Gilbert Goh calls upon the people of Singapore to
strongly oppose PAP's population plan.
Wed, Feb 6, 2013
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore is to hold a rare
anti-government demonstration against plans for a dramatic increase
in immigration that would boost the island's population by as much
as 30 percent by 2030.
Discontent is growing in affluent Singapore over a rising number of
foreigners blamed for strains on infrastructure, ballooning housing
costs and transportation headaches in a country slightly smaller
than New York City.
Public expression is a delicate act in Singapore where government
figures, including elder statesman Lee Kuan Yew, father of the
current prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, have sued critical
opposition MPs for defamation. Nearly all media are
pro-government.
Protest organiser Gilbert Goh said he hoped to attract 1,000 people
to the February 16 event at Speakers' Corner, a designated park
exempt from strict government controls over assemblies, speeches
and outdoor protests.
Nearly 1,100 people said on a Facebook page they will or may join
the demonstration against a government proposal on January 29 to
raise the population to 6.9 million. Of that, up to 36 percent, or
2.5 million, would be made up of foreign workers to balance a low
birth rate and sustain economic growth.
"Let us send a strong signal to our government that we don't want
6.9 million people living here by 2030," Goh said.
The public generally supports Singapore's tough laws and tight
social controls as part of a social contract that in return has
delivered years of economic prosperity.
But calls for change are growing. Opposition parties won record
support in the 2011 general election. The long-ruling People's
Action Party, founded by Lee Kuan Yew, occupies 80 of 87 seats in
parliament but lost two recent by-elections by surprisingly large
margins in signs of mounting discontent. (Reporting by Kevin Lim
Editing by Jason Szep and Nick Macfie)
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/singapore-plans-rare-protest-population-debate-rages-124703195--sector.html
