RONALD LEE: Wake up, she seemed to be saying.
Just a day before PM Lee Hsien Loong called on new citizens to “write the Singapore story together”, one such new citizen thought it would best to represent Singapore while promoting her homeland, Myanmar, instead.
That’s what Miss Singapore World 2015 Charity Maru said in her victory speech following the beauty contest (for which I’ve no idea if leaving your brains at the door is a prerequisite to taking part).
“One of my goals I set for myself should I win Miss World Singapore was to introduce my people to the world.”
What people, Charity?
The Kachin – the ethnic group in which she belongs.
“I believe that I am the first Kachin to take part in the Miss World Pageant…”
That would be a terrific victory speech, if Charity had won Miss Myanmar World instead.
Is this what PM Lee expected when he proudly proclaimed that many new citizens come from different backgrounds have decided to call Singapore home after spending time here?
Charity’s been here long enough – she was a Singapore citizen since 2007.
But it appears that her roots remain in Kachin state, and always will.
PM Lee urged new citizens to co-author the next chapter of the Singapore story, in a new citizenship ceremony at Ang Mo Kio.
For his sake, Singapore’s new citizen Miss World better get the script right when she represents our country, and not Myanmar, this December on the world stage.
(READ: Unfair to Attack Ms Singapore World Charity Maru for being Proud of Her Ethnicity)
Anonymous
October 27, 2015 at 1:19 am
There are Kachin people all over the world. In USA, ENGLAND CHINA. And then there’s the armed conflict going on between Myanmar government and kachin ethnicity in Myanmar.
You know why they took up other Country Citizenships?
I have a good guess. because they dont want to continue to be a citizen of Myanmar. Because they want to be a part of the new country they have come to like.
Which part of being proud of her own ethnicity says she represents Myanmar? she renounced her citizenship to become a Singaporean citizen. She is (PRESENT TENSE) a Singapore Citizen.
Really make me face palm some people logic. rabak
Anonymous
October 27, 2015 at 9:35 pm
Have you ever heard local born Singaporean Malay/ Chinese /Indian saying they want to represent their race instead of Singapore?
An even bigger face palm
Anonymous
November 3, 2015 at 7:17 pm
If Singaporean Malay or Chinese or Indian say they want to represent their own race in Singapore, they will be accuse of being racist.
SGPorean
October 28, 2015 at 10:10 pm
You are not at all bright.
Mantanko
October 28, 2015 at 3:06 pm
Should go back kachin n represent kachin. If promoting for kachin, dun be a singaporean