Disgruntled Singaporean wants more stringent criteria to be set for PRs
October 29th, 2009 | 
Author: From our Correspondent
An obviously unhappy and peeved Singaporean by the name of Teo Kueh Liang had written to the Straits Times Forum on 28 October 2009 asking for stringent criteria to be set to gauge the potential of prospective citizens and PRs!
Mr Teo implored the authorities to make it mandatory for prospective citizens to commit to a lengthy period of community service as a test of their loyalty to the country they want to be part of.
“This will also help them understand Singapore history. Those who are not interested will drop out automatically,” he wrote.
He also suggested widening the gap in public housing benefits between citizens and PRs. For instance, a PR should be eligible to buy only resale three-room flats or bigger.
His letter won approval from the majority of netizens who posted on the Straits Times Discussion Board.
GreatestAsia expressed skeptism at the loyalty of PRs:
“Dear Mr Teo, there is no loyalty. Majority of the PR-PMET have plan to move back to their home country, or move to a third country eventually. Most PR-PMET have bought property in their home country after they earned some money in Singapore.”
His views were echoed by MaluforSG:
“To all the PRs reading this column, stop being hypocritical – touch your own heart and tell me what was the main reason you left your own country and work in Singapore?Eaglefly shared his experience with some Malaysian PRs:
a) Better Pay?
b) Better Job Reference for later career path?
c) A good jump start for you, an opportunity to make quick bucks ,go back sudden wealth, immediately out of proverty cycle in yr own homeland – therefore a better life back home.
I hve NO DOUBTs about PRs coming from Developed Countries ,cause, 70% of these category of PRs are truly, with some unique skills and adequately educated and exposed..
However, I am sorry to say, I begged to defer ,when PRs are coming from Developing Countries -( with the exception of those who hve been educated in first World country ,but are citizens of a Developing country.)
I am not surprise that with the RMB value adjusted ,some China PRs may very well changed their mind coming here.
I am not surprise if S$ is devalued overnight, potential PRs will give it the missed. Even our Malaysian friends.
Just look at Australia, even Singaporeans who wish to migrate there are not having an easy time to obtain permit to work there – the Control and Evaluation Process is very Stringent.
Look at Singapore – its so easy and cheap.
If you disagree, then tell me if you can also confidently say that your same application to work in Australia would also be easily approved,…as easy as those from Singapore.
You would also be view as Contributing economically there also – same basis of argument ?
Come On, its basically a “You scratch my back, I scratch yours ” Contract between you and SG.”
Eaglefly shared his stories of Malaysian PRs “exploiting” the system:
“There are plenty of stories of Malaysian PRs who after working here for more than 15 years have returned to Malaysia, due to the strong Sing dollar exchange rates to retire. Same as many singaporeans buying or retiring there. What is the point of of offering PR to Malaysians when they are only interested in making money and leaving after a spell, knowing that they WANT to lived in terrace or double storey landed property which singapore can NEVER offer them.
The contributions from Malaysians is that jobs shunned by singaporeans are taken by them is concrete factor (all is bumkum) as the businesses have lengthened the working hours and not increasing the wages by same margin, classic sign of goal post being changed, from 8 hours to 10 and later to 12 but wages kept the remain same, which primary scholl boy would want that kind of working hours and same salary as their fathers once had. This is the issue which labour unions and manpower ministries should address IMMEDIATELY. Stop blaming singaporeans for being lazy or calculative or any other reason as THEY are not VALID.”
legolass supports a more stringent criteria for PRs:
“Don’t forget the non-monetary buy equally substantial benefits given to PRs. PRs should NOT be given the same priority as citizens for Primary 1 Registration.
There should be a minimum period of stay in S’pore before a foreigner can be given PR status. This is the case for countries such as UK, Australia, Canada, etc. At present, a foreigner can obtain S’pore PR within months of arrival. Applicants should be made to sit a test about S’pore history and also be tested on English comprehension.”
code22xx is worried at the increasingly “dominance” of PRs:
“Looking at national statistics, you can see the higher average income of PRs than citizens. And with their increased numbers, it seems over dominate our society. Got money, got numbers, got higher job posts & prospects, got measurable contribution. It really seems like we been colonized!!”
Despite the widespread resentment on the ground at the relentless influx of foreigners, the ruling party is adamant that its liberal immigration and pro-foreigner policy is here to stay.
Unlike other countries like Australia and Canada which requires prospective immigrants to take and pass an English proficiency test before they are allowed to even work there, there are no such regulations in Singapore.
A PRC national by the name of Zhang Yuanyuan came to Singapore on a student pass and obtained her PR within 2 months of applications. She has since returned to Beijing.
