Much has been written on the economic impact of the uncontrolled
influx of foreigners into Singapore. Little is known about the
underlying political implications.
While no studies have been conducted on the voting patterns of
immigrants, it is likely that
a majority of them will be pro-government, given that it is the
government which gives them the opportunity to succeed in
Singapore.
To a Chinese or Indian immigrant family completely clueless
about Singapore’s political baggage or history, the PAP represents a sort of “savior” to
them without which they will not be allowed to start life afresh
here.
Furthermore, the PAP-controlled grassroots organizations
have been actively reaching out to the new citizens through hosting
a variety of activities to help them “integrate” into the community
to the extent of giving them positions in the Residents
Committees’.
With the number of new citizens arriving on Singapore’s shores
increasing at a frentic rate, they will form an influential voting
bloc in future elections and the PAP is well aware of it.
Besides the vote in their hands, new citizens also help to styme
the development of the citizenry’s political awareness
indirectly.
By keeping the median
wages of the Singapore worker down and posing a constant threat to
their livelihoods, it creates a siege mentality in Singaporeans
that they will lose out in the rat race unless they continue
working hard to earn a living.
With their attention and
energies focused completely on economic survival, they will be
apathetic towards current affairs and local
politics.
There lies the ingenuity
of the PAP. No matter how tough life is, it will
ensure that nobody goes hungry in Singapore. Prices of foodstuff
and living necessities are kept low to ensure that even the
destitute and homeless get one basic meal a day.
The middle class, with their endless fixation on the
materialistic pursuits in life, will have little motivation to join
politics to create “trouble” for the government which explains why
most Singaporeans are generally averse to politics.
A nonchalant and ignorant
citizenry is a key to the continued hegemony of the PAP as recent
events have shown. Despite widespread public disaffect towards the
lossess suffered by Temasek and GIC, they are never really
threatened.
Political dissatisfaction is limited chiefly to cyberspace where
it exerts a negligible impact on the rest of the enslaved
population which is still unaware of its inherent political
rights.
All kinds of repressive laws were put in place to prevent the
public expression of political dissent as it will have serious
ramifications on the popularity and legitimacy of the regime.
A new aristocracy is
emerging with the new citizens becoming increasingly part of the
PAP’s core support base. In fact, some of them have already been
co-opted into the regime and appointed as Members of
Parliament.
With no foreseeable opposition in sight, the system which is
specifically designed to perpetuate one-party rule, will continue
to keep the PAP in power for a long time to come, elections being a
5 yearly necessary “nuisance” in order to keep its democratic
pretensions alive.
Singaporeans can continue
to complain for all they like. The power of their vote is being
eroded gradually with each passing day as more and more foreigners
take up Singapore citizenship.
Either they toe the official line or ship out altogether. As the
feebled opposition continues its ignonimous journey into oblivion,
the PAP is quietly rebuilding its power base, slowly but
steadily.
With the new citizens
firmly integrated into the PAP’s system followed by years of
indoctrination by the state propaganda machinery, we will see
another generation of brainwashed citizens who are eternally
“grateful” to the PAP.
http://sgblogs.com/entry/sunday-times-publicity-blitz-failed-mention-prolonged-detention-barisan-without-trial/360030