Page 4 - Expat Living Winter 2016

SIZING UP
SINGAPORE
Surveys have shown that Singapore is reckoned to be
the best place for expats, enjoying some of the world’s
best financial rewards and career opportunities.
B usiness and social customs in Singapore
and Malaysia are guided by three different
cultures - Chinese, Malay, and Indian - in
pure and hybrid forms. Although the 100+ years of
British administration ended in 1959, there remains
an Englishness in the atmosphere of Singapore,
combined with the modernity of a high rise, high
technology city.
Nevertheless, behind all of this you will still find an
older cultural value system. Singaporeans value
obedience to authority and group association, as
well as the fact that filial piety is the highest virtue. l
The government promotes this virtue, expecting the
younger generation to take responsibility for their
elders. People are also very conscious of not shaming
another person. Causing someone to lose face not
only gives them pain, but also shames the person
giving offense and is a serious lapse in courtesy in
their society.
The traditions of the three main ethnic groups
- Chinese, Malay, and Indian - contribute to the
fascinating mix of cultures with their diverse
languages, foods, and dress. Its people are courteous,
honest, and polite while busy in their pursuit of
personal and national success.
Singapore is a multiracial, multicultural and
multireligious nation. Singapore actively promotes
ethnic and religious harmony, and national identity.
Singapore has received worldwide press coverage
for incidents involving punishment for crimes. It is
important for visitors to become familiar with and to
respect the prohibitions on certain behaviours, and to
understand that punishment will be enacted swiftly
for infractions.
04 EXPATLIVING
Singapore places the welfare of the society as a
whole before individual rights, and expects those in
Singapore to respect these values:
l Nation before community, and society above self
l Family as the basic unit of society
l Community support, and respect for the individual
l Consensus, not conflict
Racial and religious harmony
The Singapore government and most of its citizens
have been willing to promote economic prosperity
and social order at the expense of Western-style civil
liberties. The city itself is modern, clean and efficient,
with remnants of its colonial past still apparent in a
handful of well-preserved and restored buildings.
Debate rages about whether Singaporeans should
be encouraged to think, act, and vote independently
of the main party line. For example, there have been
discussions on whether the education system and its
curriculum do enough to stimulate creativity rather
than rote learning. In business, some argue that
Singapore risks losing out if it does not promote more
innovation and dynamic thinking, but conservatives
warn against allowing the national personality to
change beyond the control and order currently
asserted by central government influence.
English is the language of administration. English is
also widely spoken in commerce, science, technology
and tourism. Mandarin Chinese is gradually replacing
the various Chinese dialects that have traditionally
been spoken. The official languages of Singapore are
Malay, Chinese (Mandarin), Tamil and English. Malay
is the national language. Most Singapore citizens are
bilingual or multilingual.