Should PRs and new citizens be allowed to interfere in
Singapore’s domestic politics?
The PAP government has never failed to emphasize on the “fact”
that “Singapore’s politics are reserved for Singaporeans only” as
outsiders do not have a stake in the country to deter foreigners
from “interfering” in local politics.
Foreign journalists often have their work permits canceled
without warning like in the recent case of Daily Telegraph
journalist Benjamin Bland or banned from entering Singapore
altogether like the Chief Editor of Asia Sentinel John Berthelsen
who was once “deported” unceremoniously by the police upon his
arrival at Changi Airport.
Foreigners are required to apply for a police permit even when
speaking indoors and they are almost always not given when the
topic touches on local politics. For example, a Swedish human
rights activist’s permit to hold a workshop for SDP members was
rejected with no reasons given.
Being a non-partisan public institution, one would expect the
Singapore police to apply the law equally to all political parties,
but this is not often the case.
Not too long ago, Chinese Daily Lianhe Wanbao hosted a public
forum which saw a famous Taiwanese orator heaping generous praises
on PAP leaders though the topic of discussion was supposed to be on
China’s development in the future.
Since foreigners are not allowed to “interfere” in Singapore
politics, then one should expect PRs to fall within the ambit of
the unwritten rule as well.
However, PRs are often given ample space in the Straits Times
Forum to voice their support for the PAP government, the latest
being a Pakistani Sam Ahmed who wrote a letter urging Singaporeans
to be “more appreciative” of their own country.
It is strange that letters critical of the PAP are
almost always censored while those few lauding it are published to
sway public opinion to its side.
The Straits Times should have rejected these fawning letters to
curry favor with the ruling party on the ground that they are
“interfering” in domestic politics which are for Singapore citizens
only.
With the PAP giving Singapore citizenships freely to foreigners,
these new citizens will form an increasingly influential voting
bloc in the future, but are they ready to partake in the political
life of Singapore?
As many of them came to Singapore in the prime of their lives
without ever serving National Service, life here is a bed of roses
for them especially if they come from developing countries like
India and China.
A new citizen from India and YPAP member Mr Fredric Fanthome
wrote an article for Contact Singapore in which he expressed his
admiration for Singapore’s “efficiency” – “everything works here!,”
he wrote.
Mr Fanthome holds a senior position in a local SME. Armed with a
decent-paying job and saved from the hassle of National Service
obligations, it is little wonder that Mr Fanthome is so infatuated
with the PAP.
However for a Singapore man growing up in Singapore in the 1970s
and 1980s, it is a different story altogether.
During his younger days, he witnessed his parents being able to
afford a HDB flat relatively easily, but when it comes to his time,
he has problems servicing the hefty mortgage loan as a result of
sky-rocketing prices in the last few months.
He has to compete with an increasing number of foreigners like
Mr Fanthome who are lured to Singapore by jobs which offer higher
pay than their homelands.
Furthermore, he has the mandatory 4 week reservist obligation to
fulfill annually when the newcomers have none. It is only natural
that the Singaporean will feel bitter and angry towards the PAP
government.
Unfortunately, such genuine grouses on the ground are
incomprehensible to the new citizens who are courted by the PAP
actively from the very beginning to rope them into grassroots
organizations and the party itself to shore up its support
base.
Mr Fanthome can therefore be forgiven for dismissing online
critics of the PAP as “anonymous hordes which spray venom at the
government” for not being born and bred in Singapore as his
perception of the PAP is somewhat colored and skewed by the
propaganda churned out by the state media daily.
As the new citizens have a limited understanding of Singapore
politics, can we really trust them to make an informed decision
during the elections?
It is only natural to expect new citizens to vote for the ruling
party which gives them the opportunity to start life afresh in
Singapore in the first place.
Since their support for the PAP is based largely on gratitude,
they may be ignorant of the more important issues at stake such as
the direction the nation is heading in the future.
Many of them also appear not to be aware of the lack of
accountability and transparency in Singapore’s political system
which allows one dominant party to ride roughshod over all other
political parties, state institutions and the people.
It may take some time before new citizens come to the same
conclusion as the locals – that they are not getting a fair deal
from the ruling party and by then it will be too late.
Foreigners now make up 36 per cent of the population, up from 14
per cent in 1990. The percentage of new citizens is unknown, but is
likely to be on an upward trend.
In a small country like Singapore, a sizable number of new
citizens in the electorate will have a significant impact on the
outcome of the election.
There are two ways to counter the unfair advantage enjoyed by
the incumbent as a result of the rising number of new citizens:
1. New citizens are not permitted to vote within the first five
years of their residency in Singapore to give them ample time to
familiarize themselves with the political situation in the country
so as to help them to make a calm and rational decision.
2. Old citizens are given one additional vote to give them more
say in the running of their nation, especially those who have spent
the two most precious years of their lives serving the nation.
Of course it is impossible to expect the PAP to do anything
which will hurt their interest when the massive immigration we are
seeing now is part of its grand design to perpetuate its political
hegemony forever whether we like it or not.
The only way out for locals is to stand up and be counted at the
next general election and vote for sufficient opposition MPs into
parliament to deny the PAP’s its traditional two-thirds
majority.
Only then can we put a brake to its runaway liberal immigration
policy to replace locals with their new pets from China, India and
elsewhere.
Singapore politics should be reserved strictly for citizens born
and bred in Singapore.
Even among citizens, a clearer distinction must be drawn between
old and new citizens to acknowledge the sacrifices the former have
made to the nation.
