Fifteen years ago, I was asked many times where was Singapore. I told them it was at the end of Malay Peninsula. I gave them all the geographical description to pin point where was it on the map and a quickie on our young history. Some foreigners thought Singapore was a town or province in China because I was a Chinese. Many also thought Singapore was a third-world country with poor people and old villages. Singapore was too small to be printed on the map.
At that time we were so insignificant to the westerners but we, Singaporeans knew that we were a small but powerful country. Powerful not just in term of military defence, but in economic, international diplomacy, nation building and so on. By this time we were recognised by the world of our world class seaport, indisputable number one Changi Airport, government efficiency, etc.
Then ten years later, I asked foreigners if they knew where Singapore was. This time many westerners knew there was this hidden country called Singapore some where on the map. By now Singapore had spread it great name to the end of the earth. We were well respected and welcomed to foreign lands.
Add another five years, which was now, I asked this question again, “Where is Singapore?” but this time I asked my fellow countryman. Our forefathers, which was my grandfather, immigrated here and toiled together. Forty years had past, now we were coming into our third generation.
The third generation Singapore would be led by my generation. We would continue to run the race with the baton that was passed on to us. We understood how our nation was developed because we gone through the process side by side with our forefathers. We had seen how they toiled and learned from them. We had inherited their spirit of fervency, and grew up seeing and feeling their hardship and how they built our nation.
Forty years from now will be fourth generation Singapore. If I ask this question again “Where is Singapore?” forty years later. I am questioning the future of the nation. The leaders after my generation, how will they lead the nation like our forefathers?