Nearly two years ago, an ambitious “30 by 30” goal was announced that Singapore produce 30% of its nutritional needs locally by the year 2030. Today the country imports 90% of its food. Countering food insecurity with such a lofty goal aligns with the kind of strategic and thoughtful planning that Singapore’s founding father and first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, implemented when the Republic of Singapore became independent in 1965.
This is one of the factoids I learned on a recent bus tour of northwestern Singapore and has inspired me to learn more about what makes Singapore tick.
Disclaimer: I do not purport this to be a thorough analysis; I’m just someone blogging about what she’s learning during a privileged stint living in Singapore.
For starters, on more than one occasion I’ve heard the term “Singapore, Inc.” Meaning that Singapore is run more like a corporation than a typical government. Efficiency and the bottom line are part of Singapore’s success story, along with careful engineering, foresight, and a dose of the traditional Chinese principle, Feng Shui.
Water is another imported resource and critical to Singapore’s efforts to be self-sufficient and secure against the effects of global climate change and water shortages. A formal water agreement from 1962 entitles Singapore to draw and use 250 million gallons of raw water a day from the Johor River in Malaysia, which is then processed here. Enormous water pipes are visible across the north-south length of the island, even within our own neighborhood. Additionally, underground water reservoirs amount to two-thirds of Singapore’s land surface, making Singapore one of the few countries in the world to harvest urban stormwater on a large scale for potable consumption. Speaking of harvesting, land reclamation has increased Singapore’s land area by more than 22% since1960 and continues at a steady clip; pumps dredging up water to dry out the sand are a familiar sight.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority has adopted a master plan to guide the physical development of Singapore in a sustainable manner. Our tour guide shared a few examples: the plan states that no two buildings can have the same design. The concrete to greenery ratio must be 60:40. Every public tree and plant is intentional and spaced equally. Buildings are capped at 290 meters high. There are nearly zero above ground cables, adding to the physical aesthetic.
Embedded into planning is the art of Feng Shui, which orients buildings and objects according to a system that harmonizes everything with its surrounding environment. Our tour guide told us that if you walk along Singapore’s central business district, you’d notice that the architecture is defined by these characteristics. She went on to explain how numbers fit into the feng shui of the well-known Marina Bay Sands Hotel (and casino). I can’t remember the details, but suffice to say, many elements include or add up to the number 8, a lucky number that symbolizes prosperity.
Lastly, I must comment on the role of foreign workers. I’m not talking about the 400,000 foreign professionals here on an employment pass, like Tom. Ninety percent of construction workers are foreigners from countries like Bangladesh and India, and nearly all domestic helpers are also foreign born, mainly from Indonesia, Myanmar and the Philippines. These workers make up close to one-quarter of the population. There are just not enough people in this highly educated, upwardly mobile country willing to do the kinds of low-skilled, low-wage jobs needed to fulfill the construction projects pacing Singapore’s rapid growth.
COVID has highlighted foreign worker living conditions, as there have been virus outbreaks in their cramped dormitories. I cannot begin to explain the complexity of their circumstances, or the system that prevents them from breaking free of a relentless cycle of indebtedness and poverty. There are organizations working to create better conditions, and perhaps one day I will learn more. I will end by sharing a link to a Singaporean produced short film (13 min), $alaryDay, an eye opening snapshot into the life of a migrant worker. The story lingers in my mind.
Below: photos from my bus tour, the water pipes (which we hiked along last weekend), scenery from MacRitchie Reservoir and along the Southern Ridges and Labrador Park, laundry day at a nearby housing complex, Sultan Mosque pic taken from a friend’s balcony, terrace houses in Tanjong Katong, truck carrying construction workers back to their dormitories (taken outside my complex).
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