To add salt to the wounds of Singapore, their leaders appear to be completely oblivious to their concerns and frustration.
Minister of Community, Youth and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan launched a $10-million Community Integration Fund last month to help new citizens integrate into Singapore society.
The Community Integration Fund will help to sponsor projects such as cultural gatherings, seminars and social outings for the newcomers and Singaporeans.
The Ministry of Information, Communications and Arts (MICA) had called a public tender last Thursday to develop a “New Citizens Survival Guide”, part of a kit to give newly-minted Singapore Citizens and PRs a “positive experience” of settling here.
Ironically, Singaporeans will be ultimately paying for these state programmes to make the foreigners feel “welcome” in their own homeland.
With no opposition in Parliament to check on the ruling party, it is able to pass bills and implement policies (too) smoothly without consulting the people.
Unless Singaporeans realize the need to reclaim their political rights, they will have no choice but to continue “sponsoring” foreigners for language courses for a long time to come.
Comments source: ST Discussion Board
Related articles:
>> MICA to develop welcome kit for new citizens
>> Proposal to spend 10 million dollars to help new citizens integrate
>> Why should Singapore taxpayers pay 10 million dollars to help immigrants integrate?
>> Singapore arts groups decline to be propaganda mouthpiece for National Integration Council
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I fully support for more stringent criteria for PR and new citizens. The current slack immigration policy has resulted in large number of foreigners coming here and affecting the life of the locals i.e. overcrowding, depressed salary for lower income group, exorbitant property price, etc. Today SM Goh said that we are immigration society but does that means that we have to accept foreigners at the expense of locals ??? Yes, our ancestor is immigrant during their era but please note that Singapore was not a country at that time and there is no such thing as National Service !!!
They should consider putting a timeline on PR Status. A person should not be holding PR for more than 10 years. If so, it means he has no intention to stay here for good, unless he has children who are holding Singapore Citizenship.
This massive indiscriminate flood of migration will drown the future of this country. It must end now. Those who are already here must be given the option to take up citizenship in a few years or just leave.
We can replace them with Professional Employment Pass (PEP) or just pass for temporary workers.
The hidden political agenda of mass migration must NOT be allowed to deceive Singaporeans any further.
There should indeed be more stringent rules for PRs especially for those coming from PRC and India. There is no intention on their part of staying or contributing. The sense that I get from them is that Singapore is to be taken as a spring board to the USA. What loyalty can one expect from them? None. So why make it so easy for them to obtain the PR? Those from PRC are here to fish for a foreign husband in the hope that it’ll lead them to an easier life. Everything else is bumkum.
What GCT said reflects the lack of touch of ground sentiments. Voters must wake up and vote in more opposition MPs to check on the government. They are our last hope now to control the flow of foreigners.
It is oft said that a people deserve the leaders they get. Well, for the 67% who voted for the MIW, are you not glad about the largesse for the transitory folks in our midst?
I welcome those who intend to make SG their home and make meaningful contributions. In lieu of the national service, they could contribute in social and community service.
While it is easy to blame the strangers among us, the more pertinent question is who let them in the first place? It is natural that people will always seek to find a better place to live and work. Does that however mean that any Tom, Ding or Harish is allowed in? For this I reserve my greatest ire towards the gatekeepers, who have now become answerable only to themselves.
Why do I feel more and more like a sugarcane? I am being squeeze repeatedly and I will be discarded immediately once I have no more juice left. The best part is someone else is enjoying the produce of my labour and I have no say on it.
yeah, right! We are a migrant soceity. Please tell me why do I have to serve NS/reservist while other new immigrants do not have to?
one of my best friend was also a PR (Indonesian Chinese). she did her O level here, then poly and university. she said last time it is not easy to get a PR. people have to finish local poly or local university and find job then get the PR.
she hold a student pass for more than 7 years before she got her PR.
and after more than 3 years for a PR and more than 10 years staying here, she decided to convert to citizen. as she took Malaya and Spore history in O level before, it was easy for her to understand more about Spore.
i dont mind we have PRs, but at least they dont get it so easily. as the result, even hawker and karang guni now are PR from China.
i dont bias to PRC PR. but i encountered many of them are very demanding. they always complaining why PRs can only get this amount while citizen get more.
and the worst, some PRC who had become citizen said that China is better than Spore!!! they convert to citizen because of the previlleges.
PR criteria, definitely PR status should be granted with stringent assessment of candidates skills and the value he brings to country and society. Its simple equation, you don’t want to hire incompetent or unskilled people for your company and make loses. Any talent coming-in will help country to progress. Any attempts to stop it will only have bad effects.
