Singaporeans Non Grata

9 August - Singapore National Day, the day I posted my thoughts on my very first blog.

Last weekend, STB (with Tiger Beer) held the very first Chilli Crab Festival in London. Judging by the turnout, it was a tremendous success. The only hiccup was that the caterer ran out of crabs before the end of the event. Demand had greatly outstripped supply.

Though it was a promotional event aimed at the British public, Singaporeans would often take opportunities like these to meet up. While I was helping my wife (organiser) set up the STB counter, a couple of early birds chinese ladies came over and ambushed me into a conversation. The only thing we had in common was that we were from Singapore. As I was busy with the setting up, a conversation with some seniorly ladies was not something I had ordered.

They quickly caught my attention though as they claimed themselves to be ex-Singaporeans kicked out of the country by the Government, words spoken with part anguish and part anger. My first thought was - Political Dissidents! - you know, we hear there are quite a few hanging around in UK, US or Australia.

So I started taking some interest in what they had to say. Political dissidents they were not. Their stories were more down to earth, more mundane, and in some ways more heart-wrenching. There was nothing political or subversive about the lives they chose. The ladies were really ordinary Singaporean girls who married British husbands decades ago and came to Britain with their husbands. Practical consideration then dictated that they take up British citizenships (no need to keep applying for UK visa) and they lost Singapore citizenships as a result.

One of the ladies I met lived in the UK for the past 40 years. She never lost her attachment to Singapore. She came to the event to help Singapore's specially flown over celebrity chef prepare the cooking demonstration. Despite her years, she put in a hard day's work to help promote Singapore. She said that she had appealed many times to the authorities - even "spoke to Hsien Loong" - to let her regain her Singapore citizenship but all without avail. She was, in her words, forced to choose between her family and country.

For years, we have heard so much about globalisation and it has become such a cliche to say that we live in a global village. But globalisation truly began to sink in when 8 months ago my baby sister brought home an ang moh (a Dutch) and they recently announced their engagement. Globalisation means that the entire stayer vs quitter debate is moot. Perhaps it is time we look into ways to expand the Singapore franchise abroad instead of being too kiasu about who gets to be citizen and who not.