Singapore: Towards deNationalisation

Singapore is a unique country that is not a country, a nation that is not a nation. While many countries have developed themselves into distinct nations with distinct people and culture, Singapore is in a reverse process. We seem to have abandoned the path most travelled by young and old nations, to build a country into a nation of people, proud of what they are, their distinct and unique culture.

Singapore is in a process of deNationalisation. We have gone through a 40 year process of nation building when the people were talked and educated about nationhood, about being Singaporean, about defending the country, about us as a new people of a new nation. We were progressing quite well and could be a nation today, when the citizens are proud of what and who we are, that we are a successful and rich nation with our own people, our distinct culture and way of life.

Did we fail in this process and a new philosopher has taken the people along a new ideology of no nation, no nationals, but just an economic organisation where anyone with some merits or ability is welcomed to reside in the island? Our citizenship is given away freely, our national identity prostituted and bastardised by new residents and ever changing and evolving. Our national identity is in a constant state of flux, and we do not know where we are going or what we will become, maybe a vague idea of being international citizens, or citizens of the world, but no country?

Our national mantra, or just mantra without the adjective of national, is survival of the fittest regardless of creed, colour or country of origin. We sell our citizenship, we sell our little piece of land, we sell our strategic assets, we sell our jobs and people to foreigners with no qualms of what the consequences will be when everything is sold. The next thing we will be selling our parents and children and wives, if they make economic cents. Nationalism and citizens of a nation have lost their meanings.

Singapore is pioneering a new paradigm of deNationalisation, without borders, without citizens, everyone a resident for only one reason, economic well being. No sentiments, no emotions, no roots, everyone be proud of being a migrant and be prepared to be migrants again in someone’s country when everything is sold and gone, including their rights as citizens. Citizens that cannot contribute better than foreigners are best discarded in favour of the latter. There is no need for frivolous ideas of nationalism, patriotism, loyalty or defending the country, for there is no country or nation to defend and be loyal to. Such ideas are just silly aspirations of medieval people. Clinging on them is meaningless and has little economic values.

This deNationalisation process has been gaining momentum in recent years without much fanfare or any official pronouncement of its existence. Perhaps it is just an unconscious outcome of years of pragmatism that is stretched to become another animal of different stripes and colours. Was there an originator of this trend, or it just happens, just like the population explosion over the last 10 years and the ballooning of property prices due a grave shortage in supply and an overflow of demand? No one knows a shit how it happened or had an inkling that it is happening.

Why is there a need to call ourselves Singaporeans? ‘Sinkies’ is any time more appropriate in all aspects. The bottom line of such a philosophy is all about self and self interest above all interests. And the idea of country or nation is simply superfluous, a meaningless attachment. The next thing to be sold away will be the soldiers and all the weapons and equipment of wars when there is nothing left to defend for. DeNationalisation will eventually lead to no nation, just a corporation run and own by a few elites.