts and a cup of coffee.
The counters looked empty and no donust were on display. On enquiring, the staff in a matter-of-factly tone of voice explained that donuts only arrived at the outlet at 9am.
I thought this was just a one-off, but on further enquiries why there was a delay that day, the staff responded, again with a matter-of-fact tone, that this was the norm - that donuts arrived at the outlet at 9am. Would I care for a sandwich, which apparently was what customers preferred in the morning?
Huh? Errr, isn't donuts your main product and raison d'etre? Gee, the master franchisor of Dunkin' Donuts must turn in his metaphoric grave at the petulance of this outlet.
This is in stark contrast to the Dunking Donuts outlet at the Sungei Buloh overhead rest stop. I drove there one morning about 8.15 am to grab a couple of donuts and a cup of coffee.
The counters looked empty and no donust were on display. On enquiring, the staff in a matter-of-factly tone of voice explained that donuts only arrived at the outlet at 9am.
I thought this was just a one-off, but on further enquiries why there was a delay that day, the staff responded, again with a matter-of-fact tone, that this was the norm - that donuts arrived at the outlet at 9am. Would I care for a sandwich, which apparently was what customers preferred in the morning?
Huh? Errr, isn't donuts your main product and raison d'etre? Gee, the master franchisor of Dunkin' Donuts must turn in his metaphoric grave at the petulance of this outlet.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Singapore Branding
This is supposed to be a blog on Malaysia, but I'm living in Singapore now, so I'll lump in Singapore's topical issues with this blog.
This was a letter to the readers' letters pages of The Straits Times, which was not published. Singapore just announced it was engaging consultants to come up with the new, integrated brand for Singapore.
Excerpt :
Companies with revenues a fraction of Singapore's GDP pay millions for a large rebranding exercise, so Singapore investing $3m in this is not unreasonable. Branding is seen by progressive companies as an investment, not cost, that will generate extra, sustainable, long-term sales, so why not Singapore, where even more is at stake (investment, jobs, citizens' livelihoods).
1. Its too early to tell if "Incredible India", "Malaysia, Truly Asia" are examples of a successful national branding campaign (personally I prefer Australia's "Where in the Bloody Hell Are You" campaign). My favourite example of a successful national branding campaign is Taiwan's "Made-in-Taiwan" campaign in the 1990's. then, Taiwan was already moving up the electronics value added chain from basic contract manufacturing to design and more sophisticated production. However, its image still lagged behind and Taiwan was still perceived as a electronics sweatshop. With a clear branding objective (change our image from sweatshop to high tech so that our companies can get more high-margin business), Taiwan embarked on series of advertisements in international magazines, displaying a series of cutting edge electronic products, and each ad was signed off as "Made in Taiwan".
I remembered my reaction to each of those ads : "Wow, I didn't know that was made in Taiwan", exactly the reaction that the branding campaign was designed to evoke. Today, Taiwan's image truly reflects its capabilities as an electronics high tech design and production centre.
So what are current perceptions of Singapore?
Positive ones -efficient, stable, great place to do business, good managers, transparent, good governance.
But here are some bad ones:
"nanny state"
"sterile" (at birth rate of 1.2, this has new meaning)
"boring"
"small market, so ignore it"
"repressive" (IMF 27, Gomez issues do not help)
So why not do as Taiwan did and face the negative image head-on? And take the opportunity to add some wit and spice to it (the very nature of doing this will dispell the notions of boredom and sterility). Here's a suggestion (deliberately facetious to prove the point):
Umbrella campaign: "So you think ..."
Sub-campaigns
1. "So You Think We're a Nanny State" campaign: Advertise risque, controversial images of Singapore (bare-cladded Crazy Horse artistes, a typical night at Orchard Towers or Geylang, hmmm... I'm running out of examples here....) and sign off each ad with "So you think we're a Nanny State".
2. "So You Think We're Boring/Sterile" campaign. Images of Crazy Horse again (indeed, Crazy Horse images are proving to be very versatile...), future casinos, night markets, (ooops, haven't seen these for a while), Clarke Quay al-fresco dining (with maybe Hooters seen in the distant background). Sign off ads with "So you think we are boring" (you get the picture)
3. "So You Think We're Small" campaign - Counter with images of our connections to more than half of the world's population through our multicultural heritage and current business interests in India, China, Indonesia etc (a sub-sub-campaign could be "Singapore: 4 million Asians. Connected to 4 billion more."). Any examples of the theme of "Gateway to Asia" would be appropriate here.
