Being kiasu isn't all bad, say experts

Singaporeans may see their society as kiasu – meaning afraid to lose out to others – but academics say the picture is not necessarily as gloomy as it first appears. SMU Assistant Professor of Law Eugene Tan felt the results showed Singaporeans could be very critical of themselves collectively. However, this came with a silver lining. "We can see ourselves, warts and all," he said. "It also signals that we are becoming more concerned with those negative traits." He agreed that Singaporeans need not worry unduly, but added that they seem more critical of the "collective other" than themselves as individuals. "We seem to blame others for the current state of affairs, and absolve ourselves of any contributory role to the negative societal traits," he said.