I didn’t like Singapore at first

This is Dr. Phillip Merry, a British citizen who has lived in Singapore for over 30 years and served as a senior United Nations consultant. He shared with me his encounter with Lee Kuan Yew, why he never pursued Singaporean citizenship, and how he compares the Singapore government to Western ones. Enjoy!
Dr. Phillip Merry's website: www.philipmerry.com/
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 INTRO
00:32 First Impressions of Singapore
01:37 Buildings in Singapore
02:20 How has Singapore changed?
03:52 Questions to Lee Kuan Yew
06:42 Challenges for Singapore
08:09 "Overdeveloped" Singapore
08:51 The view on the UK after living in Singapore
10:21 Penthouse in Singapore
10:55 Solving intercultural problems
13:48 How does it feel being 73 years old
15:19 Regrets in life
16:20 The meaning of life for Dr. Phillip Merry
WATCH NEXT:
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LET'S BE FRIENDS:
► My Instagram (use the translate button to read the posts 😇): / chernov_networking
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Hey! This channel bridges the gap between locals and foreigners in Singapore, Malaysia, and India. Join Max as he interviews expats, unraveling their unique stories and providing valuable insights into their lives in the vibrant cities of Asia. Through engaging conversations, Max fosters understanding and appreciation between locals and the global community, focusing on cultural exchange.
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#ExpatLife #MaxChernov #Singapore

[@EVL-xj5vc]

I love listening to older people like him. So much wisdom and peace and fulfillment. I can learn a lot from them.

[@judithgrace9850]

❤❤❤❤ Singapore. RIP Hola from Queretaro. Obey God always. RIP ❤❤❤ acajudi100 KZbin.

[@theefficientfrontier]

Wise man. . I can listen to him for hours. . .The father figure everyone deserves :D

[@pcaristotle]

If nobody sweeps up the fallen leaves and flowers on the paths and it rains, 2 things can happen: 1. If it rains heavily, those fallen leaves and flowers get swept by wind and rain into the drains and it chokes up the drainage system and floods ensue 2. it there is light rain, the leaves and flowers become a soggy and slippery mass and cause someone to slip and fall.

[@paulang8267]

Wise man, like a chance meeting with a sage that appeared under a big tree offering wisdom. Thank you Max

[@gelinrefira]

He's right, he really did go right to the heart of the matter. Singapore was a developing country and it needed everyone's cooperation because it was an unstable time. Now Singapore is developed, the approach to governance should change. But the fundamentals of what makes Singapore successful should never be ignored. I agree that all voices should be heard and considered but a consensus must be reach at the highest level so when things need to be done, they are not interfered and broken down every time there is an argument. Everyone should feel they have a stake and that they are heard, but they should also understand that cooperation and consensus are far more important than being adversarial. The adversarial pattern used by western societies are not always conducive to long term planning or even to getting things done. It can work if it is kept under very tight control but once everyone thinks their opinions should be the top priority, all you get is chaos and damaging compromises that go nowhere.

[@thaiphra2183]

Another great interview Max, as a Singaporean seeing Dr Merry's perspective on Singapore and the meaning of life is very enlightening. Thumbs up.

[@brabaius162]

an island of chinese and indian labourers migrants

[@blessedcheflim8579]

​@@brabaius162it doesnt matter where you are from, it matters where you are going to. 😊

[@SuccessforLifester]

It is better to remove fallen leaves and flowers fast, especially in areas near to the gutters as they might clog up, leading to flooding on a rainy day

[@B4SILQ3RTWRZ_DR4G0Xx]

@@anon7641very true

[@idoit5005]

Also fast decaying organic matter in the tropics may be slippery as well

[@SuccessforLifester]

@@idoit5005 absolutely. In fact some pavements would grow algae and these are very slippery when wet

[@SuccessforLifester]

@@anon7641 👍

[@mingzmings88]

Lol.. what's wrong with u seriously? He didn't even mention falling leaves/flowers near gutter or whatsoever near somewhere that will cause blockage.. typical sinkie.. quick to defend but brainless in critical thinking.. 😅 hate to be around people like u 😂

[@piergithesituation]

I am Italian, I have been living in London for the last 10 years and I just came back from a few days off in Singapore. This video is just amazing and the guy has nailed every point. The example about talking to people you don't know at the supermarket compared to UK I think it's so true. I spoke and met many people while I was in Singapore and this thing doesn't happen anymore so often in London. If you do it in London I think people believe you need something from them or you are trying to scam them in some way. I think 10 years ago it wasn't like that. Anyway amazing video

[@AnnHelle]

London :( Such a sad, dreary place. The poverty gap slaps you in the face as soon as you step outside, and as a petite female, I don't feel safe enough to take a morning stroll, let alone venture out alone at night. The smaller UK cities are far more welcoming, people are much happier and relaxed here.

