Good to be home

Was in Taipei for the last 8 days but I couldn’t keep my mind off Singapore.

Many people have called this general election a political awakening. I thought so too initially but I'm beginning to fear that it can also degenerate into a campaign of myopic nitpicking.

The right policies are never popular and I am confident that the PAP’s policies since 2006 have been right for the country. I’m fine with our immigration policy. I see benefits with it though it comes with some social problems and areas which have been exploited by business owners. But no excuses still.

No doubt housing is expensive in Singapore but compare ourselves with other developed East Asian cities like Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo (and recently I’ve learnt, Taipei), we are getting it cheap. Young people can own their own houses here so much easier than our counterparts do in the abovementioned cities. And I’m not talking about rundown apartments in gritty estates but brand new units in well-developed new towns.

I know because I’ve recently purchased a new flat and I have yet to pay a single cent for it. Grants from HDB and my own CPF have settled it thus far though I’ve only joined the workforce 9 months ago. As long as I keep myself employed and have a proper savings plan for the next 10 to 15 years, it shouldn’t be a problem to pay off the loans in 20 years time. Less stress on real money with the CPF helping to fund vital assets like housing. 20 years to own a property can sound daunting but I don't think it is that bad when many graduates in Hong Kong and Tokyo can only afford to live in rented homes their entire lives. This system works like a safety net to ensure that everyone in this resource-scarce country work for the dough, not depend on others for their survival. Granted the CPF is “invisible”, a forced savings, but seeing how low we pay our taxes compared to developed states else where, we definitely have it much better and cheaper.

I had a good chat with the Taiwanese cab driver along the way to Taoyuan International airport earlier this morning. He finds it amusing that Singaporeans have to pay a levy of S$100 to enter the casinos. He later said, “你们的政府会照顾人民。”

I’m tired tonight. But I need to speak my heart out on a place I care a lot for. It’s always good to be back home.