Singapore frets over influx of foreigners
October 1st, 2009 | 
Author: SINGAPORE’S population has grown to almost 5 million and a quarter of that is foreign workers, whose influx has sparked concerns among its citizens about competition for jobs and living standards.
The non-resident population in the financial and shipping hub, from Swiss bankers to Filipino maids, climbed nearly 5 percent in 2009, following on from two years of even stronger growth when booming Asian markets attracted workers.
The government’s annual population report said the number of foreigners getting permanent residency status also surged more than 11 percent in 2009. Foreign workers looking to avoid leaving the city-state after losing their jobs could account for part of that increase, analysts said.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said earlier this month the government will restrict the flow of foreign workers after the global economic recession hit Singapore’s growth, while still recognizing the city-state still needs foreigners.
“For a small country like Singapore, acquiring and nurturing human talent is a matter of survival,” Lee said in a speech yesterday.
The government has said it wants to raise long-term economic growth by increasing the population by 35 percent over the next 40 to 50 years through immigration, a policy that has been criticized by Singaporeans, themselves mostly immigrants from China, India and Southeast Asia.
The Temasek Review, an online discussion Website, said in an article on the population figures that the relentless influx of foreigners had led to rampant inflation, sky-rocketing prices for government flats and a stagnation of lower-income wages.
Source: Shanghai Daily
Posted in Headlines
21 Responses to “Singapore frets over influx of foreigners”
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It dosen’t matter whether you are window-shopping in Orchard Road, taking a lift down an HDB apartment, having a drink in a nearby coffeshop or taking a quiet walk in some Ulu places in Singapore, you will bump into a foreigner.
Makes you feel as if you are in a tourist in a foreign land…
Or a Singaporean suffocating in your own land.
If there is no respite / reverse in the influx of foreigners into this tiny Red Dot, the dam of tolerance of Singaporeans will surely break soon…
If the PAP Government continues with this “foreign import” policy at all costs, they may win the battle but eventually they will loose the war.
Remember the Graduate Mothers scheme some years back when voters gave it a thumbs down by swinging their votes by almost 30 p/c at the election ??
The response from Singaporeans, this time round, will probably be worst than that..
Mr Minister… please come down from your Ivory Tower and take a walk around Singapore… talk to the common folks who have voted PAP all their lives to get a feel of the ground. Talk to Singapore Singaporeans and you will learn the truth of what we think of your ‘growth at all cost” policy.
Afterall, we are the ones who voted you in… and we are the ones that matter at the next General Election.
‘Mr Minister… please come down from your Ivory Tower and take a walk around Singapore… talk to the common folks who have voted PAP all their lives to get a feel of the ground. Talk to Singapore Singaporeans and you will learn the truth of what we think of your ‘growth at all cost” policy.’
Sorry, aint never gonna happen. Too busy planning how to fix the coming GE and how much to increase their pay packets after the GE.
Maybe 100 years from now.
// XiSd Tay
I guess you are right…
Nevertheless, as a Singaporean, it is still good to let them know what we think of their ‘foreign import’ policy and will do with our votes at the next General Elections, if they continue with their “I know best and I don’t care a shit about your views or your sufferings” attitude.
I am afraid this time round it is going to be worse than the failed “Graduate Mothers” scheme.
That was a tidal wave.
This is going to be a tsumani…
Feeling Suffocated said: am afraid this time round it is going to be worse than the failed “Graduate Mothers” scheme. That was a tidal wave. This is going to be a tsumani…
If a Tsunami is what it takes to wake both the Sinkaporeans and famiLEE up, so let it be.
For the sake of Sinkapore, an earthquake is also ‘acceptable’.
I seconded XiSd Tay.
A period of chaos followed by years of calm and tranquility is completely justifiable. The end justify the mean. Whatever it takes to change Sinkapore to Singapore.
wow, shanghai daily has quoted TR. congrats!
## Xlllblackcat : seconded XiSd Tay.
“A period of chaos followed by years of calm and tranquility is completely justifiable. The end justify the mean. Whatever it takes to change Sinkapore to Singapore.”
