Can We Learn From The Success Of Singapore?: Thai Editorial

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EDITORIAL
Can we learn from the success of Singapore?
The Nation

The tiny city-state has outperformed its neighbours because it has vision and discipline, precisely the things we lack in fractious, divided Thailand

BANGKOK: -- Singapore is a city-state the size of Phuket. It has no natural resources, but since it gained independence from Malaysia in 1965, Singapore has become a leader on the global economic stage, thanks mainly to vision and adherence to policy. Singapore's development philosophy is manifested in three giant investment projects that have taken shape over the past five years.

One is the US$3-billion Shell Eastern Petrochemicals Complex, which is now Royal Dutch Shell's biggest petrochemical facility. Singapore attracted the investment with a series of preparations.

Upon realising that it could not depend solely on trade, Singapore created an artificial island, called Jurong, to support manufacturing activities. Shell and numerous other foreign corporations have plants there. The Economic Development Board worked out the best policies to attract foreign investment. It is the leading government agency responsible for planning and executing strategies to enhance Singapore's position as a global business centre and thus develop the economy. Other government agencies cooperated on the provision of land, labour, infrastructure and incentives for training. Singapore also promised to expand its underground storage facilities for chemicals and petrochemicals.

A similar approach was replicated when the country gave the go-ahead for a huge casino-and-leisure complex, Marina Bay Sands, which required an investment above $3 billion. The Las Vegas Sands was given a beautiful parcel on Marina Bay with views of the sea and downtown.

Even more complex planning was required to ensure the success of the $4-billion Marina Bay Financial Centre completed this year.

Land reclamation near the new downtown area started decades ago, and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has come up with an exact plan for how the Marina Bay development should progress over the next five decades. Only minor changes can be made to the Master Plan after it is reviewed every 10 years.

As part of the overall plan, the Monetary Authority of Singapore and other government agencies are working on tax and other regulatory measures to lure international companies and talent. This is partly supported by low taxation for corporations and individuals.

About 30,000 people work in the two developments at Marina Bay, aside from indirect jobs in related industries. With a population of only 5.3 million and without natural resources, Singapore nevertheless sees a constant stream of revenue from financial services, tourism and exports in electronics manufacturing and machinery. Another big advantage is that Singapore now boasts one of the world's largest seaports.

Despite its much longer history, Thailand's per-capita income was only one-fifth of Singapore's in 2012, according to the International Monetary Fund. In part this can be attributed to the absence of a non-partisan vision for the future and the inability to adhere to a development policy that puts the nation first. While Singapore is now among the high-income nations, Thailand is still struggling to climb out of a middle-income morass.

If Thailand is ever to catch up with Singapore, a change in attitude is essential. Thai politicians and citizens must come to terms with their differences and set a course, as Singapore has done, based on a non-partisan vision - entirely for the sake of the nation. To achieve that, laws must be made clear and fair to all. If we can achieve that, we should not be swayed from the goal of matching Singapore's success, come what may.

This must be done, and quickly, because the world moves fast and does not wait for laggards.


-- The Nation 2013-05-22

[sustento]

Can We Learn From The Success Of Singapore?

No. Thailand isn't Singapore. Neither is it Switzerland, Nigeria or Germany. You have to work with what you have rather than what you wish for.

[Robby nz]

There is little doubt Thailand has the ability to move up and if not equal Singapore at least get on the path to catching up.

Private enterprise is working well with agriculture and manufacturing industries that make the country self sufficient in all but energy.

These sectors also provide the country with a great export base.

So what is holding Thailand back?

Probably the main two are corruption and, as we see by other news stories today, the obsession of the Govt to do the bidding of the man in Dubai.

If the ropes could be cut from these two anchors dragging behind then the pollys could get on with formulating policies to help the people of this country to move up in the world, for there is no doubt they have the ability to do so.

[NeverSure]

No, Thailand can't.

1. Singapore is ranked as the fifth least corrupt country in the world. Link. People can do business there with some assurance.

2. Singapore lowers taxes and makes doing business there easy. Thailand makes it almost impossible with protectionist policies.

