Rant & Raves

Phua Chu Kang is a Singapore comedy series running since 1996 and it is one of the longest running series in Singapore. The characters are strong in characters and the story can be hilarious at times. Phua Chu Kang (the main character, hence the title of the series) has a eye-opening family members, including wife Rosie, younger brother, Phua Chu Beng (punt intended), sister-in-law Margaret, and nephew Aloycious (or however you spell that damn name. More into that later).

Even though it is a really funny show, but that’s not the reason why I like the show so much. The reason is really simple: Each of the character is representing the typical type of Singaporeans. A lot of Singaporeans just find the series funny but they didn’t realise that those characters are playing sarcasm over the air (I hope my Singaporean friends will not hate me fo this).

For instance, Phua Chu Beng represents the typical educated Singaporeans who are KKK. No, not the Klu Klax Klan, but Kiasu (afraid of loosing), Kiasi (aftraid of dying, or rather, cowardice) and Kiabo (scared of wife).

Margaret, Beng’s wife, is the typical English educated Singaporean (for your info: almost all the schools in Singapore do teach Chinese and yet they like to pretend that they don’t know Mandarin) whom they feel that by speaking English only, they are superior to others and they look down on those who can’t speak proper English. Furthermore, they are fussy about things, like eating at a roadside restaurant, they will fuss about the hygene and the ambience of the place. They like things fancy and beautiful. Oh! Furthermore, they are the type of parents that they love to name their offsprings like no one else. Hence the son’s name Aloycious. (A friend of mine in Singapore browsed through the Greek book trying to find an ancient Greek God’s name for her son)

Aloycious, Beng and Margaret son, is typical well-protected son. They are under constant pressure from the parents to do well in school because the paper certificate is the most important thing in life. Yet, they are also trying to find things the easy way and also because of being under constant protection, they are with no direction and need constant care from the parents.

Rosie, Phua Chu Kang’s wife, is the typical auntie Singaprean type who are coupon-monster and are easily lured by cheaper things. They will scream at any sales and they will take hours to que for a 20 cents discount, just because it’s 20 cents cheaper than normal.

Now come the best part: Phua Chu Kang, the main character, is those typical older generation of Singaporean that earned a lot of money but can’t do well in other department. They are trying to act educated, yet their action speaks differently. Furthermore, they are also under constant impression that they are the best so they will act really cocky and egoistic as well. They think whatever they do is the correct way and when they failed, they still think that they did it the right way.

Of course, I am not saying that Malaysians are all good, but Phua Chu Kang series really portrait typical Singaporeans so well that I have to applaud them. Hopefully Malaysia will make a show like that to show the typical Malaysians, and also show the daily life, interests and political issues in Malaysia.

Okay, I admit. Even if there’s a show like that in Malaysia, I won’t know because I don’t really watch any local made show because of the bad experience: bad quality and child like performance.