Couldn’t agree more with you guys here.
Last week our ‘Dear Leader’ said that the Government will restrict the inflow of foreigners.
Yesterday, he said that he wants Singapore to be the ‘home of foreign talent’
Tomorrow, what is there to stop him from saying that the target population of 6.6 mil should be ‘adjusted’ to 10.6 million.
Next week, he will probably come out with another statement that says the “revised’ target of 10.6 million’ population MUST be met by 2015 at the latest.
Citizens’ feedback to the PAP Government, no matter how objective or relevant, are falling on deaf ears and a sheer waste of time.
Our ‘Dear Leader’ is no different from ‘Our Great Leader’.
The only way the PAP Government will listen to the voice of the people is when we speak with our Votes.
Peoples Arrogant Party, hate to say this but given the mentality of Sinkaporean TOADS and FROGS, it will take more than just VOTES to really effect any changes.
It has to come from GOD himself and maybe that Earthquake from Indonesia should have been nearer or even happen in Sinkapore.
Sinkapore now as it seems is not better off than when LKY started 40 years ago, admist the sky scrappers and cosmetic trees and flowers.
Collateral Damages is inevitable but painfully as it may seems, is justifiable if it means Sinkapore will have a BETTER CHANCE of good times ahead after picking up the pieces from where the Earthquake left off.
One thing for sure, if there was indeed an Earthquake destroying Sinkapore, Lesser Mortals Sinkaporeans will be left picking up the pieces while those Elites and the famiLEE will be somewhere sun bathing on an island they bought.
Singapore has always been ‘importing’ everything since day one. From trees and water to business, and now people.
Its the culture of the governing body. It is the cost of such rapid progress.
The country has moved so fast its own indigenous people can’t keep up. Thus must import new breed of Singaporean. Cultivating Singapore’s primary resource, its people, from the present standpoint isn’t enough to keep this little dynamo of a country competitive.
Don’t like it? Make your votes count, else complain elsewhere.
WELL, see my nick.
They throw 10-million bucks welcome party for well-off new citizens
AND
bring an unemployed cum disabled native Singapore to court over non payment of a few 100 bucks SnC fees.
http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/09/30/town-council-took-unemployed-man-to-court-for-sc-arrears/
AND
don help the poor and disabled
EXTRACTED –
http://happyangelclub.wordpress.com/
Are the SW CDC/Boon Lay MP & grassroots perform their duties for their needy citizens?
On September 08, 2009 , I wrote an email (subject:
A handicap case for your attention) to Boon Lay MP Ms Ho Gek Choo.
No any response from her.
On September 13, 2009 :
Subject: urgent! -mail from Jane-Fw: A handicap case for your attention
Dear MP Ms Ho Gek Choo,
Sorry, this is Jane again.
As I have not received your reply of the below email. Thus I resend it to you again.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Thanks and Regards
Jane Lim
On September 22, 2009 I wrote email to SWCDC Manager (Social Assistance).
No any response yet.
The MSM journalists read all such postings, like above, BUT TREAT THEM AS FICTION.
WONDER HOW THEY SLEEP AT NIGHT, AFTER REFUSING TO PUBLISH THE TRUTHS, LIKE ABOVE.
## Jason – “”Don’t like it? Make your votes count, else complain elsewhere”".
If you are a concerned Singaporean and you feel that things are not right with the country today because :
The PAP Government’s policy of importing cheap foreign labour and giving away PRs / Citizenships, like lollipops, to Du mei, Tavalingam and Corazon are depriving you of a job, stagnate your salary, lowered your standard of living, sky rocketed the prices of “”affordable”" HDB apartments, make you worry for your children’s future, caused you sleepless nights…
You are NOT alone.
Most Singaporeans feel the same way as you do.
Don’t Loose Hope… because YOU can make a difference and YOU can change what is Wrong to Right for YOUR country and for fellow Singaporeans.
Be a concerned voter.
Make your votes count and your voices heard in the next General Elections.
Nothing is impossible.