3. Singapore has the rule of law. You can count, within reason, on being treated fairly by the courts. This encourages investment.

4. Thailand wants all foreign investment to be for Thais, even requiring majority Thai ownership. Singapore gave land to The Sands Casino (of Las Vegas) to build a huge casino, employ people and pay reasonable taxes. BTW the owner of The Sands is one smart businessman - a self made billionaire. You don't see him trying to build in Thailand, even though he has casinos all over the world.

5. Singapore has low import duties, as a whole.

In short, Singapore gets it and Thailand doesn't. Thailand is a closed club for the few, and Singapore is open for business.

Thailand will still be 3rd world and going through messes 30 years from now, while watching other Western-like Asian countries excel.

[RickBradford]

1. Not while politicians spend all their time playing games with the law and the courts and the constitution, trying to score petty points over one another, and completely ignoring the country's basic problems.

2. Not while corruption is the system, rather than there being corruption in the system.

3. Not while 'saving face' is more important than accountability.

[LuckyLew]

Thailand will never come close to Thailand

Thailand is moving closer to communism and a police state

than it is moving towards a developed democratic country

Thailand is being run by a convicted felon on the run living

in Dubai. The PTP has as its number one and two goals to

rip off the people of as much money as possible and to bring

the felon home.

Until the Thai people stand up and demand change for the better

it will remain a 3rd world banana republic

[Songhua]

The answer is in the article:

can be attributed to the absence of a non-partisan vision for the future and the inability to adhere to a development policy that puts the nation first"

Singaporeans have worked extremely hard to make Singapore what it is. Yes, Thais love their nation and some work hard but it's usually only to their own means and in the expectation that everything will eventually and magically fit together like some sort of jigsaw puzzle. You need to have had the vision (for the nation) since a century ago ... not since tomorrow morning.

[jalansanitwong]

Thailand and Singapore are at opposite ends of the global corruption table.

Singapore by necessity, has an overbearing albeit strong government. Thailand is run by proxy from Dubai because there is no real governance or political idealogy in LOS.

Singapore is open for business. Thailand is open for business if you invest millions of your dollars and put Thai army generals and their golf buddies on the company board.

Nothing ever changes in Thailand except the faces. And thats how we all like it here.

[NeverSure]

I forgot to mention the Singapore has no capital gains tax. This really encourages investment from within Singapore. Singapore also has a maximum income tax of 18% which encourages high earners to earn there and from there.

In Thailand capital gains are taxed at ordinary income tax rates, and the rates get high progressively for high earners. This discourages investment.

[CTO]

So if Thaksin disappeared everything would be ok?

This country is a block to it's own growth for decades, long before Thaksin/Abhisit and anyone's colored underwear,

Thailand's problems are in all areas of society, governance and business. It's not related to one person, that's just a symptom of the deep rot that Thailand has.

The rot is in the education system that teachers Thais not to question, just to learn the "rules", it's in the xenophobic nationalism that every side of politics uses that stops investments and growth, it's in the attitudes of the people, "Why try and move up the ladder? If I do the "right thing" in my next life I'll be rewarded.

It's in the concept of "Buying" everything, from religion where you "Buy luck" at the temple, to buying a cop, to buying your way into a school, job, promotion, contract, or sex companion for the night.

I can easily see, Vietnam, and possibly Myanmar, surging past Thailand in the next 20 - 40 years.

If it was no Vietnam war that artificially support Thailand financially and with infrastructure, Thailand today would be a Myanmar mess and Vietnam the leading SE Nation.

Focus on what conditions ALLOWED Thaksin/Abhisit/Colour you don't like to surface, not on who came to the surface,

[arthurboy]

Over the years how many times have we heard various Thai governments spouting on and on about various grand plans for now and the future?

Take a step back and think about the number of times we have heard that Thailand is to become the hub of ...whatever.

I've said it before, and I will continue to say it, but self-serving cronyism, nepotism and corrupt practices from within all so-called political parties and those with authority and influence will never amount to anything for the good of the country.

