So now that you have succeeded in hounding Anton Casey out of Singapore, he has left his job at Crossinvest is now in Australia. You netizens will high five each other and celebrate for a while - then what? What next? There are over 2 million foreigners in Singapore (with plenty more arriving in 2014) - you get rid of Anton Casey, there will still be plenty of other just like him still in Singapore, ready to take his place. Anton Casey represents just one tree in a forest - a forest with over 2 million trees. You chop down one tree, there are still many, many more in that forest.
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| Anton Casey represents just 1 tree in a forest of two million trees. |
This is why I am saying that this lynch mob mentality by the Singaporean public is not going to serve them at all because focusing your anger on one scapegoat ignores the fact that these Singaporeans are already angry over a whole range of issues. Did you think that Singaporeans were a happy bunch of people, totally content with life until Anton Casey came along? Hardly, Casey was but the last straw the broke this camel's back and I'd like to focus on the load that was already on the camel's back before Casey came along. The situation was summarized in an article in Yahoo Singapore, allow me to quote:
In the minds of some Singaporeans, the words “expat” and “arrogant” go hand in hand. And since the rogue-trading days of Nick Leeson in the mid-1990s, Western financial professionals like Casey have played their part in forging this expat stereotype. Swiss national Juerg Buergin, a former UBS executive director, was sentenced in May last year to four months and three weeks in prison for having sex with an underage prostitute in Singapore. In 2011 stockbroker Robert Dahlberg, a New Zealander, receive five months jail after a boozy brawl with a taxi driver.
http://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/anton-casey-making-life-tough-000147872.html
Anton Casey was a symptom of things that have gone wrong in Singapore - this over dependence on foreign talents who have made little efforts to integrate with local Singaporeans, creating this huge gulf between the local Singaporeans and the transient foreign expatriate population. The rather xenophobic response after the Little India riots shows just how insecure and threatened ordinary Singaporeans already feel in their own country. To imagine that Anton Casey is the only thing that is wrong with Singapore at the moment is misleading to say the least - but it does simplify the situation for a lot of Singaporeans and here is why people like to simplify complex situations.
Now the Singaporeans who have chosen to focus their hatred on Anton Casey are applying the same principle. They know there are a range of issues and people they can get angry with (dare I mention the recent MRT fare hike and breakdowns?), but their anger would lead to nothing but frustration and they would not be a position to do much about any of those problems anyway - that is why they chose to focus on Anton Casey whilst ignoring other problems in their lives. Obviously, I don't approve of this mentality - it does nothing to help Singaporeans.
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| Do you really know what the root of the problem is? |
But still, I insist on asking this difficult question: will Singapore be a better place just because you get rid of Anton Casey? Would problems would be solve by hounding him out of Singapore? No. Nothing will change. It will be business as usual, problems as usual because whilst Anton Casey said some stupid and offensive crap on Facebook - he didn't cause any of the problems that are plaguing Singapore, so getting rid of him isn't going to change anything at all.
Has Singapore already turned into the next Dubai - a city with a large, semi-permanent non-resident foreign population? Note that in Singapore, foreigners now make up 40% of the population - you can't just reverse the trend and boot out all of the foreigners without the entire economy falling apart. A more pragmatic, constructive approach is needed, to try to make some sense of he situation, if any good is going to come out of this Anton Casey episode. Otherwise, Singaporeans will claim but a hollow victory over Casey, ignore the bigger problems and this whole thing would start all over again in a few weeks or months when the next badly behaved expatriate kicks it all off again.
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| It's only a matter of time before we have another expat related incident in Singapore |
As for Casey, I wish him luck in finding a new job elsewhere. I don't see a point in him offering any more apologies or offering to do anything else to make amends in Singapore. He has clearly burnt all his bridges in Singapore. Singaporeans have made it clear that they are not interested in forgiving him and even if Casey's body is found floating him Bedok Reservoir, Singaporeans will still not be satisfied because it is not just Anton Casey they are angry with, it is what he represents and the system is just as broken after Casey's departure, nothing has changed.
The irony is that when things got bad for Casey, he had the luxury of packing his bags and leaving, going somewhere else and starting again. How many Singaporeans are stuck in Singapore, facing a bleak future, putting up with crap jobs and nasty bosses? Even at the point where many Singaporeans are celebrating their victory in ridding their country of Anton Casey, this man still has more options open to him than many Singaporeans will ever have. Oh and if he needs cash, I'm sure he can find a buyer for his Porsche and his Sentosa Cove condo. As one of my friends said on Facebook today, "When things go wrong for this Angmoh, he books a flight and jets off into the sunset to start a new life abroad. When things went wrong for me, I just have to put up with whatever life in Singapore throws at me."
