By Marcel Lee Pereira

SINGAPORE may not be among the top 20 most liveable cities this year, as ranked by the international magazine
Monocle, but it needs just "simple fixes" to become a winner.

In its second annual ranking of the world's top cities to live in, Monocle expanded its survey to 25 cities, with the bottom five ranked in a new "could do better" category.

These cities could do with better transport, education or heath-care, said Monocle in a statement.

But the section on Singapore did not specifically mention what needed to be fixed here.

It did say, however, that "there is a growing political outspokenness that, 10 years ago, would have been unthinkable...But there is still much more to be done".

It added: "Careful stockpiling of reserves, a prudent fiscal policy - that has shielded the economy from the worst of
the global financial crisis - and a canny immigration policy, have lured in many bold-faced investments; among them an F1 leg, the 2010 Youth Olympics and two massive casino resorts."

Singapore was one of just three Asian cities to make it last year. It was ranked 17th then. The others were Tokyo (No. 4) and Kyoto (No. 14).

One factor the magazine felt made Singapore one of the most liveable cities last year was the fact that it was well-connected to the world through both its airport and its communications system.

No. 1 city Copenhagen was praised for its compact planning, "frictionless" transport system and infrastructure, and renewed focus on environmental issues, reported The Independent on Monday.

The eco-green criterion was crucial in Copenhagen?s promotion from second place in last year?s standings to first place this year, the report added.

St James Power Station's chief executive officer, Mr Dennis Foo, who has visited both Copenhagen and Munich, the top two cities this year, said the pace of life there was "almost perfect".

He added: "When a city reaches a state of affluence and stability, it reflects in the behaviour of the people; they are less stressed, more relaxed."

Of Singapore, Mr Foo said: "Not much has really changed in terms of quality of life, though cost of accommodation and transport has gone up, and it?s only recently that we see an increase in prices for basic
necessities like food."

"It's still one of the best cities in Asia. You know you can get a beer round the clock."

When asked if the decline in ranking would have an impact on Singapore as a destination, The Fullerton Heritage general manager Sulian Tan-Wijaya believes it would not.

She said: "At the end of the day this is just another survey. It could well be that some countries have caught up as well. It doesn't make Singapore a less liveable place."

marcelp@sph.com.sg

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