Wong Kan Seng reveals that two-thirds of PR applications are successful
November 24, 2009 by Our Correspondent
Filed under Headlines
Written by Our Correspondent
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Mr Wong Kan Seng said in Parliament yesterday that an average of 46,300 people are granted Singaporean permanent resident (PR) status every year for the past eight years.
From 2000 to 2008, an average of 74,500 applications for permanent residency were submitted by foreigners each year. Of these, an average of 46,300 applications were successful which translates to two successful applications out of every three.
MM Lee said earlier that all applications are carefully vetted so that “highly qualified” foreigners will become PRs.
However, some of the new PRs include beauticians, language teachers, clinic assistants and administrative personnel who are not quite considered “qualified” as exemplified by the case of Chinese national Zhang Yuanyuan who got her PR in only 2 months while working as a Chinese teacher in a private school.
In his reply to Mr Chiam See Tong’s question about the number of PR applications received, granted and PR statuses renounced, Mr Wong said that PR applications have been increasing steadily in recent years.
At the same time, about 2,200 PRs renounce their status each year.
He did not reveal the reasons behind these PRs leaving Singapore and whether they have made any profits from the sale of their properties if any.
Mr Wong also reassured Singaporeans that the inflow of immigrants will be “managed” to ensure that Singaporeans benefit in the long term.
“We’ll manage the inflow of immigrants, taking into account how quickly our society can absorb and integrate these new immigrants without diluting our national identity or weakening our social cohesion. Such a sustained and calibrated inflow of immigrants would ensure that Singaporeans benefit from immigration in the long term,” he said.
As of June this year, there were 1.253 million non-residents, but only 533,000 PRs. In total, foreigners now make up 36 per cent of Singapore’s population, up from 14 per cent in 1990.
The new immigrants tend to mix among themselves and there are signs that ethnic enclaves are emerging in Singapore in estates like Geylang and Jalan Besar.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan added that it was government policy to ensure there were no ethnic ghettoes in Singapore.
Immigration has become a hot topic in Singapore with many senior leaders speaking out on it over the last few weeks.
An online furore over Chinese national and Singapore PR Zhang Yuanyuan proclaiming her loyalty to China on TV was even reported in The Economist. (read article here)
Despite concerns on the ground at the direction and viability of Singapore’s liberal immigration policy to import foreigners en masse to make up for the population shortfall here, the ruling party is adamant that there will be no wholesale changes to it.
A $10-million Community Integration Fund was unveiled two months ago to make the newcomers feel “welcomed” in Singapore at the expense of local taxpayers.
The ruling party is also busy courting the new citizens and PRs to join grassroots organizations like RCs and CCCs.
According to a shocking revelation by Dr Vivian, there were about 4,500 new citizens serving in grassroots organizations.
With elections around the corner, the ruling party is posturing to safeguard the interests of Singaporeans in order to placate rising frustration and tension among the voters.
Citizens enjoy few additional benefits than PRs other than slightly higher subsidies in public housing and healthcare.
While all Singapore males have to serve two years of mandatory National Service followed by another 13 years or so of reservist, new citizens and PRs do not have to do so.
The relentless influx of foreigners into Singapore has forced some Singaporeans to seek work opportunities overseas leading to a brain drain for the island state.
About 180,000 Singaporeans are studying, living or working overseas with 1,000 renouncing their citizenships every year.
Despite the desperate attempts of the ruling party to attract qualified immigrants to relocate to Singapore, few are biting the bait due to the few social welfare benefits afforded by the government and the repressive political climate here.
A Gallup poll in July this year revealed that the top three immigration destinations for Chinese college students are U.S.A, France and South Korea. Singapore is not even featured in the top five. (read article here)
The majority of Chinese nationals in Singapore hail from the poorer inland provinces like Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Sichuan, Liaoning and Shanxi with few from the rich coastal cities like Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai and Wuxi.
Related articles:
>> Cosmetic changes made to immigration policy
>> SM Goh: New immigrants needed to make up population shortfall
>> PAP ministers hailed contributions of foreigners
>> SM Goh expressed support for Zhang Yuanyuan
>> State media: citizens have more rights over PRs
>> Zhang Yuanyuan got her Singapore PR in only 2 months
>> Official reply from government on the Zhang Yuanyuan fiasco
>> Singapore PRC PR proclaimed loyalty to China publicly
>> PRC resident hung China flag to celebrate its National Day
>> PRC student in Singapore wants more scholarships for foreigners
>> PRC prostitutes solicit for customers on Singapore’s cyberspace
>> ERA: 40 per cent of resale flats buyers are PRs
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LHL's Dead Wife on Tue, 24th Nov 2009 2:44 pm
“Mr Wong also reassured Singaporeans that the inflow of immigrants will be “managed” to ensure that Singaporeans benefit in the long term.”