[@angeluscorpius]

This was a great interview and Dr Merry is a great interviewee! @4:20 LKY answered: "I think we've made Singapore too comfortable" in answer to "why do Singaporeans find it difficult to leave Singapore?" This is so true. To a certain extent. Singapore has been accused of being a "nanny state" in overly protecting its citizens. When you live in one of the safest country/city in the world, where do you even go for holidays? Where can you take your family and kids when you go for holidays, so you can have peace of mind that they will be safe? And this is for holidays! What more when YOU have to leave to say, get a job, make a living, in the dangerous world out there. [To be sure, there are adventurous and worldly-wise Singaporeans who know how to take care of themselves and they do venture out into the wilderness that is the rest of the "Un-Lee Kuan Yew-ed" world, and they survive, thrive, and even succeed. But they are the exceptions?] I think Dr Merry's observations are spot-on. As a "cross-cultural consultant" (?), he is able to compare, contrast, and contextualise the cultural practices, and make sense of what might seem to others to be nonsensical or whimsical. That is good. BUT... did you somehow edit out his reason why he never pursued Singapore Citizenship? Cos I don't believe I heard his answer!

[@TPDTND]

Singapore should consider buying and pockets of land in other countries and develop them and impose its law and order for Singaporeans abroad and the host country's locals to enjoy.

[@Whatexactlyispeace]

Great great interview max. Dr Phillip is really inspirational. Watching this I feel enlightened. His last sentence where often we are too fixated with our own problems thinking it is big, but it really isn’t big, so true.

[@fanyayuningtyas6816]

I am glad I bumped into this. The way he feels about Singapore and the UK, is exactly the way I feel about Singapore and my home country but maybe, for different reasons.

[@yvonneng3081]

Wow, he is young for 73! Great sharing. Thank u.

[@MaxChernov]

Yes, I was super impressed when I found out his age. Dr. Merry looks very young.

[@LaChicaconSuerte-1111]

Some great advice and insights. Yes, older people have more experience and (usually) more wisdom! We should ask more of them about life and their advice on how to live a good life because they know better than anyone what to avoid and what to focus on.

[@fomoyolope3573]

Hi Max: Great interview. Fantastic job! I truly appreciate the frankness, honesty, modesty and perspective of Dr. Merry. In retrospect, this is a very successful and positive story for an expatriate to settle down in SG. In many ways, I am like Dr. Merry who loves SG strict rules and for a safe society. I am born in SG but currently live in the US. I admire LKY when I was a kid and even today. Singaporeans are blessed. What a lovely and safe country. In regards to JB, it is my most travelled state whenever I drop into SG. I encourage every Singaporean to get out of the comfort zone, travel and see the world. Your horizon goes behind the little island.

[@conned]

Very meaningful and intelligent dialogue. 👍 Btw, They didn't move to Changi for airport, they CREATED Changi, reclaim land n built a new town that won U.N award n Swiss award.im honoured n humbled to be part of that pioneer team. Later i was part of U.N hum team & flying doctor s n i ran into Dr P. Im glad hes still 16!. Much to do Merry Christmas Max n all! Peace 🕊️

[@gelinrefira]

Singaporeans are actually very friendly deep down, but we don't do the superficial interactions that westerners, especially Americans, think is friendliness. Nah, it just comes off as fake and it is fake most of the time.

[@CVYR490]

Yes agree, they are fake, arrogantly behave like an Idiot.

[@hieveryone2003]

Chinese dominant societies look at the world in Circles of Familiarity. Circle 1: family Circle 2: aquaintences Circle 3: all others Circles 2 and 3 are treated as absolute strangers and with no warmth at all. As to your comment about Americans, did you know they are *far and away* the most altruistic and giving people on earth? Would you consider that superficial? Guess who are the least altruistic and giving? Chinese.

[@TPDTND]

Singaporeans should not be friendly

[@junyew1813]

@@hieveryone2003 Everyone is different. You can't stereotype everyone into a predetermined social structure. Otherwise, why would America still have crime if everyone is so altruistic?

