Young Singaporeans like
Lim Zi Rui are becoming increasingly disillusioned and they’re
not afraid to let it show.
The 23-year-old final-year aerospace engineering student was
among a 1,000-strong crowd who attended a Ministerial
Forum organised on Friday by Nanyang Technological
University (NTU) Students’ Union.
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong was the guest-of-honour.
During a dialogue session after SM Goh’s main address, Lim
stood up and asked if the Minister was aware that many
young people no longer felt a sense of ownership in Singapore.
“When I was younger, I was very proud of being a
Singaporean,” said Lim.
“But that was about five, ten years ago. Five years later, with all
the changes in policies and the influx of foreign talent, I really
don’t know what I’m defending any more.”
He said this was a view that many of the men he served
with during National Service also held.
“I feel that there is a dilution of the Singapore spirit in youth…
We don’t really feel comfortable in our country any more,” he
said.
Mr Goh replied, “‘This is one early sign of danger… If this is
happening, it is very serious.” He went on to ask Mr Lim why he
felt disconnected.
Mr Lim told SM Goh, ”‘I’m still serving as an officer and
I definitely would love to defend Singapore.”
But he said the key difference between him and his foreign
friends was, “I tell them, this is my country. I can’t just leave
here whenever I want to. You can come and play and work here, but I
have to stay here.”
SM Goh responded by defending the
government’s policy of welcoming foreigners.
“You want to have a home. Who’s going to build your HDB flat?” said
the Minister.
Lim replied that due to the inability to afford the sky-high
public housing prices, his brother had to call off his
engagement.
“My brother got engaged, but lost his engagement because he could
not afford an HDB flat,” said Lim, who went on to state that his
question was not about “integrating foreigners”.
“My question was, how are we going to help the younger generation
feel a sense of belonging to Singapore? I don’t think it’s about
integrating foreigners,” said Lim.
“This is your country,” SM Goh replied. “What do you want me to do
to make you feel you belong?”
“For my part, don’t worry about me,” Mr Lim said. “I will
definitely do something, if I can, for Singapore. But I can tell
you honestly that the sentiment on the ground is a bit
different.”
“If this is happening, it is very serious,” said SM Goh.
“If the majority feel they don’t belong here, then we have a
fundamental problem. Then I would ask myself: What am I doing here?
Why should I be working for people who don’t feel they belong over
here?” asked SM Goh.
Earlier on during the dialogue session, the Minister made the
point that the next General Elections, due to be held by February
2012, would be a “watershed” for the future of Singapore from
which a “fourth Prime Minister and a core team of younger
ministers will emerge”.
SM Goh also challenged the young undergrads in his audience to
“make a difference to Singapore” by joining local politics.
http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2010/10/30/i-dont-know-what-im-defending-anymore/