Haha, as a regular SSO's concert goer, I immediately recognize this interviewee. I enjoy listening to his views and perspective... 27 years in Singapore! I spent almost this length in Cambridge/Massachusetts. It feels great to retire and replant my roots in Singapore. Homecoming, and tomorrow is August 9th. Happy 59th Birthday! Majulah Singapura. (I first attended SSO concert in 1979. Indeed, SSO today is top-notch. Though classical music in Singapore is not as flourishing as it is in Boston (Jordan Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, etc), Singapore's cultural and musical scenes have come a long way and evolving. I am very happy to witness how this City-State is still unfolding. The best is yet to come). Nice interview/conversation.
@@limbehh8494Thanks for your kindness. 饮水思源/ When you drink water, remember its source. 落叶（选择）归根 / Falling leaves - choose - to return to their roots.
Why is it like this? It would be so much easier for everyone if we could give way to each other.. At least keep left, or right, anything, not just stroll in the damn middle everywhere
I have been in Sg for almost 27yrs. I find that those who are standing shoulder to shoulder at escalator are not locals. Local would automatically stand on the left or climb up the escalator when they are on the right side.
Yes, usually they are first-time comers; or, our elders who have sacrificed their youth to build our nation in their rare occasions of venturing out of the heartlands to witness the results of their toil. An "excuse me" often does the trick to get yourself moving.
I have been here for 32 years and I am glad you clarify this aspect... in fact I had to adjust at the start of my life here to behave respectfully toward others and had not seen it in other cities
Been here since 1992, now a citizen. It has been wonderful to see the SSO evolve into a truly great orchestra. Their repertoire is much more diverse than it was 30 years ago, and played with much more precision, assurance and emotion. I recognise the trombone player!
It is true the beauty of Singapore is its proximity to its surrounding countries. Also its currency that makes visiting these neighbouring countries feel relatively cheap (generally speaking). The size of this city-state may not have much to offer but a short flight out and you can immerse yourself in various cultures and different languages and cuisines. I also feel safe bringing up my family here. Been here a little over 10 years and have since taken up citizenship. Best decision I’ve made.
I felt the same way as him about inconsiderate people who walks in group occupying the entire pathway or standing in the middle of the pathway. Alot of these inconsiderate people often time are in the world of their own...
We've been taught to be considerate at home and in schools in the 80s and 90s. However we've lost all that for a long time. Many people living in sgp (locals plus foreigners plus foreign workers) can be inconsiderate with walking, cycling, motorists and driving... pedestrains strolling and looking at phone while crossing road... eating out and dirtying tables until fines set in, dirtying toilets after use etc... basically everything shows our behaviour is getting bad in sgp... I wonder why.
You see much of this behavior on the PCN where it's supposed to be a shared path. Unless there's a specific rule or law punishing offenders, Singaporeans generally do not share.
Allen Meek reminded me of another David Allen became the first Infectious Diseases Head (90s) of Department in the Communicable Disease Centre Singapore, here to stay and to train many of our infectious experts in NUS. SSO also reflect how far as a Nation we have progressed. Majulah.....
I've noticed the walking and the just stopping and talking stuff for the longest time but from experience, most of the time the culprits are from certain 2 countries. The locals are more often than not considerate
Hey SSO guy, you said you've been here for like what how many years now and you still couldn't accurately figure out these people are from which two countries, not locals?
14:13 are you sure the people walking on the sidewalk are Singaporean ? Riverwalk is not heartland of Singapore .Foreigners , expats & rich chinese who looks like local chinese stays there mostly !
My sentiments too. Riverwalk it's located in central Singapore. Very near Clark quay, CBD area, Chinatown area. The people who walk in the middle of the path is definitely expats, tourists who are oblivious and don't care a damn. Who you want to kid...the local singaporeans?? be realistic. I too was blocked by no common sense expats once and another time by tourists in the central part of Singapore til i had to say "excuse me" in a serious tone for this no common sense people to move aside for me.
Was at Telok Ayer yesterday (August 9), many of the tourists (caucasians mostly) on the pavement were walking shoulder to shoulder taking up the whole pavement, expecting people to give way to them. I didn't care and kept walking on my side of the pavement until they notice they're about to knock into me then they start moving more towards their side of the pavement. I actually bumped shoulders with one of them.
And also customer services he is dealing with might be 70% or more from other 3rd world countries. So what he is getting are services from around asia and not from a singaporean.
💯 Allan captured *exactly* a huge issue on Singaporean lack of awareness / consideration of the people around them. There's been so many times where a person would just stop walking and just stand in the middle of a path without realizing/caring that they block a bunch of people behind them. It happens at the stop of escalators, in narrow pathways, etc. Happens in HDBs all the time. 😕This doesn't happen in larger countries where parents teach their kids to look around them for safety. Couples and groups of people are so guilty of not giving way and walking shoulder to shoulder, super slowly in narrow paths. Both the older and younger generation are guilty of this. Totally agree with his careful articulation on the problem.
Some were even walking while playing games or watching dramas. There were times I was so tempted to flip their phones onto the floor. Other time, will see couples strolling on busy pathway while holding hands, and taking up the entire pathway! Really can't stand all these inconsiderate people.
Great interview! Great sharing! What an eye opening to hear from Pricipal SSO musician!!I love going to concerts!! Listening to this interview makes me appreciate the classical musicians so much more!! Kudos 🎉
as a foreigner i came to singapore in 1986 seen singapore change through the years but honestly prefer the singapore of the late 1980s to early 2000s ( 1986 to 2002) it's more interesting with less shopping centers & more old style stuffs like shops & eatery. orchards is more fun back then than it's today. katong & marine parade & parkway parade was super fun back then.
Wow! 27 years here! Thank you for loving Singapore❤ I TOTALLY AGREE with you with the space and situational awareness or rather the lack of that. Sigh. I call it 'cattle- walking'! I also agree with you about kindness. To yourself and others. It's really lacking nowadays.
I am a Singaporean and fully agree that the service level here sucks. GST should become GT, remove the S part! Most of them are part timers who don't give a damn serving others. And their employers can't fire them due to the tight labour market facing the service industry.
