September 18, 2009 by admin
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From our Correspondent
The government’s pro-foreigner policy has come under siege again
this time at a polytechnic forum where Dr Vivian Balakrishnan,
Minister for Community, Youth and Sports is the guest of honor.
A male student asked Dr Vivian point-blank in the face why the
government is allowing foreigners to compete with Singaporeans for
job.
The feisty Dr Vivian shot back immediately:
“Would Singaporeans be willing to be taxed heavily to support
the country’s ageing population in 20 years’ time? This would
be the case if Singapore did not bring in foreign talent.”
Dr Vivian then proceed to placate the audience with the standard
(official) reassurance that the government will continue to
safeguard the interests of citizens:
“You have a birthright. Everything we do is for your long-term
benefit. Foreigners are here to help make Singapore more viable and
competitive and to help us create more job and opportunities but
it’s all about Singaporeans.”
Dr Vivian did not elaborate more about the “long-term” benefits
that Singaporeans have acquired from the government other than the
mandatory 2 year National Service for Singapore males.
During the dialogue which lasted for more than one hour, Dr
Vivian also answered questions on political apathy put by a group
of students who proposed that a political education program, along
with the continued cultivation of a media landscape would help
address the problem.
Dr Vivian dismissed the students’ proposal altogether by
claiming that there was no political apathy among the youths
without substantiating them. He also warned against labeling youths
as apathetic, saying it was “trendy” to do so.
[A classic PAP way of addressing genuine concerns of
Singaporeans - by ignoring the existence of the problem in the
first place!]
As the dialogue drew to a close, Dr Vivian would not fail to
notice the restless and dismayed looks on the faces of some
students.
The PAP government is feeling the heat from the electorate
especially on some of its important long-term policies such as the
massive influx of foreign talent, rising costs of HDB flats and the
non-transparent nature of the way the country’s reserves are being
managed.
It will only be a matter of time before Singaporeans start
questioning the inherent deficiencies in the one-party system
promulgated by the PAP.
http://temasekreview.com/?p=13939