However any expectation for community service from PR’s will be too much to expect. That expectation is true for citizens. I do not want to argue about loyalty of PR as they are ‘PR’s ( limited to 5 – 10 years) and not citizens. They come here to sell their work, knowledge and skills to make money which is vital for local business to sustain in global market.
I think this is very common to see local people to dislike foreigners as they simply feel unsafe about their jobs and businesses. But they should mind that this fear only affects the incompetent/unskilled people and not to those who see foreign workers and their skills as an asset to their business and society.
It is so easy to obtain PR papers in Singapore that it is now looked upon by foreigners (and Singaporeans) like toilet paper.
Get it, swipe your arse with it, then flush it away when you can get a more prized PR from Australia, Canada, USA etc.. where life is less stressful and where the citizens are valued.
Why would they want to get Singapore citizenship when they can see for themselves how shabby the PAP Government is treating its own citizens.
PR are actually ‘convenient work permits’.
The one and only reason is simply to tilt the balance in GE to favor the ruling party. You complain more, they will bring in more…and bring in much more until you cannot complain anymore.
## Anonymous on Thu, 29th Oct 2009 10:12 am
“The hidden political agenda of mass migration must NOT be allowed to deceive Singaporeans any further”.
You do have a point.
The way our own 86 years old Robert Mugabe of Singapore is always thinking up ways to fix his opponents and control the lives of Singaporeans, do not be surprise that he has a self-serving motive to flood the country with PRs / New Citizens.
It’s the way to ensure that the PAP stays in power perpetually and his son, grandson, great-grandson, great-great grandson, great-great-great grandson (until eterniy) follows him as the Prime Minister of Singapore.
He is a long term planner, this we know.
Makes sense, to me at least.
Why Singapore gonna go all the way out to cajoe & pamper the PRs & potential SG citizens??? To add salt to the wound, it is taxpayers money they are using.
In Australia & UK or any other more desirable countries (u name it, u have it), getting a PR or even becoming their citizens is NOT easy at all. But why there are still so many people wanting to migrate there? That goes to show that if a country is ‘desirable’, no matter how difficult it is, people will put in all their efforts to get themselves there. This will make them more cherish of their new-found citizenship or identity.
All news about how the SG government ‘pampering’ of PRs & new-citizens can really become more & more pissed off. MAYBE in the ruling goverment’s mind, they know they could not compared well to other more ‘desirable’ countries, so they have to go all way out to ‘boot-lick’ these group of people, in the HOPE that they will contribute economically to our nation.
When i came to singapore (im from europe) i cam on employment pass which has a minimum income requirement to achieve – thus proving that one adds value (i came to work for chinese company). appliying for PR looked like a very daunting task as the papers i had to supply and the number of yrs i would have to have been in singapore before being able to apply (which was 2 or 3 yrs back then) seem to have gone out the window reading newspapers recently. these requirements must have been eased. what is amusing about this whole debate is that many singaporeans i know dream of a life in australia or north america, and quite happy to switch their red paspport into something more blue in colour.
@ChaoCheeseBuy on Thu, 29th Oct 2009 10:38 am
…” We are a migrant soceity….” Please be careful NOT to be self-absorbed of this politician’s hoax as if it is a truism. IT IS NOT.
If there is such a thing as “migrant society” then USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand are all “migrant society” – WHY ARE THEY RESTRICTING AND CONTROLLING THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY of immigrants. Australia is havig a big row now with Indonesia on Sr Lankan refugees with Australia’s Kevin Rudd refusing to rule out the use of brutal force on the high seas (against all its signed international conventions of safety at sea) by tommorrow’s deadline.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26274796-601,00.html
Get Real, those hypocritical politicians with undisclosed agenda.
There is NO such a thing as “migrant society” advancing the CIRCUS ( not circle ) of a hoax argument that it justify in any remote way accepting unlimited and indiscriminate importation of migrants like rotten tomatoes.
If the contrary is true, then Britain now receiving loads of migrant to change the cosmopolitan character of London, is also a “migrant society”, why don’t they take in 50 millions from China?? When does the “migrant society” hoax taking on the hoax of respectability of truth over the falsity of this political propaganda? Was Britain a “migrant society” 50 years ago or was it only yesterday that it achieved a nationhood called “migrant society” which imposes upon it the obligations to take all and unlimited migrants whereever they come from for what ever grounds?
Remember this in true history. When Henry Kissinger and Richard Nixon on his historic visist to China heaped praise on China’s splendour, what did Mao said in reply?
