First World Country. Third World Culture.

This is a topic I had wanted to post sometime back but I couldn't think of a suitable approach for it. That was until I took public transport (in a long time) to Orchard for my dental appointment yesterday (too expensive to drive and park in Orchard lah).

Singapore has continuously strive to "upgrade" herself as a First World Country in terms of her infrastructures, amenities, the arts, tourism (casinos and F1 races), hospitality (for example, the recent "GEMS" or "Go-the-Extra-Mile for Service" movement), etc. The Singapore Government has also recently announced that the island-city would be targeting to increase her population from the present 4.5 million to 6.5 million in future in order to remain economically sound.

However, as we continue to improve and impress with our "hardware", it left me wondering how is the general population progressing in terms of her "heartware". And as we gear towards 6.5 million in the future, how are we going to cope with the crowd on 700 sq km of land?

Which brings me to my experience on the public transport.

I have long heard of the new and improved buses and MRTs that we had supposedly paid for with the hike in public transport fares (some are wheelchair friendly too). And I was fortunate enough to experience them yesterday. The buses were new and bright. The MRTs appeared clean and seats seemed to be more spacious too. The stations were also more "user-friendly" for the handicapped. It would seem that the authorities are doing a good job and they should be applauded. However... I can't say the same for Singaporeans.

Although we have bigger, better and more beautiful infrastructures, it would appear that the behaviour of the general population has not progressed much since the yesteryears. People are still not moving to the back of buses or towards the center of the MRT cabins without pleas from drivers or fellow passengers. People remain oblivious (or asleep) to the needy who could use a seat. People are still pushing, shoving and cutting in lines to board escalators. People are still smoking at bus stops and throwing cigarette butts all over the place.

This is just an example from the many we see from time to time to infer my point on how Singapore could attain First World Status but left with much room for improvement to move her people together. And it is a worrying sight. Are we taking things for granted? Are we frogs in a well (a crowded one that is)? Of course, to be optimistic, not every Singaporean is like that (I hope I am not one) and Singapore is not the ugliest city and such cultures are not uncommon in other developed nations too. But as we become more diversified and more congested, I could not help but wonder what future holds for Singapore with a population of 6.5 million.