05:55 AM Nov 05, 2009 by Alicia Wong
SINGAPORE – Should all who want to live in Singapore be granted
their wish, the island could be overwhelmed with a population of up
to 13 million, even if some restless locals seek greener pastures
elsewhere.
This appeal the Republic holds for potential immigrants puts it
right at the top of research firm Gallup’s Potential Net Migration
Index, consolidated after a three-year survey of where the world’s
adults would like to move to permanently.
Places like the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and
France are, not surprisingly, the most popular destination
countries in absolute terms, the survey found. But the index
measures – as a proportion of the total population – the estimated
number of people who want to live in a country minus those who want
to move out.
With a top score of 260 per cent, “Singapore’s adult population
would increase from an estimated 3.6 million to as high as 13
million,” Gallup reported on its website.
It’s both good and disturbing news for Singapore, which has
grappled with the economic imperative to persuade talented
foreigners to take up roots here, but also the need to control the
migrant influx and its problems for a tiny city-state with limited
land.
After accelerating immigration numbers in recent years, Prime
Minister Lee Hsien Loong two months ago signalled a slowdown in the
intake.
Sociologist Paulin Straughan said the survey findings “mean that
hopefully we will be in a situation where we can afford to be
selective”. “If the statistics are reliable, it seems to suggest we
are in a happy situation where we have a bigger pool of talent (to
choose from),” the Nominated Member of Parliament added.
But who are those who want to move here? The Gallup survey, which
interviewed 259,600 adults from 135 countries over the telephone or
face-to-face, did not specify.
It did, however, show that of the 700 million worldwide who would
like to live elsewhere, 38 per cent were from Sub-Saharan Africa
and 23 per cent from the Middle East and North Africa, while Asians
were the most content to stay put – only one in 10 wanted to move
permanently.
As for Singapore’s overall attractiveness, it was this year ranked
by Mercer as being the world’s 26th most liveable city, but also
the 10th most expensive.
MP Charles Chong (Pasir Ris-Punggol) is “not surprised” with the
Gallup findings. “(There are) many bigger countries where the
situation is comparatively less fortunate than the situation
here.”
At his Meet-the-People sessions, he encounters “quite a lot of
people (who) want their relatives, parents to move here”. The
Government will have to “strike a balance” in taking in those with
talent, and those who do the jobs locals are not inclined towards,
he added.
But as for Singaporeans who want to leave, they will likely be the
“educated, professional and (those who) have skills” – and they
will need to be replaced, said Associate Professor Straughan. About
1,000 emigrate each year.
http://sgblogs.com/entry/want-live-here-today/366853
