SINGAPORE: Singaporean comedian and performer Kumar believes many Singaporeans are unhappy because they spend too much time chasing others’ lifestyles rather than appreciating what they already have.

Speaking on a YouTube interview published on May 7 by Max Chernov, who features raw conversations about wealth, global mobility, and mastery, Kumar said modern Singapore life has become an endless pursuit of money, status, condos, cars, and social expectations.

“Singapore need to slow down, think, live for the moment and enjoy life,” Kumar said. “Because we are all in a chase. We are all chasing for the money, chasing for a better life,” he pointed to younger Singaporeans who feel pressured to achieve the traditional 5Cs (Cash, Car, Credit Card, Condominium, and Country Club) milestones, dubbed the “Singapore Dream” early in life, before turning 30.

Kumar then questioned whether such people have stopped asking themselves what actually makes them happy. “You need to know what makes you happy and find your happiness,” he said.

“Don’t be jealous about what your friend has…”

One of Kumar’s strongest points during the interview was about making unnecessary personal comparisons of other people’s lifestyles and financial status.

He said many Singaporeans measure their lives against those of friends, colleagues, or social media influencers without considering differences in income, profession, or circumstances.

“Don’t be jealous about what your friend has,” Kumar advised, adding, “We have to be grateful for what we have and be happy with what we have.”

He added further that many people appear happy on the surface but struggle internally, harbouring such envious tendencies. “They look happy, they think they’re happy, but instead they’re not happy,” he explained.

“Be grateful and happy with what you have…”

Kumar warned that such constant comparison and envy can slowly push people into depression, especially when they feel they are falling behind others financially or socially.

“It’s eating them up,” he said, “so eventually they’ll get into depression because they don’t have what others have,” he added, [so] “be happy with what you have. I’m very happy with what I have. Extremely. I’m very at peace. I have my Netflix. I’m very happy,” he laughed.

On a serious note, discussions about burnout, silent exhaustion, and “rat race” culture have become increasingly common online in recent years, so Kumar’s comments now may resonate with many Singaporeans facing rising living costs, housing concerns, debt, and work stress.

“You don’t need to have S$1M in the bank to be happy…”

Kumar also pushed back against the idea that happiness comes only after achieving major financial goals. “You don’t have to have one million [dollars] in the bank [to be happy],” he said. “You can find happiness with S$10,000,” he assured.

The comedian also said he personally prefers balance to endless work. “I’m not greedy,” he exclaimed. “I’m happy doing [my comedy show] three times a week because it gives me enough money to pay my rent, to have my lifestyle, and be happy.”

He also cautioned against living beyond one’s means through bank loans and credit card debt, saying many people create unnecessary stress by trying to maintain lifestyles they cannot comfortably afford.

“You can live, you can work, and you can sustain your lifestyle; that’s most important. Don’t live out of your means,” were Kumar’s exact words of advice.

“Don’t always complain about work. Do something that makes you happy…”

Beyond money, Kumar said, people need healthier ways to manage their stress levels. He encouraged Singaporeans to spend less time complaining about work and more time pursuing hobbies, exercising, or engaging in activities they genuinely enjoy.

“Do some outdoor activity that makes you happy to balance this frustration at work,” he advised, adding, “Exercise is so important.” He also joked that “the biggest enemy for us is the handphone,” referring to mobile phone addiction and modern digital habits that keep people indoors all the time.

In addition, according to Kumar, happiness is less about chasing perfection and more about balance, gratitude, and knowing when enough is enough.

“Find your happiness. Happiness is not a place, it’s a direction…”

Kumar closed the interview with a simple message to all Singaporeans that summed up his views on life.

• “Find your happiness.”

• “Happiness is not a place, it’s a direction.”

• “Don’t be greedy. Be grateful. Be kind. Be happy.”

Besides advising the people of Singapore to be grateful and happy in life, Kumar also touched on dating pressure, masculinity, mental health, financial stress, migration, technology, and Singapore society in greater depth.

Watch the full context of Kumar’s opinions, advice, and suggestions in the video interview with Max Chernov below:

This article (‘Singaporeans are unhappy because they’re always chasing what 5Cs others have’ — SG comedian Kumar says, ‘Don’t be jealous; be grateful and happy with what you have’) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: After a year of unemployment, one Singaporean jobseeker has admitted that the experience has completely shattered his confidence, to the point where he now avoids meeting friends and relatives altogether.

