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March 2, 2010 by admin
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http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/03/02/pap-mps-jump-to-defence-of-foreigners-during-budget-debate/
Written by Our Correspondent
In other democracies, a vigorous debate stretching to days, if not weeks will usually occur among lawmakers before the Budget for the year is finalized and the plans announced by the Finance Minister. It is the other way round in Singapore.
A week after Finance Minister Tharman had announced the Budget for 2010, a parliamentary session was held today for the MPs to “debate” on it.
GPC Chair for Finance and Trade and Industry Jessica Tan, described this year’s Budget as “one of moving Singapore forward in the next decade and transforming the economy to achieve sustainable growth.”
However, she expressed concerns over the hike in the foreign worker levy which “if not calibrate”, will send “the wrong signal to companies looking to invest in Singapore or to foreign talents that the country is not open.”
“Although the rise in levy is graduated over three years, there is concern expressed by some business leaders that this may impede the ability of companies to leverage and capture the opportunities of the recovery as their capacity will be impacted,” she was quoted as saying in Straits Times.
Her worries are shared by MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC Liang Eng Hwa who raised the concern that “the foreign worker levy hike would cause business cost to rise sharply again in the next one to two years.”
Faced with a potential backlash from angry voters in the coming election, the PAP leaders are now singing a different tune on “productivity” instead of imploring Singaporeans to accept more foreigners into their country.
The token hike in foreign worker levy is nothing more than a series of cosmetic changes introduced to placate Singaporeans and to “reassure” them that they remain a “priority” to the ruling party.
It is unlikely to deter employers from hiring companies since the meager increase in levy can be easily offset by pasting the costs to the workers and consumers.
Another PAP MP Josephine Teo (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) spoke out against the fee hikes from next month for permanent residents and foreign students.
She is afraid that it “will give the impression that higher institutions of learning here no longer welcome foreign students.”
“Even as we reflect the true cost of education, we must put in place other measures to ensure that word does not get around that Singapore no longer welcomes foreigners,” she said.
Since the Budget was announced, PAP MPs have been singing generous praises of it in unison.
The “music” they played together was in perfect synchrony with one another that it would have put the Singapore symphony orchestra to shame, thanks to Singapore’s strongman Lee Kuan Yew who said in 2008:
“To be the prime minister, you don’t have to know every instrument, but you got to recognise, ah, he’s a good violinist, he’ll be the first violinist, he’ll be the double bass. He will play the viola, he will have the trumpet, he will do the drums. Then you coordinate them and then you have great music. And if you already have a great orchestra, you can put a dummy there and you still got great music.”
[Source: Channel News Asia, 5 March 2008]
The speeches of these PAP MPs really make one wonder if they are addressing the concerns of Singaporeans or foreigners.
Perhaps it is time for the PAP to change its name to FAP or Foreigner Action Party to better reflects its aspirations and vision – to perpetuate its political hegemony in Singapore forever with the support of the new citizens.
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March 2, 2010 by admin
Filed under Headlines
Leave a comment
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/03/02/pap-mps-jump-to-defence-of-foreigners-during-budget-debate/
Written by Our Correspondent
In other democracies, a vigorous debate stretching to days, if not weeks will usually occur among lawmakers before the Budget for the year is finalized and the plans announced by the Finance Minister. It is the other way round in Singapore.
A week after Finance Minister Tharman had announced the Budget for 2010, a parliamentary session was held today for the MPs to “debate” on it.
GPC Chair for Finance and Trade and Industry Jessica Tan, described this year’s Budget as “one of moving Singapore forward in the next decade and transforming the economy to achieve sustainable growth.”
However, she expressed concerns over the hike in the foreign worker levy which “if not calibrate”, will send “the wrong signal to companies looking to invest in Singapore or to foreign talents that the country is not open.”
“Although the rise in levy is graduated over three years, there is concern expressed by some business leaders that this may impede the ability of companies to leverage and capture the opportunities of the recovery as their capacity will be impacted,” she was quoted as saying in Straits Times.
Her worries are shared by MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC Liang Eng Hwa who raised the concern that “the foreign worker levy hike would cause business cost to rise sharply again in the next one to two years.”
Faced with a potential backlash from angry voters in the coming election, the PAP leaders are now singing a different tune on “productivity” instead of imploring Singaporeans to accept more foreigners into their country.
The token hike in foreign worker levy is nothing more than a series of cosmetic changes introduced to placate Singaporeans and to “reassure” them that they remain a “priority” to the ruling party.
It is unlikely to deter employers from hiring companies since the meager increase in levy can be easily offset by pasting the costs to the workers and consumers.
Another PAP MP Josephine Teo (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) spoke out against the fee hikes from next month for permanent residents and foreign students.
She is afraid that it “will give the impression that higher institutions of learning here no longer welcome foreign students.”
“Even as we reflect the true cost of education, we must put in place other measures to ensure that word does not get around that Singapore no longer welcomes foreigners,” she said.
Since the Budget was announced, PAP MPs have been singing generous praises of it in unison.
The “music” they played together was in perfect synchrony with one another that it would have put the Singapore symphony orchestra to shame, thanks to Singapore’s strongman Lee Kuan Yew who said in 2008:
“To be the prime minister, you don’t have to know every instrument, but you got to recognise, ah, he’s a good violinist, he’ll be the first violinist, he’ll be the double bass. He will play the viola, he will have the trumpet, he will do the drums. Then you coordinate them and then you have great music. And if you already have a great orchestra, you can put a dummy there and you still got great music.”
[Source: Channel News Asia, 5 March 2008]
The speeches of these PAP MPs really make one wonder if they are addressing the concerns of Singaporeans or foreigners.
Perhaps it is time for the PAP to change its name to FAP or Foreigner Action Party to better reflects its aspirations and vision – to perpetuate its political hegemony in Singapore forever with the support of the new citizens.
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