The editorial is - as often is the case - just another belch of hand-wringing hot air.

And nothing more.

[soi41]

The real question here is, do we want Thailand to become a new Singapore? Who have sold out its Asian identity, to become a copy of Western countries. Okay a very successfull copy, but oh so boring!

I would any day prefer Thailand with all her flaws and faults. I moved here to live in Asia, not a copy of my homecountry.

Still after 10 years, it still makes me happy to watch the colourfull Thai people getting on with their lives!

[lovetotravel]

Here's a good article on why Thailand will never make it to the level of Singapore:

http://www.aircargoworld-digital.com/aircargoworld/may_2013#pg32

Corruption.

[jaltsc]

Nothing changes if nothing changes. This is most true of Thailand. Headline five years from now: "Can we learn from the success of Myanmar?"

[Soutpeel]

No, Thailand can't.

1. Singapore is ranked as the fifth least corrupt country in the world. Link. People can do business there with some assurance.

2. Singapore lowers taxes and makes doing business there easy. Thailand makes it almost impossible with protectionist policies.

3. Singapore has the rule of law. You can count, within reason, on being treated fairly by the courts. This encourages investment.

4. Thailand wants all foreign investment to be for Thais, even requiring majority Thai ownership. Singapore gave land to The Sands Casino (of Las Vegas) to build a huge casino, employ people and pay reasonable taxes. BTW the owner of The Sands is one smart businessman - a self made billionaire. You don't see him trying to build in Thailand, even though he has casinos all over the world.

5. Singapore has low import duties, as a whole.

In short, Singapore gets it and Thailand doesn't. Thailand is a closed club for the few, and Singapore is open for business.

Thailand will still be 3rd world and going through messes 30 years from now, while watching other Western-like Asian countries excel.

And maybe as a side point...everyone in Singapore speaks good English...which is the languge of international commerce....

to me... the difference between Singapore and Thailand is that Singapore has clearly defined goals/objectives and long terms plans, where

Thailand makes it up as they go along and any plans they come up with are wishy washy, not properly defined and never impletmented properly anyway and at the fore front in peoples minds who are coming up with these plans is how they are going to benefit personally, not how the country will benefit

[Thai at Heart]

I forgot to mention the Singapore has no capital gains tax. This really encourages investment from within Singapore. Singapore also has a maximum income tax of 18% which encourages high earners to earn there and from there.

In Thailand capital gains are taxed at ordinary income tax rates, and the rates get high progressively for high earners. This discourages investment.

This low income tax is witnessed by Singapore being basically the place to put regional offices. I wouldn't worry too much about the amount of people in Thailand paying the top rate tax. Most of them just don't declare it.

Thus, the high income tax rates actually encourage corruption.

[chainarong]

No, Thailand can't.

1. Singapore is ranked as the fifth least corrupt country in the world. Link. People can do business there with some assurance.

2. Singapore lowers taxes and makes doing business there easy. Thailand makes it almost impossible with protectionist policies.

3. Singapore has the rule of law. You can count, within reason, on being treated fairly by the courts. This encourages investment.

4. Thailand wants all foreign investment to be for Thais, even requiring majority Thai ownership. Singapore gave land to The Sands Casino (of Las Vegas) to build a huge casino, employ people and pay reasonable taxes. BTW the owner of The Sands is one smart businessman - a self made billionaire. You don't see him trying to build in Thailand, even though he has casinos all over the world.

5. Singapore has low import duties, as a whole.

In short, Singapore gets it and Thailand doesn't. Thailand is a closed club for the few, and Singapore is open for business.

Thailand will still be 3rd world and going through messes 30 years from now, while watching other Western-like Asian countries excel.

Also over at Marina Bay, the housing project, Foreigners can buy the house and land, it costs a fortune though.

[WhizBang]

Can Thais learn? Well, judging from what has been going on in this country for the past 10 years, or longer, the answer would be a resounding NO.

Too many obstacles to overcome.

- Have to get rid of all the endemic corruption.

- Have to enforce the laws, fairly for one and all, regardless of 'status'.

