My Struggle as the Only Malaysian in a Singaporean Workplace

作为新加坡职场中唯一马来西亚人的挣扎

English Version

The Only Civil Engineer in a Mechanical World: Surviving Discrimination and Hardship in Singapore

“Imagine being the only civil engineer in a company full of mechanical engineers—and your boss expects you to know everything they do. For three grueling months, I faced this reality in Singapore, coupled with sleepless nights in a cramped $750 maid’s room. This is my story of survival.”

1. The Workplace Challenge:
   • “As the sole civil engineer in a mechanical engineering firm, I was constantly reminded of my ‘outsider’ status. My Singaporean colleagues specialized in mechanical systems, while my expertise lay in civil infrastructure—two vastly different fields. Yet, my boss insisted, ‘You’re an engineer; you should know this!’”
   • “Every day felt like a battle. I was tasked with mechanical projects I had no training in, forced to stay back late to study concepts foreign to my discipline. Mistakes were met with public criticism, and my confidence eroded as I struggled to meet unrealistic expectations.”
2. The Mental Toll:
   • “The discrimination wasn’t just professional—it was personal. My boss’s constant belittling wore me down mentally. For three months, I questioned my worth, trapped in a cycle of stress and self-doubt.”
3. Living Conditions:
   • “To make matters worse, I lived in a tiny maid’s room in an expensive Singapore condo. For $750 a month (electricity not included), I had barely enough space to breathe. After long days at work, I’d return to a room with no privacy, no comfort—just four walls and a flickering light.”
4. How I Survived:
   • “I turned my frustration into fuel. Nights were spent studying mechanical engineering basics, determined to prove myself. I reached out to online forums and mentors for guidance, slowly bridging the gap between civil and mechanical knowledge.”
   • “Eventually, I realized the problem wasn’t my skills—it was a toxic work environment. I left that job, but the lessons stayed with me: resilience is born from adversity, and self-worth isn’t defined by others’ expectations.”

“To anyone facing discrimination or feeling out of place: Your struggles don’t define you. They prepare you. And sometimes, walking away isn’t failure—it’s the bravest step you can take.”

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Chinese Version

机械工程世界里的唯一土木工程师：在新加坡遭受歧视与艰辛的生存记

“想象一下，你是一家机械工程公司里唯一的土木工程师——而你的老板却要求你精通所有机械知识。在新加坡的三个月里，我每天面对这样的现实，同时蜷缩在月租750新元、没有电力的狭小佣人房里。这是我的生存故事。”

1. 职场挑战:
   • “作为机械工程公司里唯一的土木工程师，我时刻被提醒着自己的‘外人’身份。我的新加坡同事专攻机械系统，而我的专业是土木工程——两个截然不同的领域。但我的老板坚持说：‘你是工程师，你应该懂这些！’”
   • “每一天都像一场战斗。我被分配到自己毫无经验的机械项目，被迫熬夜学习陌生的概念。犯错会招来当众批评，在无法满足不切实际的期望中，我的自信逐渐瓦解。”
2. 精神折磨:
   • “歧视不仅限于职场——更是人身攻击。老板不断的贬低让我精神崩溃。整整三个月，我在压力和自我怀疑中质疑自己的价值。”
3. 居住条件:
   • “更糟糕的是，我住在新加坡昂贵公寓的一间狭小佣人房里。月租750新元（不含电费），空间仅够勉强呼吸。漫长的工作日后，我回到这个没有隐私、没有舒适的房间——只有四面墙和一盏闪烁的灯。”
4. 生存之道:
   • “我将挫折转化为动力。每个夜晚，我自学机械工程基础知识，决心证明自己。通过在线论坛和导师的帮助，我慢慢填补了土木与机械知识的鸿沟。”
   • “最终，我意识到问题不在于我的能力，而在于有毒的工作环境。我离开了那份工作，但获得的教训铭记于心：韧性生于逆境，自我价值不由他人定义。”

“致所有面临歧视或感到格格不入的人：你的挣扎不会定义你，它们会锻造你。有时候，离开不是失败——而是最勇敢的选择。”