I agree, even though I work in service industry before. Though many Karen customers but there are also many Karen service staff. Their attitude like 💩 I literally got stalked and screamed by a Daiso staff. Some NTUC staff also like to gossip about customers right infront of the customer. Their attitude need to improve.
fun fact about GST... initially it was supposed to be GCT (Goods and Consumers Tax) but that happens to be the same initials as the then prime minister Goh Chok Tong. He didn't want to be remembered for introducing this tax to Singapore, so the name was changed to GST
Talking in doorways, at the top of the escalator…., etc. General, the situational awareness isn’t quite there yet. The walking slow part. Yes. Eg., 2 or 3 persons talking and just stroll at a snail pace in a narrow walk path. I get that. It frustrates me too.
Walking slowly, stopping and talking at the top/bottom of escalators etc. These things drive me nuts as well (I'm Singaporean by the way). I agree with Allen that there are less situational consciousness amongst Singaporeans in public. It's one of the best interviews in the recent months - great to hear how Allen feel accomplished building the SSO.
As someone who speaks cantonese at home, i agree. it's just that in the SG context, hokkien is still way more prevalent than cantonese, which is the context of this interview - SG
Cantonese swearing is more polite 'cold' anger swearing. Hokkien is more 'hot' temper swearing. So if you want to 'let it out', it's the better one. And if I am not wrong, Hokkien is more 'vulgar', you can go dirtier with it.
Regarding the people you came across walking shoulder to shoulder slowly, these "people" maybe foreigners visiting Singapore, therefore casually strolling, chatting while enjoying the sightseeing. Singaporean is famous for their pace along with both Japanese and Hong Kongers
Everything is smaller here in Singapore. It's just like that. It's a very very very small island. It took me some time to get used to being bumped by people when I returned from Australia. The pavements are narrower, space in the shopping centres so much smaller. I hardly bump into people in Australia, and I have sooooo much space to move ard people so even if there is a grp walking shoulder to shoulder, didn't bother me because there was so much space. In Singapore, you can't even walk in 3s. So be patient, say excuse me, and people will give way. It's not as if you will get beaten up for saying excuse me.
The permanent residency itself does not expire and lasts for the rest of your life. However, your re-entry permit expires at least every five years, sometimes sooner.
@@Kola833 As a Singapore PR, you are entitled to reside in Singapore for as long as your Re-Entry Permit (REP) is valid for. However, during the renewal of your REP, the Government would expect you to be employed at that time or at least your household income should suffice (if you are a housewife).
There are many foreigners living here . Those who walk in the middle of the pathway , those who don’t stand aside on the escalators, talk loudly, etc etc may not be our locals.
I like the term "island fever"😊....yea....after I've been to Thailand, Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai with all the mountains and large expanse of land, I do feel it.
I totally agree with Japanese concert audiences. I've been to rock concerts in Japan, and when they sing a ballard, everyone just keeps quiet and listen to the song until the end before they erupt in cheers. Total respect to the artist.
Oh yes... as a Hokkien (who isn't particularly good with the dialect), yes... it is loud, abrasive, aggressive sounding. It's the best dialect to swear in. And if you actually knows it enough to really swears... you can take it very far. And yes... it is very liberating, when you want to let it out and English isn't enough, forget mandarin, Hokkien is the way to go.
27 years ago, still very new in the Singapore history. Lots of the Chinese Singaporean ancestors came from China and settle in Singapore. Móre of the China migrants flee China during the 2nd world war and settle throughout South East Asia.
@@ZARUSI >no drainage, leading to floods during rain >artificially inflated urban population >gambling services in dubai despite it being haram in islam >no constitution for free speech nah i dont think id enjoy living there
Something that is the complete opposite of what the interviewee has described is the question on what had silently changed in Singapore over the years. I am not sure how he formed his opinion of China but back when he arrived in Singapore, the impression of China was that of a backward communist country - certainly not what he described as the dragon has awakened - this only happened in recent years in terms of perception. Today, the general impression of the Singaporean Chinese population of China is that it has indeed awakened, and that it has progressed tremendously in terms of technological advancement and the well-being and wealth of its people. There is much respect for China and not what the interviewee mentioned that we shun the Chinese. The shunning part was probably referring to the Chinese tourist groups where they were generally loud and rambunctious. However, we are clear that as a country, China is progressing rapidly and we are indeed even looking up to them in certain sectors - e.g. their lead in the world as EV producers to just cite one area.
I would not characterize his description as the complete opposite. I think us Singaporeans in general have been educated to be as pragmatic as possible, and in that regard many of us do recognize China's rise in the past decades. However, besides the example you gave, China and the Chinese's increasing emphasis on a "Chinese diaspora" is something that a lot of Singaporeans, especially the youths, do not align with. There is an increasing desire to distinguish and even "shun" away from China Chinese due to this fact, and to draw a line between them and Singaporean Chinese. This is what I think the interviewee is referring to.
@@Porpoisestool @kiasuwei1 I disagree with you. It is indeed the opposite of what you say. I agree with @limwk007. In fact, it is the youth who are more aligned with China or at least recognize China's rise because they see what is happening in the US and Europe, and they don't like it. You look at the dirty tricks the US are doing against the Chinese in the Olympics, politicizing and weaponizing the games, and it sucks. There is a driver from MBS and he brought his children to New York and the US. He said that they hated it and swear never to go there again. The older people look to the West but now it is changing as China rises. @AllenMeekEsquire if you want to be delicate about it, don't talk about politics and race. The Dragon has indeed awakened. "China is a sleeping dragon, when she wakes, she will shake the world"
Western mainstream media are the worst. Singapore media apes and parrots the West but they have to change sooner or Singapore will be in trouble. I wonder what @AllenMeekEsquire motivation is in saying all this. You want Singapore to follow the US and the West? Look what is happening in Ukraine and the genocides in Gaza and the warmongering by the US with Taiwan, Philippines, interfering in Hong Kong, etc. BTW, you watch the founding father Lee Kuan Yew's video, he said the CIA tried to bribe his government. As we speak, the CIA and FBI are also involved in the dirty tricks against the Chinese in the Olympics. The West and US are jealous just because China is rising not only in the Olympics but all over. You can call it racism as well but are you superior?
