She added: 'One hopes that Singaporeans as a cosmopolitan people exposed to a wide range of ideas will preserve the discernment to consider what best serves the good of our society where we live and build our lives.'

Listening to a complaint choir or (watching a film that discusses a controversial subject matter) does not mean embracing it. It merely means to expose oneself to a 'wide range of ideas' which one can agree, reject or reach a conclusion at a later date. Singaporeans simply cannot be exposed to a 'wide range of ideas' if those ideas are not heard, such as in this case.

Whether or not the performers are local is irrelevant in this case as after all a significant number of people Singaporeans interact with are not local. If there are grouses about the various foreign communities in Singapore where their numbers are ever increasing (and vice versa), surely it would be better to air those 'complaints' than to keep the lid tightly shut.

As one who shares the writer's hope for our fellow Singaporeans to be conscious that their attitudes and actions will impact those around them, I wish those complaints which have been woven into song (probably easier on the ears as well?) are made more public so that Singaporeans, myself included, can hear the complaints out and evaluate for ourselves whether our individual and collective attitude and/or behaviour needs changing.

Tan Yen Ling (Ms)