http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/03/05/wong-kan-seng-urged-singaporeans-to-be-realistic-and-more-tolerant-of-foreign-workers/
Written by Our Correspondent
After opening the floodgates and allow Singapore to be swarmed
by foreigners without any proper screening or planning, Home
Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng is now urging “Singaporeans to be
realistic and more tolerant of foreign workers.”
During his speech on the Budget, Mr Wong said:
“Singaporeans need to be realistic and fair-minded. While we
want foreign workers to do the less pleasant jobs and contribute to
our economy, we cannot also expect them to stay away, during their
off days, from public places and shopping malls where we frequent,
or not to take public transport to work.”
The foreign talent and immigration issues have become hot topics
of late with many Singaporeans voicing their unhappiness and anger
against the ruling party for its misguided policies.
Though Singapore needs foreign workers to take up jobs shunned
by locals, the onus is on the government to beef up the
infrastructure to ensure that it is adequate to accommodate the
increase in population.
Due to poor planning and lack of foresight, too many foreigners
are allowed into Singapore within too short a period of time,
leading to overcrowding at public spaces and transport.
Mr Wong claimed that foreigners contribute to Singapore’s
economic growth “which have raised the quality of life for all
Singaporeans.”
According to a UBS report released last year, Singapore has the
lowest domestic purchasing power and wages among the Asian Tigers
and have a standard of living comparable to Russia. (read article
here)
It is ranked by the Economist Unit as the 53th best place to
live in the world below the likes of Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong,
Australia and Canada.
“Economic growth has also enabled us to accumulate reserves
in good times, which we have been able to rely on to sustain and
support Singaporeans during lean and tough times,” he
added.
Singapore’s two sovereign wealth funds Temasek Holdings and GIC
was reported to have lost billions of dollars of reserves in failed
overseas investments, the exact amount loss remains a mystery to
this very day.
Mr Wong ended his speech by reminding Singaporeans that “the
integration of foreigners and new immigrants is an ongoing journey
and takes a long time.”
“It cannot be rushed. It needs the directive and active
involvement of both Singaporeans and new immigrants,” he was
quoted as saying in the Straits Times.
Since this is so, why then did the PAP accept so many foreigners
at the same time which makes it even more difficult to integrate
them now as they tend to congregate within their own
communities?
Mr Wong should be more realistic and not expect Singaporeans who
are one of the most tolerant people in the world to make
unnecessary sacrifices anymore to pay for the juvenile mistakes
made by the PAP.