We can export 100,000 young Chinese women to America,…maybe millions if you want all of them.” Mao wasn’t game playing with Nixon in politics… his mind probably thought populating America with Chinese people will completely flood, uproot their culture and overwhelm them with Chinese leaving them no defence.
Think about this!!!
Please stop blaming PR’s for coming to Singapore, we come here for a better life and Singapore definitely offers one.
May I when ask your forefathers came here was it for love of the place?? Everybody came here initially for a better life. You may say Singapore was then an undeveloped place but they came because their life back in China or India was even worse.
Also drop the misconception that a Singapore salary allows you to live like a king when we return. Those days are long gone. Property prices in cities like Mumbai are more, I repeat more than Singapore. So going back is not an easy decision for a PR.
Get used to competition. If you grow up in Mumbai you have to compete with migrants from all over India – this has even resulted in riots but the competition continues. Its probably the same if you grow up in Shanghai, Jakarta or New York.People flock to opportunity, that is human nature.
People take up citizenship in US because after a few years there you ‘belong’. In Singapore you are always a foreigner. Economic issues are not the only issues people take up Citizenship
When I bought my HDB in 2004 all the neighbours asked “How much you buy for?” & when I recently sold to upgrade they asked “How much you sell for?”, no other conversation in five years despite our attempts to make friends only one family has become really close.
Everybody came to Singapore for a better life, let us feel a sense of belonging and we would love sink our roots here.Many of my friends are taking up citizenship and they have male children too who will be doing NS. If I had children I would send them for NS too PR or citizen, this is our home and it has to be defended.
Life here is stressful, I have spent all my working life here but it doesn’t mean you can’t smile or chat. Then there is no need for the Govt to spend money, anyway that might not work.
Integration is from the heart its not an economic issue. Look at the Korean’s in Japan, after centuries they remain Koreans. Look at the Japanese in America, they are Americans – they actually fought the Japanese in WWII.
Its in the heart.
## BeenHere on Thu, 29th Oct 2009 12:12 pm
“Property prices in cities like Mumbai are more, I repeat more than Singapore. So going back is not an easy decision for a PR”.
The majority of Singaporeans who vent their frustrations here know that the problem lies with the PAP Government’s “open leg wide wide and bend forward” poliy on FWs / FTs / PRs, so don’t take our postings personally.
There are many policies implemented by the PAP Government which are self-serving and without any care for the welfare and interests of Singapore citizens… and that is why you see so many negative postings about them in the internet.
With regards to property prices in Mumbai, I suppose you have the option to buy one that is more affordable in the suburbs or in a nearby Indian city.
Singaporeans do not have that luxury in this overbuilt city of 700 sq km…
This is just one of the issues that concern and frustrate Singaporeans.
Needless to say, there are many others.
BeenHere on Thu, 29th Oct 2009 12:12 pm
Don’t talk rot. Just answer a simple question, if you were living in Mumbai and the population increased by 40% in a few years by importing African immigrants, will you complain about these immigrants?
That is not all. What if these Africans
- demand equal rights without equal responsibilities
- demand that you speak African languages
- take your job for half the pay
- are bloody selfish, occupy all the public facilities, reserve places for their own people
- increase the cost of living because of higher demand for goods and services
- lower the standard of living because of overcrowding
- don’t bother about culture and history of Mumbai/India but import their African ways of doing things
If you say you will be happy to welcome them, you are just a bloody liar.
The issue is its the Stakeholder of policies, the people, who gave them the mandate of 50 years in a row without end in sight.
Its really the people.
It is totally useless appealing to the MIW to reconsider their policy to flood Singapore with cheap foreign labour. The PAP government has NEVER listened to the people.
At one stage, MM Lee said that casinos would come to Singapore “over my dead body.” But when they ran out of ideas, they made the decision to bring in casinos without consulting the people. Who really believes that they will stop at 2 casinos.
Then they wanted to put the cheap foreign workers in Serangoon Gardens. Again this was done without consulting the residents there. Fortunately, someone heard about it and the residents got to make some noise about it. However, to silence the protest of those residents, some stooges accused those residents of being racists in the forum pages of the local MSM.
Now they are flooding this country with millions of cheap foreign labour and all the ministers again have said that they will not change this policy. Why waste time pleading when it will only fall on deaf years.
Singaporeans know that the only way they can make themselves heard is through the ballot box. Vote opposition and your pleas will be heard loud and clear. Vote for the status quo and suffer in silence. Use your votes wisely.
Time for change is now. Change will come whether you like it or not. Better to be on the side of change.
remember once vietnamese refugees during the vietnam war was heading for singapore, did singapore accept them?
it shows that QC still matters, we are not usa who has abundant land and resources to take in migrants. even today, usa has been tightening up their immigration requirements.
