Burmese Society in Singapore - For those interested Burmese Society

Burmese Society in Singapore

During 1991 (3 years after the bloody 1988 uprising), Singapore immigration started to accept many Burmese work passes (Employment Pass - E.P).  Before that period, to get Employment Pass in Singapore is quite difficult.  That time, our country’s official name was still BURMA but military rulers simply changed to MYANMAR. Anyway, most of young Singaporeans know MYANMAR but westerners, senior Singaporeans and we Burmese still prefer the name BURMA.

General Ne Win staged the coup in 1962 from democratic government and governed in communist style except that religions are allowed.  Ne Win seized all private businesses and made state owned.  After military ruled for 26 years, Burma was declared as LDC (Least Developed Country) and later in 1988, democracy uprising occurred.  Burma’s communist style party (so called Burmese Socialist Programme Party) collapsed afterwards, and later Communist Party in China restructured in 1989 and Communist Party in Soviet Union collapsed too.

Ne Win and his government resigned.  New generals governed with old generals’  advice at the beginning. In 1988 uprising, thousands were shot dead in the streets of Rangoon (now called Yangon). More than 100,000 students and people fled to the jungles to fight back the military junta. 18 armed ethnic groups who are still fighting against the junta, welcomed the fleeing Burmese people.  Due to deadly jungle diseases and many other circumstances, thousands died in the Jungle.  To prevent those anti-government groups to come back to their home towns, Junta simply scrapped all citizens’ registration cards (ICs). New ICs with different numbering system were issued to all citizens. 

Military allowed general election as they promised just after the coup, assuming that pro-military party (National Unity Party) will win. To their surprise, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s  NLD (National League for Democracy) won by landslide with 91% vote.  Military generals never recognized the result and put Daw Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest for about total 18 years. General Saw Maung who allowed the free and fare general election slowly fade away and General Than Shwe became top general in 1992.  New military government tried to run the country by allowing foreign investments in Burma without changing the political system. After they tried for 18 years, at least 3 millions Burmese left the country mainly for economic reason.  Most of the educated people (middle class) have difficulties to survive.  All government ministries and departments are controlled  by military generals. Corruption can be found everywhere, even at the level of  primary and secondary education examinations. You can bribe to get the excellent result. The junta has succeeded in reaching ceasefire agreements with all armed ethnic groups except one (Karen ethnic group, KNU). But these agreements were not the solutions as all the groups are still allowed to keep their weapons.

Due to those reasons, a lot of educated Burmese families have migrated to other countries, in significant numbers to Singapore.  Some are migrated to other democratic countries such as USA, Australia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and EU.  A few millions Burmese who do not have passport are smuggled into Thailand and Malaysia as illegal workers.  According to an article in the Straits Times dated 8 October 2007, at least 3 millions people are outside the country.  Over 2 millions to Thailand, 28,000 to  Malaysia, 30,000 to Singapore, 50,000 to USA, 7,000 to  Japan, 20,000 to Australia, 10,000 to China, 2,000 to South Korea, 3,000 to India,  2,000 to Germany, 3,500 to Canada, 1,500 to Norway, etc.  Many Burmese died at 2004 Tsunami disaster in Phuket area , Thailand as unknown bodies due to the fact that relatives of dead Burmese were afraid off  being sent back to Burma by Thai authority. Those illegal Burmese worked in low paid industries where local people are not willing to work.  Similarly, many Burmese  are illegally smuggled from Thailand into better pay jobs in Malaysia especially in KL, Penang, JB, etc...   We can find some Burmese waiters and waitresses in some shops and hotels in KL.

Major migration starts after 1988

Early Burmese migrants to Singapore are engineering graduates.  They found works in ship repair and service industry due to the fact that local Singaporeans dislike those kinds of jobs. Then, degree holders with experience in accounting, geology and nursing, and skilled technicians were welcomed by Singapore. After some years, Burmese youths started to study in Singapore polytechnics for diploma. They understood that education is the only way to improve their lives.   Many graduate students from Burma are also accepted into NUS and NTU master programs. After receiving their certificates from Singapore Institutions, some are granted permanence resident status in Singapore. Many ‘government -to-government’ staffs also started to flow into various industries in Singapore.  Burmese migration to Singapore is greatly seen after Burma became an ASEAN member. 

Dr. Mahathir, who was then the prime minister of Malaysia, brought the junta into ASEAN. UN has appointed Malaysian diplomat Mr Razali Ismail as Burmese envoy to mediate between the junta and the opposition.  It has failed.  Before the retirement, Dr. Mahathir officially mentioned that "I regret, brought Burma into ASEAN". Recently Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew mentioned to San Francisco media that "they are rather dumb generals economically, Singapore hoteliers who have sunk millions of dollars on his advice, have now found their hotels empty".

