HAVING visited Singapore recently after many years, it reminds me how much we can learn from our neighbours. It is easy to see why they are a first-world country.

The first thing you notice when you enter Singapore are the many trees by the roads. They are big mature trees not young ones, which suggest the trees are preserved, unlike here in our country.

There are virtually no potholes on their roads or traffic jams during peak hours. There is no black smoke emitting from their commercial vehicles or rubbish thrown on the roadside.

The public transport is first rate. You can go almost anywhere on a bus. There are regular buses that connect every HDB housing area to a MRT station.

The taxis drivers are very friendly and will take you everywhere. There is no need to negotiate the fare or the destination beforehand!

There are also virtually no mosquitoes in Singapore. All HDB flats or apartments have to be painted every five years so they appear new.

As the crime rate is very low, people sometimes forget to lock the door to their apartment.

There are no Mat Rempit on their roads and they do not build unnecessary arches on their highways.

It is no wonder Singaporeans enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world.

To all our politicians who intend to go for long and expensive overseas trips to study how to run our country, please don't waste taxpayers' money. Be humble and just learn from Singapore!

NG,
Kajang, Selangor.