BeenHere on Thu, 29th Oct 2009 12:12 pm
Get used to competition. If you grow up in Mumbai you have to compete with migrants from all over India….
=============================================================
I have to say that you make no sense. We are not talking about competition between citizens. We are talking about doubling the population of this country by bringing in cheap foreign labour.
By doing so, the population density in this country will reach 20,000 people per sq km and on a tiny rock without any resources. This policy is insane. Please get your facts right.
Further, instead of paying these foreigners wages similar to those already earned by Singaporeans, these foreigners are paid much less thereby putting Singaporeans at a disadvantage with regards to employment.
Anyway, like you said it is not your fault. It was my fault for voting for the PAP all this years. I intend to correct that mistake in the next elections when thousands of Singaporeans and myself will switch over to the opposition.
Again it will not be your fault, but we will kindly ask you to leave Singapore then. Please prepare for that day because it is coming soon.
If we put aside the PR/FT issue for a while and focus on why the situation is as it is, one will notice that the govt is simply attempting to follow the same economic hueristics that served them well in the past – high employment thru favorable policies and taxation for corporates, which typically result in a distribution of wealth from labor to capital.
The current PR/FT ‘problem’ is just a natural extension of those policies, when domestic labor has become too expensive it is reasonable that businesses would prefer to hire cheaper foreign labor.
This is where the problem lies, businesses are here ONLY because labor and other business costs are low RELATIVE to alternatives.
As long as we persist in policies of low cost competition resident workers (singaporeans/PRs/FTs alike) will continue to reap a smaller slice of the productivity pie.
By going back to past economic policies of attracting foreign MNCs by providing cheap labour (ie. cheap foreign imports) the MIW is essentially admitting that is has no ideas on how to grow the economy.
Further, as the global economic situation is very different from that of the 1960s, there is no guarantee that these policies will work again.
The majority of Singaporeans are therefore disappointed and frustrated that the ruling party has not taken time to examine the consequences should such a policy fail. More research needs to be done. The are playing with peoples’ lives, both local and foreign.
One question that begs an answer is what happens when recession hits Singapore and the MIW have managed to increase our population to 8 million. What happens when the MNCs pull out? Singapore is a tiny rock with no resources at all. Even in the best of times, we have to import water to quench our thirst.
To get the answers we want, we have to put in members from opposition parties into parliament.
Time for change is now.
If not now, when?
If not us, who?
@BeenHere
Sorry to note that you are feel slighted.
Yes, you are not wrong to say that our forefathers came to Singapore for A BETTER LIVING,and so did you and plenty
others.
Well,if you viewed it as a crrent wave of global
competition,i rest my case!
Truth be told that i personally feel that there is NO
such fair competition as some of us believe or are made to believe.
If my Government boldly institute a FT POLICY-without proper and fair public consultatative process-the said ‘FAIR’COMEPTITION is already being made unfair by such a
poliy( ie FT policy) in itself.
Most companies (gls,tlcs other $$$lcs)-not to mention ‘AWARD WINNING’ bosses of MNCs-bosses are somewhat pro FT policy
as first and foremost,it is THE POLICY,and obviously it makes
“cost-saving” (READ AS LOCAL WORKERS REDENDANCIES) easier on for them.
What i grieve most is that you guys mostly take my country
with so much less sincerities and gravity than my hailed-from-china forefathers.Most of the early immigrant workers-like my great-grandfathers,grand-fathers,aunties and uncles-they all
contribute to buliding up SINGAPORE!I honestly am doubtful the recent immigrant FTs like yourself will not pack and go once
your motherlands offer you more prosperity and “pocket” MONIES!
Once that happen,and would likely happen,the new IMPOVERISHED
singa-POOR-eans will indeed be a GRAVE burden to its ageing
population.
@Time for Change
“If not now, when?”
After the next GE lah ofc
“If not us, who?”
The FTs lor
Sorry couldn’t resist
On a more positive note, there already exists a model where Singapore can emulate (again…. we are damn good copycats) –
Israel.
When we compare ourselves to them our excuses of no natural resources sound very hollow.
In the past the Israeli economy was in shambles but now it is one of the most vibrant and tech driven in the world – even during this current crisis (and not even considering that it is also at WAR)
Compared to Israel we have so much going for us, relative peace and stability, access to a huge young regional market and ample access to capital. To say that we cant do as well as they have is a disservice to singaporeans and PRs.
I wonder whether our leadership can break the mold and take a risk to move SG forward by restructuring our economy or would they rather play the same tired tune of lowering costs (labor and taxes) to attract FDI and make up the rest with
infrastructure construction.
