Talking about economic wise, there is no doubt Singapore is better than any other ASEAN countries. Is it the best place to live? That is a BIG NO!! unless u have a lot of money. A lot of Malaysian work in Singapore coz its lucrative but y come back to Malaysia? Y not live in Singapore? All this Singapore is the best la.. Not sure if half of Singaporean even know to sing their national anthem.
Singapore is rich in the first place is because of its strategic location and the size of the country. From there, they slowly build their economy. Their port is their starting point since they dont have any natural resources.

Well, that's wat i got from my Malaysia Law class in Uni. Some how it got side track to how Singapore got separated from Malaysia. And my prof was a thai national. lol.

Singapura would have been the New York/Hong Kong/Dubai of Malaysia if Tunku had not kick SG out of MY....

Main reasons why Malaysians have had a deep sense of insecurity when Singapura is concern was because she was an integral part of the country until when the Malayan Union failed to include it.

You misunderstood. I am saying they started rich. I am say they are richer than any other ASEAN countries now coz of their port. I am saying they got to start of from something. They start small and what they have. I admit, Singapore did a pretty good job to be what it is now. But got to look at the factors and history.
But all this economy, GDP mumbo jambo stuff does not make Singapore a better country to live in. Not for me at least.

hey for all the things i dislike abt Singapore u cant deny it has reached first world status and joined the ranks of other developed cities. Hard truths...