Members: CONWORL BGE22

1. Austria, Gian Carlo C.

2. Baldwin, Brittney Marie
3. Cheng, Yutong
4. Gundan, Mary Athena G.
5. Ng, Tam Vianny Justavielle A.

ASEAN REGIONALISM - Singapore

Singapore is a small city-state in Southeast Asia with a total of 721.5 square kilometers
of land area and one of the youngest nations that became successful. They became successful
thanks to their geography and history – located on the major sea route between India and China
and having an excellent harbor, and with the help of their former Prime Minister Mr. Lee Kuan
Yew, he shaped Singapore’s existence as an independent nation. Since then Singapore has
become one of the leading economies in the world, but today we can see that they also face
some problems. In this paper, we are going to discuss the problems Singapore faces in the
context of Asian Regionalism. We divided Singapore’s problems into 5 – in terms of economic,
socio-cultural, political, environmental, and education.

I. Economic
At present times, Singapore is one of the most stable countries in the world, with no
foreign loans, increasing government revenue from tax and non-tax sources, and positive
surplus. It is also known to be the top 2 of the world's freest economy meaning their government
implements minimum restrictions and their economic system is based upon private enterprises
– supply and demand. According to the World Bank Organization, in the year 2019 Singapore is
ranked 34th with the total of $372 billion GDP. Moreover, Singapore’s revenue is mainly driven
by foreign trade. The biggest export product contributing to their Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
with 43% is machinery equipment and their biggest trading partners are China, Hongkong, and
Malaysia.

Like in every country there are economic challenges faced by Singapore. In 2019, the
People’s Action Party’s (PAP), Singapore’s new team of ministers must tackle multiple domestic
issues including controlling the impact of technological disruption, housing affordability, and
increase of social spending for the ageing population. Since Singapore is heavily dependent on
foreign trade, the economy has experienced slowing growth in the recent years. As stated by
the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), it initially forecasted a decrease in the GDP growth rate
ranging from 1.5-3.5% because of the external environment, and revised it downwards to 0.5–
1% towards the end of the year. Such negative external factors include the U.S. and China
trade

It is said that Singapore is the most prepared for technology disruption that will be
brought by artificial intelligence wherein it allows machines to let from various sets of data to
bring “new” conveniences in this modern world for the citizens and adds economic benefits. The
reason why Singapore needs to control the impact of technology disruption is because the
disadvantages are jobs of the citizens will be displaced, data security or privacy is at risk, and
too much dependence on technology. According to Statista, Singapore is currently facing an
increasing aging population, caused by decrease in death mortality in the same time decrease
in birth rates. In the year 2018, Singapore had one of the highest life expectancies in the world
meaning the citizens lived an exceptionally long life. While as for 2017, Singapore had the
lowest fertility rate in the world at only 0.83 children per woman. Raudhah Hirschmann, a
researcher for the Southeast Asian region, specifically Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia
forecasted that by 2035, it was estimated that around 32 percent of Singaporeans will be aged
65 and above, while the median age was also expected to rise from 39.7 in 2015 to 53.4 in
2050. It negatively affects the economic growth hence the decrease of GDP for decades and
the increase in aged residents exceeding labour force age. The government has no choice but
to invest more on social needs such as life insurance, and will have to raise taxes in tandem
which could make a dent in economic competitiveness.

II. Socio - Cultural

In terms of culture, Singapore is known to be a plural society. It is a country with a
unique and diverse blend of cultures and people such as the Chinese, Indians, Malays, and
expats from different countries. Because of this multi-cultural lifestyle, rather than unity through
beliefs, traditions, and culture, Singapore has found its communal and racial harmony through
the country’s “5 Basic Shared Values” in order to develop the nation’s identity which are: nation
before community and society above self, family is the basic unit of society, community support
and respect for the individual, consensus not conflict, racial and religious harmony.

Singapore is unique in the sense that it doesn’t have a national identity the way other
countries do, instead they believe in equality as their middle ground and to be treated the same
regardless of race, religion, gender, etc. But just to what extent can this cultural norm of
Singapore be isolated from political ideologies, which causes friction between nations in the first
place? Singapore currently stands by a state-led capitalism and dominant party political system,
which is a form of “illiberal democracy” that is also present in Northeast Asia. However, these
beliefs and practices are not present and practiced in all the states. Another example would be
the term “Asian values” where there is an emphasis on respect for authority and elderly,
importance and value to education, savings over spendings,” and so much more, but ASEAN
countries do not all practice or believe in this. It is a false construct given how Singapore itself is
already so diverse in all aspects and cannot possibly all practice this.