- Of course, have to have a police force that is not corrupt to the core.

- Have to have a world class educational system

- and must have a military that is under the control of the civilian authority. ie: no more coups.

Not going to happen in my lifetime, and most likely not in the lifetime of my son, short of having a civil war.

[Payboy]

If Thailand is ever to catch up with Singapore....

That would need Singapore to stay still for just 50 odd years.

[pisico]

Thailand and Singapore are at opposite ends of the global corruption table.

Singapore by necessity, has an overbearing albeit strong government. Thailand is run by proxy from Dubai because there is no real governance or political idealogy in LOS.

Singapore is open for business. Thailand is open for business if you invest millions of your dollars and put Thai army generals and their golf buddies on the company board.

Nothing ever changes in Thailand except the faces. And thats how we all like it here.

2 years ago, when Democrats where in power it was same same. Except that there was a serious conflict with Cambodia. The tradition of Thailand is to accept corruption as a necessary item in life. It is more important to know someone in the field one wants to go into than qualifications. Obsessive protectionism, corruption and disregard for the rule of law are what is considered to be "normal". It has been the same way before there was a man in Dubai.

[Thai at Heart]

Thai businesses and politicians do not understand reciprocity in business. It is hide behind protectionism in Thailand, and be fearful of allowing businesses in, because it may hurt so called "Thai" businesses.

It is this very desire to keep everything as it is, and not upset the apple cart of business that hinders economic development in Thailand. Singapore on the other hand (whilst being a much smaller place obviously) has worked out long ago that to sit in isolation would be to stop things moving forward.

It will be a long time that "in the country's benefit" also includes to the benefit of "Thai" consumers. At the moment, the country's benefit extends to benefiting Thai companies at the expense of development and competition.

[CTO]

Name some micro states that unsuccessful, pretty easy to manage something that small,

Non Partisan politics in Singapore? Get out of here, it's the PAP way or the Highway if you dare disagree, on the rare occasions a Singapore electorate has voted against the ruling party it has had many of the government services diminished.

It's the most successful benevolent hereditary dictatorship in the world. I can think of only Ghana as another fairly benevolent dictator ship during Rawlings many incarnations.

[DrChopper]

No, Thailand can't.

1. Singapore is ranked as the fifth least corrupt country in the world. Link. People can do business there with some assurance.

2. Singapore lowers taxes and makes doing business there easy. Thailand makes it almost impossible with protectionist policies.

3. Singapore has the rule of law. You can count, within reason, on being treated fairly by the courts. This encourages investment.

4. Thailand wants all foreign investment to be for Thais, even requiring majority Thai ownership. Singapore gave land to The Sands Casino (of Las Vegas) to build a huge casino, employ people and pay reasonable taxes. BTW the owner of The Sands is one smart businessman - a self made billionaire. You don't see him trying to build in Thailand, even though he has casinos all over the world.

5. Singapore has low import duties, as a whole.

In short, Singapore gets it and Thailand doesn't. Thailand is a closed club for the few, and Singapore is open for business.

Thailand will still be 3rd world and going through messes 30 years from now, while watching other Western-like Asian countries excel.

Probably because gambling is illegal here. In fairness you don't need to be a self made billionaire to know building a casino here would be a waste of money.

[NeverSure]

No, Thailand can't.

1. Singapore is ranked as the fifth least corrupt country in the world. Link. People can do business there with some assurance.

2. Singapore lowers taxes and makes doing business there easy. Thailand makes it almost impossible with protectionist policies.

3. Singapore has the rule of law. You can count, within reason, on being treated fairly by the courts. This encourages investment.

4. Thailand wants all foreign investment to be for Thais, even requiring majority Thai ownership. Singapore gave land to The Sands Casino (of Las Vegas) to build a huge casino, employ people and pay reasonable taxes. BTW the owner of The Sands is one smart businessman - a self made billionaire. You don't see him trying to build in Thailand, even though he has casinos all over the world.

5. Singapore has low import duties, as a whole.

In short, Singapore gets it and Thailand doesn't. Thailand is a closed club for the few, and Singapore is open for business.

