Keeping Identity and Values Intact Amid Globalisation

The Straits Times

06 November 2016

Han Fook Kwang

Question: What’s the link in this list of troublesome issues that have made the news recently: Zika, 1MDB’s money-laundering probe, public outcry over online gambling and last month’s Internet attack on StarHub?

The short answer: Globalisation.

In other words: Help! The world outside is pouring in from everywhere and disturbing the peace.

You would never have thought it would be a problem in open, globalised Singapore which has made a name for itself as being one of the most connected places in the world.

Being welcoming to the world has brought enormous benefits to this little red dot.

But too much of a good thing can be dangerous and Singapore, like many other countries, is finding out how harmful it can become if not properly managed. In fact, this is turning out to be one of the biggest challenges of our time, and it isn’t just about the big issues such as Brexit and immigration.

You only have to look at the list I mentioned earlier to appreciate how varied the problems are.

… The writer is also senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

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Last updated on 07/11/2016