Not the Lack. It is the Luck, instead!

Reading plenty literatures about Singapore, whether about economy, politics, or tourism, something we always find in common is the clause that stating Singapore's lack, "Despite its small size." Yes, compared to its neighbor such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, or even Laos, Singapore has relatively small size, both in terms of area and population. Indeed, we, as Indonesian, who live in mindset stating "We are the people of very big nation," automatically will consider Singapore as something that has been described by BJ Habibie as, "Little Red Dot." And yes, from that mindset, we indirectly disparage Singapore.

The problem then rises when we find Singapore, DESPITE its small size, grows rapidly and confidently has referred itself since 1990 decade, as the capital of Southeast Asia, hub for regional bussines, and even the future of Asia. Moreover, in that 1990 decade, when we were proud of our new title as one of the Asian Tigers because of our intensified manufacture industry, that country expanded its economic policy over Southeast Asian region, promoting regional integration. In fact behind its 'friendly'-policy, Singapore exactly took advantage from us. Sijori, the growth triangle that established in 1986 and we proud of,  is one kind of supportive strategy towards Singapore's vision to reach its status as hub for bussiness so the manufacture plants previously based in Singapore land would be relocated to other areas outside Singapore, thus  the flow of immigrant workers to Singapore could be prevented and Singapore may jump to its newly structured-economy, Second Industrial Revolution, that mainly concentrated in high value products and services. The labor intensive manufactures in Singapore will be replaced by the headquarter offices that only cover research and development, capital, administration, and management and employ high skilled (Singaporean) workers, along with high wages and standard of living.

That delicate relationship between Singapore and Southeast Asian countries twisted when Asian financial crisis 97 hitted. Though Singapore was one of the country succesfully escaped from severe crisis, seeing the badly hit Asians, Singapore chose to turn its orientation off from Asia. It reoriented its policy towards developed-countries again. Singapore indeed stopped its regionalization scheme then aggressively built its capabilities to attract more foreign companies and foreign talents over other Southeast Asia countries. Yes, economically, with its 'flexible orientation policy' that can be seen as its implementation over its pragmatism ideology, that little red dot succesfully beated us, the big green carpet on the globe! 

In economic realm, since its self goverment status from British in 1959 until now, I see four developmental phases. First, The First Industrial Revolution in 1959-1979, that succesfully transformed Singapore from entrepot city to labor intensive manufacture industry, then The Second Industrial Revolution in 1979-1990 that escalated Singapore level from labor intensive to hub for bussiness and service as well as knowledge-intensive, third The Deindusrialisation Era in 1990-2000 that  actively rushed by regionalization ambition, and  The Knowledge-based Economy Era, or respectively can refer to Live, Work, and Play Era, that has been established since 2001 until now. The overall step in those phases could be thought as consecutive step. Singapore has established the economic power as we can see currently from very bottom condition, then stepping arise in certain pattern. Moreover, the rising step in economic policy and achievement is also supported by policy in other area, especially in infrastructure development and education. The infrastructure Singapore built is by chance aimed at attracting more investment and high skilled workers and the education that from its very beginning has been biased towards science and mathematics is really purposed in serving the needs of high skilled workers in future. 

From its purposively policies that drive greater growth and the successful achievement, the most fortunate thng Singapore has as its factor is its size! Yes, differ from its neighbors that big, even huge in size, Singapore has convenience in formulating and implementing its policy. It is a very wrong thought if we still consider the small size Singapore has as the 'Despite' thing. It is totally not the 'Despite', nor the 'Lack'. It is the Luck, instead!

Ark. Jan'12