7/28/2019 Portrayal of Kiasu Singaporean Society in Rice Bowl: Beyond the Fear Factor

1/4

1

Portrayal of Kiasu Singaporean Society inRiceBowl: Beyond the Fear Factor

By Chuah Kee Man

The constant demand to preserve ones status by following social expectations has

created a highly competitive spirit especially in Asian societies. Such competitive spirit

has been given a labelkiasuor kiasuism. The term kiasu can be considered to be

originated from Singapore and it means fear of losing out in the Chinese Hokkien

dialect. This so-called syndrome is a prominent issue that is discussed rather extensively

in Suchen Christine LimsRice Bowl(1984). The kiasu attitude often contains a negative

nuance that is thought to be triggered from the compulsive fear of failure but it is

interesting to note that such attitude can also accentuate positive results. Hence, this

paper attempts to explore the concept of kiasuism from not only the negative fear-

factor perspective but also the positive side of it by closely referring to the portrayal of

Singaporean society inRice Bowl.

One of the most notable depictions ofnegative kiasuism inRice Bowl lies in the

educational system whereby students are trained to be conformist and infused with the

mindset that success in education means success in life. This in the end produces

students who study blindly just to pass examinations without fully utilising their

capability to become creative and critical thinkers. A good example in the novel is when

Dr Jones deliberately substituted himself with a tape-recorder and the students could

actually copy down each word with no question, no arguments, simply acceptance (55).

The students were also subjected to grave pressure from the rigid exam system to which

they either conforms or losses out (128). Such situation is a common scenario where theaim of education is solely to get good grades. This is further strengthened by a strong

statement mentioned by Mak Sean Loong, Our educational system domesticates rather

than liberates (125). The domesticated Singaporean youth or students are said to

possess an obsessive desire for success that any failure is intolerable, which leads to the

negative kiasuism that refrains them from risk-taking and calls for conformity. Thus,

7/28/2019 Portrayal of Kiasu Singaporean Society in Rice Bowl: Beyond the Fear Factor

2/4

2

with that conformity in mind, the vision (as shared by Marie) in injecting the ideology of

education is a freedom from fear, especially the fear of being wrong (13) is by all

counts, a tall order.

In terms of Singaporean social lifestyle, negative kiasuism is illustrated as a stemfrom greed or materialism which promotes envy and selfishness. The symbol of rice bowl

used in the novel signifies the constant pursuit of Singaporeans in making sure that not

only the bowl is filled with rice but also there is more than enough to be stored. This in

turn created materialistic Singaporeans that strived hard to sustain their social status

because for them, money or luxury equals respect. Ken agreed totally with such mentality

when he asked the rhetorical question, And whats wrong with wanting a little respects?

Everybody wants to be respected. Where would you be ifnobody respects you? (117).

One extreme example of materialism is portrayed in the incident of Ser Meis mother

being so calculating in the value of her daughters death (103). A mother due to her

selfishness can actually sacrifice her own child to gain wealth and respect. This goes to

show that the Singaporean society has been built on fear, the fear of losing their hard-won

treasures (257), regardless whether the act of winning the treasures may cause

sufferings or problems to others.

Interesting enough, there are also some depictions of negative kiasuism within the

Singapore government itself. The negative kiasuism mentioned in the novel is more of

preserving its good image from the outsiders eyes. One instance would be the

description ofBukit Temasik Roadwhich is capable of carrying eight lanes of traffics

(49) while during the time when the novel was set, Singapores neighbouring countries

including Malaysia are still depending on two-lane roads. Another example is the

mentioning of the monsoon drain in thatBukit Temasikarea, which was claimed to be the

cleanest monsoon drain in South-East Asia (49). The governments way of structuring its

administration and city planning is suggesting to its people that kiasuism is the slogan

that every Singaporean should hold on to. This is even clearer when Santok Singh blurted

out the question, How do you find our clean and green city? to Hans (68). Hans

answers were rather unacceptable for Santok to the extent that he needs to defend why

Singapore needs to be so kiasu by creating an instant country.

7/28/2019 Portrayal of Kiasu Singaporean Society in Rice Bowl: Beyond the Fear Factor

3/4

3

Although the kiasu behaviour is often regarded as negative, there is also a positive

side to it. In education, this side of kiasuism generally leads students to put in extra

efforts in their work to check our library resources other than what is required of them for

class assignments. Paradoxically, the continuous rush for excellence allows the students

to be more autonomous in enhancing their own learning. The kiasu mentality canactually produce excellent students who are survivors of decades of keen competition

and through that competition, they had learnt not just to chase but to gallop and

always ready to change pace according to the requirements of the occasion for (51).

As a matter of fact, positive kiasuism can also produce critical thinkers or students who

dare to question just like how Yean, Aileen, Kim, Kenneth and Peter walked out of Dr

Jones class when he was just the voices from a tape-recorder. This is the kind of

competition that is needed in the rat societys survival of the fittest. They are perhaps the

very few that understands the concept of positive kiasuism, that generates constructive

competition rather than excessive fear of failures.

Moreover, the novel also brings forth another element of positive kiasuism which

spawns a self-reliance and strong will among Singaporeans. While many would look at

kiasuism as a result of fear, as matter of fact it does make a person or a nation more

independent. As a budding nation with little or no resources, Singaporeans needed to rely

on themselves in order to avoid them from bowing to the poverty of any situation (50).

Santok Singh echoed the same outlook by claiming but we have no choice. We have to;

we have no natural resources. and from now on we have no hinterland to depend on;

and the world does not owe us a living (69). This is indeed different from the cukup

makan (easily satisfied) or tak apalah (never mind) attitudes that haunts most

Southeast Asian countries, not excluding Malaysia. The cukup makan and tak apalah

attitudes permit giving up ones own chance even if that is the only golden opportunity

available. In contrast, positive kiasuism has pushed the Singaporeans to make the best out

of every circumstance (even extreme ones) and excel in various fields. Perhaps, this is the

secret recipe that has turned Singapore into a modern and developed nation in a very

short period of time.

To conclude, the portrayal of kiasu Singaporean society in Rice Bowl is not

solely because of fear of losing out. The perceived negative sides of kiasuism such as

7/28/2019 Portrayal of Kiasu Singaporean Society in Rice Bowl: Beyond the Fear Factor

4/4

4

selfishness and materialism has often overshadowed the brighter side of it. With positive

kiasuism, it will stimulate keen competition and self-reliance. However, it should be clear

that such behaviour or mentality is not limited to the boundaries of the island. Unlike

other countries, most Singaporeans are proud to accept kiasuism as their identity. This

would mean that they are aware of such behaviour and are proud to show it off to theworld because for Singaporeans, the true definition ofkiasuism is clearly beyond the fear

factor.

Work cited

Lim, S. C. (1984).Rice Bowl. Malaysia: Times Books International.