Detained Noble Peace Price winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has written a very famous book named, "FREEDOM FROM FEAR". But most of the Burmese are still in fear of Junta who use very heavy jailed sentences and tortures on those political prisoners.  One must be very careful to form a charity and a society in Burma as Junta dislikes any society without their management.   All societies in Burma are closely monitored by Junta.  In Singapore, just two official societies linked to Burma are registered under Singapore registry of society, "Myanmar Club" and "Myanmar Business Association".  The rest are Buddhist and Christian religious societies such as, "Burmese Buddhist Temple – Toa Payoh", "Shwedagon Society", "SMC Meditation Center - Havelock Rd", "Mahamuni Buddhist Society - Clementi", "VIPASSANA MEDITATION CENTRE - Paya Lebar", "Judson Baptist Church - Novena", "Karen Baptist Church", etc…  Their addresses can be found at www.mingalaronline.net  website.

Little Myanmar (Peninsula Plaza)

Peninsula Plaza is the Burmese gathering point in Singapore.  Before 1991, Burmese sailors’ gathering point is in China Town. A shop named Thanlwin was famous to sailors to buy things or  to send their monies back to Myanmar.  After 1991, another shop "Yadana" started to open in Peninsula. (Now this shop is no longer operating).  Second shop is Tawwin which is operating at 3rd floor of Peninsula Plaza.   Estimated 100 Burmese shops are now operating in Peninsula Plaza and Peninsula Hotel, mostly in 2^nd to 5^th floors of Peninsula Plaza.  Most shops are in the business of sending money back to their relatives at home. It is called, "hondi" business.  Burmese never believe in their government banking system. Official rate is S$1.00 equals 3 kyats at government bank.  But black market rate is S$1.00 equals ~900 kyats.  They just give S$ dollars to the shops and their relatives can collect equivalent kyats in one to three days at any cities in Burma. Those shops deal with their partner shops in Yangon. If someone need Singapore dollars in Singapore, their relative gives equivalent kyats to Yangon shop.  On their paydays in Singapore, many workers send their Singapore dollars to their relatives via those hondi shops in Peninsula Plaza.

Beside from those hondi shops, today you can find some restaurants and others such as beauty saloons, barber shop, Burmese fish & prawn, jewelry, computers, clinic, lawyer, astrologist, consultancy, work agents, HDB agents, property agent, internet cyber cafes operating daily with thousands of Burmese shoppers. There is a Myanmar Club providing Burmese language classes.  At the 5th floor, a Burmese Library was opened by a group of Burmese.  In Burmese, it is pronounced as "Lan-Pya-Kye", meaning "Guiding Star" in English. This library accepts donation of books in Burmese language. Members can borrow these books free of charge.  Membership fee is SGD10 dollars for 6 months.  Their main purpose is to maintain Burmese language in Singapore.  They also have a notice board to display information related to Burmese community in Singapore.

Burmese Students

As Indian and Chinese migrated to Singapore earlier, Burmese follow their foot steps.  They tried to live in Singapore by various methods such as work permit, business, study in government and private institutions, etc… Most popular method is to study in Singapore because Singapore education is considered one of the best in the world.  Parents in our region like to send their children to study in Singapore. Another reason, Singapore has least criminal case in this region, peaceful and disciplined.  Now a lot of children from Asean study in Singapore although the cost is not cheap but if they study in private schools in other popular countries such as Australia, US and UK, etc…, cost will be much higher.  Most Burmese try to get entry into government schools to save cost. Some children, who are not qualified for government schools, entered private schools resulting higher cost. The most famous schools are "hotel management", "casino management", "art schools", "design schools" and some private style courses now run by SMU and NUS.  A lot of Language schools, business schools, accounting ACCA, LCCI schools, IT schools such as Informatics, etc… are now targeting foreign students. Benefit for student after getting their certificates is that they are allowed to work in Singapore.

Tax to Burmese Embassy

Most of the Burmese hate to go Burmese Embassy but they have no choice.  Government issues passport with about 45 pages only and validity of passport is 1 to 3 years.  If they want to extend their passport, they have to pay tax to Burmese government. Amount payable depends on their salary. Normally 10% of their salary is imposed to every Burmese all over the world exclusive of England which is still using double tax agreement. Most poly graduates and degree holders paid S$80 to 160 depending on their salary. For example, for a Burmese started working in Singapore since 1991 until now has already paid (150 dollars x 12 months x 16 years) 28,800 dollars to Embassy.  If monthly saving of S$150 for 16 years with 3% interest will be easily 40K.  Burmese cannot avoid this embassy tax because their passport can only be renewed by Embassy. If they want to visit home town in Burma, they also have to get certificate of tax clearance from Embassy. Paying tax to Singapore government is logical for Burmese working in Singapore but very strange to pay to Burmese Government.  Both countries have no double taxation agreement but Embassy made it legal collection by demanding everyone to write application letter, "I myself willing to pay tax to my country".  Some work permit holders work so hard as health assistance in old folks home and earn S$300 per month.  They are asked to pay S$40 to 60 dollars per month and it is 15% to 20% of their salary. It is unfair but there is no choice for all Burmese because they need to extend their passport validity.
A Burmese group called DTASG , "Double Taxation Agreement - Singapore"  started campaign in January 2007.  Today newspaper published widely on their movement for Embassy to stop taxing Burmese. The group sent signatures to Embassy, Myanmar government minister and even Singapore government body. But it is still an un-solved issue.  Now, after the Burma Monk Crisis, DTASG campaign initiated again.