[@gelinrefira]

@@hieveryone2003 I lived in America for over a decade. Americans are some of the most selfish people alive today. The altruistic part that Americans love to tout are often superficial contribution to slightly ameliorate problems they CAUSED in the first place. Those problems they CAUSED are actually because they are hyper-competitive, domineering and greedy in the first place. If you dig a ten feet hole, and then throw in 1 feet of sand, you are not filling up the hole. You are just pretending to fill it. The Chinese simply do not dig the hole in the first place. But you people don't like to see that because on top of being selfish and greedy, you are also very good at self-delusional propaganda. You know deep down I'm right. You can't fool someone who literally lived there, studied there, went through 3 election cycles and even dated and used to be married to an American.

[@blessedcheflim8579]

Very good content/ interview wt this British gentelman. Very glad he feels at home in Sg.

[@ajunthaanwari6177]

A great interview Max, simple questions with lots of depth and meaning that kept me glued to the end. And Dr Phillip Merry is an interesting person.

[@heong20]

Wow, I really love this guy's theory and philosophy of life. What a great guy😊 God bless.

[@grantrawlinson1470]

Love this interview and feel lucky to count Dr Philip as a personal friend but also a very wise and open minded one

[@deschai7071]

A wise man!! Great analogy n great interview

[@chenyinmei6466]

The more I view your video..the more I learn to appreciate Singapore and Singaporeans.

[@MaxChernov]

Happy to hear that!

[@MOMOxDEFI]

I've learnt so much from this video. Wise words Dr Phillips. I'll dearly hold on to them from now on.

[@MsChanminghui]

Another great interview! ❤

[@jamesl.o.h.6000]

Love more of these valuable interviews cos it's knowledge and enlightening at the same time . Thank you .

[@Markus.Schulz]

What an amazing person you found here!! Delivered so much value, wisdom and insight in 17 minutes!! Wow

[@euniceyeo8765]

Love the video! I like how Dr Merry at his age is enlightened and can share his wisdom here

[@mambo0018]

I found this a rather meaningful discussion with balanced views ...

[@arthuslim]

This is one of the best interviews in this channel.

[@riennekoh3901]

Dr Merry gives wise insights & advice, great interview!

[@MrKevinliow88]

Another marvelous interview. You never fail to impress us time and again. Bravo Max!

[@wokwithwong]

That was a great interview! Wisdom is with Dr. Merry.

[@user-gv8jy1wu3w]

The guest had came a long way..he knows the ultimate true meaning of life..we are not to self serve and be consuming and enjoying the gains all by ourselves..but true joy is to serve others in their needs. And until one gets down to serve others with a sincere attitude, one will never understand that joy Dr Merrv spoke about.

[@crraayyzehhhh9375]

This guy's energy is great and speaks alot of wisdom.

[@lusidmusic_]

Maybe your best interview, absolutely loved this

[@spoton383]

Love this interview, very well done.

[@sherwinh1661]

max this is amazing content (im singaporean) pls do more interviews like this

[@asmah-cj9xs]

I like this guy. Very wise. Respectful.

[@JasonKucherawy]

I really enjoyed this interview and will be checking out Philip’s website. I’m moving from Canada to Singapore this summer with my family and learning as much as I can about life there before arrival. I’m a tourism professional with a cultural anthropology degree, and video interviews like yours provide some great insights! Cheers!

[@Molloy1951]

Incredible interview! 👏🏼

[@tcmelvinlee4804]

Well said I'm 73 and 16 inside, love it❤

[@thavarajsubramaniam6772]

Good advice Dr Merry. I enjoyed the inspirational interview.

[@shkhadj3011]

Love this episode esp towards the end with the wise words given out. ❤

[@Fiat-kl6lt]

Brilliant interview! Luv it..

[@BensonKoh]

What a nice and refreshing interview

[@okaydoubleu]

Dr Merry lives to serve, with all his might. Brilliant young man!

[@StarrySunnie]

Thank you very much, Mr. Max 🙏🏽🙇🏻‍♀️ Wise words, two-pronged things in life

[@jun813]

Great interview 👍

[@angelawu7500]

He speaks so well

[@johnfoong5527]

Is really good and enjoy to see this video. thanks😀

[@mra2010]

Great interview

[@dadaebiko8332]

Interesting interview. Thank you.

[@user-nd3ic1rb2j]

Amazing content!

[@ansonlow7764]

Great question, putting forward. He answer with great indepht meaning to all your question. It true what he had spoken.

[@sian1of2]

This is another great video.

[@impopquiz]

The best idea brought in from overseas for locals was from UK’s council housing, creating our own HDB which far exceeded UK’s standards.

