Singaporeans can get very tough when it involves their own money and their own well being.
The problem is that they are very apathetic when it comes to matters which don't involve them personally or which they perceive not to involve them personally.
The sense of justice or right vs wrong is very very weak in most Singaporeans. Unfortunately, they don't realize that some things they perceive as not involving them personally, actually does affect them adversely in the longer term.
I am not sure. As I mentioned with smu students, they are very coy. They do very well in written papers but not in a group environment. Even our OMS scholars keep to themselves.
I blame this partly on our press for creating the impression that we are not confrontational, not assertive and in a generation, everyone follows. I was told that when Hotel New World collapsed, the first press conference was held by the Deputy Secretary, MHA at the lobby of Serangoon Plaza. From the moment go, a lady from a nearby coffeeshop blasted the DS non=-stop for the slow response of the emergency people, the blur look in the first hour or so while those trapped were calling out. This lady literally screwed the shit out of the officials there. Despite it being a press conference, no press carried it as I recall.
Naturally, monkey see, monkey do. See our security guards. Moment there is a fight, they will immediately commence patrol on the opposite side of the building. Remember we created a cult hero our of those that keng during NS.
I wonder why we keep going to JB and Malaysia, when we continue to get robbed of cash, vaulables, vehicles, etc It must show in our face as easy prey.