MyStory

Nor Ima Mahmood, 1982
Civil Servant, National Environment Agency

"Because in Singapore, we mix, and really mix."

Do you know that you share a very important birthday with our country? 3rd December is the date when Singapore’s National Anthem, the new flag and Coat of Arms (State Crest) were first unveiled to the newly-self-governing state. How do you feel about that?

Initially no. I was surprised, and at the same time, I feel very happy to share the same day. I would like to share with other Singaporeans that actually on the 3rd December is a significant date.

Do you think it’s important for Singapore to be independent? Why?

Yes. Because, you see, Singapore is a very small country. And it’s really known to the whole wide world, that it’s not really like a country, it’s more like a, a developed city. A lot of people, they know where Singapore is exactly. If Singapore were to lose its independence, I think, a lot of people, they won’t really have an idea where is it located, because our country is really very small. We will be dominated by other countries. I think we won’t have the freedom like what we have now - freedom of speech and lifestyle - and everything will change perfectly. I feel quite bad. I really cannot really imagine what will happen if Singapore loses its independence.

All along, I’ve grown up in this independent country. If we were to read about the history way back in the past, the hardship that they have to go through, I think I’m very lucky.

Do you know the significance of national symbols in general and what national symbols are and what they stand for?

If I were to see a national symbol, I’ll definitely feel proud that they actually show the national symbol. I’m proud to be a Singaporean. If you compare to other our neighbouring countries right, it’s easy for us to find jobs, and it’s a safe country, and we can get help from anywhere, like CDC (Community Development Council).

What are some of the biggest changes between the Singapore of your childhood and now? Could you share more about them?

The city has developed, for instance, Orchard Road. How much they have changed from since I was younger - the buildings and shopping centres. There are a lot of shopping centres, even in the heartland now. They are all developing shopping centres, and then the Marina, the resort at Sentosa. All these, they are developing to attract more tourists for our country’s development.

I feel very proud.  By having all these developments, they are creating jobs for people. For those heartlands like Toa Payoh and Bedok, if you were to compare last time, there wasn’t much, just a typical bus interchange. Now you see, they are building shopping centres, there are a lot of entertainment centres everywhere, and then you don’t have to go to the town area. Those HDB areas now, just go down, and you can find a lot of things already.

Is there anything you miss about Singapore from the past?

The relationship between the neighbours, when we were living in older estates, Because I think they were from kampungs, when they shift, they actually bond, like greet each other. But right now you see, most of them, they seldom talk, they don’t even know their neighbours that well. I think maybe, that’s because of the busy schedule of their life, because they are all working, morning till night. And then they hardly get to meet the neighbours, so they don’t really interact except on weekends, if they are available.

The hawker centre near the Botanic Gardens last time. Because my parents used to bring me there quite a lot of times.

What does ‘Home’ mean to you?

Home means somewhere we feel very comfortable, safe, and be with the people that we are comfortable with and love. Sometimes, it just feels like home, not only when we are at home. Sometimes, when we are with our colleagues, because of the bond that we share, we just feel at home with them.

Would you see Singapore as your home? Why is that so?

Because for Singapore, it is a multi-racial country and everybody is mixing together. Doesn’t matter which religion. I’m very comfortable staying in Singapore. Because in Singapore, wherever you go it’s very convenient. There is public transport for you to take, easy in a sense. You don’t actually need a car to live in Singapore. You just take public transport and everywhere is sheltered. Even if there’s rain, you won’t get wet. It’s very convenient. You can buy everything, just within a few minutes or so. And the education system in Singapore is very good.

I think for me, being a Singaporean, I feel pleasant. I don’t think I will ever want to change my identity and be someone else, because I’ve been very comfortable living in Singapore.

If you have a foreign friend coming to Singapore, what are the top three things that you would introduce your friend to?

Top three things? The first thing would be our culture and the history of how Singapore has grown. And second would be the food and the fruits in Singapore.

In Singapore, because we have different religions and we have different areas - there’s Chinatown, there’s little India, there’s Geylang - for each and every of our cultures. During the festive seasons, let’s say it’s Little India, it’s Deepavali, we not only see Indians, we see other races there, moving around. That’s something very special. Because in Singapore, we mix, and really mix.

When we go to Chinatown or Little India during the festive seasons, it’s different from normal days because you can see the decorations. You feel the spirit, everybody understands. If it’s Hari Raya, we go to Geylang, when it’s Chinese New Year, we go to Chinatown, there are a lot of things. All the candies, what they actually do during their festive seasons, what they buy and things and stuff. I feel very happy and excited. It’s not often that you see this kind of things, only during festive seasons like the Mooncake Festival, Lantern Festival, those are the different events that we have.

History-wise, it will definitely be how we actually gained our independence.  I think it is important for my friend to know how we actually gained our independence. It’s not easy to gain that independence in Singapore, in history. Because without the past, we can never be where we are exactly now.

Also, for Singapore, food will be laksa, nasi lemak and mee goreng, and definitely for fruit, the king of fruit, durian. I’ll definitely ask them to try. Because not many people actually tasted durian.  They won’t, because of the smell.

Have you ever been abroad for a period of time? Or on holiday? What do you miss about Singapore when you are away?

Yes. I will miss the food. Because our local food, we cannot find it when we are overseas. And Singapore is a very international country - we have all kinds of food we want. And definitely the morning rush hour. Because if you see, in Singapore, they want everything to be fast. Especially, during morning, they are rushing to work. 

What does it mean to be a Singaporean to you?

It means a lot to be Singaporean to me because if I see how much Singapore has changed, how it has affected my life from young, it’s already in my blood. But there’re a lot of people from other overseas, coming over and migrating to become a Singaporean, because they love Singapore too.

Are there moments you feel proud of Singapore, or to be a Singaporean? Can you share with us these moments?

Yes definitely, during National Day. I’m very happy and very proud to be a Singaporean. During the marching parade, and they have different groups right, it is like seeing, how much we have worked together to build this country, to keep it safe and how much development we have done.