[@athomenotavailable]

But UK's council housing is a lot cheaper though www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/article/12432/Council-tenant-rents-for-2023-to-2024

[@spoton383]

So much lessons to learn from this expatriate ❤❤❤

[@icyboy771z]

He looks great for being 73 didn't expect him to be that old

[@rose80652]

My teacher watches your videos and she recommended this one to me

[@Time4Peace]

Wonderful and wise man with still so much to offer. Let's all work for peace everywhere starting with better cross-cultural understanding as human beings with similar needs and aspirations

[@conned]

Amen to that!

[@susantan3242]

Very interesting things I learnt from you! Wise indeed! I’m 65 but always feel 30! I love the safety n efficiency in Singapore! I cannot live in a disorganized n inefficient country! I’m grateful for our fantastic government that is not perfect but close to it. E only thing I don’t like about Singapore is e hot weather n e lack of social grace!

[@gavinyuen040680]

love your work

[@MaxChernov]

🙏

[@johnnyexplorestheworld4729]

Very good interview

[@amyg1073]

A great guy with great wisdom. ❤

[@saikubah3440]

Absolutely .you are amazing! Very interesting story about .your life in. Singapore 🇸🇬. I was in Singapore 🇸🇬 with my. Japanese wife 😍 ♥️ for honeymoon 😍 ♥️in 2005. It's was wonderful. I. Love Singapore 🇸🇬. I'm. A Sierra Leone 🇸🇱 living in Japan. Thank you.

[@leonardl6718]

Great interview and I like this man. Thank you for highlighting that most dreams can be fufilled if one has no financial challenges. I would be equally happy if I had a good job like yours and lived in a $3M condo near the city with the view of the marina. That being said, one has to give thanks to God for the blessings we receive.

[@singy1980]

A very wise man, and a good human! USA-Singapore, 10/2023

[@tpt8476]

very sensible advice!

[@donaldsingh6323]

Great interview. I like the way Dr. Merry is open and honest about his views on Singapore. Thanks for sharing.

[@randomdove007]

Very wise man. Unlock our potential, find our meaning in life.

[@rmaya4940]

Good vlog. Love it! More Max..😅

[@sphsjw]

Nice interview. The location should be The Riverwalk Apartment. Excellent choice of apt in S’pore!

[@Buddha-bless123]

If your own mind is positive then everything happens positive ❤️

[@user-yy5ze1rc2l]

A very wise man with many wise words.

[@weekahhuat6285]

What he said is quite true. We do have a lot of room of improvement

[@ikeameltdown8012]

Love this man.

[@guenthermichaels5303]

Hi Max, I've been enjoying your many videos. You have a personality and talent that bring an appeal to your channel. You should use your sense of humor more, it's quite good and consider expanding your channel's focus beyond Singapore, Malaysia. I'm 68 and spent my career working and living all over the world. Haven't been to Singapore in many years. The British deserve some credit for Singapore as well. It was already a successful trading and transit port before independence. You can find an interesting video on YT, titled " Colored Singapore in 1930's " I also live in a very safe and vibrant City, Cheers from Toronto

[@MaxChernov]

Thanks so much 🙏

[@SokhomPrins]

I will go and live there sometime again.

[@shanshan9145]

Feel enlighten ❤

[@tienloo1966]

The meaning of life that I believe well said.

[@leonlew4837]

Great and wise man.

[@MrJ522]

As a Singaporean living in London, I feel like UK is complex, with centuries of undisrupted history. Singapore has had the chance to rebuild from scratch, every facet of its social structures, legal framework and infrastructure. Also, thank our lucky stars we had LKY and his leadership team. UK is ultimately a much larger country and economy and with it comes bigger problems. Having said that, I do appreciate Singapore a lot more since working in London. I do miss home! It is the best country / city in the world.

[@Gemini73883]

The Changi story. At the time it was a big debate about siting the airport. Changi was not favoured as it was further out (compared to Paya Lebar). What LKY did was to decide to put the airport at Changi, with a caveat. The planners had to provide a 20 minute vehicular access to the city centre. This caused the building of the ECP (east coast parkway). This is an example of LKY cutting through the rubbish by re-focusing minds on what needs to be done!

[@sadizm]

bro just transfered 1tb of exp and wisdom to us THank you

[@FrankWu]

Singapore has done very good job of managing and cracking down on corruption .

[@sunny7565]

As long as what is good for citizens...nobody left behind.