 World Records

Burma is the most unfamiliar country in this region.  When Singaporeans visit to Myanmar, a lot of different or unexpected experiences will be observed.

Burmese people are very friendly and poor but mostly are educated at least secondary education. They love to read books. Burma has snowcapped mountains, at the same time they have very hot region like Africa. Climate similar to Singapore also can be found. Estimated 5 millions Chinese and 5 million Indian are mixed with local Burmese ethnics and they all speak Burmese language.  Local currency is called ‘Kyats’. Coins are no longer in use and notes are old and dirty.  Cars and trucks are not depreciative items, keeping them is considered investment, probably due to high inflation.  They carry monies with gunny sacks as no one trusts banks to save their money. World oldest generals are living in Burma.  To buy a hand phone line in Singapore cost nothing (of course with a contract) but in Burma, it  costs more than S$2000. To get internet access to home or office is very difficult.  ~S$20 is monthly income for basic worker. But rich people are getting very much richer. They owned many cars which are paid in cash not by installment. Middle class is disappearing.  To get a passport is quite difficult and costly.  If a Burmese passport is lost or stolen, a new passport will cost us S$1000 plus, and have to wait for months to get a new one. Burmese passport is required to have a visa for all countries. Even Burmese  who wants to visit his own country also must go to Embassy and get approval letter. Funny or strange!!

Burmese Groups

There are many un-official Burmese groups in Singapore.  The most famous and biggest  is called exRIT group.  In Burma, there was only one Engineering University called "Rangoon Institute of Technology - RIT".  Engineers who graduated from RIT are exRIT and they have annual gathering in Burmese New Year which falls on the same days as Thailand’s "Sonkran Festival".  We call it, "water festival" and throwing water to each other to welcome the New Year.  Normally it falls at second week of April. Since 2001, annual gathering started in Singapore together with "Saya Pu Zaw Pwe".   Saya means teacher in Burmese language.  In Burmese culture especially Buddhists, everyone paid respect to five most important things in their lives,  "Buddha, Dharma (teaching of Buddha),  Sangha (monks), parents and teachers".  Even for non-Buddhists, teachers are well respected in Burma. Pu Zaw Pwe means "paid respect"  which is to  "pay obeisance with one's hands clasped palm to palm and raised to touch one's forehead". Estimated 3000 engineering students invited their former teachers from Burma and abroad, and paid respect together inside the Toa Payoh Buddhist temple (Burmese Buddhist Temple). Burmese have difficulty to form official groups due to the fact that military junta is actively monitoring Burmese activities in Singapore.  Junta’s intelligent agents (Military Intelligence, MI) are suspected living in Singapore with Junta family and  protecting their businesses. Therefore, Burmese in Singapore are afraid to form an official Burmese society.  Most un-official groups are found in 5 Polytechnic schools and 3 Universities (NTU, NUS, SMU).  Their yahoo e-groups can be found in cyberspace.  Due to plenty of Burmese migrated to Singapore since 2005, many celebrities and artists from Myanmar are invited to music performances in Singapore. Famous singers entertain in Burmese. Burmese famous music bands like "Empire", "Iron Cross" and "Thu Maung traditional music group" are regular visiting to Singapore.  Also, a lot of famous Buddhist monks are invited to teach local Burmese and Chinese Buddhists.
Not only Engineering society, now geologist, doctor, nurse, lawyer, accountant, teacher also are already established in Singapore.  The strongest group is "healthcare group" with medical doctors, specialist doctors, nurses, x-ray, physiologist, dentist, etc… can be found in all Singapore hospitals. Local Polytechnic trained Burmese nurses can also be found in NUH, SGH, Mount E, Alexandra and Changhi hospital ..etc.

Next generation Burmese

Now, many Burmese are converting to Singapore citizenship especially younger generation.  Their main reason is to avoid paying Embassy tax which is huge amount to them. It is also to  get privileges from government for education grants, job opportunities and to hold Singapore passport. But majority are still holding Burmese passport with PR, Work permit, S-Pass and EP, etc…Off course, Myanmar education system also affected and Military General’s children also trying to study oversea. Very rich people and top military officer’s children can study to developed countries such as UK, Australia, USA, USA.  Majority students can not effort.  Only Singapore is a future education hub for Burmese youths. After they completed Diploma, Degree or Master, mostly they work in Singapore companies.   If Burma has a democratically elected government in the near future, some may be going back  to help build the country back which has lost all the infrastructures. But some Burmese are likely to stay put in Singapore and mixed with Singaporean in future. 

End. 
www.monywa.org/witmone  14-oct-2007  
Concern for Burma /Myanmar