The Foreign Legion

Oil Spill

Recently I went to Changi and Pulau Ubin too. At this time, I have already found out about the oil spill due to two vessels having collided at sea. You can actually smell it in town. While at Changi I read that the spill has already spread to Changi and Ubin. When we landed at Pulau Ubin and went our way to Chek Jawa, the first things we saw were many foreign workers working, resting or waiting for further instructions. There were spades, bags and some other absorbent materials all around. At certain spots, the oil smell was strong but these foreign workers moved in troops and work endlessly to control damage. What will we do without them?
Hotel Collapse

Years back, when Hotel New World collapsed into a heap of dusts I was there on a reservist recall. I have witnessed - saw and smelt death's stench at first hand and up close. There was an outpouring of support from all quarters of businesses, society and the uniformed group. All varieties of food and drinks even from the top hotels were readily supplied and in abundance but the mood was sombre and who in his right mind could enjoy eating in close proximity with the calamity at hand. we worked on shifts endlessly and were easily fatigued. 

What our Civil Defence team learned and trained were largely for high-rise rescue but this was about a hotel collapsing into a heap and yet have some people trapped in the basement car park. Prospects were grim and the situation was precarious because those who tried to enter could hear ramblings as if the piled up heap could collapse further anytime. I will give you the gruesome reports of some findings some of which I have witnessed at another time when you are grown up a little more. Fortunately, we were doing the MRT and we have among us expatriates from New Zealand, Scotland, Ireland and various other countries who are experts in tunnelling. 

Their help led to some breakthroughs in rescue efforts. We should also take note that in life there is little we can hide. There was a man who was cheating with a woman in the very safe confines of the hotel room. The hotel collapsed. He came down with the woman naked lock, stock and barrel. They both survived and it was flashed across the national newspapers. Nobody can imagine that.

MRT
Because Singapore is so safe, orderly and clean you do not kind of wake up and find something unusual as things seem to run like clockwork. So if you are a MRT staff, you go to work and find graffiti painted on the trains, would you suspect that something went amiss or rather something else were added. Wouldn't you like how it was explained that staff thought it was some kind of advertisement. I think I can accept that especially when you recently read about vandalism of post boxes which were in fact some ad gimmicks. When it is too safe and clean, things like that will happen. 

In fact, whoever McKoy and Banos were, Singapore becomes a good target. If they get your trains everybody would see it loud and clear and is outstanding because that is the only one. In other countries their trains are so full of graffiti, you will struggle to find some space to spray on. Admittedly, MRT staffs could have been more alert but please do not punish them for it. The first thing has to do with the security at the gate as the starting point.

Robberies

Most recently, we have a group of seven foreign workers from Sarawak who ganged up, hitched a plot and went on a cycle of vicious attacks on anyone around Kallang, attacking them by surprise from behind, hack and chop them with parangs and all and leaving them for dead at secluded spots taking away some money amounting to only $400 and a couple of mobile phones. What was on these people's mind? It was vicious and madness! Fortunately, the police worked well and fast arresting almost all of them save one. One victim who is also an innocent foreign worker died from the attacks. Of course none of the victims are to blame and such things can happen to anyone of us. The point I wanted to emphasise is that because we assume Singapore is very safe with tourists proudly stating that they could walk around at 2 am here and still feel safe, I urge us to be always more vigilant. Nothing is to be taken for granted as the slogan goes: "Low crime does not mean no crime". 

Trust in God but please lock your cars. I read that New Yorkers are very conscious of the space around them especially from behind them because if they don't, they can get mugged. We may need to adopt this attitude but not to the point of getting paranoid. More than that, all people should help to look out for one another and offer whatever help possible. Blow your whistles, toot your horns, shout, scream or have many form a group and beat them with big sticks! Golfers take note. There are 14 clubs available.

Golf

How could a golfer go missing and nobody knew? It was a tournament, given the two who shared a buggy who did not know him and thought he may have gone off, I can't understand the part where the buggy did not and was not returned and nobody was aware?? I would suggest that in such a situation, the other golfers should have made known to marshals about it. This is not to blame them but as a future safety procedure so that such a thing should never recur. That is why when at a golf course, all golfers even if you don't know one another should always help to keep a look out for others. Safety is of paramount importance. 

