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[h=2]Minister Grace Fu hits out at ’small group’ of Singaporeans taking a negative view on foreigners and dominating public discourse[/h]
September 5th, 2012 |
Author: Editorial
Minister Grace Fu
In an interview with the local media today (5 Sep), the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Grace Fu touched on what she described as “the worrying trend” of anti-foreigner sentiments.
She said most Singaporeans understand the need for immigration and are comfortable with diversity, but feel the competition on space and opportunities.
She said that the government is already addressing these issues by increasing the supply of flats and enhancing the public transport infrastructure.
However, she pointed out that there is still a small group of Singaporeans taking a negative view on foreigners, and they are currently dominating public discourse. She said the majority of Singaporeans should speak out against such views when they do not agree with them.
She said, “Treat others like how we would like to be treated. Although we may not agree with the number of foreigners in Singapore, we should still treat another human being like a human being.”
In Mar 2010, Minister Grace Fu used taxpayers’ monies to organize a ‘Water Splashing Festival’ for foreigners in Bukit Batok to celebrate their New Year and asking Singaporeans to ‘celebrate’ their festival together as a way of “showing our respect to them”. The “Water Splashing Festival” is the New Year’s celebrations of Southeast Asian countries such as Burma, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand.
It is not known who she is referring to when she talked about “a small group” of Singaporeans dominating public discourse. She also did not specify where these public discourse occurs.
However, in Feb this year while speaking at a signing ceremony, she warned that there are emerging trends that ‘tug’ at Singapore’s social fabric. One of these trends is the emergence of social media.
Ms Fu said social media has amplified voices beyond what was achievable by the traditional media. She accused some netizens of attempting to be more extreme and assertive to be heard in the noisy environment of social media. At times, these people did it to an extent that’s uncomfortable for the majority, according to her. She did not quote any statistics or studies to support her claim.
She also did not explain exactly in what way some netizens have made the “majority” uncomfortable.
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In an interview with the local media today (5 Sep), the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Grace Fu touched on what she described as “the worrying trend” of anti-foreigner sentiments.
She said most Singaporeans understand the need for immigration and are comfortable with diversity, but feel the competition on space and opportunities.
She said that the government is already addressing these issues by increasing the supply of flats and enhancing the public transport infrastructure.
However, she pointed out that there is still a small group of Singaporeans taking a negative view on foreigners, and they are currently dominating public discourse. She said the majority of Singaporeans should speak out against such views when they do not agree with them.
She said, “Treat others like how we would like to be treated. Although we may not agree with the number of foreigners in Singapore, we should still treat another human being like a human being.”
In Mar 2010, Minister Grace Fu used taxpayers’ monies to organize a ‘Water Splashing Festival’ for foreigners in Bukit Batok to celebrate their New Year and asking Singaporeans to ‘celebrate’ their festival together as a way of “showing our respect to them”. The “Water Splashing Festival” is the New Year’s celebrations of Southeast Asian countries such as Burma, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand.
It is not known who she is referring to when she talked about “a small group” of Singaporeans dominating public discourse. She also did not specify where these public discourse occurs.
However, in Feb this year while speaking at a signing ceremony, she warned that there are emerging trends that ‘tug’ at Singapore’s social fabric. One of these trends is the emergence of social media.
Ms Fu said social media has amplified voices beyond what was achievable by the traditional media. She accused some netizens of attempting to be more extreme and assertive to be heard in the noisy environment of social media. At times, these people did it to an extent that’s uncomfortable for the majority, according to her. She did not quote any statistics or studies to support her claim.
She also did not explain exactly in what way some netizens have made the “majority” uncomfortable.
.
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