4. "So You Think We're Repressive" - Display news headlines clippings of "Singapore Reverses Decision on IMF 27", "Ministers Drop Libel Suits", "PM Regrets Gomez Overkill"
(yes, yes, all of this is currently theoretical). This particular campaign can sign off slightly differently: "We're Trying"
So there you have it - my little two cents on Singapore's single brand to the world.....
Post Script :
Crazy Horse shuttered its doors barely a year after its grand opening so maybe our boring image is beyond redemption....
This was a letter to the readers' letters pages of The Straits Times, which was not published. Singapore just announced it was engaging consultants to come up with the new, integrated brand for Singapore.
Excerpt :
Companies with revenues a fraction of Singapore's GDP pay millions for a large rebranding exercise, so Singapore investing $3m in this is not unreasonable. Branding is seen by progressive companies as an investment, not cost, that will generate extra, sustainable, long-term sales, so why not Singapore, where even more is at stake (investment, jobs, citizens' livelihoods).
1. Its too early to tell if "Incredible India", "Malaysia, Truly Asia" are examples of a successful national branding campaign (personally I prefer Australia's "Where in the Bloody Hell Are You" campaign). My favourite example of a successful national branding campaign is Taiwan's "Made-in-Taiwan" campaign in the 1990's. then, Taiwan was already moving up the electronics value added chain from basic contract manufacturing to design and more sophisticated production. However, its image still lagged behind and Taiwan was still perceived as a electronics sweatshop. With a clear branding objective (change our image from sweatshop to high tech so that our companies can get more high-margin business), Taiwan embarked on series of advertisements in international magazines, displaying a series of cutting edge electronic products, and each ad was signed off as "Made in Taiwan".
I remembered my reaction to each of those ads : "Wow, I didn't know that was made in Taiwan", exactly the reaction that the branding campaign was designed to evoke. Today, Taiwan's image truly reflects its capabilities as an electronics high tech design and production centre.
So what are current perceptions of Singapore?
Positive ones -efficient, stable, great place to do business, good managers, transparent, good governance.
But here are some bad ones:
"nanny state"
"sterile" (at birth rate of 1.2, this has new meaning)
"boring"
"small market, so ignore it"
"repressive" (IMF 27, Gomez issues do not help)
So why not do as Taiwan did and face the negative image head-on? And take the opportunity to add some wit and spice to it (the very nature of doing this will dispell the notions of boredom and sterility). Here's a suggestion (deliberately facetious to prove the point):
Umbrella campaign: "So you think ..."
Sub-campaigns
1. "So You Think We're a Nanny State" campaign: Advertise risque, controversial images of Singapore (bare-cladded Crazy Horse artistes, a typical night at Orchard Towers or Geylang, hmmm... I'm running out of examples here....) and sign off each ad with "So you think we're a Nanny State".
2. "So You Think We're Boring/Sterile" campaign. Images of Crazy Horse again (indeed, Crazy Horse images are proving to be very versatile...), future casinos, night markets, (ooops, haven't seen these for a while), Clarke Quay al-fresco dining (with maybe Hooters seen in the distant background). Sign off ads with "So you think we are boring" (you get the picture)
3. "So You Think We're Small" campaign - Counter with images of our connections to more than half of the world's population through our multicultural heritage and current business interests in India, China, Indonesia etc (a sub-sub-campaign could be "Singapore: 4 million Asians. Connected to 4 billion more."). Any examples of the theme of "Gateway to Asia" would be appropriate here.
4. "So You Think We're Repressive" - Display news headlines clippings of "Singapore Reverses Decision on IMF 27", "Ministers Drop Libel Suits", "PM Regrets Gomez Overkill"
(yes, yes, all of this is currently theoretical). This particular campaign can sign off slightly differently: "We're Trying"
So there you have it - my little two cents on Singapore's single brand to the world.....
Post Script :
Crazy Horse shuttered its doors barely a year after its grand opening so maybe our boring image is beyond redemption....
Pay Malaysian Ministers $5million each!
This was an email to the readers' letters section to the leading Singapore English broadsheet - The Straits Times. Singapore just had announced increase of salaries for its ministers and civil servants. IN the case of ministers, their salaries were increased from about $1.2 million a year to $1.9m a year.