In a Reddit post, the man said it feels like everyone around him has moved forward while he remains painfully stuck in the same place. His friends are progressing in their careers, getting promotions, and building their futures, while he continues sending out application after application with nothing to show for it.

What makes things worse, he shared, are the constant questions from relatives whenever they meet.

“Still no job?” they would ask, often with expressions that appeared to hover between “concern and disappointment.”

After months of giving the same explanations about his job search struggles, the man said he gradually began withdrawing from social interactions altogether.

“Life feels bleak,” he wrote. “And the weight of uncertainty just feels unbearable. Anyone in the same boat as me?”

The man stressed that he has not spent the past year doing nothing. According to him, he tried everything he could think of to improve his chances of getting hired. He attended “career fairs, reached out to professionals on LinkedIn, applied for countless openings, and even signed up for upskilling courses.”

But despite all that effort, nothing seemed to work.

Some employers never replied to his applications at all. Others dragged him through multiple interview rounds before suddenly disappearing without an explanation. A few openings, he said, came with requirements that felt impossible to meet.

He pointed out that many so-called “entry-level” jobs were asking for three to five years of experience.

“How do you gain experience when no one gives you a chance?” he questioned.

Now, with his savings slowly drying up and the gap in his resume growing longer by the day, the man admitted that he is beginning to lose hope.

Experts: Don’t isolate yourself

Career experts say that while unemployment can seriously affect confidence and push people into isolation, withdrawing completely tends to make things worse.

According to Vision Counselling’s website, it is essential for job seekers to maintain connections with friends, family, or support groups, as these can provide comfort, reassurance, and a broader perspective.

Experts also advise job seekers to acknowledge their emotions instead of suppressing them. Writing thoughts and feelings down, especially frustrations, sadness, or anger, can help people process what they are going through.

Aside from this, they also urge job seekers to establish a routine since this “counteracts the lack of direction often experienced during unemployment” and to use this period as an opportunity to learn a new skill or take a course.

Read also: ‘This is my home’: Singaporeans say they would not retire in Malaysia despite lower costs

This article (‘Still no job?’ — SG jobseeker avoids friends and relatives after a year of unemployment) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Amid a wave of reactions about Minister Indranee Rajah’s recent comments as chair of the Government’s workgroup to boost the national birth rate, one individual has said that the politician should not act as a spokesperson giving advice to citizens, given the fact that she does not have children herself.

The criticism erupted after Ms Indranee gave an update on the new Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup that was convened to address Singapore’s record low total fertility rate (TFR) of 0.87.

The 63-year-old told CNA last week that the breaks women take to have and care for children should be seen as career “detours” and not sacrifices or setbacks. She added that the workgroup aims to normalise these career “detours” among employees and employers.

Singaporeans responding to her remarks were critical and asked the Minister why she hadn’t taken a detour herself. Ms Indranee is unmarried and does not have children.

Some questioned why Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who also does not have children, would tap on Ms Indranee to head a committee on marriage and parenthood. Others said “talk is easy” and urged the Minister to avoid lecturing working mothers, as she hasn’t had the experiences they have had.

Amid the criticism, one Singaporean urged the Minister to reconsider her communication approach and rely on mothers to better connect with citizens on this issue.

In a lengthy post analysing the reactions to Ms Indranee’s recent remarks, Facebook user Ding Neng argued that successful messaging often depends not just on the content of the advice being given, but on whether the person delivering it is seen as relatable or credible by the target audience.

Photo: Ding Neng FB

He suggested that “testimonials” from people with lived experience tend to resonate more strongly with the public, especially when audiences can identify with them.

Using examples from MLM seminars and investment pitches, he wrote that people are often persuaded when they hear success stories from individuals they perceive as similar to themselves.

He added that the same principle applies in other contexts, saying people are unlikely to respond positively to health or fitness advice from someone who does not appear to embody the results they are promoting.

Against this backdrop, Mr Ding questioned the Government’s decision to have Minister Indranee lead messaging around childbirth and parenthood, pointing out that she does not have children herself.

“But then, we are now seeing how the government is getting Singaporeans to have kids, [led] by a minister who [hasn’t] done it before,” he wrote.

According to Mr Ding, the issue is not necessarily with the quality or sincerity of the ideas being proposed.

“I can say Minister Indranee has lots of good ideas and proposals to encourage Singaporeans to have kids,” he said, adding that she also has “a team of MPs under her team contributing to ideas too.”

However, he argued that the public response shows many Singaporeans are struggling to connect with the messenger.