Establishing a regional identity through a socio-cultural understanding is highly essential

in community building and is directly linked to trust and responsiveness. Building a regional
identity can also be reinforced by historical and cultural ties, which the ASEAN already
somewhat has as the majority of the countries used to be colonized by Western empires except
for Thailand, and these anti-colonial sentiments are extremely powerful in regionalism. An
identity that is formed through regionalism is not a given, but rather constructed through self-
conscious social interactions. These social interactions do not necessarily require a common
ground in cultural heritage, as Singapore has found harmony in its own country with its absence
of cultural similarities. Unity in diversity is something that is unique to Asia and the ASEAN.
While the rediscovery of classical cultural interactions are a great contribution to the growth of a
regional identity, there are always two sides to everything since cultural symbols are known to
cause division especially in Southeast Asian regionalism, but once it turns into a unifying
source, it will definitely strengthen regional institutions.
 III. Political

The government of Singapore has attempted to produce a perception of national identity

in Singapore ever since its independence in 1965. The priority at the beginning was on realistic,
practical ideas to advance the economic improvement. It was altered in the late 80's when the
administration became worried for the general public due to the extensiveness of materialism.
Supposed Asian qualities attempted to give an ideological option and a new reason for a more
grounded national identity as another option. Also, standard Singaporeans have built up their
own distinctive formation of the country's national identity, which can repudiate sometimes the
official building endeavors of the nation and in this way comprise a precise type of hostility. A
lot of Singaporeans want a more prominent cooperation in the arrangement of their identity,
which depicts the trouble of building an economical tyrant community national identity.

To better comprehend the procedure of identity political issues in Singapore, it is crucial

to recognize municipal and ethnic national identity. The most vital distinction between the two is
that in the municipal, citizenship is accepted to be acquired from birth, while in ethnic, it is
optional and can be gained. Regardless of the genuine analysis of arranging the nations as
indicated by either municipal or ethnic national identities, it is as crucial to perceive the power of
either municipal or ethnic ideas in government or opposing discussions. Clearly, it is dangerous
for a government in a multi-ethnic state to advance an identity ethically since it could trigger
tensions that would only support one group over the other.

The possibility of meritocracy was probably the best impediment to a well-connected

national identity directly from the starting point. It brought about a feeling of elitism among
Singapore's authoritative group that produced an intact sentiment of having a place among the
nobles. While the earliest generation had primarily still been government officials, the
subsequent generation comprises technocrats. An effective educational profession, ideally with
some time spent at a college or university internationally, has gotten a privilege for the
enlistment of new heads. Due to the evident accomplishments in the economy and in different
territories, it does not surprise anyone that the authority currently sees itself as to have a
restraining infrastructure on competence. National Identity is as significant as ASEAN identity
wherein it assists with crossing over the social, political, and security strains among the
Southeast Asian nations and establishes a vital reason for ASEAN.

The national identity of Singapore is assuming an inexorably significant job in

governmental issues. Following forty-three years of autonomy, national identity in Singapore is
still a challenging and profoundly applicable issue. For the government, producing an intact
perception of national identification is viewed as significant for upgrading the residents'
dedication to the state. This is vital for the authority decisions, whose authenticity depends to a
great extent on execution economically and viable administration. However, for some
Singaporeans, the democracy task revered in the constitution, the national pledge, and the flag
has become a foundation of Singaporeans' comprehension of what the country has to resemble.
While the government has advanced the possibility of an intolerant and elective Asian
government, numerous Singaporeans have received a substantially more liberal idea of
democracy or elective government. Also, Singapore's national identity remains contrary to a
great extent, keeping in mind that many long for more distinguished involvement, most were
satisfied that nothing can be modified.

IV. Environmental
Singapore may be an urbanized city-state, it is also rich with biodiversity that homes to a
large variety of animals and plant species. If you look closely or have visited Singapore most of
their spaces are planned well and in accordance to the needs of the society – it may be their
parks, man-made gardens or forests and many more. They believe that by enhancing and
maintaining their urban biodiversity it helps the quality of life of their citizens, it reduces stress,
creates a positive mood and etc. Singapore really took their small-scale city as an advantage to
be a green city. Although they have perfected being an urbanized city that still gives space for
nature, Singapore also faces some environmental problems.

