Gratitude is a two-way street

I have written about Eric Brook's letter to the ST telling Singaporeans to be "grateful" to the government, as well as the response to that letter by current Canadian citizen Cheong Wing Lee. Apparently Mr Brooks refuses to let it go and continues to miss the point:

Are there that many homeless beggars on a five-minute walk to an MRT station here? Are Singaporeans reading only dry economic statistics?

Does the Singapore Government deny benefits to citizens while giving them to newly landed foreigners?

How much of what Singaporeans believe about Western social benefits is based on hearsay, rather than reality? Rather than listening to coffee-shop gossip or reading the press statements of foreign governments, Singaporeans should compare Singapore's ground-level social conditions to those in the West.

I can only say Mr Brooks do not know this country if he does not see beggars on Singapore streets or elderly struggling every day, does not see how foreigners are favoured over Singaporeans, and does not actually know the "ground-level social conditions" here. What, are tools such as YouTube and Google not available to Mr Brooks to check his facts? Is that too bloody much to ask for?

But all of that pales in comparison with the experience of a person who has lived in both Singapore and Canada, and I thank my lucky stars for Mr Cheong Wing Lee, who has again stood up and provided an insider's view of what Canada is really like, and why he thinks she has given him "self-respect, dignity and a chance to realize" his potential. Mr Cheong has kindly allowed me to reproduce his letter in full on this blog, and it was he who contacted me with the contents, for which I am grateful.

The full contents of the letter is published below; I have redacted his cellphone number and made changes to his email address in an attempt to not have him flooded with spam.

Mr. Brooks’ second letter published in ST reiterate that Singaporeans should be grateful for what they have. He cited more examples of the failed Canadian welfare system as compared to the successful welfare system that Singaporeans are enjoying but have taken for granted.

Again I am embarrassed by a fellow Canadian who misrepresented his own country. It is easy to verify what Mr. Brooks had said through the Canadian High Commission or Amnesty International.

Canada may not have a perfect welfare system but having lived and worked in several countries myself, I must say that Canada is as good as anyone could wish for.

When I immigrated to Canada, I bought three cars for the price of one in Singapore and a 4,000 sq. ft house for the price of a 5-room HDB apartment. A similar house in Singapore would have cost S$2 million

Yes, the Canadian taxes are high but the citizens are well treated. For me, the savings on the purchase of the house and cars could pay my income tax for the rest of my life.

Every child in Canada gets free education from kindergarten to Grade 12, the equivalent of junior college in Singapore. Most schools are within walking distance from home. Free transportation is provided for students living farther away. Each child gets C$250 a month as “milk” allowance until 18 years of age. However this benefit may have been rescinded.

Contrary to what Mr. Brooks claimed, all my three children graduated from reputable universities in Canada without any problem. My children’s university education did not cost me much as my children were able to obtain grants and student loans to pay for their university fees. They took part-time jobs to supplement their pocket money.

The greatest joy for parents is to see the happiness expressed in their children’s eyes when they play in the beautiful parks during the summers, springs and autumns and snow in the winters. The satisfaction is more than money can buy. This is in contrast to the daily intensive tuition that Singapore children are subjected to.

Mr. Brooks’ assertion that many bright Canadian children are denied the opportunity to attend universities in Canada but could obtain full scholarships in Singapore is untrue. In fact it is the other way around. My niece who could not get into Singapore University, was admitted into a reputable American University. She finished her Masters, secured a good job and sadly did not return to Singapore.

In Canada, senior citizens are well respected and treated. Seniors travel free on public transport, i.e. the MRT, bus and ferry rides, from Mondays to Thursdays. They get discount for weekend travel, food and most purchases. They are entitled to old age pension and workman pension when they reach the age of 65. The combined income from these two pensions is about C$1,000 to C$2,000 or more a month. Seniors get subsidies for housing. Seniors can study in reputable universities and get a degree by paying a token fee of less than C$100 per semester.

When I was diagnosed with kidney failure, it cost the Canadian Healthcare C$80,000 a year for dialysis and medical treatments to keep me alive. I paid C$90 a month for healthcare insurance that covers both my wife and I. The Canadian healthcare pays for all hospital expenses including medications. It was free for me. When I travel overseas, my dialysis and medical expenses are reimbursed by Canadian healthcare up to the amount it costs in Canada.

The homeless issue was greatly exaggerated by Mr. Brooks. This issue is universal and every country has its fair share of homeless people including Singapore. In Canada, most of the homeless people are there by choice because of their drug addiction. No amount of government assistance can help pay for their expensive habit. In Singapore, most of the homeless people are there because of economic reasons. They are either without pension and too old to get a job or abandoned by their children.

For Mr. Eric Brooks to say that Canada has a failed welfare system is unfair and bias[sic]. Check with the Canada High Commission and verify what I said.

SM Goh Chok Tong can call us quitters and losers because he cannot see beyond his comfort zone. He has no worries. His job is secured for life and is paying him by the millions. It is little wonder that his wife said that $500,000 a year salary is peanuts. If he could only spend one day outside his comfort zone and live like an ordinary Singaporean drawing less than $2,000 a month with the anxiety of losing his job, the burden of getting his children through the fiercely competitive education system, the stress of living in a materialistic environment and the uncertainty of having a dignified retirement, SM Goh may then understand the plight of the ordinary citizens. It is easy for him to pass judgement when he already has everything.

Patriotism and gratitude require reciprocity. If a citizen feels unwanted and treated without respect, it is no shame for the outcast to seek greener pasture and realize his potential elsewhere. It would be naive to expect the outcast to be patriotic and risk his life to protect a privileged group who continue to reward themselves unchallenged by the millions.

My decision to immigrate was not politically motivated. It was based solely on the future of my family. I have three children when the Singapore government’s strict policy then was, “Two is enough”.

As for education, I was expelled from school at secondary two. I obtained an “O” level and a certificate from Singapore Vocational Institute (fore-runner of ITE) through evening classes. In a highly competitive society like Singapore where you are judged by academic excellence and materialistic possessions, my credentials would be sneered at. I would most likely be a minimum wage worker, praying not to get sick when I am old and retired.

The lifestyle difference between a typical Singaporean and a Canadian is that a Singaporean spends his life making a living, whereas a Canadian lives his life.

Regardless of all the negative misinformation that Mr. Eric Brooks has said about Canada, I am deeply beholden to Canada who has given me my self-respect, dignity and a chance to realize my potential. Most of all, a bright future for my children. Herein, lies my gratitude.

Thank you, Canada.

Yours truly,



Wing Lee Cheong
North Vancouver, BC, Canada
Email: retiredwing <at> gmail <dot> com
Cell: xxx-xxx-xxxx


PS For those who alleged that I am a fictitious character, you can find me on the front page of the latest issue of The Kidney Foundation of Canada at the following link (click Latest Edition: kidney News, Vol.13, issue 1 Summer 2009):

www.kidney.bc.ca/home/publications/index.html#kidneynews