There are only so many MRT stations, IRs and tunnels we can build, and we are NEVER going to outcompete the chinese/indians/etc in terms of labor costs unless we either accept lower standards of living or their standards of living exceed ours.
BTW Israel has an even worse media ranking 155th, lol.
Hi all,
My view is that PR status should have an expiry date, and has to be re-applied after that.
I have some friends who have to go back to Australia to make a living as they told me that their Aussie PR status is expiring soon.
This is actually a good way to keep people committed to their PR ship, and avoid another incident of the Zhang Yuan Yuan case. I suppose she can still come back to Singapore anytime she wants as her PR status is permanent.
@ BeenHere on Thu, 29th Oct 2009 12:12 pm
You made some fair points. The reckless flooding of immigrants here is a lose-lose outcome for migrants and citizenry and a cynical win for political chicanery. As one poster puts it, 8 million here, economic crash, too much thirsty and hungry and how we manage in those trapped circumstances? It is NOT prophet of doom. Where you came from, it is urbanisation and even more pronounced in China, farmland is lost or remain uncultivated. Food shortages are looming, prices is up on a SECULAR, not cyclical terms. Competition will root a lot here into hunger which they feel is the Government’s undeclared population policy and without public consultation. PRs reading these public ventilation of anger knew they could be forgiven if they came to conclusion that they arrived at the “wrong” destination with little hope forward, strange and angry culture and disturbing political culture not much different from the oppression they faced at home. Yet for both economic security reason (and any other) they could not commit to this place. The locals made so much sacrifice only to find their own Government marginalised them both economically, politically and some aspects unmentionable in the public forum.
If foreigners, like yourself have NOT been promised by our Government of blue sky, loving heaven awaits your here, you could have been happier in your country of birth. India and China are booming economies with long-term sustainable strong futures. Singapore does NOT know if it last beyond the next 2 years if we get another meltdown similar to 2008 and 2009.
You and our citizenry could be starving to death if you stay put in those circumstances but you and other PRs have a choice of returning where you came from – maybe to farming existence. Singaporean would have to farm some rice and vegetables under the bed of some PAP elites if they are kind enough for that but I doubt so. Our Government is recklessly irresponsible to encourage so many to come – knowing the impossible constraints of this little resource-less rock for political motives unconnected to economic consideration.If they wanted temporary workers on long term basis, the Professional Employment Pass would achieve the same outcome for us as a nation and the same outcome FOR THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO COME FOR THE SAME OPPORTUNITY ON THOSE CLEAR TERMS KNOWN TO THEM. No one is misled and less grievances of local dislacement in employment.
THE CITIZENRY HERE ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM YOUR SITUATION. THEY ARE ALREADY EMBEDED WITH COMMITMENT OF HIGH COSTS LIVING PARTICULARLY ACCOMODATION AND NO OPTION OF ESCAPING ITS CLUTCH AND NOWHERE TO GO. You can move on because you have a foreign passport and another home of refuge to go back to however hard the return. SINGAPOREANS HAVE NO RETURN TO CONTEMPLATE. The tragedy here is politically made – no fault of PRs here but Singaporeans who voted for those in power in blind faith and also the chicanery of GRC gang-up politics of deception as if democracy is a contest of with gang of thugs (in organised street fights called respectably as “election”) is tougher than his opposition could muster. It is the disgrace of our nation’s pride and place in global civilisation in the shame of ill-repute of no parallel in any other democracy.
You should have done your homework before you came. The notion of Singapore being a “migrant society” buys no favour from my reasoned thoughts. When does this start – 1819 when Raffles set foot or yesterday? If that migration nation justification is true, we refused Vietnamese refugees at end of Vietnam War where words has it that babies were thrown overbroad to terrorise them to leave our shores. Plenty of Sri Lanka desperate refugees at in the Indian Ocean refusing to disembark Australian custom ship seeking residency there. Singapore could have take the lot and invite a lot more. Why don’t we? OBVIOUSLY, it is politician farting up the arse like six-cylinder cars revving up their hot engines but takes no passengers even for a temporary ride of shelter here.
The truths is that PRs either take up citizen and be bonded with us for better or worse. We can’t afford passengers of convenience to our sole detriment to eternity. If you are unwilling or unable, it is dignified and responsible of proper conduct for you to leave and not burden us any longer or imposed hardship burdens on our generosity of welcome in the first place. Remember, the citizenry here don’t force you here. So neither should you in fairness forced upon unlimited sacrifice and pain upon us.
