NOT many Singaporeans are going to admit it, but I have personally experienced many cases where Malaysia has been talked down to because our neighbours feel they are better off.
Indeed, they are way ahead of us. As much as we hate admitting it, we are the losers.
That’s a fact. We can see the massive differences the minute we cross over to the island republic from Johor Baru.
Their infrastructure is world-class, their leaders have impressive credentials, and corruption is arguably non-existent.
And as long as the Singapore dollar continues to be three times more valuable than our ringgit, they have reason to thumb their noses at us. They have earned the right to brag.
But let’s be frank. Many Singaporeans carry a chip on their shoulders and actually think they are superior.
Let me share a story. I am currently on a tour of a few European countries organised by Trafalgar Tours. They are reliable and I am always among guests who are usually over the age of 60. Peers, I guess.
They tend to be from English-speaking countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.
Most of the time, the Asians are from Malaysia and Singapore. Occasionally, there are Indians too.
But it’s the Malaysians and Singaporeans who are often happy to be in each other’s company since, after all, both nations have so much in common.
We were in one country once, remember?
Negaraku existed long before Majulah Singapura. While both nations adopted the Malay language as their official language, Malaysians can actually speak Malay while many Singaporeans are unable to do so.
Travelling together, we laugh at ourselves when we confess that we were actually carrying chilli sauce and cup noodles.
But the little rivalry, cynicism and disdain eventually crop up, most of the time in an innocently natural way, without even my newfound Singaporean friends realising it.
This trip, a very sweet aunty asked me if it was really true that the SMART tunnel in Kuala Lumpur was a stormwater bypass tunnel and able to alleviate traffic jams.
“The taxi driver who took me to KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) told me it can stop floods and divert traffic jams. I didn’t believe it, of course, how can Malaysia be so ‘kheng’ (awesome in Cantonese) one?”
I had to disappoint her and tell her that it was true.
Next, she asked why the Malaysian government was “so stupid” as to build KLIA so far from the city, “unlike Singapore, where the airport is really in the city and so convenient.”
I had to remind her that it’s because Singapore is just a tiny city. Sure, it’s a country, but it’s really a city and so, anywhere you build an airport or facility, it will be in the city.
But having said that, who can we blame when our KLIA has lagged so far behind the award-winning Changi Airport?
Our aerotrains at the 25-year-old KLIA, which ferry people between the main terminal and the satellite building, have broken down completely, which is surely a national disgrace.
Luggage takes ages to arrive at the carousel in comparison with busier airports, including even Heathrow Airport in London.
Any seasoned traveller can give a longer list of better airports.
KLIA, which opened in 1998, was ranked among the top 10 airports in the world on four occasions – in 2001, 2010, 2011 and 2012 – but has since seen a steady decline in rankings.
It was down to the 44th spot in 2018. In the latest World Airport Survey, it was at No. 67.
The airport is under the jurisdiction of Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd and not Malaysia Airlines, as many travellers assume.
If it was in the private sector, heads would roll, but a government-linked corporation works differently, with a high level of tolerance for incompetency.
And still on airports and planes, this Singaporean aunty has never flown on Firefly, the Malaysian airline that operates out of Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (better known as Subang Airport).
According to her – and my relatives in Singapore – they just don’t feel safe flying on turboprop-powered planes.
I can never comprehend why propellers frighten so many Singaporeans. At least those I have encountered.
Every time I take a taxi on arrival in Changi – Firefly now flies to Seletar – the taxi drivers would confess they have never heard of Firefly.
And then, like a recorder, they would start telling me how sorry they are that I am from Malaysia.
But over the past two years, I have noticed a phenomenal change.
These self-appointed political analysts now train their guns on Singapore instead of Malaysia as they whine about the high-cost of living, increasing utility bills, their toilet-sized flats and how grandfathers must still work until they drop dead when they should be enjoying their golden years.
They curse their government leaders and PhD-holder ministers who are cut off from the realities of the working class.
This does not surprise me as my journalist friends in Singapore tell me that their ministers do not take phone calls or even text messages, unlike politicians in Malaysia.
So, I tell these grumbling cabbies that I feel sorry for them.
Their million-dollar flat would easily get them a three-storey house in Malaysia and two cars, at the least.
If they have a lot of time to kill, like many Malaysians, they can just go on social media and scold their ministers.
But nothing will happen to us in Malaysia for running down our politicians unlike Singapore.
So no need to be “kiasi” (afraid to die or to be afraid in Hokkien) of “jeng hoo” (government in Hokkien).
Well, it’s good to be hard-working and competitive in Singapore, but I am enjoying my much laid-back lifestyle in Malaysia. What a beautiful place.
Sure, Malaysians of various races may complain about each other behind their backs, but we are decent enough to never to cross the line.
We hold the peace.
And for sure, we won’t be offensive like stand-up comedian Jocelyn Chia, who sings her praises about Singapore and tells off Malaysians, but has disposed of her Singapore passport for the United States.
Any worthy comedian can tell you that it’s fine to take a dig at any nationality or ethnic group.
Even our Malaysians poke fun at Singaporeans, but most of these jokes are never offensive.
Chia has now become famous for being a bad comedian. She is supposed to make us laugh and not make us angry.
Of course, we can laugh at ourselves – we are not that immature.
I am sorry, Jocelyn, but you would never make it in Malaysia, or in Singapore and Batam, unlike Singaporeans Gurmit Singh aka Phua Chu Kang or Michelle Chong aka Ah Lian.
Besides, you can never compete with our politicians.
We have too many of these jesters in Parliament who drive us hysterical daily.
And I am sorry that you had to pack up and leave Singapore, presumably because you cannot change your government.
Over here, we have had three prime ministers in five years.
And there is even another round of elections, albeit at the state level state, after about seven months ago when we last voted.
Err, Jocelyn, I am just trying to be funny, in case you didn’t get it.
