Singaporean unhappy at grassroots organizations hosting “Water
Festival” for foreigners
In other countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada,
immigrants are expected to adapt and integrate themselves into
local societies. It is the other way round in Singapore.
Due to the PAP’s liberal immigration and pro-foreigner policies,
foreigners now make up 36 percent of Singapore’s population, up
from 14 percent in 1990. Of the remaining 64 percent who are
citizens, an increasing number are born overseaas.
As too many foreigners were allowed into the country within
too short a period of time, Singapore is now experiencing a
headache trying to integrate all of them.
Singaporeans have been exhorted repeatedly by PAP leaders to
accept and welcome the foreigners with open arms and now they are
expected to adapt themselves to their culture as well.
An irate reader tipped us off about a “Water Festival”
organized by Bukit Batok grassroots organizations to welcome the
New Year for the Thai, Burmese, Laotian and Cambodians living in
Singapore:
He fumed:
“The Water Festival is celebrated to welcome the New Year in
Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos. Organised by The
grassroots organizations and the Myanmese community in Singapore.
It is to welcome the New Year. 3,000 people expected. How come
foreigners are not integrated into Singapore experience.
Instead, we have to integrate into foreigners cultures. The money
used, would it be possible from the tax payers money
again?”
While foreigners have the right to celebrate their festivals in
Singapore, it is not the business of grassroots organizations to
use taxpayers’ monies to organize their festivals for them.
The Burmese Buddhist Temple and some other Thai temples in
Singapore organize yearly “Water Festivals” for their devotees. Why
is there a need for Bukit Batok grassroots organizations to do
so?
Though it is not stated explicitly, the funds used to host the
event are likely to come from the mega $10-million dollar Community
Integration Fund unveiled by the Ministry of Community, Youth and
Sports (MCYS) last year to make the foreigners feel accepted
and happy in Singapore.
At the same time, it was revealed that there were only 11
successful applicants for Public Assistance (PA) scheme between
July 2008 and December 2009. MCYS claimed this shows that
Singaporeans want to be as “self reliant” as much as possible.
The money being splurged by the PAP on such events for the
foreigners should be better utilized to help poor and needy
Singaporeans instead. The foreigners have their own local civic and
religious organizations to organize social events for them.
It is the duty of the elected government of the day to take care
of its citizens who put them in office first and NOT foreigners
unless of course the name of the ruling party is “Foreigner Action
Party”.
TR 21 mar 2010