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| I have mixed feelings about the Anton Casey saga. |
I shall leave my last word to my reader 'Unknown' (yup that's the handle s/he goes by) who has left me a really sensible comment and I would like to quote him/her as s/he has summarized what is needed so succinctly here.
Well when people's self-esteem becomes so low that they feel they can't sink any lower, they will take whatever victory that comes their way however hollow or fleeting. Its like being high on drugs. However the effect quickly wears off and they are back to square one again. Getting rid of one foreigner doesn't solve the problem.
The only way to raise sinkie's self esteem and dignity is to change the govt's pro-foreigner policy to ensure a level playing field in the job market (tighter restrictions in immigration, reduction in NS liability, forcing employers to pay CPF contribution for foreigners as tax, etc) and giving more priority to Sinkies in higher education, healthcare, housing etc. This require more oppostion in parliament and change of govt to achieve. Utimately sinkies must have the courage to make that happen or suffer in silence. The other option is to migrate but that is not open to every sinkie.
The only way to raise sinkie's self esteem and dignity is to change the govt's pro-foreigner policy to ensure a level playing field in the job market (tighter restrictions in immigration, reduction in NS liability, forcing employers to pay CPF contribution for foreigners as tax, etc) and giving more priority to Sinkies in higher education, healthcare, housing etc. This require more oppostion in parliament and change of govt to achieve. Utimately sinkies must have the courage to make that happen or suffer in silence. The other option is to migrate but that is not open to every sinkie.
As always, I love to hear what you have to say about the issue - please do leave a comment below. What do you think can be done about the self-esteem issues raised in the comment above? What practical solutions do you have, what good would you like to come out of this episode? Please let me know what your ideas are, thank you!
There's really nothing about his nationality lor....I do not why know why you kept on linking Anton Casey with FT issue, I think there's no link between them.
ReplyDeleteOkay, what Mr Anton Casey did is extremely insensitive and arrogant, and frankly speaking even if he's a local, true blue, born and bred Singaporean, I am still going to be angry with them because of their serious lack of empathy and sensitivity.
You underestimated the situation, Limpeh. There are somethings we cannot say without getting away with it, etc writing racist remarks like "Omg look at this smelly group of (insert race here), they have stink up the bus." You think people are going to be happy when they know that their mode of transportation/income level makes them stinks so much that a person named Anton Casey passed such a sweepy statement? I read up on your blog rather extensively and you cared a lot about racist remarks and didn't help a person when she asked you for help because she said something about your race that you didn't like, what makes you think Anton is going to get away with all this? People aren't going to just get over with it. Too bad, we are emotionals creatures.
On social media, we need to be extremely careful about what we say. Despite being rather upset with what Anton said, I just either anonymous write about it online or just complaint about it with my classmates and stay on their level (if they drop F bombs I will start dropping as,well) . I will never tweet or post a FB status about it because I think about how it will affect people think about me and how I relate to people.
Thank you for your comment - feel free to disagree with me if you want, but I do feel that a lot of this case is entirely got to do with the way Singaporeans feel about the status of such badly behaved white expats in Singapore and perhaps you're still a student who has yet to go do NS and/or venture into the working world, that's why you don't understand some of the issues that affect older Singaporeans when they have to go for reservists whilst their FT colleagues get the promotions. This has all got to be set in the wider context of the labour market in Singapore, that explains a lot of the reactions that we have witnessed in this case.
DeleteAs for me not helping a former colleague, she said something ignorant and stupid - she wasn't nasty or evil, just plain stupid. It just so happened that it was a conversation about Chinese people when she demonstrated her sheer stupidity and perhaps I'm being really judgmental here, but I am intolerant of stupid people. I didn't like her because of her stupidity and ignorance because she said something so incredibly ignorant (I could barely believe my ears, yeah it was that bad) - but that's just the way I am. I like people for certain qualities they possess.
DeleteI just spent most of my Saturday with a friend who completed his A levels at the age of 14, went to university at 15, completed his masters degree a few years later and is now looking for a new challenge, so he is looking to go to the 2020 Olympics. He trains at my gym and normally he's so serious at the gym I thought he was unfriendly, but really he is just so focused on his training and we were able to have a laugh together outside the gym today and I was so impressed by what he has achieved by the age of just 22 years old. It's people like that whom I find myself naturally attracted to, not stupid idiots who spout ignorant crap.
Maybe that's why I deeply dislike Anton Casey for what he said... but I am still being very objective about this whole saga.
I agree with "Luck of Fire" that the controversy about Anton Casey has little to do with Singaporeans' resentment towards foreigners. Earlier in Dec 2013, the people of South Africa were deeply offended by Justine Sacco's Twitter message, just like how Singaporeans are offended by Casey's Facebook post.