Changes have been made by concerned citizens thru the Ballot Boxes in :
Malaysia – where Barisan lost their 2/3 majority after more than 50 years of rule.
Japan – where the LDP was thrown out by voters after 50 years of rule.
The Internet has opened our eyes, given us a voice to be heard and experiences to share with fellow Singaporeans.
The truth is that it is not that great to be a citizen of Singapore under the PAP Government and, quite frankly, the last few years have been a nightmare and a disaster for most of us.
Let us do what is right for ourselves and for the future of our country in the next General Elections.
Whole freaking elitist system built by govt sponsored scholars. You are just numbers on a spreadsheet. Where got hope.
One thing that really sucks is how true blue Singaporean single mothers cannot get the baby bonus while foreign mothers who have accepted Singapore citizenship but are here temporarily can get it. These Singaporean mothers are made to struggle to bring up their children while these foreign mothers lap it up in luxury. Yet the sons of these single mothers are expected to sacrifice their lives for this country. Where is the justice??? Where is the justice???
Yeah just like singles aren’t allowed to buy new HDB flats. But unmarried singles usually have the largest disposable income. Some of us refuse to marry or play the breeding game, so you can take your ‘pro-family’ policies and shove them up your arse, PAP/SG government.
P.S: ‘Pro-family’ and yet two casinos will be open soon. And there’s this PoolzConnect SG Pools online betting portal site. Confused yet?
I love it when a new article comes out and hasn’t been polluted by the chingchong people residing in our beloved country. See, when the chingchongs haven’t posted comments, the discussions are eloquent and cordial (every one of the above comments). However, you just wait and see, in about 2 hrs the PRCs and Malaysians (Malaysian Chinese I mean, I’m great with fellow Malay Singaporeans) will come post some silly Confucius nonsense.
Confucius says: “Singapore frets over influx of foreigners, like water pounding on stone in earth day with essence of sun in shade with qualities of the ying yang.”
Now don’t deny it my delightful new immigrant friend, you do speak like that don’t you.
Zhai Jian PRCs!
kknd on Fri, 2nd Oct 2009 1:56 am
Your right. Singaporean singles cannot buy HDB resale flats but foreign singles can.
Where is the justice? I guess justice will come through the polls.
cy said: wow, shanghai daily has quoted TR. congrats!
Kewl, whats the link URL?
> Zhai Jian PRCs!
umm actually it’s not really PRC lah. In the population census released a few months ago (not the latest one) you can calculate that about 40000+ were from PRC, true, but an equal number 40000+ were Indians. considering that singapore racial distribution is 69% chinese and about 12% indian, the new immigrants are mostly pro-Indian proportion.
after increasing these races by 40000+ each, the racial distribution ends up being stable. can you imagine, if there weren’t 40000 immigrants of each race, what would today’s distribution be like? just subtract it and calculate the new figure over the last 2-3 years.
I wonder why it is so surprising to Singaporeans that they should fret about the great influx of foreigners. Lee’s junior has declared when he first became PM, when it was mentioned that Singaporeans are leaving and migrating to Australia and elsewhere, that he is not bothered as he could easily replaced them with foreigners. Despite this, Singaporeans continues to give the PAP a majority in parliament which means that they support his action. There is thus no reason to complain.
Those who do not support this and are capable voted with their feet. Who, in his right mind and capable would desire to be a second-class citizen in his own country. Only the moronic, sycophantic and incapable! Good luck Singaporeans! Another election is coming. One wonders whether you would wake up to be your positions as slaves to the Lee Dynasty!
Someone wrote in another cyberspace blog that Panansonic in Toa Payoh is neally full-house Philipinos and Seagate in Woodlands is nearly all Malaysians – maybe an independent party source including both PAP and opposition parties’ representatives should be allowed to go in and do a “stress” test of the employment mix of nationalities if they reasonably reflect our CITIZEN Singaporean population.
If the results is strange and quirky i.e. not even remotely representative of our CITIZEN’S mix of ethnicity origin, the Minister of Manpower should be supplied the statistics and asked of for a public explanation.