Singapore is a minuscule city state, a small dot in this planet -- with land area of 728.3 sq. km with less than 6 million people -- encircled by big neighbours with different cultures and religions, the Islamic countries.
Life is very competitive there, there is a stereotype that Singaporeans are "kiasu" (in office or working environment) -- (of a person) having a grasping or selfish attitude arising from a fear of missing out on something. Being tiny that country must strive hard to come out better than its neighbours, to stay prosperous otherwise it has no chance -- it's quite limited, has no resources other than human resources and location, needs to buy everything and imports all its needs, cannot even grow its own food. Understanding this situation, one may have better perspective, or even empathy -- it may relate much to one's security and psychological complex. As the world's dynamics is keeping on changing, and has been changing very much, Singaporeans may wish to update their world views to grasp the world more accurately. I have no strong pros and cons, don't have any strong perceptions, just trying to understand its overall situation as a tiny entity encircled by way bigger entities -- however weak those neighbours are, in one's perception, but size does matter -- so best for SIN to be nice to everyone, leans to the current Empire for protection but should not go extreme or take side too far. For the folks there, they will learn their ways and standing, slow or fast.