SINGAPORE: The Singapore government recognises the
concerns of its citizens over the rapid increase of foreigners in
the country in recent years. As a result, it has reviewed its
process of granting permanent residency and citizenship.
Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said as Singaporeans are not
replacing themselves, the country also needs to tap on immigration
to augment its population.
Speaking in Parliament during the Committee of Supply debate for
the Prime Minister's Office, Mr Wong explained that tackling
population challenges are about finding the right dynamic balance
and trade-offs.
36-year-old researcher Dr Xue Bo came from China five years ago. He
started life here like any other expatriate living in a condominium
with his family.
But in 2007, Dr Xue moved to the heartlands into public
housing.
That's where he met Alan Lim who opened his eyes to all things
Singaporean.
Not ony did Mr Lim help Dr Xue's family orientate themselves in the
new neighbourhood, he also included them in his social circles and
introduced them to his friends.
Mr Lim said: "Most of the time we bring him to church on weekends
and we bring him to visit places like Sentosa and also to educate
him about the Peranakan culture. I think most Singaporeans should
go out of their way more to help the immigrants.
“Put yourself in his condition. You come to a place where you don't
know anybody. So I think it's good if you can help the person to
settle down. You don't gain anything but you will find that the
person is more receptive to you and as the days go by you will find
that the person will be a good friend to you."
Dr Xue Bo said: "Without their help, we won't have the feeling of
being at home. Now we treat them really as family members. Now we
consider Singapore as second hometown."
Today, Dr Xue and his family are all PRs and his story is a
familiar one.
Last year, the government granted 59,500 permanent residency and
19,900 citizenships.
That's about 20,000 fewer PRs and some 600 fewer citizenships
granted in 2008.
Mr Wong said the number of permanent residency granted will be
reduced although there will be no absolute cap to this and there
will be up to 20,000 new citizens a year.
The number is derived from Singapore's low fertility rate of 1.23 -
among the lowest in the world.
Mr Wong said: "Immigration is a key source of population
augmentation which we cannot afford to do without. In a nutshell,
we need 60,000 babies just to replace our resident population. But
we only have about 37,000 babies per year. This is why we need
about 20,000 new citizens in order to keep our citizen core.
But still, as MPs point out, there are concerns on the
ground.
MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC Indranee Rajah said: "If you think of
Singapore as a family, the Singapore citizen is the biological
child asking why do you care for my foster brother and sister more
than me?
MP for MacPherson Mathias Yao, said: "Singaporeans began to feel
that the Singaporean way of life was being encroached on or even
slowly changed. Some do not like it. While they have no problem
living in a multiracial, multi cultural society, and indeed that is
what Singapore is, they nevertheless feel that it has to be a
Singaporean society and not a new imported society that is alien to
those born and bred here," said
Mr Wong added the government will ensure that those who sink their
roots here contribute to Singapore economically and integrate well
into society.
The National Integration Council is already spearheading efforts
for that.
There was also an assurance that the government will stand by the
principle that Singaporeans come first in their own country. But
not at the expense of meritocracy and turning away suitable foreign
talents.
Mr Wong said: "We need to be sensible and balanced about how we go
about this. For instance, we should never undermine the principle
of meritocracy which makes us competitive and which ensures
communal harmony and social cohesion.
“We must also avoid making ourselves so unattractive that suitable
foreigners are deterred from sinking roots and becoming a part of
Singapore. There is a global competition for good people with
talent and if we make Singapore an inhospitable place, we will lose
out.
“We will do ourselves great harm if others outside Singapore have
the wrong impression that we are xenophobic. This will be against
our national interest".
So Mr Wong said finding the right balance is crucial.
He added: "Singapore grew and prospered since its founding because
of our great-grandparents, grandparents and parents were allowed to
come and settle to make a better life and in the process contribute
to Singapore's growth. Had they been denied the opportunity to do
so at that time, we would not be born here and Singapore would not
be what it is today.
"In future, the children and grandchildren of today's immigrants
who take root here will grow up with our children and
grandchildren. Together they will be the next generation of
Singaporeans and Singapore will be their home as much as it is our
home today."
Most foreigners in Singapore are transient workers. They number
1.25 million out of a total population of about five million.
Mr Wong said such workers make up an important part of the
workforce and their economic contributions to Singapore's growth
are real and significant.
He explained: "Transient foreign workers are here to work and will
eventually return to their home countries. Most of them do not sink
roots. We should appreciate their contributions to Singapore as
they have helped us to grow our GDP.
“In turn, with economic growth, we have the resources to develop
infrastructure and support programmes which have raised the quality
of life of Singaporeans.
“Economic growth has also enabled us to accumulate reserves in good
times which we have been able to rely on to sustain and support
Singaporeans during lean and tough times.”
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