@@internationaldaily9820 Political rhetorics aside, everyone, not just Singaporeans, are starting to peer behind the veil of politics and recognise that nations act on self-interests. This includes China, and while we're cognisant of U.S's attempts at politicising 'apolitical institutions' (tbh, not very many things can be considered apolitical nowadays), we're also aware of China's continued breach of international rules and regulations in the South China Sea to cite an example. Let's just get this out of the way: the U.S. has a laundry list of violations, and so do China. Singaporeans are increasingly exposed to the dirty laundries of both parties due to the internet. I think you've completely sidestepped what I mentioned about China asserting a unified Chinese identity, or a Chinese diaspora as they'd say. I'll just link this here for you so you can read it www.straitstimes.com/opinion/sorry-but-we-re-chinese-singaporeans-not-your-compatriots. Of course, this does not represent the views of all Singaporean Chinese, but I'd use my anecdotal evidence to say that many around me feel the same. You are also committing a bit of fallacy here by misconstruing the 'recognition of China's rise' with 'alignment with China'. These two opinions are not mutually exclusive, and may exist independent of each other. I agree that many do recognise the rise of China, but I would be careful not to mistake that for 'alignment'. I think the examples you've given are also a little weak to substantiate what you're saying? The US and Europe are indeed a little messy right now and many of us do not agree with their political affairs, but disalignment with the West does not automatically align us with China. It is possible to be misaligned with both, albeit in differing areas. And honestly, taxi drivers are not a good barometer of political sentiments. It's the youths we're discussing here anyway.
@@internationaldaily9820Well put! This interviewee needs to learn his place. I mean, we can say this due to the fact that he has been staying here for almost 3 decades but chooses to hold on to an EP. Already says a lot. I disagree with a lot of what he has mentioned in this interview, especially the part where it was mentioned we shun the Chinese. So.out.of.touch.
As an Aussie living in different countries in Asia, the walking, doorways, situational and spatial awareness thing is the same in many places in Asia. This guy is brave for saying it on video though 😂 I think Anglo-European heritage people can thank the Romans. Noticed walking in Korea when a group of us white foreigners would be out on the town and walking, we’d naturally pair up and basically be walking in two lines, chatting as we walk - like Romans on the march 😂 . Then we come across 5 Koreans walking shoulder to should across the entire footpath talking as one group. Then there’d be at least one person in our group who’d express their inner aggressive European trait “oh ok, take up the whole path! No worries!” Cultural differences… gotta roll with it.
Thank you, sir. Frank and candid. The walking part ... keeping to the side to be considerate to others ... keep to which side, left or right? LOL ... In SG, if long enough, usually we keep left, like when driving here. Then for a while I wondered why were some keeping on the right? Then when I went out of SG, I learnt why :)
I also encounter the lack of situational awareness in NYC. People in groups taking their own sweet time to talk and walk, blocking the stairways, people standing right in the middle of the subway carriage entrance and refusing to give way to let people in or out.
Lived here 27 years & can swear in Hokkien. He’s Singaporean as far as im concerned! 😂 We walk slow? Not when transiting from one MRT line to the other! 😂 And the escalator part IS annoying. So many ppl were never taught to keep left. Always keep left on escalator so others can overtake. Always keep left on stairs so you don’t walk into anyone. Common sense really. Customer service is shit cos unlike the US where you get tipped, there’s no tipping here. And even if they do accepts tips everyone in the same shift is expected to share it which sucks as some colleagues are lazy AF & totally undeserving. In short no motivation for them to provide good service.
Customer service is not shit in every sector. The Americans depend so much on tipping that it becomes an entitlement to them (those who are in providing services). And that sucks if you tip less a certain percentage.
Hi Max, a suggestion to you : Kindly make 2 videos... One of 5 min highlighting what's in your lengthy video and the other one with your full length one. Keep the link of bigger video in the description of the 5 min highlights video. I usually don't watch lengthy videos until and unless I see the trailer video of just 5 min or lesser.
Ppl in warm climate walk slow or avoid walking at all. Reason . Fast walking raises body temp. Its already hot. do you want to faint due to heat exhaustion? Yes i can agree on being considerate part . People should give way to others. But may be its cultural thing. Our original countries have too much people. So you can walk fast but still next red light / bus stop you will be again with people who you overtook 2 min ago. So people do not worry for fraction of time gained.
I disagree, I think Singaporeans are considerate in general. We are after all an Asian society and we think of ourselves as part of a group. Of course in touristy areas people are walking slowly, this is true anywhere you go. I think Americans and those from individualistic societies feel entitled to taking up the whole path when they walk as they expect more personal space and expect others to always give way to them without giving way themselves . I was once pushed out of a walking path, onto the road, with my groceries, by a super entitled expat who yelled at me for blocking the path even though I’d already given way to him twice. Then he just simply pushed past me on his huge scooter on the walking path. So let’s be reasonable and see things from both perspectives.
The walking part, i don't quite agree when you pointed to Singaporean... It's from those foreigners that you encountered. "laaa". 😂😂 Singaporean mostly is self aware of the space
Hi Max, can ask, out of topic. May I ask where u stay for 1 month in Thailand? Need some recommendations as would like to bring my kids to experience in depth other countries’ culture. Thanks.
Hahahaha....."Suntec used to be the only building on reclaim land.....", oh boy, SIngapore has been reclaiming a lot more land than that, Bro. Beach Road used to be by the Beach!
We walk slow? Visitors have complained we walk too fast. Also, in general, people do not clog up escalators, except for the ignorant minority. Or when it is jam-packed.
Actually we do. Compared some of the packed cities. Maybe the heat or something. During peak hours the crowd just kind of succumb to the general speed 😂
Put triangle plate people will understand. Signal and hand out for people to give way most people will give unless you are cutting a long queue then people will think twice.
