By Botak Ray
Translated and submitted by Tammy Tan
Yesterday, I mentioned that Singapore’s education system is akin to a class society. Shortly after I posted my article on Facebook, some commentators rebutted my claim with the fact that Singapore (‘s government) gives equal emphasis to education and sports. Of course, Singapore government has spared no effort in cultivating sports talent. The problem is, Singaporean don’t buy into it!
Who says there is no sports talent in Singapore? Singapore’s swimmer Ang Peng Siong, footballer Fandi Ahmad, four-time All England winner Wong Peng Soon, they all made Singapore proud. Why do they want to import (talent) now?
What’s bad with import anyway? Isn’t Singapore best in attracting talent? Take a look at their ping pong team now. After undergoing extensive training and toiling hard, Feng Tianwei and some other Chinese girls have finally won the second Olympics silver medal for Singapore (the first silver medal was won by Tan Howe Liang). They even beat their Chinese counterparts by clinching the top spot in the World Team Table Tennis Championships.
Singaporean are a petty lot. Since (mainstream) media are all state-controlled, so you can expect good appraisal from them. I have been in the crowd every day, but I haven’t heard any appreciation from Singaporeans. Rather, what I heard from them are: “They have 25k reward, do you have it?”, “They are not Singaporeans” these satirical feedbacks. What the hell, it’s the second Olympics silver medal in Singapore’s history! Do you think Singapore can’t afford to pay them 25k dollars? How many of you are true blue Singaporeans?
Let’s put it in this way, why don’t you (Singaporeans) groom your homegrown athletes? Now, here comes the issues. As I said before, Singapore is no lack of sports talent, but the parents of these talents told them: “After joining the sports, what are you going to do after 30 years old? If you (accidentally) hurt yourself, your future is gone. I think it’s much better to get a cert and find a job.” (Wrong mindset)
See? How well their plan is! At the end of the day, all sports talent are “transformed” into nine-to-five workers. Steady ah!
I have raised this issue before. When I said I plan to let my children to do whatever they like, a Singaporean netizen quickly posted a comment reading “What if your daughter tells you that she wants to be an athlete? Will you agree with her? I don’t think there’s any parents who will allow their children to be an athlete!”
I’m stumped. How rightly and emphatically the statement is! She is so sure about that no parents will allow their children to be an athlete! This statement shows how shallow Singaporeans can be in their world perspective. I’m stumped again. I think Malaysians have to thank Lee Chong Wei’s parents for their naivety!
I ask you to be an athlete, you kiasi and kiasu. Since you don’t want to do that, then why are you being jealous at the imported sports talent in your country? First world country? I think probably it’s only a bunch of intolerant and face-saving people who have to rely on foreign labours to uplift the economy and the imported foreigners to make your country proud.
[spacer style=”1″ icon=”none”]Submitted via Readers’ Contribution