The alternative is grim and IS DESTINED TO BE A LOSS FOR ALL INCLUDING YOU AND ME.
ALL SAID,
Those who come to the Court of Chancery looking for equity (fairness) must come with a pair of clean hands.
You cannot expect to demand and not give any at all. A closed palm cannot give anything also cannot receive any charity.
LIFE AND TRUTH IS LIKE THAT, Do you NOT agree with me, Been Here with all due respect???
Anonymous on Thu, 29th Oct 2009 8:29 pm
Your are right to say the Government is being reckless in flooding this tiny rock with millions and millions of foreigners.
During the current recession, our Ministers look completely helpless. All they can say is that the economy will pick up once the West comes out of recession. It was there for all to see. Lim Swee Say even did a song-and-dance about ‘upturn the downturn’ to distract us but it made him look foolish and helpless.
Another than the possibility of an economic meltdown when out population hits 8 million, I also seriously take the threat of rising sea levels due to global warming. Will other countries be able to take in 8 million refugees when that happens. Here is the link:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/04/0420_040420_earthday.html
The way things look, this government will probably not even stop when out population hits 8 million. If it thinks that 8 million people can help increase our GDP, then 12 or 15 million people will probably increase our GDP even more. The thought of it sends the chills down my spine.
Putting in more opposition is the only way we can put a stop to this and get more answers.
Well most are not really foreign talent. They are probably here to help increase the crime rate. Singaporeans are just too law abiding.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_447939.html
If you can’t beat them, join them!
Think like a PR and exploit the system and plan your own exit strategy…….this country is screwed anyways.
Guess what. I heard from people that some PRs bought HDB here in Singapore and rented the whole flat out. He comes in and out of JB to work. The rental here is enough to cover his instalments and maybe even his house in JB. One of the reasons for the astronomical HDB prices.
If no control is impose on PRs buying HDB, there is nothing much left for the average Singaporean here if HDB is no longer a privilege for the citizens. Furthermore these PRs comes and go. If really the HDB mkt collaspes in the future, they will just wear their pants and leave, leaving the shit behind for the citizens to clear.
What is becoming of our nation? I don’t know what will become for the lives of the future citizens.
HDBless on Thu, 29th Oct 2009 10:28 pm
This is very sad indeed to hear. These PRs are denying young Singaporean families a home. If this is really common, then it is no wonder that PRs are able to offer more cash for HDB resale flats.
Does the HDB know about this? If not why aren’t they taking any action?
It would be good of TR could write on this. Seems like breaking news to me.
@ New Era on Thu, 29th Oct 2009 9:07 pm
It is scary the way this country is heading to. Who knows, as of this moment, what the impact like of global warming in just 20 years down the road when all the mountain ice caps like Mt kilimanjaro, Himalaya, Swiss/French Alps all gone? WATER SUPPLY DISAPPEARED AND RICH FARMLAND WILL BECOME DRY DESERT WASTELAND. Population expanding elsewhere like Singapore 8 million.
In a world of scarcity, food prices will go through the roof,POOR SINGAPOREANS WON’T EVEN HAVE GRASS ON THE ROADSIDE TO HARVEST AND EAT IN STARVATION LIKE CHICKENS. Are we prepared for this irreversible and irresponsible population explosion that WILL NOT STOP AT 8 million? Who can stop human from “active bedroom sports” resulting in more than 12 million when migrants just explode like rabbits? It is insane and diabolical of consequences.
And in such high density populated place, is it defensible in a war situation,the roads and expressway will all be jammed with fleeing cars, motor cycles, bicycles, how do tanks and amroured personnel carrier move in fast formation except by crushing over everyone in its path. And how do we know desperate foreigns might abet foreign forces for food and tommorrow survival? This place becomes indefensible in an emergency.
And if there is a pandemic, very dense public transport is the most convenient and efficient ways of spreading killer germs that will take us out very fast.
What goes in the planning heads of our Minister in undertaking this reckless adventure of mass importation of migrants?? Don’t anyone flies into Australia for vacation noticed that even the inside and outside of aircraft are sprayed with pesticide for killing flies and germs? So many foreigners from all sources brings in enormous amount of new diseases for infection. More than 10% of Chinese PRC has Hepatitis B which can bring liver cirrhosis and cancer? With such speedy imports of foreigners, were those coming in given adequate medical and health screening before they came in??
It is a deplorable situation we are in. We have to reverse it whether we like it or not. Don’t you agree, New Era??
Observer on Thu, 29th Oct 2009 9:36 pm
The notion that if we can’t win them, join them! is false prophet. We don’t have their leverage of leaving elsewhere. Exploiting the system merely destroys it and destroy ourselves because foreigners just kiss this place goodbye.