For someone being here for so long he talks and lives like a foreigner recently here. He keeps comparing with his hometown which always makes me uncomfortable. You can't compare our little red dot with a huge country like the US, it's ridiculous. He has clearly a good financial support to travel often, probably enjoying cheap countries around us. I have been here for 32 years and to me he talks and behaves like a typical expat who never put his heart and soul to adjust and fit in Singaporean. Unlike you Max, he is a typical pure expat who thinks he understood the people and culture here but totally failed. In any case, as always, you did a great interview and respect for the books you mentioned
HAHA. 5 people walking abreast is what I like to call boyband syndrome where they walk like they're in a music video down a street and take up all the space. It's really annoying. LOL. And most of the time they don't budge even when exclaim "Excuse Me!" out loud.
Walking is due to weather n perspiration..slowing the perpire rate..but all asians walk fast too when they are overseas..esp during winter..leh.. On gung ho..all citizens has their own pros n cons n kiasuness...au natughall...😂😅
Im Singaporean and I agree 100 percent with this dude..we have lots of very insensitive, inconsiderate, people in this country..they have zero concerns about others ..in driving in walking even while queuing..they literally stick behind you like as if the nearer they stand the faster their turn..and..even at the ATM many times I end up in argument with the idiot behind me who is literally half an arm behind me peeking over my shoulder...the country may have first world facilities but we have quite a percentage of some very non first world mentalities here.. And I also agree about the customer service part.. Singaporeans don't have a customer service attitude but they' wanna work in a customer service industry so to them ..since they are providing a service ..it's you that should be nice to them..haha..which is super annoying
@allenmeelesquire I obviously did and even repeated several parts due to disbelief that stereotypes came out of your mouth. Maybe you shouldn’t have done an interview if it wasn’t well prepared or if you had to “think on your feet”. We could care less about whether you have shared my comments with your local friends for their opinions. Why even bother when the fact is several other negative comments, apart from mine, appear under this video which proves that I’m not the only person who has an antipathetic view towards you. Enough said.
Actually, what you said about PR is incorrect. The PR is more or less permanent - you have to renew your Re-entry permit every 5 years. That allows you to basically leave the country and return as a PR. I'm not sure whether it;s a case of splitting hairs here, though. So yeah, basically it's not the PR status that needs renewal but the permit to reenter singapore as a PR when you travel out. Btw, I've been attending SSO concerts since the 90s, so I guess I hear Allen a lot over the years :)
Money la what else? Of course it’s moolah 💰 Anyway, he doesn’t strike me as someone who has fully immersed himself into Singapore’s culture. 27 years in Singapore and this is all he can show for it? Meh.
exactly!! he ends up criticizing our country because "he" needs space... he also clearly have the financial possibility of travelling outside Spore a lot so I dont get his critics
Haha, as a regular SSO's concert goer, I immediately recognize this interviewee. I enjoy listening to his views and perspective... 27 years in Singapore! I spent almost this length in Cambridge/Massachusetts. It feels great to retire and replant my roots in Singapore. Homecoming, and tomorrow is August 9th. Happy 59th Birthday! Majulah Singapura.
(I first attended SSO concert in 1979. Indeed, SSO today is top-notch. Though classical music in Singapore is not as flourishing as it is in Boston (Jordan Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, etc), Singapore's cultural and musical scenes have come a long way and evolving. I am very happy to witness how this City-State is still unfolding. The best is yet to come).
Nice interview/conversation.
Thank you for coming back... ❤❤❤
@@limbehh8494Thanks for your kindness.
饮水思源/ When you drink water, remember its source.
落叶（选择）归根 / Falling leaves - choose - to return to their roots.
As a Singaporean. I concur with you.... Gosh, please be considerate even when u r walking on a pathway.
Stop walking in the middle like u own the road
As a Malaysian, it still puzzle me😂
@@bahloolstories5361of course, Malaysians arent known to be bright. Look at the cheap ringgit 😂
Why is it like this? It would be so much easier for everyone if we could give way to each other.. At least keep left, or right, anything, not just stroll in the damn middle everywhere
Totally agree on the 'walking'. So 'blur'. no situational awareness.
Also cyclist need to be more considerate. They don’t care about pedestrians. Everytime pedestrians have to look out for them and give way to them.
I have been in Sg for almost 27yrs. I find that those who are standing shoulder to shoulder at escalator are not locals. Local would automatically stand on the left or climb up the escalator when they are on the right side.
Yes, usually they are first-time comers; or, our elders who have sacrificed their youth to build our nation in their rare occasions of venturing out of the heartlands to witness the results of their toil.
An "excuse me" often does the trick to get yourself moving.
I have been here for 32 years and I am glad you clarify this aspect... in fact I had to adjust at the start of my life here to behave respectfully toward others and had not seen it in other cities
Quite of surprise for me to know there r so many of the expats literally lived half of their lifetime here❤
You have been interviewing such interesting people and I really appreciate it !
Been here since 1992, now a citizen. It has been wonderful to see the SSO evolve into a truly great orchestra. Their repertoire is much more diverse than it was 30 years ago, and played with much more precision, assurance and emotion. I recognise the trombone player!
It is true the beauty of Singapore is its proximity to its surrounding countries. Also its currency that makes visiting these neighbouring countries feel relatively cheap (generally speaking). The size of this city-state may not have much to offer but a short flight out and you can immerse yourself in various cultures and different languages and cuisines. I also feel safe bringing up my family here. Been here a little over 10 years and have since taken up citizenship. Best decision I’ve made.
I felt the same way as him about inconsiderate people who walks in group occupying the entire pathway or standing in the middle of the pathway. Alot of these inconsiderate people often time are in the world of their own...
We've been taught to be considerate at home and in schools in the 80s and 90s. However we've lost all that for a long time. Many people living in sgp (locals plus foreigners plus foreign workers) can be inconsiderate with walking, cycling, motorists and driving... pedestrains strolling and looking at phone while crossing road... eating out and dirtying tables until fines set in, dirtying toilets after use etc... basically everything shows our behaviour is getting bad in sgp... I wonder why.
@@sarahtan826 I always tell my colleagues I got OCD when I bitch at them for not closing the toilet door n turning off the lights.
You see much of this behavior on the PCN where it's supposed to be a shared path. Unless there's a specific rule or law punishing offenders, Singaporeans generally do not share.
Allen Meek reminded me of another David Allen became the first Infectious Diseases Head (90s) of Department in the Communicable Disease Centre Singapore, here to stay and to train many of our infectious experts in NUS. SSO also reflect how far as a Nation we have progressed. Majulah.....
