http://www.temasekreview.com/2011/08/09/pm-lee-lets-not-turn-negative-on-foreigners/
PM Lee: Let’s not turn ‘negative’ on foreigners
In his National Day Rally speech last year, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called on Singaporeans to ‘embrace’ foreigners with an open heart.
With anti-foreigner sentiment at an all-time high this year, he now implored Singaporeans not to turn ‘negative’ on foreigners.
The influx of foreigners was a hot-button issue during the recent general election which saw the PAP being attacked relentlessly by the alternative parties on the issue.
Out of desperation, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong promised Singaporeans on the eve of polling day that he will not try to bring in ‘too many’ foreigners:
When asked by a netizen Angela Xu during a Facebook chat session on the PAP’s plans to address the tensions between foreign manpower needs and building a Singaporeans identity, Mr Lee replied:
“We won’t bring in too many foreigners too fast. We’ll work hard to integrate them with our people. We are not planning to make a 6+ million population. Not trying to get there. Dont worry.”
Less than three months after the May election, PM Lee is singing a different tune altogether. Speaking during the 50th dinner anniversay of EDB, PM Lee reassured investors that despite the changes in society and local politics, Singapore’s fundamental constraints remain:
“We need to remain connected to the world to survive. For this reason, Singapore will continue to be an international hub open to global investments and talent,” he said.
In his National Day Rally speech yesterday, PM Lee said:
“We should be especially careful of one issue. While we will always put Singaporeans first, let us not turn negative on foreigners.”
Singapore, he noted, has prospered because it is open to the world and alive to economic competition and change.
Due to the PAP’s pro-foreigner and ultra-liberal immigration policies, foreigners now make up 43 percent of Singapore’s population, up from 14 percent in 1990. Of the remaining 57 percent who are so-called ‘citizens’, an increasing number are born overseas.
The continued inflow of foreigners has benefitted the PAP more than ordinary Singaporeans. The abundance of cheap foreign workers help boost GDP growth to which the bonuses of PAP ministers are pegged.
Foreigners are also readily ‘converted’ into grateful new citizens to vote for the PAP in future elections.
With another 400,000 foreigners on work permits coming to Singapore, Singaporeans will have to turn ‘negative’ on themselves for voting for another 5 years of PAP rule.
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PM Lee: Let’s not turn ‘negative’ on foreigners
In his National Day Rally speech last year, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called on Singaporeans to ‘embrace’ foreigners with an open heart.
With anti-foreigner sentiment at an all-time high this year, he now implored Singaporeans not to turn ‘negative’ on foreigners.
The influx of foreigners was a hot-button issue during the recent general election which saw the PAP being attacked relentlessly by the alternative parties on the issue.
Out of desperation, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong promised Singaporeans on the eve of polling day that he will not try to bring in ‘too many’ foreigners:
When asked by a netizen Angela Xu during a Facebook chat session on the PAP’s plans to address the tensions between foreign manpower needs and building a Singaporeans identity, Mr Lee replied:
“We won’t bring in too many foreigners too fast. We’ll work hard to integrate them with our people. We are not planning to make a 6+ million population. Not trying to get there. Dont worry.”
Less than three months after the May election, PM Lee is singing a different tune altogether. Speaking during the 50th dinner anniversay of EDB, PM Lee reassured investors that despite the changes in society and local politics, Singapore’s fundamental constraints remain:
“We need to remain connected to the world to survive. For this reason, Singapore will continue to be an international hub open to global investments and talent,” he said.
In his National Day Rally speech yesterday, PM Lee said:
“We should be especially careful of one issue. While we will always put Singaporeans first, let us not turn negative on foreigners.”
Singapore, he noted, has prospered because it is open to the world and alive to economic competition and change.
Due to the PAP’s pro-foreigner and ultra-liberal immigration policies, foreigners now make up 43 percent of Singapore’s population, up from 14 percent in 1990. Of the remaining 57 percent who are so-called ‘citizens’, an increasing number are born overseas.
The continued inflow of foreigners has benefitted the PAP more than ordinary Singaporeans. The abundance of cheap foreign workers help boost GDP growth to which the bonuses of PAP ministers are pegged.
Foreigners are also readily ‘converted’ into grateful new citizens to vote for the PAP in future elections.
With another 400,000 foreigners on work permits coming to Singapore, Singaporeans will have to turn ‘negative’ on themselves for voting for another 5 years of PAP rule.
Join our Facebook page here