Was he referring to ALL Singaporeans …or did he actually mean Singaporean Ministers? And what exactly are these benefits?
I suspect if he was referring to Singapore ministers, then the long-term benefit is that the PAP can again guarantee their stay in office.
Whilst i really love my country, i must say that the recent actions by our stupid leaders really makes me hope that the whole thing blows up in their faces to such an extent that they cannot hide their accountability or their incompetency to manage our country properly and to the benefit of ALL Singapore Citizens.
Time for Change on Tue, 24th Nov 2009 2:50 pm
There is a mass exodus of Singaporeans out from this tiny island. This is a good thing as Singapore is getting overcrowded.
http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?col=insightdownsouth&file=/2008/9/6/columnists/insightdownsouth/22243519&sec=Insight%20Down%20South
cy on Tue, 24th Nov 2009 3:09 pm
i once ate too much and suffer from indigestion and had to vomit out some.
the relaxation of PR criteria will lead to indigestion and cause problems/tensions for singapore, thus in the end singapore has to “vomit out” some to restore balance and harmony.
ErniesUrn on Tue, 24th Nov 2009 4:11 pm
I won’t bother with what comes out from WKS mouth. He is a politcal liability by all accounts. OPPOSITIONS PARTIES kindly muster your GRC squad and pay Bishan-Toa Payoh a visit this coming GE. WKS is up for grabs.
Dirty Old Man on Tue, 24th Nov 2009 4:14 pm
This Million $$$$ Minister has no credibility at all.
Under his care, he can’t keep a limping terrorist in jail.
Can’t catch the limping terrorist from escaping to Malaysia.
… and worse, did not accept responsibility for his failure.
How then can we believe that he will ‘manage’ the inflow of immigrants to ensure that Singaporeans ‘benefit’ from immigration in the long term.
Frankly, I trust the Sungei Road Ah Pek more that this Million $$$ Minister when he says he will give me a fair deal on the old stuff I sell to him.
ayama on Tue, 24th Nov 2009 4:29 pm
This good for nothing cannot even contain Mat Selamat in detention,and refuses take responsibility for his blunders.
Do you think he can seriously have the capacity to talk about the immigration issue.
Kan Sin Seng on Tue, 24th Nov 2009 5:05 pm
should we blame the China PR for her loyalty to her motherland?
Does getting PR requires one to be Loyal?
This about sums it up.
oh, 1 more. Who certifies if someone is Loyal?
And there you have it.
In the name of the Hum on Tue, 24th Nov 2009 5:09 pm
I wonder what reasons, Truthful reasons, those ex-singapore citizens who renounced their citizenship gave ?
Has it anything to do with Freedom?
Political system?
1 party dominant system?
persiancution?
David on Tue, 24th Nov 2009 5:27 pm
I am not surprised, the china man working as a messeaur and can’t speak proper english in my town got his PR with ease (according to what he told me). This is what Lee Kwan Yew classified as skilled and carefully vetted talent.
Wah Kan Sin-Li Seng Rong on Tue, 24th Nov 2009 6:29 pm
He is so happy to announce two thirds of the PR aplication is sucessful. To tell U people in the next GE, this ward is secure.Walk over
3rd Class citizen on Tue, 24th Nov 2009 6:32 pm
We need a lot of China nationale for their talent in sex industries as we don’t have all these expert????
Political SalesMaN on Tue, 24th Nov 2009 6:38 pm
ayama: He is good in the related status higher than Lee Hsieng long.(Lee Suan Yew Son-In-Law)So he has full protection from the Lee’s. Two cases, one on Mas Selamat & the other from Reform Party Naidu. This dept agent is sleeping.They’re waiting others to do the job for them. Mas Selamat was arrested by Indonesian Authority, Naidu was tip by US agent.
Every month he is concern about this “Bank Statement” not U People.
ayama on Tue, 24th Nov 2009 10:17 pm
Political SalesMan: Yes I know quite a few of the present and past ministers are related to the Familee, Wong Kan Seng,Danabalan.
So when LKY says that he could earn more monies if he is not in politics but in private pratice.
Its a joke, it is because he is in politics his Familee have amass large amount of wealth,you seriously think his wife law firm will do so well without his husband as the PM,his children all holding top post in all the Temasek control companies.Even relatives and close associates stand to gain.