This is one of the best interviews on the channel.
And I will look up the mentioned books for sure.
I've noticed the walking and the just stopping and talking stuff for the longest time but from experience, most of the time the culprits are from certain 2 countries. The locals are more often than not considerate
Agree
Hey SSO guy, you said you've been here for like what how many years now and you still couldn't accurately figure out these people are from which two countries, not locals?
Exactly...
No, try the mature HDB areas, lots of slow walkers there
Locals are considerate and give way, this is not correct. Pay attention and you realise it’s the foreigners.
Happy to see your channel growing so quickly. Grande Max !
14:13 are you sure the people walking on the sidewalk are Singaporean ? Riverwalk is not heartland of Singapore .Foreigners , expats & rich chinese who looks like local chinese stays there mostly !
Agree
My sentiments too. Riverwalk it's located in central Singapore. Very near Clark quay, CBD area, Chinatown area. The people who walk in the middle of the path is definitely expats, tourists who are oblivious and don't care a damn. Who you want to kid...the local singaporeans?? be realistic. I too was blocked by no common sense expats once and another time by tourists in the central part of Singapore til i had to say "excuse me" in a serious tone for this no common sense people to move aside for me.
Was at Telok Ayer yesterday (August 9), many of the tourists (caucasians mostly) on the pavement were walking shoulder to shoulder taking up the whole pavement, expecting people to give way to them. I didn't care and kept walking on my side of the pavement until they notice they're about to knock into me then they start moving more towards their side of the pavement. I actually bumped shoulders with one of them.
@@jasperteo8443 Exactly. They come to someone's country to feel superior but more likely they have the inferiority complex with low self esteem
And also customer services he is dealing with might be 70% or more from other 3rd world countries. So what he is getting are services from around asia and not from a singaporean.
I came in March 1998 and now 51 yrs old too! More than half of my life spent in this great city!
As a fellow musician really loving this content from a musician in Singapore, thanks for sharing and also talking about 🇸🇬 as well ❤️❤️
💯 Allan captured *exactly* a huge issue on Singaporean lack of awareness / consideration of the people around them. There's been so many times where a person would just stop walking and just stand in the middle of a path without realizing/caring that they block a bunch of people behind them. It happens at the stop of escalators, in narrow pathways, etc. Happens in HDBs all the time. 😕This doesn't happen in larger countries where parents teach their kids to look around them for safety. Couples and groups of people are so guilty of not giving way and walking shoulder to shoulder, super slowly in narrow paths. Both the older and younger generation are guilty of this. Totally agree with his careful articulation on the problem.
Absolutely!!!
SG person are too self entitled... The self entitlement is very very hugh
Some were even walking while playing games or watching dramas. There were times I was so tempted to flip their phones onto the floor. Other time, will see couples strolling on busy pathway while holding hands, and taking up the entire pathway! Really can't stand all these inconsiderate people.
Great interview! Great sharing! What an eye opening to hear from Pricipal SSO musician!!I love going to concerts!! Listening to this interview makes me appreciate the classical musicians so much more!! Kudos 🎉
im also living here in Singapore for 24 years and l love Singapore
32 years for me and I also love it... maybe because I dont take for granted what we have here!
The situational awareness bit is on point.
The slow walking is a real thing. You have to weave through people sometimes
as a foreigner i came to singapore in 1986 seen singapore change through the years but honestly prefer the singapore of the late 1980s to early 2000s ( 1986 to 2002) it's more interesting with less shopping centers & more old style stuffs like shops & eatery. orchards is more fun back then than it's today. katong & marine parade & parkway parade was super fun back then.
Wow! 27 years here!
Thank you for loving Singapore❤
I TOTALLY AGREE with you with the space and situational awareness or rather the lack of that. Sigh.
I call it 'cattle- walking'!
I also agree with you about kindness. To yourself and others. It's really lacking nowadays.
These people may not be locals but other tourists or people from other countries working here.
Yes I agree
A lot of them are tourists
"Piano is a percussion instrument." 👏👏
Thank you for a great interview. 👍👍
...and a string one too.
US service staff are polite coz they r expect u to tips them at least 10%, here we don’t expect it
Yes. And if you give less than 15%,they give you dirty looks and curse you. Just beware...
I don't think it is only about the tipping culture. In the UK, there is no tipping culture, but service staff are still very nice.
@@SidikaTuncCandogan i think it isn't the tipping culture. i think it is because of the low wages and long hours of service.
Nonsense, the 10percent service surcharge in the bill. 👀👀👀👀👀
I am a Singaporean and fully agree that the service level here sucks. GST should become GT, remove the S part! Most of them are part timers who don't give a damn serving others. And their employers can't fire them due to the tight labour market facing the service industry.
I agree, even though I work in service industry before.
Though many Karen customers but there are also many Karen service staff. Their attitude like 💩
I literally got stalked and screamed by a Daiso staff. Some NTUC staff also like to gossip about customers right infront of the customer.
Their attitude need to improve.
For go your citizenship then. Migrate to other land that makes you happier. Solve that issue and live out your life. Good luck.
@@guruchoykokkee Are you ok? Has our education system failed you or something?
fun fact about GST... initially it was supposed to be GCT (Goods and Consumers Tax) but that happens to be the same initials as the then prime minister Goh Chok Tong. He didn't want to be remembered for introducing this tax to Singapore, so the name was changed to GST
Thank you for sharing and your time!!!!
I really enjoyed the entire interview! And yes I attended the Hans Zimmer concert! I really must go for more SSO concerts ... 😄
Talking in doorways, at the top of the escalator…., etc. General, the situational awareness isn’t quite there yet. The walking slow part. Yes. Eg., 2 or 3 persons talking and just stroll at a snail pace in a narrow walk path. I get that. It frustrates me too.
Walking slowly, stopping and talking at the top/bottom of escalators etc. These things drive me nuts as well (I'm Singaporean by the way). I agree with Allen that there are less situational consciousness amongst Singaporeans in public.
It's one of the best interviews in the recent months - great to hear how Allen feel accomplished building the SSO.
