ST Forum - He left Singapore with a clear conscience

WOULD like to voice my opinion on the comment by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew that he could never leave Singapore with a clear conscience.
I have mostly been studying or working out of Singapore since 2000, in Australia, the US and India. I am currently residing in Melbourne, Australia.

Growing up in Singapore was always good. However, as an informed adult wanting the best for my family, my wife and I left Singapore. We still believe Singapore is a great place to live for a lot of people, and for a variety of reasons. However, it would not work for us.

We have had friendsenvy our life in Melbourne - land ownership, a three-bedroom house with a
backyard, a fantastic salary package, living in a vibran t city that is always alive with the great outdoors, world-class sport, theatre, musicals, concerts, etc.

However, these are not the critical pull factors that drew us to Melbourne. The real reason starts and ends with personal time, family time and work-life balance. We wanted to live in a community where personal time is sacred, and where companies do not 'own' you. Work is strictly 9 to 5, except for the odd occasion when you work longer. Even then, bosses do not make demand s - they request your time.

In Melbourne, taxes are high, interest rates are soaring, the health-care system may not be at its best, medical insurance is expensive and the public transportation is hardly world class but we have learnt to cope with these 'deficiencies'.

On the flipside, we have time to enjoy a rich family life. Our kids, when we have them, will have
ample opportunities to choose the path they would like in life, be it sport, music, theatre or pure academics. They will not be branded under the academic microscope.

The bottom line is that we left with a clear conscience, and we remain here with a clear conscience.

Arvin
Gopal Jayabalan
Melbourne, Australia