While we poor citizens have to be satisfied with our miserable salary and have to work like shit for it.
Vote of Opposition on Tue, 24th Nov 2009 11:19 pm
What WKS was saying is that out of every letters of invitation 2/3 accepted the PR invitation?
Our immigration invites deserving foreigners to become a PR!
Without any sort of tests or wat so ever!
http://singapore-lighthouse.blogspot.com/search/label/Immigration
fair and square on Tue, 24th Nov 2009 11:27 pm
What can we possibly said?..we always have to cover your mistakes!
but pls don’t blame us for lack of security and also….
littering…or “food-court” bullying…we are already at our wits’ end at how to be more gracious than we could be towards your new-found “talents?”!…we have even handed over our jobs,
what more need we do?…shine their shoes?
I pitty the opposition on Tue, 24th Nov 2009 11:57 pm
They can only watch these policies being implemented.
The game has changed.
Sad for the opposition.
Anonymous on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 12:11 am
Hmmmm….my friend’s wife is Indonesian Bumiputra. How come have not gotten the PR yet ah?
duh on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 12:27 am
“He did not reveal the reasons behind these PRs leaving Singapore and whether they have made any profits from the sale of their properties if any.”
GREAT POINT.
Rising property prices benefit foreigners who can liquidate their properties and return home to have a comfortable life. While the majority of Singaporeans CANNOT unlock the rising value of their properties, because they still need a roof over their head – that means buying another home at higher prices!
fpc on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 5:10 am
2/3 approval rate ?
If there were only 3 applications then it is no big deal.
However, there were 70K applications in a backdrop of 3 million Singaporeans.
That is a lot of new additions.
The word “managed” is irresponsible here. There is no management.
Time for Change on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 8:23 am
Based on his performance so far, I doubt he would still be deputy PM if not for the fact that he is married to PM’s cousin.
Charles Chee on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 9:23 am
PRs after working here for some time may have bought a flat.
Now that prices are overpriced, if these return home, won’t they have profitted beyond their wildest dreams?
And what is the effect of such transactions on the market pricing of hdb for native 1st time buyers if not resale buyers?
Fortunately, i suspect the people will continue to support.
Tang Kee Moong on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 9:28 am
In the eyes of PRs who bought a flat or private property here and working in the office or as businessmen,
I wonder how do they perceive singaporeans living in singapore?
how do they perceive this system ? gold mine?
bubble trouble on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 11:38 am
having more people come in is one thing, i close two eyes to that.
but if this policy affects the bread and butter of the locals – they need housing, the government says. so they rent, and they buy flats. and therefore nobody wants to sell their HDB flats cos they are precious, can be used to rent to these PRs. any first year secondary school econs student can tell you that this leads to drop in supply of sellers, and increase in demand of people wanting to hold on to their HDB flats as a rental business.
add to that, not building flats properly for the last half decade. and now realising that they’re wrong, sudden change of plans, but still not admitting to the mistake.
now the locals are punished by having to buy at these prices if they really need.
all we want is an apology. that it was an oversight. that we forgot 300000 people are coming in and we didn’t cater enough hotel rooms for them. apologise, corrective action, and let’s move on. elections are drawing near.
why cannot give PR to wife? on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 12:28 pm
I am a singaporean with a malaysian wife. I tried to apply for PR for my wife in 2003 but was rejected. So WKS, if I apply not can get or not?
why cannot give PR to wife? on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 12:28 pm
I am a singaporean with a malaysian wife. I tried to apply for PR for my wife in 2003 but was rejected. So WKS, if I apply now can get or not?
Political SalesMaN on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 12:37 pm
The PRC always have light Ear,Singapore is a Gold Mine Country.
In the 60’s Mainlander also thought Hong Kong is a Diamond Country.After landed on the shore for three years they curse and swear, landed in the wrong place.No Gold & No Diamond.
jolly on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 1:20 pm
can these PRs become citizens and hence permitted to cast their votes in any GE . So there is not much time left if we do not exercise our vote wisely in all the right sense of the word. A further observation on the ground is that I am seeing more MPs saying sorry to the people for their mistakes made . is the GE akan datang?
jiangbao on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 2:00 pm
I am surprise its 2 out of 3. for every non singaporean I know, everyone got their PR. certainly does not feel like 2 out of 3. or he meant 2.99999 out of 3?
bubble trouble on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 2:18 pm
> However, there were 70K applications in a backdrop of 3 million Singaporeans.