One of the current major problems Singapore faces is the atmospheric pollution – it
came from the haze, seasonal smokes, and industrial pollution that was the result of forest fires
from Indonesia. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the haze that happened
in 1997 caused more than S$12.5 million in short-term damage to health in Singapore. Tourism
which was one of their sources of income, has suffered a major loss, that if this didn’t happen,
the tourism sector alone could fully fund the Community Chest of the country. The haze didn’t
stop here, in 2006 it also occurred and in 2013 PSI dropped really high. Today, ahead of the dry
season in Singapore, authorities have already alarmed their citizens about a possible haze
because of forest fires on Indonesian forest, this will also become a bigger problem because of
COVID-19, because funding could be split into two for fire-prevention or health services.
According to reports from Al Jazeera, the both economic and health sectors are both affected.
$510 million is the estimated cost of the 2015 haze pollution, they even paid 1% of their salary
to fight it, and 80% of their tourism is affected from the 1997 haze. Singapore really invested
millions of dollars to mitigate haze, but also made plans and took action on this event. On health
related effects, lung diseases – asthma or heart failure could happen. Even though it doesn’t
happen yearly, it may keep recurring, and that new effects could happen depending on the
event and observations.

So how did the local and regional sectors act? In 1997 after the devastating forest fires
and haze, the ASEAN or Association of Southeast Asian Nations strengthened the 1995
ASEAN Co-operation Plan on Transboundary Pollution and developed it into Regional Haze
Action Plan. This plan is to reinforce better management policies, monitor land or forest fires,
and strengthen firefighting capacity. Since Singapore acted well, they monitored everything and
gave satellite images, they also conducted training courses, and monitored air quality. They also
gave Indonesia an assistance package that will help reduce the haze conditions. The plan was
not only for Singapore or Indonesia, but for the whole ASEAN.

The problem with haze doesn’t end with this, it could have a domino effect with our
nature – global warming may worsen, and sea rise could occur – these two are also
environmental problems Singapore is facing, but we think that this problem about haze is more
evident and felt by its citizens. With the action they did it shows that the countries within the
region are concerned with what is really happening around them. Even though they have made
plans and actions, the problem about haze to Singapore will not end here, because it is a
natural phenomena that we cannot control but to prevent.
 V. Education
Singapore’s education system is known to be among the best in the world, ranking 20th
place under 2020’s Best Countries for Education according to data from U.S. News and World
Report, as well as ranking 1st place in 2015 according to the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD). Among the ASEAN countries, Singapore ranks first
place in terms of education with the National University of Singapore being the top university of
all the universities within the ASEAN. OECD director Andreas Schleicher states that students in
Singapore are generally proficient in Math and Sciences specifically. It is said that Singaporean
education is superior because classes and teachers are focused on teaching the students
practical skills that will help them solve problems in the real world, while authorities are
consistently reevaluating and trying to improve the education system according to the students’
feedback.

Some issues that concern Singapore’s education system are results of the country’s
profound title of being amongst the top countries in terms of education. According to The
Borgen Project, students have reported rising levels of overstress and psychological problems
because of the education system becoming too harsh and rigorous. As the country tries to stay
competitive with the rest of the world’s education, the students tend to feel pressured to keep up
with school’s creating an obsession over academic results and grades over creating a
comfortable space for the students to learn. Because of this, it has become a normal occurrence
that schools segregate their students according to their skills, talents, and abilities, creating a
division between the students who are more achieved and those who are less. Students report
that it demotivates them accordingly when their work progress is constantly compared amongst
each other.Another common issue that students and schools in Singapore face is how a child’s
education is shaped according to the abilities and advantages that the parents have and can
achieve. This phenomenon is often known as “Parentocracy” and can lead to situations that are
unfair for those families that are not able to achieve the same advantages that other families
can. Richer or more well-off families are able to pave the way for their children by paying for
more classes or more learning opportunities, giving them a better head start than those children
whose families are unable to access the same opportunities.

An article published by former NUS professor, Lim Weiyi of Today Online suggests
several changes that could be made in order to improve the issues and flaws of Singapore’s
education system such as focusing more on creating a safe and comfortable environment for
students to learn in as opposed to its current competitive environment, as well as allowing
students a culture that is open for questioning and self-paced learning. Weiyi also states that
students should be able to have more access and exposure to the Liberal Arts as opposed to
the traditional Maths and Sciences.

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