Deletewww.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/22/pr-exec-fired-racist-tweet-aids-africa-apology
My point is that you don't have to bring up the influx of foreign talent to understand why Singaporeans are angry with Casey. Like what "Fox" said on 24 January 2014 01:09, the yellow-painted faces in the late night comedies you watched in Poland were offensive, even though there was obviously no issue of FT.
I agree with you that Singaporeans shouldn't vote for the PAP if we don't want an overpopulated nation, but to be objective about this saga, I wouldn't link both issues together.
Mahatma Gandhi Said: "The weak will never forgive. Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong"
ReplyDeleteWhat did we show the world? How strong we are?
A massive, vicious, fierce, merciless and cowardly attack by Singapore netizens, supported by government representatives and celebrities, on a man, guilty of 1. being rich and 2. of writing incredibly stupid and insulting words on his FB? Mind you, his offences are no worse than a Singaporean saying "Choa Ang Mo", but the additional dimension of money, success, Miss Singapore, adds to the fury, doesn't it?
Is this Singapore? Is this how we present ourselves to the world?
The whole world unanimously condemned the actions of Anton Casey. The world is equally shocked by the online reactions of the Singapore social media.
Where does the hatred come from? What is boiling underneath the skin? Is it still safe for Caucasians in Singapore?
Is it a sense of entitlement: This is our country so bud out?
Are we forgetting that Caucasian significantly contributed to the growth and success of Singapore?
There is a reason why many streets carry the names of British governors and statesman.
I am 5th generation Singaporean.
My ancestors came from PRC to work for the British in the nutmeg plantations (Orchards) at the end of Orchard road. Do we think that the Fullerton was build by LKY?
Anton did not work for a large bank as stated in the blogs. He worked for a small private Swiss capital investment company. Any Singaporean is free to start their own capital investment firm. Yet there must be a reason why investors prefer UK over Singaporean professionals despite NUS being ranked higher than many European universities. Are we kidding ourselves?
Today, I am not proud to be a Singaporean, and I am not alone. Many citizens think alike but are afraid to speak up out of fear of contribution by the Netizen wolfs.
To those crying out the loudest for the death penalty:
What you condemned in PAP and LKY, you are no better.
TR Emeritus - The Real Singapore - etc... Are you sure you are serving Singaporeans? Or are you just out to create chaos?
"The world is equally shocked by the online reactions of the Singapore social media."
DeleteNot being snarky, but could you point out examples of the world being shocked? Based on what I have read on-line so far (and which may be limited compared to what you have read), the world seems to share the same sentiments as Singaporeans. In fact, the reactions could be summed up as "banker behaving badly....should we be surprised....he needs to be taken down a peg or two". I'd be interested to read the negative comments about Singapore/Singapoeans over this fiasco.
"Are we forgetting that Caucasian significantly contributed to the growth and success of Singapore?"
How is this anyway relevant to this story? Would the reactions been excusable if the banker in question was from the Philippines, India or Italy?
"Anton did not work for a large bank as stated in the blogs. He worked for a small private Swiss capital investment company. Any Singaporean is free to start their own capital investment firm. Yet there must be a reason why investors prefer UK over Singaporean professionals despite NUS being ranked higher than many European universities. Are we kidding ourselves?"
Read Limpeh's articles on how the wealth management industry works. And for someone who works in a (traditional) Swiss private financial firm, Anton Casey is quite ignorant of the (traditional) Swiss banking culture. His fate might quite have been different if had worked for a British or American bank.
As for the websites you mentioned, I wonder why anyone ever bothers with them. I mean, they are the online versions of tabloids. Waste of time is what they are.
Alice: This was extremely passionate and well-written, thank you so much for your comment.
DeleteAnthea: It's true that bankers are equally unpopular in the West, but to be fair, there are some people in the West who have focused on others aspects of the case such as the death threats which were all in the reports on this case. And I'm with you on the point where Anton Casey has to be held to account regardless of what other Brits before him have done for Singapore.
As for the wealth management industry, there are plenty of Singaporean wealth management firms which are set up by locals and run by locals, serving locals. A rich Singaporean towkay's wealth manager will always be a local, unless he's some extremely westernized Singaporean who was educated abroad and lived many years in the West.
You know, I don't know if it is a coincidence, but my previous private banker at HSBC has resigned. She was black-British, born here and brought up here and I adored her. She was extremely good at what she did and I didn't care if she was black or British or whatever, as long as she was good with my money. Guess whom they have replaced her with? A Chinese banker with a hanyupinyin name and the moment I saw the way her name was spelt, I was like OMFG, it's hanyupinyin, she's a PRC, do I want a PRC handling my money ... why do they assume that I want to deal with a Chinese PRC just because I have a Chinese surname.
