Singapore and Malta

As I lived in Singapore in the mid-1960s and subsequently watched its amazing progress when visiting on business and holidays, I cannot let pass Michael Falzon's Schadenfreude at the Lion City State's current economic downturn (The Sunday Times, March 22).

Although Malta and Singapore are islands that became independent in the mid-1960s with a defence-based economy inheritance and no natural resources, Mr Falzon gave three reasons why they should not bear comparison:

1. "Singapore has the 'luxury' of a disciplined population for whom observing rules (and a number of draconian laws) is practically a cultural tradition".

Well now, that might well tell you something about Maltese freewheeling attitudes. However, given that Singapore's 4.7 million population includes Chinese, Malays, Indians and many others, counting among them Buddhists, Muslims, Confucianists, Taoists, Hindus, Sikhs and Christians, exactly which "cultural tradition" did Mr Falzon have in mind? Surely not a British colonial one.

As to "draconian laws", other than retaining capital punishment, law-abiding citizens have nothing to fear from Singapore's judiciary which has a regional reputation for fairness and impartiality. No, the difference between the two islands on this front lies in one word - 'enforcement'.

2. "..a democratic deficit with a lack of strong political opposition and hence a total lack of dissent."

Lee Kwan Yew's People's Action Party has been virtually corruption-free since being re-elected continuously since 1959. Its electoral record may be due to its success in achieving improved standards of living for all classes with per capita GDP at the level of the four largest West European countries. Nonetheless, in the 2006 election the PAP share of the popular vote in contested seats declined from 75 per cent in 2001 to 66.6 per cent. That is democracy.

3. "..a meagre annual outlay on social services."

Really? By 2007 the proportion of the resident population living in public housing stood at 85 per cent, with the majority, nearly three million people, now buying the flat they occupy. Interesting that it is "public housing", i.e. not speculators putting up properties which remain empty because they are unaffordable to ordinary folk. The Singapore government has budgeted €2 billion to mitigate the effects of this economic downturn on its citizens. Enough said on that one.

Mr Falzon said that Malta "has had the last laugh" on Singapore. During this great global recession he could have picked any developed country to quote dire economic statistics. Here is another statistic.

Since independence, Singapore has attracted investment from more than 7,000 multinational corporations from the United States, Japan, and Europe. Also present are 1,500 companies from China and another 1,500 from India. Malta can only physically match that number with 50,000 or so empty properties that are not doing it any good now, or in the future when Singapore will unquestionably pull away again.

Malta's tourist-vulnerable economy will suffer a body blow this year from which it will take years to recover, if ever. "Last laugh", I do not think so Mr Falzon. Singapore has one of the world's cleanest, safest and virtually drugs-free environments. It has the region's finest infrastructure of airport, port, roads and communications networks. It has thrown up superb examples of contemporary architecture while conserving its British heritage buildings and areas of historic value.

I can unreservedly recommend it to law-abiding citizens whether doing business or looking for a holiday experience. And ladies, my darling wife says the Orchard Road shopping is to die for!