yes, we can't block globalisation but let hope the govt are
prepared for any frictions:
Football
Abuses and taunts
China-Vs-Singapore Asian Cup game shows large foreign influx holds
potentials for friction.
By Seah Chiang Nee of littlespeck.com
Sep 9, 2006
A newspaper (Lianhe Wanbao) has reported that Singaporeans almost
got into a fight with mainland-Chinese fans, many of them permanent
residents (PRs), during Wednesday's Asian Cup qualifying match at
Kallang stadium.
Both sides were hurling abuses at each other. Some locals, who were
outnumbered, were yelling at them to "go back to China."
During the match, some mainlanders moved in front of a section of
the Singapore crowd to wave their flag and taunt the people around,
according to one eyewitness.
Another Singaporean said, "I thought I was in China - not Kallang
stadium. There are so many China supporters; I think 80% of the
seats in the grandstand was filled up by mainland Chinese."
He was worried by the implications. "Is this the beginning of
something very seriously wrong? I think this is just the tip of the
iceberg, with more FT coming.
"I think it will have a very serious social impact on our
country."
A Chinese fan said he and his colleagues went to show support for
the home team, China and felt that Singaporeans were not supportive
enough of their national side. "They probably think that they've
nothing to gain from going."
Some see it as a blow for Singapore soccer and its 'foreign talent'
policy, proving that the government's effort to lure Chinese
mainlanders (among others) to settle here as loyal citizens.
One critic said this would not work because "in the end, they will
still support their motherland"
A more sober voice: "As PRs - not citizens - the mainlanders keep
their loyalty to China. All it means is that they want to reside
and work here, nothing more."
But he added, "It's only some silly Singaporean politicans who
believe that money can buy people's loyalty."
The Chinese are not the only targets; others like the Indians and
Westerners have occasionally been included.
Not long ago, some south Asians, especially Bangladeshis, were
accused to have molested local girls along Orchard Road during busy
festivals.
The incident reveals the underlying feelings Singaporeans have
towards 'foreign talents" despite Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's
appeal for people to welcome them and make them feel at home.
Many Chinese PRs here are very proud of their country and sometimes
behave arrogantly towards Asians.
Because of their large numbers in Singapore - still growing - this
could result in a clash one day that no one wants.
Unruly behaviour is alien to the Singaporean fans and soccer riots
are not likely except under extreme provocation.
A Shanghai sports channel commentator said it was the first time in
an away-match in which PRC supporters outnumbered home fans. The
camera then covered the sea of PRC flags being waved inside and
outside the stadium.
He then interviewed some mainlanders, most of whom were either
working or studying here. Some one shouted, "zhu3 guo2 wan4 sui4'
("ten thousand years of motherland".)
There are two interpretations of what had happened.
One is that it was normal zeal by sports supporters, so Chinese
residents in Singapore supporting their national team was a natural
thing.
Secondly, it's not just about cheering for the home team. Singapore
is seen as offering jobs and PRs to a large number of them, even at
the expense of locals, only to have them running down their
hosts.
There was, however, one soothing outcome to all this.
Despite its cheering fans, China - with a 1.3b population - was
held to a goal-less draw by tiny Singapore (4m people) in an Asian
Cup qualifying round.
Ten thousand cheers to the national team!
