SINGAPORE - A Singapore lawmaker has a simple explanation for the city-state's lack of babies: procreation, he says, is "not our forte."
Loo Choon Yong also suggested that because more free time did not necessarily result in more babies, people should work on Saturdays, a report in The Straits Times said.
"We should accept that as a people, our procreation talent is not our forte -- nothing to crow about," Loo told the legislature on Wednesday.
The government announced last year that it would double spending on incentives to address a baby shortage that threatens the city-state's future.
Wow.
Dr. Loo Choon Yong, Forbes #36 richest man in Singapore and co-founder of Raffles Medical Group. I'm certainly inspired by your stunning insight into the reproductive woes of Singapore.
As a medical doctor, I'm sure that your experience does not preclude the somewhat purely biological function of reproduction. As higher evolved mammals, humans have been known to make psychological and economical choices when it comes to mate selection and procreation.That you made the astute assessment and came to the conclusion that "more free time does not necessarily result in more babies" was a blinding insight that left me in an intellectual trance.
Sexual activity for the sake of pleasure notwithstanding, procreation within our city state is limited by our limited finances and limited family life options. Lacking natural resources, our city planners took it upon themselves to style Singapore as a shopping paradise and tourist attraction. I applaud them. Without natural wonders or vibrant national culture, pure economics have forced their hand to create a veritable tourist wonderland for high net worth individuals and visitors to our little red bean.
Fast forward to 1980s social studies lesson where I learned how Singapore's most valued resource is it's citizenry and highly productive (low cost- high output ratio)- Our citizens continually enjoy suppressed salaries while many white collar expatriates continue to extort their wonderful pay packages.
It leads the modern couple to go through their family planning checklist:
- Rat race for kids? No thank you.
- Lifestyle change as a result of financial burden (kid)? No thank you.
- Poor family environment? Cos kids want to go to Takashimaya and Sentosa weekly- Get real.
- Ridiculous education policies that leave some children behind? No thank you.
They then ponder- "Hmm, maybe baby?"
Maybe not.
While I'm sure that in his productive zest, Dr. Loo enjoys his saturdays counting his money and thinking of more ways to milk the populace and further widen the material divide between the rich and the poor. I assure you ancedotally, that the half day Work day on saturday, is one spent enjoying a morning cuppa (at the office), catching up on the daily PAP newsletter (The Straits Times) and then watching the clock strike 12 noon.
Here's the last bit which Dr. Loo, you've provided me additional evidence on why intellectual discourse is not your forte and I'd like to paraphrase "Working longer hours does not necessarily result in greater productivity."
Nevertheless, you have inspired me. If one such as yourself can climb to be Singapore's 36th wealthiest, I'm now sure that in time, I may join your ranks.
Addendum: Perhaps in your personal capacity, you're far more intelligent than your political persona allows. And in your zeal for political brownie points and grandstanding, you've chosen to play clown in Singapore's political circus. To that I must ask- You're already rich? Why do you aspire to more power?
This is assuming you are seeking political affirmation and support.
Dr Loo is 59 years old. Net worth of $215 million. TWO children.
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