Public eye: Adam Yeo, 29; copywriter

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ONIN LORENTE | www.style-anywhere.com

Do you work around here?
‘Yes, I am a copywriter. My office is along Robinson Road.’

Tell me more about your work.
‘My job is to make the familiar new and the new familiar. I basically sell things through words.’

And you’re allowed to keep long hair?
‘I’m actually Malaysian and have just [become] a Singapore citizen, so I didn’t have to go through National Service or do re-service, so there’s no need to keep my hair short.’

What made you want to become a citizen here?
‘Better quality of living. The currency here is stronger and the environment is much safer – whereas crime is getting a little out of hand in Malaysia.’

Was it an easy decision for you to become a citizen here?
‘It was definitely a no-brainer.’

What about your family?
‘They are pretty encouraging actually, and they see it as a natural progression.

’Wow, you have a lot of good things to say about Singapore.
‘Well, there is an easiness to living here. Back in Malaysia you quite often spend an hour stuck in a traffic jam on your way to work, and you need to have a car to commute. Over here you can simply rely on the public transport to get around.’

Okay, now what about something you don’t like about Singapore? Don’t hold back...
‘I think Singaporeans may not appreciate what they have because they’ve not come from a less developed background, and they may take things for granted.’

So you think Singaporeans are just a pampered lot?
‘Well, it is more chaotic in a less developed country like Malaysia. Everything in Singapore is pre-arranged and fixed so you do not have to think much; you’ve got to be more streetwise in Malaysia to avoid getting into trouble. The people here conform to the system a lot, so there is not much chance to explore and think out of the box.