Honestly, it is a fact that I don't think will ever change and instead of whining and complaining, it is time we start facing the reality and put those complains into actions. It is also a fact that firearm laws in Singapore do not allow individual possession. Instead of harping on this fact (and I emphasize again that this is a fact), let's do something to change the perspectives of the Singapore authorities. But if we do not even provide ourselves with this opportunity for others to change their thinking... how do you think that is going to change paintball in Singapore? To improve and develop paintball, we need sponsors, we need players, we need paintball fields but one thing that we really need is a review of the current firearms act. Its not about paintball being expensive, its not about the lack of playing facilities, its not about no proper tournament, its not about people not playing paintball... its about the firearms law. Like it or not, we have to be realistic. We can have 10 playing paintball fields in Singapore supporting competitive paintball but so as long as the rule don't change, do ever think about sleeping with your paintball markers. It is not going to happen unless we are willing to help ourselves. Paintball prices will drop due to pricing competitions (economies of scale) but faced the fact again, it will NEVER be cheaper than Malaysia. Don't fall short on your vision. Don't bet the future of Singapore paintball for that 2 boxes of paintballs that you saved every week. Please don't get me wrong... I am not telling you not to play in Malaysia. I have been playing in the Malaysia circuit since 2007 and I enjoy every minute of it. I made many great friends through paintball and I want to thank them for teaching me how Singapore paintball should be shaped. The Malaysians have come a long way from playing in the jungle without permit to organizing the biggest paintball competition in Asia... these developments don't come by chance, its the hardwork of the paintball people who have been driving the change for Malaysia paintball. Kudos to you. I describe paintball as a love triangle. Players need fields to play in, vendors need players to buy paintball products, paintball operators need players to play in their field. Everybody needs everybody...
I have mentioned this to many people: "Go and play in Malaysia to gain that experience but remember to bring back what you have learnt back to Singapore..." One day, we want to be like our Malaysian counterparts. We want to have our own tournament, we want to have our own say about development of paintball in Singapore, we want to have our own Singapore teams, we want to use our own markers. We just need to help ourselves... there is no point talking about the price of paintballs, there is no point talking about bad politics in paintball, there is no point talking about the silence of the paintball scence, there is no point talking about the lack of support... let's talk about how we can promote paintball in Singapore. Introducing paintball to your friends is only the beginning, to transform Singapore paintball we surely need more than that.
For those who are unaware, paintball marker is still not legalised in Malaysia even after many years of success in organizing some of the greatest paintball tournaments in Asia. YES! We want to be like the Malaysians. We really want. But let's learn from them too. I am really happy to see the formation of the Malaysia Paintball Federation (MPBF), it means a lot about paintball in Asia as Malaysia is considered as the paintball hub of Asia and with its development, things will look good not only for Singapore but neighbouring countries such as Brunei, Vietnam, Australia, Sri Lanka, Japan, Korea where paintball markers are somewhat consider as illegal for possession.
Its a pin drop some might say about Singapore paintball... its funny because when there are ongoings in Singapore paintball, paintball prices is always an issue, when there are ongoings in Singapore paintball, firearms regulations is always an issue, when there are ongoings in Singapore paintball, lack of support is always an issue. If paintball fails to take off in Singapore, who is the most affected? I thought the answer is obviously the people behind paintball development. So who's to say that paintball is not developing? One thing for sure more people are playing competitive paintball since I first started in 2007. If "rivalry" is one issue that will hinder Malaysia paintball... why are there rivals in the first place? or should we just call them partners with different directions? Perhaps this is what Singapore paintball is facing. I am a firm believer of actions... and to those people who just talk and talk about wanting to promote paintball in Singapore, I challenge you to just do it but never never put down those who are already doing so, for one day, you might be the next person who will be taking the blame. Don't talk about paintball politics, just ask ourselves do we want to play paintball or not? I would like to quote a facebook entry by a friend which I thought is very true: When I don't organize, people asked and when I do, I get attitude.
Develop our very own Singapore paintball culture...
1 comment:
:) a well written and rationale article.
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