Comments on: Your Citizenship is Worth $4,511 More Than a PR Per Year

By: certainty hope so

certainty hope so — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:26:10 +0000

well, if the immigrants are “hungry” and up for a fight with the locals, that’s good.

Somehow, I don’t see as many as described by lky. A significant lot are lazy, are here to get as much benefit and then retire in their native land. Lack of quality control, so many sub-par immigrants are crowding here.

By: james

james — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 08:54:03 +0000

i remember they were using 6.5M as a “planning parameter”. if citizens remain at 3.2M, it will be just about right to squeeze citizens into the minority! 3.3M foreign-born vs 3.2M citizens. nice!

By: kyky

kyky — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:49:15 +0000

wrong. it’s not 25 percent. it’s actually 36 PERCENT.

in other words, more than one-third of the people here are foreigners and PRs (both groups are foreign born).

that means less than two-thirds are true blue singapore citizens.

facts: 4.99 million population, comprising of 3.20 million citizens, 0.53 million PRs, and 1.25 million non-residents. reference:
channelnewsasia link

i hope i don’t see the day when citizens form the minority here.

By: lky

lky — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 07:51:21 +0000

Over time, the MM says, Singaporeans have become “less hard-driving and hard-striving.” This is why it is a good thing, the MM says, that the nation has welcomed so many Chinese immigrants (25 percent of the population is now foreign-born). He is aware that many Singaporeans are unhappy with the influx of immigrants, especially those educated newcomers prepared to fight for higher paying jobs. But taking a typically Darwinian stance, the MM describes the country’s new subjects as “hungry,” with parents who “pushed the children very hard.” If native Singaporeans are falling behind because “the spurs are not stuck into the hide,” that is their problem.

UNQUOTE

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/01/singapore/jacobson-text/3

By: NTU

NTU — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 12:54:19 +0000

83% of NTU Students Union are NOT reassured by PM’s speech that the interest of Singapore citizens will always come first.

WOW. Surprisingly, this still gets published in a government website. Whatever happened to self censorship!?

http://app.reach.gov.sg/reach/Default.aspx?tabid=198

By: isit2

isit2 — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 03:41:21 +0000

middleclass: that sums up pretty nicely. thank you.

By: middleclass

middleclass — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:51:33 +0000

isit2: Status quo usually don’t change unless there’s a push factor or until enough people stand up and say enough is enough. Nobody is going to rock the boat other than the people overboard.
What we have learnt from the past is that there will be cosmetic work to touch up the pig when an election is near after which things just gets continue to stink as badly.
I’m already planning for my kids’ future. Send them overseas to study and get citizenships. Then maybe they can come back to Singapore and work as FTs. Singapore as it is now is really just a transit hotel and a big business park. Somewhere along the line we have ceased to be a nation when GDP and ruthless efficiency became more important than it’s people.

By: middleclass

middleclass — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:40:22 +0000

isit: i would like to believe that Singaporeans are among the most open and inclusive society as we believe in meritocracy. Personally I have nothing against foreign talents who come to Singapore and contribute. However I have everything against the carelessly open import of cheap labours that is just another excuse of getting slave labors or as you put it yourself – exploiting the poor ones. Actually you should care just as much if you take the long term view and genuinely wants to take up Singaporean citizenship. How would your children end up if the tables are turn? Maybe then you would understand?

By: isit2

isit2 — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:57:12 +0000

cynic2 and middleclass,

I considered one of the younger singaporeans, <30. I wished I could vote but it seems it may not happen in my lifetime.

But at least I can express my views in forums like these. Given the current changes in policies, I'm positive that my views (together with many thousands Singaporeans) are heard by the ministries. We'll see how things change for the better.

By: isit2

isit2 — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:40:33 +0000

Likewise, PRs and foreigners should treat Singaporeans with more respect and not just take things for granted because the policy supports this. No matter how privileged or well-educated PRs are, calling Singaporeans “liability” and undermining citizens in SG forums go to show how ignorant and disrespectful some PRs are. Imagine how you will feel in your own native country if your expats express the same attitude towards you.

Citizens will welcome you and integrate you as part of their lives if you display the right attitude. Things were better in the past when the optimal amount of foriegn talents are here. Everyone was indeed happier. The issue is when we have too many PRs and foreigners in such a short period, the quality declines and things are not in control…