It's usu the young people and they r of a certain nationality
Allen explaining exactly from my own perspective. 🇸🇬
I disagree. I agree Hokkien sounds rough n tough but Cantonese is the best language to swear because it sounds casual but deadly. 😅
Cantonese sounds melodious and is like being stabbed with a dagger and then having it twisted and twisted. Hokkien is like parang.
As someone who speaks cantonese at home, i agree. it's just that in the SG context, hokkien is still way more prevalent than cantonese, which is the context of this interview - SG
Well fact is hokkien is more common in SG than Cantonese.. thats why the example.
Cantonese swearing is more polite 'cold' anger swearing. Hokkien is more 'hot' temper swearing. So if you want to 'let it out', it's the better one. And if I am not wrong, Hokkien is more 'vulgar', you can go dirtier with it.
@@Joe-gf6vnagree😂😂😂😂😂😂
Regarding the people you came across walking shoulder to shoulder slowly, these "people" maybe foreigners visiting Singapore, therefore casually strolling, chatting while enjoying the sightseeing. Singaporean is famous for their pace along with both Japanese and Hong Kongers
Spot on with the getting kids into music. Should never be forced.
Yeah as a local I hate people who walks shoulder to shoulder in a narrow walkways, my pet peeve!
Everything is smaller here in Singapore. It's just like that. It's a very very very small island. It took me some time to get used to being bumped by people when I returned from Australia. The pavements are narrower, space in the shopping centres so much smaller. I hardly bump into people in Australia, and I have sooooo much space to move ard people so even if there is a grp walking shoulder to shoulder, didn't bother me because there was so much space. In Singapore, you can't even walk in 3s. So be patient, say excuse me, and people will give way. It's not as if you will get beaten up for saying excuse me.
The permanent residency itself does not expire and lasts for the rest of your life. However, your re-entry permit expires at least every five years, sometimes sooner.
PR is only valid if you have a job
@@Kola833 As a Singapore PR, you are entitled to reside in Singapore for as long as your Re-Entry Permit (REP) is valid for. However, during the renewal of your REP, the Government would expect you to be employed at that time or at least your household income should suffice (if you are a housewife).
There are many foreigners living here . Those who walk in the middle of the pathway , those who don’t stand aside on the escalators, talk loudly, etc etc may not be our locals.
I tot so, most Singaporean are rather aware of personal space.
just a word EXCUSE me pls ..will be okay if yr path is being blocked ..
Please, it's the same as driving. And he's been here for 27 years so he knows what he's talking about.
No, dont blame the foreginers for this. Singaporeans are sadly oblivious of other people, even if its even worse in China or India
@@kojak1137 hahaha u clearly have not been to India 🤣🤣🤣
I like the term "island fever"😊....yea....after I've been to Thailand, Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai with all the mountains and large expanse of land, I do feel it.
I totally agree with Japanese concert audiences. I've been to rock concerts in Japan, and when they sing a ballard, everyone just keeps quiet and listen to the song until the end before they erupt in cheers. Total respect to the artist.
Your interview is also often from your perspective as an expat yourself..which makes your videos interestingly different !
Oh yes... as a Hokkien (who isn't particularly good with the dialect), yes... it is loud, abrasive, aggressive sounding. It's the best dialect to swear in. And if you actually knows it enough to really swears... you can take it very far. And yes... it is very liberating, when you want to let it out and English isn't enough, forget mandarin, Hokkien is the way to go.
Another amazing interview!
Kinda crazy to think that this man has been living here since I was born, and we have the same temporal experience of Singapore, yet different
27 years ago, still very new in the Singapore history. Lots of the Chinese Singaporean ancestors came from China and settle in Singapore. Móre of the China migrants flee China during the 2nd world war and settle throughout South East Asia.
Welcome to be a Singaporean
Best place to live in Asia - enough said
not just asia, dubai bro
@@ZARUSI >no drainage, leading to floods during rain
>artificially inflated urban population
>gambling services in dubai despite it being haram in islam
>no constitution for free speech
nah i dont think id enjoy living there
Complain is not a bad thing. It leads to change and subsequently improvement :)
I like Max's perspective on life here in Singapore...more accurate than the interviewee IMO.
Fully agreed! In this interview, I wanted to hear more from the interviewer than the interviewee.
Something that is the complete opposite of what the interviewee has described is the question on what had silently changed in Singapore over the years.
I am not sure how he formed his opinion of China but back when he arrived in Singapore, the impression of China was that of a backward communist country - certainly not what he described as the dragon has awakened - this only happened in recent years in terms of perception.
Today, the general impression of the Singaporean Chinese population of China is that it has indeed awakened, and that it has progressed tremendously in terms of technological advancement and the well-being and wealth of its people. There is much respect for China and not what the interviewee mentioned that we shun the Chinese.
The shunning part was probably referring to the Chinese tourist groups where they were generally loud and rambunctious. However, we are clear that as a country, China is progressing rapidly and we are indeed even looking up to them in certain sectors - e.g. their lead in the world as EV producers to just cite one area.
I would not characterize his description as the complete opposite. I think us Singaporeans in general have been educated to be as pragmatic as possible, and in that regard many of us do recognize China's rise in the past decades. However, besides the example you gave, China and the Chinese's increasing emphasis on a "Chinese diaspora" is something that a lot of Singaporeans, especially the youths, do not align with. There is an increasing desire to distinguish and even "shun" away from China Chinese due to this fact, and to draw a line between them and Singaporean Chinese. This is what I think the interviewee is referring to.
@@Porpoisestool @kiasuwei1 I disagree with you. It is indeed the opposite of what you say. I agree with @limwk007. In fact, it is the youth who are more aligned with China or at least recognize China's rise because they see what is happening in the US and Europe, and they don't like it. You look at the dirty tricks the US are doing against the Chinese in the Olympics, politicizing and weaponizing the games, and it sucks. There is a driver from MBS and he brought his children to New York and the US. He said that they hated it and swear never to go there again. The older people look to the West but now it is changing as China rises. @AllenMeekEsquire if you want to be delicate about it, don't talk about politics and race. The Dragon has indeed awakened. "China is a sleeping dragon, when she wakes, she will shake the world"
Western mainstream media are the worst. Singapore media apes and parrots the West but they have to change sooner or Singapore will be in trouble. I wonder what @AllenMeekEsquire motivation is in saying all this. You want Singapore to follow the US and the West? Look what is happening in Ukraine and the genocides in Gaza and the warmongering by the US with Taiwan, Philippines, interfering in Hong Kong, etc. BTW, you watch the founding father Lee Kuan Yew's video, he said the CIA tried to bribe his government. As we speak, the CIA and FBI are also involved in the dirty tricks against the Chinese in the Olympics. The West and US are jealous just because China is rising not only in the Olympics but all over. You can call it racism as well but are you superior?
