By Leong Wee Keat, TODAY |
Posted: 16 June 2009 0734 hrs
SINGAPORE: Five years ago, they were a rare
sight in Punggol Central. These days, foreigners make up roughly 10
per cent of the estate's residents, or so Mr Charles Chong reckons
going by the number he meets on his door-to-door visits.
The ward's Member of Parliament reckons they are flocking there for
various reasons: It's a new town, housing is cheaper compared to
mature estates, and it is close to the new industrial areas that
have sprouted up in the north-east.
While foreigners have added to the constituency's vibrancy,
integrating them has also become a priority. For instance, a
Cricket Interest Group was formed to get new citizens involved in
community events. Mr Chong suggested this after noticing migrant
groups playing the sport in the empty fields across his estate,
which has 48,000 residents.
"If left on their own, they would form their own enclaves," he
said. "By offering them a common group, we try to assimilate them
together, and integrate them into our society as well."
In the past two years, about 400 Punggol Central residents have
taken up Singapore citizenship or permanent residency, according to
Mr Chong, and this is reflective of a growing nation-wide
trend.
Last year, some 20,513 foreigners took up citizenship here, while
79,167 more took up permanent residency. This is up from the 17,334
new citizens and 63,627 new PRs in 2007.
Acknowledging that more needs to be done to integrate new
immigrants with locals, a National Integration Council was recently
set up. And such efforts at the community level are as important to
avoid misunderstandings and fights.
For instance, Mr Chong cited how, at the Holi Dhamaaka Festival in
March – which is celebrated mainly among Indian immigrants here –
he was showered with coloured powder. While it is considered a
blessing among them, however, it could make Singaporeans who don't
understand the ritual see red, in more than one sense, noted Mr
Chong.
The same goes for the habits of China nationals who may talk too
loudly or appear too pushy to their neighbours, he noted.
One community in Sengkang that has formed a group to showcase their
culture to residents are the Filipinos.
Resident Janet Quek said she has had no problems with her new
Filipino neighbours, though there were times they may have played
music a tad too loudly.
One neighbour's reaction was to complain; Ms Quek chose to strike
up a friendship with them: "Reaching out could just take a simple
'Hi' that could go some way to preventing any future
misunderstandings."
Other than new migrants, Punggol Central grassroot leaders have
reached out to another oft-misunderstood group nearby.
The Sengkang Community Club Women's Executive Committee has adopted
a ward in the Institute of Mental Health.
Once a month, members either take some of the patients out or visit
them. The aim is not just to bring them cheer, but also to bridge
the gap between the patients and the community's residents.
- TODAY/so