> That is a lot of new additions.
not a lot lah. only 46k got it in one year mah. AVERAGED over 10 years. but they mostly came within the last 3 years lah. that’s like maybe average of 100k a year for the last 3 years. not a lot lah.
after all, we give birth already can get 50k a year liao.
Checks & false balances on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 3:27 pm
bubble trouble on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 2:18 pm
..only 46k got it in one year mah. AVERAGED over 10 years…”
Manipulation in deception! If they take the total PR and divide by 44 years, the average would be even a LOT LOWER. Most of them came in the last few years said by LHL to be over 100,000 per year.. At this rate, the truth is HIDDEN BY A MILE THICKNESS OF LIES that only 46,000 came in per year.
In three years, it would add more than 300,000 instead of 46,000 X 3 or 138,000. The TRUTH would be a margin of distortion of lies of 217%
HOW COULD WE TRUST THEIR UTTERANCE???
Time for Change on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 4:14 pm
Checks & false balances on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 3:27 pm
That is right. They are just playing with the numbers to make it more acceptable to Singaporeans.
sin-galore on Wed, 25th Nov 2009 5:10 pm
To David (Tue, 24th Nov 2009 5:27 pm): “This is what Lee Kwan Yew classified as skilled and carefully vetted talent.”
I am so totally not surprised. PRs are useful only if they can push up GDP. That might explain why one of the posters could not get a PR for his wife.
In fact, under LKY, all sorts of PRs are welcome so long as they can work and make a living. Including EX-CONVICTS, and we’re talking about EX-CONVICTS who have committed serious crimes such that they are not allowed to go on home detention.
Singapore does not repatriate any EX-CONVICT PRs so long as they can find a job here, ie “contribute” to the economy. In fact, PRs currently serving their jail sentence can apply to leave jail early on the pretext of “work” === Early Work Release Programme.
So you see, PRs are indeed “vetted carefully” – the only criterion is whether they can be gainfully employed.
Trash the foreign trash policy!
What is WKS ACTUALLY doing???.... on Thu, 26th Nov 2009 12:37 am
LOL… IN come 2/3s to become PRs for “terrorising” many of us of our jobs and also to replace and fill the shoes of one BIG dangerous terrorist who went OUT!!! Oh so NEAT!!!
KNN on Thu, 26th Nov 2009 3:57 am
Our immigration policy is a failure as it can only attract the so called foreign talents that are not better than the locals but are giving overcrowding problem, depressed wages and skyrocketed property. Lee Hsien Loong is a totally failure PM while WKS is a hopeless minister who cannot do his job properly and can only talk cock!!!
fpc on Thu, 26th Nov 2009 6:01 am
//bubble trouble
As if there were only 100K approved over the last 3 years yearly.
Did you read what he said?
Instead of asking why we cannot give birth to beat this inflow of PR, why not you ask how come Singapore cannot keep its own people in Singapore?
The source of people where these pr come from is not where the Singaporeans (emigrated) go to.
Hong Kong has a freer economy and we don’t see many HKers want to leave HK now. In fact, their replacement rate is higher than us and we have approximately the same level of development.
Please do not confuse the cause with the effect.
The cause of the low replacement rate is poor governance.
Singaporean People just don’t believe in the future with this government. They either get out or if they cannot get out, they spend whatever they could ; otherwise the govt will suck these monies from them anyway.
Why leave offsprings here in Singapore to be tortured?
Case in point: when Singapore was just coming into being, after leaving Malaysia, all the way until the late 80s, we still have high replacement rate. So high to the point that LKY needed to stop it.
People believed in the country then.
Now, they have no faith in the country.
Go ask any grandfather and grandmother and see if they like what see now. One of them even complaint about FT on TV in front of the clowns in parliament.
Why subject your children (if you intend to have) to silly policies by LKY that he regretted only after 40 years (maybe 30 or 20, with LKY, or clowns in general, how sure are we of their statistics)?
Do you really think it takes that long to realise that it was a mistake?
What a joke!
citizen on Thu, 26th Nov 2009 8:36 am
If u can’t manage 1 dangerous man who escaped from a so called secured facility, how do u expect to manage a horde of new PRs?
fpc on Sat, 28th Nov 2009 8:30 pm
The official replacement rate is more than 2.
Yet the govt has asked us to stop at 2 not long ago.
How accurate are their projections?
//citizen:
well said
NB on Sun, 29th Nov 2009 4:52 pm
Singapore has fast becoming the public place of the world, people can come here at will, shit and then go away without any obligation or responsibility !!!! When I heard PRC saying that it is easier to come here than going to their own city like Hong Kong, it make me wonder what Singapore has become under the current government !!!!