I have a friend who does not drive and cannot swim. I will keep him away from a golf course. I also know golfers who would go golfing alone. I have seen golfers who actually golf alone meaning without joining another threesome to form a foursome. Then there are other sporting folks who walk, run or swim alone. Nothing wrong with that. However, to prevent something untoward from happening we can't take for granted that it is always safe. Whether it is day or night, maybe your age or condition or just a muscle cramp can alter the outcome. Most importantly, do not leave home without kisses and hugs, do not leave a gathering or meeting without handshakes and warm wishes and do not and never part from family and friends without goodbyes and farewells as we may never meet again. Life is fragile and unpredictable.

Table-Tennis

When Singapore became World Table-Tennis champions, instead of congratulating them we start to argue on the merits that they were won with the help of foreigners. Yes, if you watch table-tennis say a match between Holland and some other European teams you could see and hear them names of all Chinese players. Singapore took in these players while they were not world champs, showing only glimpses of such potential, pay them train them and gave them a platform to realise their hopes and dreams. They too have to big risks of uprooting, seeking an opportunity which is no guarantee of success. 

If they had stayed on they may not be even selected because of China's obviously huge talent pool just like being very good does not mean you will get into Spain's World Cup squad. What about France in soccer? Didn't they win the European title and the World Cup in 1998? Did they do it with just pure French? Their top player - four times World Best Player Zinedine Zidane was born in Marseilles of Algerian parents. Desailly's origin is Ghana, Lilian Thuram - Guadeloupe, Patrick Veira - Senegal, Claude Makele - Congo, Sidney Govou - Benin, Boumsong - Cameroon, Djibril Cisse 0 Ivory Coast, Laurent RObert, Reunion, Patrice Evra - Senegal, David Bellion - Senegal, Sinam-Pongolle is from Reunion not Punggol. David Trezeguet has Argentinian origin and Thierry Henry has West Indian origin. Many African players are playing for other countries. So, relax mates. What happens when many years from now one of our top leaders originated from another country?
Immigrants

I read about complaints by Singaporeans about foreign workers taking their jobs. It may be partly true but by and large, there are many jobs that Singaporeans shun. Sometimes, it is not even about the job but the location. Sometimes, it is whether it is on a five-day week and so on. we start this way we are already on the wrong path. When you are starting out, you want to learn as much as you can, you must have hunger for knowledge and experience, to add value to your skill set, others can come later. Singapore has become successful and our people can get too comfortable and sometimes when we are too comfortable we slouch and get sloppy, lazy and complacent like when you are sitting down to watch TV. We have no more hunger. When we are not hungry, we lose an edge. We cannot simply blame it on the younger generation because if we older people were to be in their shoes, we may be also looking the part. That is conditioning. So having some immigrants coming in to provide competition and kick butts may help to wake us a little. Last but not least, lest we forget, we were the children of immigrants too. 

How would we like to be treated if we were to migrate? Of course there will be a few bad hats who use Singapore as a stepping stone to another perceived better place. Some have even been stepping on two boats trying to reap the benefits of two countries, etc. We can plug some loop holes so as to prevent abuse because nobody likes to be abused but after that fret not. Life will probably not work out in the end for abusers.

The late Dr. Goh Keng Swee was from Malaysia. The USA has been very successful because they have talents from all over the world. The French won the soccer world cup with many who are children of immigrants. The important thing is to have good, responsible and loyal immigrants. Do not forget those folks who are foreign workers who came from poor backgrounds eking out a living with lots of hard work in order to support their family back home. I have the highest respects for them. If not for them who will build homes and offices. Who will clear your rubbish. There are also those in retail shops and others. We should treat them with respect and welcome them as a part of us. Who knows sometimes God send angels as people to our back yard. Do not forget that we could have been the same too. There may be some blemishes with the robberies but for the rest of the decent foreign workers, I salute them!