Thailand will still be 3rd world and going through messes 30 years from now, while watching other Western-like Asian countries excel.

Probably because gambling is illegal here. In fairness you don't need to be a self made billionaire to know building a casino here would be a waste of money.

And that's the most important part you took away from my post?

Singapore gave him land. Thailand won't let him own land. Thailand is protectionist and he'd have to include Thais.

It doesn't matter what type of business it is, it's going to Singapore due to Singapore's policies and lack of corruption.

[NeverSure]

Name some micro states that unsuccessful, pretty easy to manage something that small,

Non Partisan politics in Singapore? Get out of here, it's the PAP way or the Highway if you dare disagree, on the rare occasions a Singapore electorate has voted against the ruling party it has had many of the government services diminished.

It's the most successful benevolent hereditary dictatorship in the world. I can think of only Ghana as another fairly benevolent dictator ship during Rawlings many incarnations.

Do you have a clue how to discuss the topic which is Singapore being a leader on the world economic stage?

[gemini81]

If Thailand is ever to catch up with Singapore....

That would need Singapore to stay still for just 50 odd years.

And required the construction of that canal in the south decades back, putting an end to ships porting at Singapore. However, officials here took money offered from Singapore not to go ahead with it. That was long ago, and the opportunity is over. Even if they had, the Singaporeans could outsmart them in the long run anyway, with clever ideas, hard work and visions.

[Kananga]

Name some micro states that unsuccessful, pretty easy to manage something that small,

Non Partisan politics in Singapore? Get out of here, it's the PAP way or the Highway if you dare disagree, on the rare occasions a Singapore electorate has voted against the ruling party it has had many of the government services diminished.

It's the most successful benevolent hereditary dictatorship in the world. I can think of only Ghana as another fairly benevolent dictator ship during Rawlings many incarnations.

Do you have a clue how to discuss the topic which is Singapore being a leader on the world economic stage?

He's actually correct. Comparing Thailand to Singapore is like comparing an oil tanker to a jetski. Completely different. Singapore has a tiny urban population to govern and control and no land borders. A complete and utter lack of democracy has enabled a totalitarian regime to make Singapore an economic success..for the Singapore government but the cost of living for the majority of Singaporeans is extremely high. However in terms of social success Singapore is still where Thailand is in terms of rampant inequality and racism (although Singaporean tv shows and advertisments at least put a token dark skinned person in the mix). Exorbitant cost of living, high levels of control over the population, rampant immigration of foreigners which have kept wages stagnant for over a decade etc. Singapore looks good on paper and its easy for multinationals to be based there but your average Singaporean in among the most unhappy in Asia and the cost of living is spiralling. Not to mention the overcrowding as the population has swollen by 50% in the last 12 years. So it all depends on what you want to measure as success.

[lovetotravel]

I have a friend who works for a very large multi national corporation. Their Asian HQ is Singapore. Several years ago they were seriously considering Thailand as it's cheaper here. Then the airport mess happened, the floods, etc. They've decided to stay in Singapore.

It would have been hundreds of well paying jobs being relocated here. Big money. A huge missed opportunity.

[MaxLee]

EDITORIAL

Can we learn from the success of Singapore?

The Nation

The tiny city-state has outperformed its neighbours because it has vision and discipline, precisely the things we lack in fractious, divided Thailand

BANGKOK: -- Singapore is a city-state the size of Phuket. It has no natural resources, but since it gained independence from Malaysia in 1965, Singapore has become a leader on the global economic stage, thanks mainly to vision and adherence to policy. Singapore's development philosophy is manifested in three giant investment projects that have taken shape over the past five years.

.....

-- The Nation 2013-05-22

As long as Thailand stays colonized and hostage by the Thai-Chinese feudal family power elite and their mafias that terrorize the poor and clueless farang, then the answer is No.

A feudal nepotism culture that dumps down on independent thinking and is more concerned about saving face for their spoilt brats and stubborn ancestors, will bring the entire nation down and suck them ripp off dry...

[davidmann]

look at education in thailand ,