December 11, 2009 by admin
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After lecturing China on how it should continue to grow and
develop, Singapore’s MM Lee Kuan Yew now turns his attention to
Japan.
During a speech to more than 1,000 Japanese businessmen and
guests at the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Singapore’s
40th anniversary celebrations, MM Lee urged Japan to learn from the
Singapore’s experience and rethink its longstanding reservation
towards foreigners.
“There is a reluctance on the part of both leaders and
people to dilute or to complicate the society by bringing in people
of different cultures, different races. It’s not just bloodlines
but also language, culture, the way you communicate with each
other. I think Japan faces a difficult choice here,” he
said.
MM Lee said he is aware that the foreigner versus local issue is
a sensitive one which even Singapore is have difficulties in
dealing with.
He quoted the example of the recently opened foreign worker
dormitory in Serangoon Gardens:
“When we had to put work-permit holders in Serangoon estate,
there was tremendous unhappiness. But in fact, we’ve fenced it off,
made a different entrance, and I think it will work out. But
nevertheless there is a certain amount of discomfort,” he
added.
Though he is aware of the unhappiness of some Singaporeans at
the relentless influx of foreigners into Singapore, he continues to
reiterate just how important immigrants were:
“Supposing we remove 1.2 million of our foreigners, we’ll
find suddenly, all the restaurants, theatres, everything is
one-third empty. Some will close shop.”
Singapore is able to implement such a liberal immigration
policies to mass import foreigners from elsewhere because its
government is dominated by a single party with no opposition to
check on it, unlike Japan’s.
If the Japanese ruling party – the Democratic Party of Japan
were to adopt MM Lee’s suggestion and open its doors to immigrants,
it will soon be booted out of office in the next election.
Singapore’s ruling party does not have such worries or fears as
it is in firm control of the electoral process as well as all
institutions of the state which enables it to manipulate the system
grossly in its favor.
MM Lee should realize that the world does not revolve around
Singapore and what works here is seldom applicable elsewhere before
he dishes out his usual “dose” of wisdom to others.
Japan will have to find its own way of dealing with the aging
population and though immigration is a plausible solution, it
should be tweaked so as to serve the interests of the native
Japanese instead of foreigners like in the case of Singapore.
I just want to point out that since it is the Japanese Chamber
of Commerce and Industry dinner, the Japanese businessmen most
probably invited LKY to speak and wanted him to give his
opinion.
He was invited to give his opinion and he gave it.
