Written by Our Correspondent
For Singaporeans who are elated at recent promises by PAP
leaders to slow the “intake” of foreign workers, it is too early to
celebrate yet.
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong injected a dose of reality
yesterday when he told Singapore reporters in Bahrain that the
moves “do not mark a ’sudden turnaround’ in policy.”
“Rather, it is simply a recognition that the country is
nearing what it can accommodate. While foreign worker numbers may
still rise, it will now grow more slowly,” he was quoted as
saying.
Due to the ruling party’s liberal immigration policies,
foreigners now make up 36 per cent of Singapore’s population, up
from 14 per cent in 1990.
With Singapore’s birth rate declining, this means that the
percentage of foreigners in Singapore will increase though the rate
of increase may slow down.
It seems that SM Goh is unaware of public sentiments on the
ground – that a sizable number of Singaporeans not only want to
decrease the inflow of foreigners, but to reverse it as well.
The relentless influx of foreigners into Singapore over the
years has changed its demographics beyond recognition.
Certain parts of Singapore now resembles more like a town in
China or India with congregation of large number of foreigners.
To compound matters, the ruling party gives out PRs and
citizenships liberally to foreigners just to make up for the
shortfall in population, but without assessing if they can really
integrate into Singapore society.
SM Goh added that the Government was reviewing the PR
scheme to try and make sure foreigners do not exploit it:
“If you want to come to Singapore, decide to be a PR, the
logical conclusion must be Singapore citizenship. Do your fair
share contributing as Singapore citizens.”
Unlike other countries which require a minimum period of
residency before one can apply for PR, foreigners can apply for PR
as soon as they found work in Singapore.
There is a “Landed PR scheme” which allows them to stay for up
to 2 years in Singapore to find work and an “In-principle PR” for
residents from Hong Kong and Taiwan who do not need to even step
foot on Singapore to qualify for one.
Large number of PRs were given to mainland Chinese, some of whom
cannot speak a single word of English and as a result, taxpayers’
monies have to be spent to provide free language classes for
them.
Too many immigrants have been accepted as PRs and citizens into
Singapore without any “QC” in too short a period of time that it is
impossible to integrate all of them.
Singaporeans should not harbor any more false hopes on the
ruling party to make radical changes to its disastrous immigration
policy to suit their interests.
It is time they reclaim their ownership of the country by doing
the necessary at the next general election.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please do not move this to other forums.