“Whatever advice she gives, no matter how well-intended, got lots of push back simply because people are saying directly/indirectly ‘if so good, then why haven’t you done it yourself’,” he wrote.

He urged the Minister, “Don’t be the spokesperson to give advice already. People are hearing, but not listening – same as how a person overweight and more unhealthy than you giving you advice how to work out and eat clean.”

Rather than having politicians front the campaign directly, Mr Ding suggested the Government rely more heavily on the experiences of ordinary parents and employers who have successfully navigated the challenges of raising children in Singapore.

Among his suggestions were inviting mothers who stepped away from their careers and later re-entered the workforce to share their experiences publicly, as well as showcasing families living on median incomes who are able to raise children while maintaining a reasonable quality of life.

He also proposed highlighting companies that actively support working mothers through flexible workplace policies, with employees themselves sharing why those measures have been effective.

“The message is the same, but because it’s shared by people who have done it, people are open to listen,” he wrote.

He concluded his post by saying, “People don’t follow ideas; they follow people who have proven those ideas work.”

Netizens responding to his post agreed with his take and urged the Government to rethink how it communicates its pro-family messaging.

One commenter said, “She’s capable, but she’s definitely the wrong person to chair this. She is not married and has no kids, which is already a NO-NO and can’t get credibility liao.

“Also, by having her chair this initiative, it’s giving a negative impression to the public that the government is not serious about this initiative. Of all people, why her?”

Another netizen added, “Reality is: there are trade-offs. To deny that is to be not honest with the population. I thought PAP was always straightforward with the populace?

“Anyway, there are good reasons why people cannot accept Indranee leading the workgroup. The issue is highly emotional and sensitive, and only those who have gone through it themselves have much credibility to lead the workgroup. It is not about solving just any technical issue.”

This article (Concerned Singaporean says Indranee Rajah shouldn’t be the “spokesperson giving advice” on how to boost birth rate) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A 42-year-old recruiter, Ms Shulin Lee, has come under heavy fire online after comments she made during CNA’s Deep Dive podcast rubbed many Singaporeans the wrong way.

In the interview, she claimed that some companies she has worked with “are letting go of Singaporeans in favour of hiring people in Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, not because they’re necessarily more skilled, but because they are a lot hungrier.”

Unsurprisingly, her use of the word “hungry” quickly became the focus of criticism.

Across social media, many users slammed the remarks as “tone deaf,” “insensitive,” and overly dismissive of the struggles local workers already face. Some felt the comments painted Singaporeans as lazy or entitled, simply because they are no longer willing to tolerate endless overtime, constant stress, and stagnant pay without questioning it.

Others argued that refusing to work punishing hours for lower salaries does not make someone “less hungry.” If anything, they said, it just means workers today know their worth and are less willing to romanticise burnout in the name of loyalty.

In a separate Reddit post, another Singaporean shared their own take after watching clips of the interview. Rather than agreeing that locals are becoming less driven, the user argued that Singaporeans “aren’t less hungry” but “simply tired.”

According to the post, many people grew up watching their parents work themselves to the bone, staying in the office until late at night, sacrificing family time, health, and personal happiness, only to end up retrenched anyway, despite years of loyalty.

They added that when younger workers today ask for things like work-life balance, fair pay, or reasonable boundaries, they are suddenly labelled “not hungry,” as though wanting a life outside work automatically means lacking ambition.

“Is Singapore really becoming ‘less hungry?’” They added. “Or are people finally rejecting burnout culture?”

“What makes her think that we Singaporeans are not hungry?”

In the discussion thread, one Redditor responded: “I just think it’s because we’re not in survival mode or we don’t wish to be in that mode anymore—and! that’s!! Okay!!!”

Another commented, “Less hungry is such a stupid take, man. Less hungry compared to who/what? Less hungry compared to foreign talents (FT)? The same FT doing the same role can buy bungalows, land, and cars back in their home country. We can barely afford a BTO/resale.”

A third added, “Honestly, I feel that the comment she made is like an insult to us Singaporeans. Don’t you think so? What makes her think that we Singaporeans are not hungry? She thought we all stay in Singapore for free?”

“All of us have monthly bills to pay, we all still need to work and put food for the family on the table, so that we all can survive.”

Read also: Singaporeans returning after 10+ years overseas share biggest reverse culture shocks: ‘MRT used to be empty at 3pm, now it’s always crowded’

This article (‘Singaporeans aren’t less ‘hungry’… maybe we’re just tired’: Reddit user says Singaporeans are growing tired of burnout culture) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.