Since Singapore is only a “stone’s throw” away from southern part of Malaysia, I believe many Malaysians are keen to be updated of interesting developments that take place there. The same applies vice-versa. It is only understandable. Historically, then Malaya and Singapore were treated like the same colony under the British government until years after the 2nd World War. Singapore was also part of Malaysia (merger of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore) in 1963 but withdrew to become its own sovereign state in 1965. Many Malaysians and Singaporeans are linked as relatives. A large proportion of Singapore’s workforce is comprised of Malaysians, either with work permit or permanent residence status. Many Singaporeans also own properties in Malaysia, Melaka city for example. So, I can guess what I am sharing with you now on two latest developments in Singapore may draw your interest.
The Dwindling Smoking Population 
A main English newspaper, on December 16, 2011, carried a commentary about a possible extension of the already gazetted extensive areas where smoking is banned. The scribe of the commentary painted a grim future picture for the minority smoking Singaporeans if this move took place.
The National Environment Agency launched a poll in November to suggest that more areas be included as smoke-free zones, including common areas in housing estates such as staircases and common corridors. The suggestion also recommended for phasing out the designated smoking area within night spots and hawker centres.
With a “conscious” society as the majority, there is no surprise that Singapore might become a nation without smokers in future. According to the scribe, already 86 per cent of the population do not smoke. Even most smokers are conscious about the ill effects on non-smokers who inhale “second-hand smoke” from smokers for a long period, not to mention about the health risks posed to their own self. And many smokers are trying to adapt. They try not to smoke in front of children.
If non-smokers could win in their say, the smokers in Singapore will be weeded out not too far in the future. Recently, a reader of the same news daily sent in an article, asking whether smoking could be banned within the vicinity of homes as her two children might be inhaling second-hand smoke from a neighbour who frequently smoked near open windows. A Facebook page which advocated the supply ban of tobacco to Singaporeans born after 2000, recorded positive 13,000 responses.
A Singaporean friend of mine, who is a non-smoker, has this to say: “There is good intention, for the benefit of Singaporeans. However, enforcement is the issue. Do, or can, the authorities have the manpower to go round and strictly enforce compliance? In the place where I stay, I see smokers puffing away in the open courtyards and parks in front of other people.”
What is happening to Singapore regarding the puff issue brings us back home to our Malaysian soil. In June 2011, Melaka became the first state to gazette five areas, covering 4.2 sq km, to be no-smoking zones. They are World Heritage City, Taman Melaka Raya, Melaka International Trade Centre in Ayer Keroh, and including Alor Gajah and Jasin town centres. Offenders caught puffing from June 16 onwards could be slapped with a maximum compound of RM5,000. Enforcement checks were to be conducted jointly by state health department officials, Melaka City Council and local councils’ units.
The success key to any rule depends on how rigid or lax is the follow-through enforcement. Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai was quoted by The Star Online that “those caught will be hit with a compound of RM300 although the maximum penalty is RM5,000.” He said this at the World Tobacco Free Day celebrations in Bandar Hilir. Alor Gajah Member of Parliament Tan Sri Dr Fong Chan Onn was also quoted as saying: “Any enforcement exercise should not catch local residents off-guard. Awareness needs to be created first.” What gives? So, would it be rigid or lax enforcement……or a window dressing rule?
Properties in Singapore Owned By China’s Chinese
I remember having read an article in a print media some months ago that investors from China had become the main buyers of luxury properties in Singapore.
I was told by a Singaporean contact that many property purchasers from China were also applying for permanent residence there. I was told that more Chinese were borrowing from illegal sources at home to take up the properties. True or not, I do not know; I could only cross-check for references, and that I did.
An international business newspaper, in its Dec. 20, 2011 issue, wrote that over the past year or so, Chinese investors had become the biggest foreign source of property sales in the first half of 2011. Some of the latest residential purchases cost more than S$5 million each. A property news portal claimed that in the 2nd quarter of 2011, Chinese purchased nearly half of all private homes priced at S$1.5 million. Another portal in November said 30% of Singapore’s luxury apartments sold over the past 15 months were taken up by Chinese.
Here are some extracted points:
· * Agents and buyers said it also reflected a rising desire by upper-class Chinese to diversify their assets or emigrate entirely at a time of rising uncertainties in China.
· * Interest in foreign properties by the Chinese had intensified over the past year in view of tightening controls on local property sales because of the fear of a domestic price bubble.
· * Due to the flow of foreign buyers who included the Chinese, residential property prices in Singapore had zoomed up by around 75% since 2005.
A Malaysian based business and investment magazine, in its Dec. 12, 2011 issue, cited evidences that Chinese speculators were borrowing money from illegal lending syndicates to invest in real estate. There was no mention, however, whether the investment was in China itself or overseas.
A relevant interesting question is: What if prices of such properties purchased from loans provided by illegal sources face a steep downturn? Will the Chinese investors who have applied for PR stay on in Singapore instead of returning to China?
What about Malaysia, Singapore’s next door neighbour? Are Chinese investors keen in Malaysia too? My search through the web has helped me secure the following information:
· * A property portal, in October, 2011, said the Malaysia Property Incorporated (MPI), a government agency, was courting Chinese investors to the property market.
· * Another portal, in August, quoted Datuk Susan Wong, the president of Sabah Housing & Real Estate Developers Association (Shareda), as saying that Chinese investors were keen on Sabah. There were enquiries on the Malaysia My 2nd Home programme (MM2H).
Will a similar scenario, as what has surfaced in Singapore, happen to Malaysia? Personally, I doubt so……..unlikely to the same exorbitant extent as our island neighbour even if an inflow comes in (let’s leave it as that without justifying my personal opinion).
Cheers to all for 2012 and beyond.
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