http://singaporekopitok.blogspot.com/2006/09/singapores-pro-immigration-policy-we.html
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Singapore's Pro-Immigration Policy - We have to reach outward to
build within
Here's my 2-cents worth on PM Lee's National Day Rally speech about
the importance of a pro-immigration policy to boost the talent pool
here.
Well, the Government's valid point of view is to augment our
country's competitiveness especially when we need to stay relevant
to the burgeoning economies in China and India and to stay ahead of
fast-growing competitors in our neighbourhood. What is critical in
this push to attract foreigners to take up Singapore citizenship is
that these immigrants will "top up" the talent pool here.
PM Lee mentioned Mustafa's Mr Mustaq Ahmad in his rally speech.
Surely, more Mustafa shopping centres in Singapore will be nice.
=)
The net gain of increasing the foreign talent pool to the
well-being of our economy is said to be beneficial. (Top economists
In the US have contended that immigration has been a net gain for
American citizens. See the Independent Institutean "Open Letter on
Immigration" signed by top economists and addressed to George Bush
and members of Congress)
At the end of the day, the Government's intention is benign - Its
about making sure Singapore grows bigger, be it in terms of
population or economic size. (see Kway Teow Man's thoughtful
discussion at Singapore Angle)
Yet, whether it's packaged as 'pro-immigration', 'attracting
foreign talents', or 'immigrants - not enough', any suggestion that
Singapore needs to be more open to immigration have drawn and will
continue to attract much flak.
The concern here appears to be simple and clear - attracting more
foreigners will have serious implications on one's rice-bowl
(livelihood), thus increasing the fear of retrenchment. To quote a
concerned Singaporean who expressed his views on ST Forum, "the
lesson to be learnt here is that Singaporeans have to compete with
foreign talents in their quest for a job and the competition will
intensify with more foreign talents". (ST Forum Online 29 Aug 2006)
The opposition political party National Solidarity Party (NSP) has
also jumped into the fray and argued for strict quotas on the
number of talented foreign professionals allowed into Singapore.
(See NSP press release on 22 Aug 2006)
Certainly, the concerns are not unique to Singaporeans. Around the
world, immigration has become a hot political potato for
politicians and voters in oft-said advanced democracies. In the US,
critics are arguing for stricter immigration regulations to curb
the rising influx of illegal immigrants. In Germany, millions of
Turks continued to be called 'Gastarbeiters' or 'guest workers'
without citizenship, despite many of them were born and bred in
Germany. In the UK, public fears of migration are putting pressure
on the government to impose control amid revelation that almost
600,000 Eastern Europeans have moved to the country to look for
work. Furthermore, British authorities are realising the pitfalls
of immigration laxity and are taking action against preachers of
religious hatred who have not only fail to integrate into the local
community, but have made use of years of lenient immigration and
asylum policies to advocate racial-religious strife and violence
against the nation-state.
Here's how I see it - the problem do not just boil down to jobs /
bread-and-butter issues. There are serious nation-building
considerations to be mindful of.
On one level, while Singapore celebrates ethnic and cultural
diversity, the task of helping 'new citizens' integrate into the
local community is an arduous challenge.
I stand corrected that no quantifier can accurately measure
something as abstract as assimilation and patriotism. As top civil
servant Chiang Chie Foo puts it, "there isn't a programme where you
go through and you become transformed and integrated". For sure,
how the 'new citizens' perceive events in their 'motherland' would
have considerable implications for their successful assimilation
into Singapore's local community.
On another level, anti-immigration views expressing the
insecurities of the people cannot be ignored but has to be
carefully managed. Xenophobia directed at foreigners or (in
general) at people different from ones self, can result in
political campaigns for cultural purification and worse, aggression
against the aliens (both 'new citizens' or otherwise).
Around the world, the anti-immigrant populist message of far right
political parties continue to find resonance among the electorate,
notwithstanding that it's more than half a century since the
fascists inflicted much bloodshed with their murderous deeds during
WWII.
Here in Singapore, we can ill-afford to have the Jean-Marie Le Pens
and Pauline Hansons to tear the social fabric of our society that
we have painstakingly nurtured over the 40 odd years of
nationhood.
Undoubtedly, it takes more than a stroke of luck for the
pro-immigration policy to work. Instead, the cohesion of our nation
is a deliberate man-made endeavour. I understand that there are
existing organisations such as the Hua Yuan Association which was
set up to help new immigrants from China, to adapt to the nuances
of local community.
Yet, while we demand new immigrants to blend in with society,
Singaporeans have to also adopt an open heart to accept these new
immigrants. The importance of grassroots activities cannot be
overstated.
Indeed, while we reach outward to attract more 'new citizens', it
must be noted that the task of 'building within' is an important
ongoing challenge.