@@internationaldaily9820 Political rhetorics aside, everyone, not just Singaporeans, are starting to peer behind the veil of politics and recognise that nations act on self-interests. This includes China, and while we're cognisant of U.S's attempts at politicising 'apolitical institutions' (tbh, not very many things can be considered apolitical nowadays), we're also aware of China's continued breach of international rules and regulations in the South China Sea to cite an example. Let's just get this out of the way: the U.S. has a laundry list of violations, and so do China. Singaporeans are increasingly exposed to the dirty laundries of both parties due to the internet.
I think you've completely sidestepped what I mentioned about China asserting a unified Chinese identity, or a Chinese diaspora as they'd say. I'll just link this here for you so you can read it www.straitstimes.com/opinion/sorry-but-we-re-chinese-singaporeans-not-your-compatriots. Of course, this does not represent the views of all Singaporean Chinese, but I'd use my anecdotal evidence to say that many around me feel the same.
You are also committing a bit of fallacy here by misconstruing the 'recognition of China's rise' with 'alignment with China'. These two opinions are not mutually exclusive, and may exist independent of each other. I agree that many do recognise the rise of China, but I would be careful not to mistake that for 'alignment'.
I think the examples you've given are also a little weak to substantiate what you're saying? The US and Europe are indeed a little messy right now and many of us do not agree with their political affairs, but disalignment with the West does not automatically align us with China. It is possible to be misaligned with both, albeit in differing areas. And honestly, taxi drivers are not a good barometer of political sentiments. It's the youths we're discussing here anyway.
@@internationaldaily9820Well put! This interviewee needs to learn his place. I mean, we can say this due to the fact that he has been staying here for almost 3 decades but chooses to hold on to an EP. Already says a lot. I disagree with a lot of what he has mentioned in this interview, especially the part where it was mentioned we shun the Chinese. So.out.of.touch.
As an Aussie living in different countries in Asia, the walking, doorways, situational and spatial awareness thing is the same in many places in Asia. This guy is brave for saying it on video though 😂
I think Anglo-European heritage people can thank the Romans. Noticed walking in Korea when a group of us white foreigners would be out on the town and walking, we’d naturally pair up and basically be walking in two lines, chatting as we walk - like Romans on the march 😂 . Then we come across 5 Koreans walking shoulder to should across the entire footpath talking as one group. Then there’d be at least one person in our group who’d express their inner aggressive European trait “oh ok, take up the whole path! No worries!”
Cultural differences… gotta roll with it.
Thank you, sir. Frank and candid.
The walking part ... keeping to the side to be considerate to others ... keep to which side, left or right? LOL ... In SG, if long enough, usually we keep left, like when driving here. Then for a while I wondered why were some keeping on the right? Then when I went out of SG, I learnt why :)
No, it is not left. Or Right. Its in the damn middle, wide or narrow lane don't matter. Always bang middle
Many service people are either old people or foreigner
I also encounter the lack of situational awareness in NYC. People in groups taking their own sweet time to talk and walk, blocking the stairways, people standing right in the middle of the subway carriage entrance and refusing to give way to let people in or out.
Lived here 27 years & can swear in Hokkien. He’s Singaporean as far as im concerned! 😂 We walk slow? Not when transiting from one MRT line to the other! 😂 And the escalator part IS annoying. So many ppl were never taught to keep left.
Always keep left on escalator so others can overtake. Always keep left on stairs so you don’t walk into anyone. Common sense really.
Customer service is shit cos unlike the US where you get tipped, there’s no tipping here. And even if they do accepts tips everyone in the same shift is expected to share it which sucks as some colleagues are lazy AF & totally undeserving. In short no motivation for them to provide good service.
Providing good service doesn’t necessarily require an incentive. The person needs to enjoy their jobs to provide good service. 😅
Customer service is not shit in every sector. The Americans depend so much on tipping that it becomes an entitlement to them (those who are in providing services). And that sucks if you tip less a certain percentage.
It's our bad culture. In Thailand there's no tip also, but customer service is excellent
@@KatJade269tipping culture is toxic in the US
Hi Max, a suggestion to you :
Kindly make 2 videos... One of 5 min highlighting what's in your lengthy video and the other one with your full length one. Keep the link of bigger video in the description of the 5 min highlights video.
I usually don't watch lengthy videos until and unless I see the trailer video of just 5 min or lesser.
UA-cam has a feature for viewers to have a sense of what the entire video is about before diving in.
@KenLohwh why are you getting offended if I am suggesting him something good
Ppl in warm climate walk slow or avoid walking at all. Reason . Fast walking raises body temp. Its already hot. do you want to faint due to heat exhaustion?
Yes i can agree on being considerate part . People should give way to others. But may be its cultural thing. Our original countries have too much people. So you can walk fast but still next red light / bus stop you will be again with people who you overtook 2 min ago. So people do not worry for fraction of time gained.
Singapore people always keep left when walking and give way to people behind or bicycles. Please observe correctly the people walking.
I can recommend The Geography of Thought by Nisbett.
Well put about basic consideration
People who complained about the heat in Singapore probably never experienced a summer here in Tokyo!
From what I've experienced, most drivers are fine and will give way for non-signalled crossings, what you need to watch out for are the drivers.
Singapore customer service is dame lousy in certain areas, this is very true
I disagree, I think Singaporeans are considerate in general. We are after all an Asian society and we think of ourselves as part of a group. Of course in touristy areas people are walking slowly, this is true anywhere you go. I think Americans and those from individualistic societies feel entitled to taking up the whole path when they walk as they expect more personal space and expect others to always give way to them without giving way themselves . I was once pushed out of a walking path, onto the road, with my groceries, by a super entitled expat who yelled at me for blocking the path even though I’d already given way to him twice. Then he just simply pushed past me on his huge scooter on the walking path.