In Casey's job, he would have always been dealing with white British expatriates working in Singapore.
U meant, "when does all this start?" Not "when this all this start?".
ReplyDeleteYes that was a typo, I have corrected it - thanks.
Deletesome singaporeans want to send the FTs this message: respect the locals or you will be hounded out of a job. by hounding anton casey out of his job and into leaving Singapore , they have achieved their goal. they know certain jobs will still be out of reach for most singaporeans and their situation will not improve. but they SHIOK ma.
DeleteThey want to shiok, they may as well eat a big plate of char kway teow or have a wank - liddat also shiok. I'm talking about real, practical solutions that will improve the long term prospects of Singaporeans, rather than fulfill some childish notion of what it means to get one over the FT.
Deleteimo most singaporeans do not see any real practical solutions that will improve their long term prospects. the video with casey calling someone wuss was made weeks before this shit storm right?
DeleteIt's kinda sad that you feel that way - really? No real practical solutions at all?
Deletei have no problems living and coping in Singapore personally. let wait for ge 2016 and see what happens.
DeleteSingaporeans have shown the world that they are small-minded thugs. Steal our women? Criticise us? Off with his head! Put a fatwah on him. They look ridiculous. A rich nation that brags of its education system has a village mentality.
ReplyDeleteThanks Di, you are 100% correct, as always :)
DeleteCome on, you know that is not really true of most of the online criticisms of AC. Most people are offended by criticisms of their country. After living for almost a decade in the US, I can assure you that Americans do not take criticisms of their country kindly. Never heard of Anonymous and online vigilantism?
DeletePlus AC made a 'gook' face and has his son do the same. That is like making fun of Obama with a black face. Massive faux pas. I can guarantee you that Rachel Maddow would have a field day with someone like that.
I think we are giving AC too much benefit of the doubt.
DeleteThere is no proof there were any death threats other than the claims made by AC and we know that he has absolutely no incentive to distort the truth for his own benefit, right? Like how his FB account was 'breached'?
You're talking rubbish.
DeleteYou have no evidence to suggest that death threats were not made to AC and you're a conveniently assuming the worst of him because you dislike him. You don't know what it means to try to remain objective in this case. Unless you have access to the classified police report that AC made to the police, how can you make any assumptions about what death threats were or were not made? This makes you a liar as well - because you're making up stuff that there's no way you can verify. Isn't that ironic? You call AC a liar, but the basis of that accusation is a lie in itself. Pot calling the kettle black.
Listen, just go to some Singaporean forum where you can join the rest of them and pour out your poisonous vitriol there and let them egg you on. Come here and leave such comments and I will only use simple logic to expose you as a liar who doesn't know what the hell he is talking about.
Good for you, Alex! The facial expression argument is childish and absurd. I do not see it as racial. There was a child who looked very disabled. Even if he were not, he was a child. Let it go. As for Anton's expression, he was calling people wusses. That was his expression. Not racial. How do you read racial expression into it? "Teacher! He made a face at me! Expel him!" What a bully! Singaporeans are worst than Anton Casrey. Much worse.
DeleteDi - you are the best :) Thank you :)
DeleteI hear you Di Talasi. It's appalling how netizens can turn a five year old kid into a villain!
DeleteAlex, I should thank you for the diversion this week. January has been a blah after Christmas. Actually, my blood boils over this issue. Not because of Anton, but because of the bullies who think they are so clever and powerful that they could drive him out. Think Roman barbarianism, think misguided jihadists, think fascism, think Mao Ze Dong's and Deng Xiao Peng with the cultural revolution and Tiananmen Square, think the 1987's imprisonment of so-called dissidents (by definition, anyone who disagrees with the PAP is a dissident!) without trials, ... think Singaporean's mob squad against Anton Casey. All in the same boat. Singapore has regressed decades back in progress in just one week. Kids learn from their elders. They have taught the children to settle a dispute by bullying tactics. For shame!
ReplyDeleteFor me, I am just more than ready to move on as the more I blog about it, the more depressing it is for all the reasons you've listed above. I've completed the edit of my latest vlog piece tonight and it is about Salzburg - it's 9 mins something so I will upload it overnight. I'm just so ready for yet another vacation already.
DeleteAgreed. Exhausted. Just watched The Lone Survivor tonight. My faith in courage and honour had been somewhat restored.
ReplyDeletelol. actually there are also the silent many, like myself who gives no shit to this "saga".
ReplyDeletewhat saga?
I take public transport to work bcos I am "too poor" to shell out the bucks for a car.
what is the big deal? will his comments change my life? of cos not!