Apr 12, 2012 - ST Forum
PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong said one of his main concerns
about Singapore is the divide between Singaporeans and new arrivals
('PM Lee flags two worries'; last Thursday).
This divide, if allowed to widen, may become Singapore's
Achilles' heel if it is not managed properly.
It is only natural that Singaporeans have such anxieties as the
men serve two years of national service and are liable for annual
reservist training, while foreigners enjoy the fruits of stability
without having to make such sacrifices.
For Singaporeans to complete national service, and to then see
foreign scholarship recipients enjoying free education and
competing for housing and jobs, adds to their anxiety.
While the Government has heeded calls to prioritise Singaporeans
after last May's General Election, more can be done to address
these anxieties.
These measures need not be drastic but should be wide-reaching
in our daily lives, so that Singaporeans can feel special about
their citizenship.
Some suggestions include differential pricing for citizens,
those who have done national service, permanent residents and
foreigners, on daily necessities such as transport, utilities and
town council service and conservancy charges.
As a country, we have reached a point where foreigners must be
part of the talent pool for Singapore to succeed.
While we acknowledge and accept this, let us not create a
generation of disenfranchised Singaporeans who no longer feel for
Singapore.
Otherwise, whatever economic success we have achieved will be a
pyrrhic victory.
Elgar Lee