So let’s be reasonable and see things from both perspectives.
The walking part, i don't quite agree when you pointed to Singaporean... It's from those foreigners that you encountered. "laaa". 😂😂 Singaporean mostly is self aware of the space
Hokkein the best language to swear in? Many Singaporean Hokkein will take that as a compliment 😊.
Island Fever. That’s an interesting term ! 😅
Weirdly, we once were the fastest walkers in the world, that was the pre-smartphone era
❤❤❤
I know what you mean. I got stuck at little farm today
Hi Max, can ask, out of topic. May I ask where u stay for 1 month in Thailand? Need some recommendations as would like to bring my kids to experience in depth other countries’ culture. Thanks.
Hahahaha....."Suntec used to be the only building on reclaim land.....", oh boy, SIngapore has been reclaiming a lot more land than that, Bro. Beach Road used to be by the Beach!
We walk slow? Visitors have complained we walk too fast. Also, in general, people do not clog up escalators, except for the ignorant minority. Or when it is jam-packed.
We are actually way behind Hong Kong in people movement speed.
Actually we do. Compared some of the packed cities. Maybe the heat or something. During peak hours the crowd just kind of succumb to the general speed 😂
@yaulapkee6629 no need to compare with HK. It is not exactly a good thing to walk that fast. I rather walk leisurely at my own space.
I agree fully with you.
Put triangle plate people will understand. Signal and hand out for people to give way most people will give unless you are cutting a long queue then people will think twice.
as a Singaporean the only time i walk slow is when im going to tuition
@14.24 abt the way people here walk - I feel that it is a lack of spatial sense and awareness, making it unsafe for others.
By the way..intermarriage is quite common here..i am from a mixed race family..i am in my 60's now..i looked chinese.
For someone being here for so long he talks and lives like a foreigner recently here. He keeps comparing with his hometown which always makes me uncomfortable. You can't compare our little red dot with a huge country like the US, it's ridiculous. He has clearly a good financial support to travel often, probably enjoying cheap countries around us. I have been here for 32 years and to me he talks and behaves like a typical expat who never put his heart and soul to adjust and fit in Singaporean. Unlike you Max, he is a typical pure expat who thinks he understood the people and culture here but totally failed.
In any case, as always, you did a great interview and respect for the books you mentioned
Exactly you dont need a car in singapore if you dont have a family or need to drive family around
Please interview a maid or two . 🙏
HAHA. 5 people walking abreast is what I like to call boyband syndrome where they walk like they're in a music video down a street and take up all the space. It's really annoying. LOL. And most of the time they don't budge even when exclaim "Excuse Me!" out loud.
19:36 nothing feels quite like a good knnb ccb eh, this SG dude concurs :)
Many SG’s waitresses don’t expect service charge from customers.
Nope. Service charge is usually 10% on the bill. It is tips that they are not expecting.
Walking is due to weather n perspiration..slowing the perpire rate..but all asians walk fast too when they are overseas..esp during winter..leh..
On gung ho..all citizens has their own pros n cons n kiasuness...au natughall...😂😅
U need to be here for 5 generations to be a true-blue Singaporean
Research the word 'Sengkek' it explains everything.
Frankly I can’t tahan the hokkien swearing , beat me , I bet no other languages have these organs of father and mother all out
❤❤❤👐👐👐👐👐
You should realise the Chinese dialect groups also have issues between eachother.e.g Hokkien and Cantonese Chinese are like chalk and cheese.
Merlion is Merlion, there is no Merlion Fish.
Yes, if i move out of Singapore, it's because of the crowd....too much....
Im Singaporean and I agree 100 percent with this dude..we have lots of very insensitive, inconsiderate, people in this country..they have zero concerns about others ..in driving in walking even while queuing..they literally stick behind you like as if the nearer they stand the faster their turn..and..even at the ATM many times I end up in argument with the idiot behind me who is literally half an arm behind me peeking over my shoulder...the country may have first world facilities but we have quite a percentage of some very non first world mentalities here..
And I also agree about the customer service part.. Singaporeans don't have a customer service attitude but they' wanna work in a customer service industry so to them ..since they are providing a service ..it's you that should be nice to them..haha..which is super annoying
I agree. Oblivious of others around them. Basically a lack of consideration.
While the people mainly got no consideration mainly china
@allenmeelesquire I obviously did and even repeated several parts due to disbelief that stereotypes came out of your mouth. Maybe you shouldn’t have done an interview if it wasn’t well prepared or if you had to “think on your feet”. We could care less about whether you have shared my comments with your local friends for their opinions. Why even bother when the fact is several other negative comments, apart from mine, appear under this video which proves that I’m not the only person who has an antipathetic view towards you. Enough said.
PR canNOT but HDB in secondary market. That’s false.
PR as a single cannot purchase a HDB on resale market but under family or fiance/fiancee scheme, they are allowed to.
crocodiles are dangerous
Actually, what you said about PR is incorrect. The PR is more or less permanent - you have to renew your Re-entry permit every 5 years. That allows you to basically leave the country and return as a PR. I'm not sure whether it;s a case of splitting hairs here, though. So yeah, basically it's not the PR status that needs renewal but the permit to reenter singapore as a PR when you travel out. Btw, I've been attending SSO concerts since the 90s, so I guess I hear Allen a lot over the years :)
Singapore Is not too bad. Shanghai is 40 degree
You sure you can differentiate singaooreans? If you think the people you see hogging the Pathways.. are Singaporeans..I feel they are not
He says he "needs a lot of space". Of all countries, why choose to come and live in tiny crowded singapore when you need a lot of space?
Exactly
Money la what else? Of course it’s moolah 💰 Anyway, he doesn’t strike me as someone who has fully immersed himself into Singapore’s culture. 27 years in Singapore and this is all he can show for it? Meh.
exactly!! he ends up criticizing our country because "he" needs space... he also clearly have the financial possibility of travelling outside Spore a lot so I dont get his critics
put videos about hdb or condo