[@vieworama8188]

Yes, older people usually have more wisdom and experience to give, that is also part of where the reverence given to seniors by asians stem from

[@freemantan4121]

RESPECT

[@MrMasbest]

So wise

[@LaChicaconSuerte-1111]

Yes, and yet you have British people saying that the UK has a nanny state! The UK needs to deal with crime with zero tolerance for minor crimes as well as major crimes. This is the only thing that works and helps people to understand that crime overall will not be tolerated in a civilized society and that they will face consequences if they commit any type of crime. These days, in the UK, there are people (men) spitting in the street and on pavements all the time. It tends to be mainly men from the middle east, but also others.

[@ss-ib8gm]

they made india dirty since 11 th century before yhat greeks , chinese said good thingd about india but 11 century islamic conquest destroyed even babur by 15 cent said it is dirty

[@acscw8408]

omg Max wearing same shoes as me from decathlon XD

[@muhammadyunan2811]

I think why singaporeans not travel overseas simply cz they are busy. 😅 There is an anecdote that says, "Every day is holiday in Indonesia, Every day is week day in Singapore" 😂 Tbh we hv to learn many things from singapore, but I always mentioned never bring their "hustle" culture to Indonesia. We very lucky have neighbour like singapore, they provide invesment to Indonesia. They work really hard ini finance, and invest in Indonesia. 😊

[@user-ht6wh9th3e]

I love Singapore ❤

[@samkwok7057]

Maybe you haven’t experienced vehicle theft in Jb when you are there 😅. Singapore vehicle constantly get targeted to get stolen in Malaysia. Maybe That’s why some say is dangerous if you are driving your car or motorcycle there.

[@melwee8511]

17:00 onwards: life goals to live by from a very wise 73-year-old gentleman with a 16-year-old heart of gold :)

[@bencyber8595]

the ending of this video😂 is real fantastic

[@snowycrystalz101]

So what was the reason he chose not to get citizenship?

[@anitha6249]

I've lived in Singapore for 5 years. It's the cleanest, safest, orderly, obedient, stable, most apolitical, no media jackals, no protests, no human rights drama, no communist, no vote bank politics, peaceful country on earth. Corruption is almost nil, at least in all spheres where the general public interacts. Law and order is extremely strict, not even a teeny tiny little nonsense is tolerated. Public transport system is extremely good. Food, clothing, transport, everything is available at a reasonable cost. Government services are superb, disciplined and things gets done super fast. That said, it is a humid, tiny island with no variety, a concrete jungle with apartments and row houses completely blocking the already less available stale air, people very mechanical, transactional, money obsessed and lacking in creativity and human touch. Most of the country even dresses the same, think and behave all alike. There was a famous accident 2 years ago where a bunch of youngsters drove at an extremely high speed in a narrow road early morning wee hours and burned to death when their car crashed and caught fire. 1000s of comments everywhere abusing them for being so stupid and endangering others. Hardly one kind comment for the dead. I wondered whether it is ok to live in a prison full of mechanical people who have lost sense of what it is to be human or in a messy democratic country with air, space, creativity and a variety in cultures & tastes where people smile at each other. And moved out. However, I miss two things from Singapore - Icy Vietnam Soy Coffee from Mr. Bean and Soy Curd from Nine Fresh. If our countries become no longer liveable because of the growing muslim population, that's the only time I would wish I were in Singapore.

[@yong9613]

Welcome to Singapore, We locals have been successfully Institutionalised! Enjoy your stay 😁

[@mazel2169]

Still better than a country full of rapists 🤭

[@theWatchowskiBrosNowSis]

Your point about prison and mechanical ppl here is too harsh and his comment when he went back London visit debunked this there more compassion empathy here than you choose not to believed. About your last point it has already happened!

[@yong9613]

​@@ZhenYaeI wouldn't say to keep, rather it's to strengthen what was already there. Clash of Civilization, no matter how absurd or short sighted still has merit for those (with influence and ability) who wish to pursue it as it is

[@hemjoo]

In the end it's what you value (and that differs with diff people ofc): if it's creativity, space etc, yes, other countries offer more. For some, it's order and security to bring up a family. Singaporeans being mechanical, I'd say, is a superficial observation. As the wise 73 yo gentleman said, we r a pragmatic lot! Instilled into us is always: no one owes us a living. When I visited Ho Chi Minh a few years ago, that sense was even stronger, among the locals! Everyone just appeared like they wanted to survive, no time for niceties...

[@chenyinmei6466]

We need to be wise indeed..when to accept..when not to

[@willxavier]

the scene at 00'59 is the french quarter in New Orleans... jus sayin

[@MaxChernov]

She was saying about the US, that’s why