If we can’t beat these foreigners, we change the rule of the game. Bring in opposition parties and change the law on migration rights and obligation to encourage those who are committed here to be part of us and those who are just passengers of convenience, please leave sooner than later in emergency to the detriment of all.
@ HDBless on Thu, 29th Oct 2009 10:28 pm
Yes, you bring in a good point. There are a lot of complaints – substantiated -that a lot of 5 room HDB flats were sub-letted to foreign workers up to 20 people in multiple bunked beds and the owner in abstentia!!
And HDB is not tough with this, simply looked the other way while other residents fumed in anger at their annoying habits of loud dragging of furniture past midnight, loud talking like they are shouting from one block to another when they are living in the same unit, rubbish thrown on stairways, cigarette butts etc etc.
It is just living hell for many Singaporeans.
Observer on Thu, 29th Oct 2009 9:36 pm
“If you can’t beat them, join them!”
The problem is, you can’t join them coz you don’t enjoy the same privilege that they enjoy.
You will soon become a minority in your own country & serving your foreign masters.
Two important reasons why PRs work in Singapore is simply because there are no natural disasters and also due to the currency exchange rates. If the currency of Singapore is the same as that of China, Myanmar, Vietnam and so on, I wonder how many would still want to come here and work! And if there are earthquakes, typhoons, tornados, volcanoes and so on, I wonder how many would still want to come here and work!
The policy holders would have done better in ensuring adequate supply before allowing PRs and Private property owners to buy resale hdb flats especially those in the mature estates! I also understand that the employers’ Cpf contribution rates for PRs is lesser than that for Singaporeans. Can someone tell me whether this is true?
Just my 2 cents worth.
I think a lot of people-locals and foreigners-have taken the
fundamental graciousness of my fellow citizens for granted.
Never mind the law etc,- you mean there is no laws in place or police in other countries-if Singaporeans were not so gracious,I guess the same people who feel so comfortable
wrestling with singaporeans for their work,their dining tables at hawker-centres won’t have sung so many familair praises:”
OH1 YOUR GAHMEN SO GOOD;NO CURFEWS FOR MY DAUGHTERS AND I CAN WALK THE STREETS OF SINGAPORE AT 2 AM AND FEEL SAFE!”
Well, the truth is that despite some of the uncivilities we have seen on this blog,the average sinagporean is honestly
very CIVIL!
The influx of PR and new citizens are to bring a more demographic balance. Our extremely very highly paid government believe that some races are not producing and need to be replenished.
The loose manner of administrating the citizenry issue is surely not one of incompetency, with our extremely very highly paid government, how can it be? However the hidden agenda shall not escape the watchful eyes of the citizen of Singapore.
As for the migrant Singaporean issue, most of us who are born after Singapore independent are not migrant. We are true blue Singaporean and Singapore is our place of birth and our home. Even if we look something like Chinese or Indian, neither China nor India will never take us back as their citizen.
The migrant generation is phrasing out and as we are just trying to build a nation, here comes another new migrant generation to mess things up for us. Singapore will never take any proper form or character and its unlikely to forge a nationhood with PAP as the absolute ruler.
It is frustrating to be a Singaporean. Damn it.
## New Era on Thu, 29th Oct 2009 9:07 pm
“During the current recession, our Ministers look completely helpless. All they can say is that the economy will pick up once the West comes out of recession. It was there for all to see. Lim Swee Say even did a song-and-dance about ‘upturn the downturn’ to distract us but it made him look foolish and helpless”.
————–
I saw the video recently.
The guy looks like an Idiot.
Acts like an Idiot.
Talks like an Idiot.
Sings like an Idiot.
God help us when we have a Million $$$$ Minister who can do no better than to sing “Upturn The Downturn” and come up with kindergaren type slogans like “Cheaper, Faster, Better” during a recession.
Another idiotic Million $$$$ Minister is that gnome lookalike with his “affordable” and “subsidized” comments.
It is no wonder that Singapore is in a mess today.
The third generation government is a disappointment to many Singaporeans, especially LHL who cannot discharge his PM duty satisfactory !!! Only his father and those Singaporeans who are hopelessly brain-washed by PAP are still thinking he is doing a great job!!!!
i got a colleague who is from malaysian holding australia citizenship, working in SG as a PR.
She said SG is a useless country, she prefer to retire in Aussie than to stay here.
@God Help Us All
just to add to what you said.
when things look bad,blame it on the world economy esprcailly
tat in USA!but when things look good,”it’s our great effort!”
Ans,then again,they reward themselves whne most of us,locals, are still struggling???…