The letter was published in the forum section of The Stratis Times on 11th April, 2007
No second guesses as to which country I'm referring to below:
Excerpt:
I am a national of a neighboring ASEAN country, though a Singapore resident. This is my take:
The principle of paying competitive salaries for ministers and civil servants is fair. If this ensures integrity, zero-corruption and reasonable competency, then it is well worth it.
I would gladly pay S$1m, S$2m or even S$5m for each minister of my country if they can guarantee one thing: Integrity. The cost of lack of integrity runs into billions of billions of dollars in wasted government expenditure. This expenditure is driven not by genuine citizens' needs, but by juicy procurement contracts and associated kickbacks. Leave alone the cost of the culture of corruption that corrodes the whole civil service.
The only issue Singaporeans should debate is what is the relevant benchmark. Whether its two thirds of the median of top 8 earners in each profession or of the top 80 earners in each profession', should be up for parliamentary debate. To me, my benchmark for my country is how much it would cost my country's taxpayers to make sure our ministers and civil servants do not stray off the narrow path of integrity. This, currently, is a very, very large figure.
The principle of paying competitive salaries for ministers and civil servants is fair. If this ensures integrity, zero-corruption and reasonable competency, then it is well worth it.
I would gladly pay S$1m, S$2m or even S$5m for each minister of my country if they can guarantee one thing: Integrity. The cost of lack of integrity runs into billions of billions of dollars in wasted government expenditure. This expenditure is driven not by genuine citizens' needs, but by juicy procurement contracts and associated kickbacks. Leave alone the cost of the culture of corruption that corrodes the whole civil service.
The only issue Singaporeans should debate is what is the relevant benchmark. Whether its two thirds of the median of top 8 earners in each profession or of the top 80 earners in each profession', should be up for parliamentary debate. To me, my benchmark for my country is how much it would cost my country's taxpayers to make sure our ministers and civil servants do not stray off the narrow path of integrity. This, currently, is a very, very large figure.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Horrid Malaysian Driver Habits - But Post-Script
Just arrived home in Singapore after driving from KL for about 4 hours. Must say, I do detest the following atrocious habits of Malaysian drivers:
- Cars flashing headlights when they’re still half a kilometer behind you asking you to get out of their way (Who do you think you are? A VVIP motorcade? (another bad Malaysian habit, but that's another story))
- If somehow you don’t match their 150km speed whilst overtaking another vehicle on the fast lane, you’ll get the annoyance of a 10-inch tailgate to physically nudge you out of your way.
All this when you’re already overtaking in the fast lane 10-20km/h above the speed limit.
Johorean drivers are the worst culprits, followed by KL cars. Singapore cars are guilty of it too.
On a nicer note, I think the most well-spoken (almost perfect English) and polite group of fast-food workers are at A&W at the Overhead Bridge Reststop at Ayer Keroh. The Malay girls in tudungs greet you cheerily with a genuine hello, then proceed to take orders in great UNAFFECTED English (same can't be said of Malaysian radio DJs). A hail of genuine thank yous then follow you as you walk out. Reminds me of a Japanese restaurant welcome, but genuine and spontaneous. Recommend any fast food chain who wish to train their staff to see these girls in action.
Good job ladies!
- Cars flashing headlights when they’re still half a kilometer behind you asking you to get out of their way (Who do you think you are? A VVIP motorcade? (another bad Malaysian habit, but that's another story))
- If somehow you don’t match their 150km speed whilst overtaking another vehicle on the fast lane, you’ll get the annoyance of a 10-inch tailgate to physically nudge you out of your way.
All this when you’re already overtaking in the fast lane 10-20km/h above the speed limit.
Johorean drivers are the worst culprits, followed by KL cars. Singapore cars are guilty of it too.
On a nicer note, I think the most well-spoken (almost perfect English) and polite group of fast-food workers are at A&W at the Overhead Bridge Reststop at Ayer Keroh. The Malay girls in tudungs greet you cheerily with a genuine hello, then proceed to take orders in great UNAFFECTED English (same can't be said of Malaysian radio DJs). A hail of genuine thank yous then follow you as you walk out. Reminds me of a Japanese restaurant welcome, but genuine and spontaneous. Recommend any fast food chain who wish to train their staff to see these girls in action.
Good job ladies!
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