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Look, he said 'Singaporeans', not citizens.
The garbramen definition of 'Singaporeans' is some highfalutin aspiration.
Home > Breaking News > Singapore > Story
Sep 16, 2009
Bend down and open backside
Dr Balakrishnan announced three broad strategies and key initiatives to 'open the doors, hearts and minds' of new arrivals to Singapore and locals. -- ST PHOTO: ALBERT SIM
SINGAPOREANS are urged to adopt 'an open heart and mind, and an attitude of helping and accepting each other' to avoid friction with newcomers to the country.
This call came from the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan on Wednesday when he highlighted the social integration strategies to be rolled out by the National Integration Council (NIC).
But the minister assured Singaporeans that their interests will come first, even as the nation continues to open its doors to foreigners who are needed to enlarge the economic pie.
'Singapore must always be for Singaporeans, and the Government will look after the interest of all Singaporeans,' said Dr Balakrishnan, who is chairman of the NIC.
'All Singaporean citizens, new or old, are equally important, and must play their part for Singapore. There will inevitably be some social friction due to the number of newcomers within our society, who are joining our Singaporean family.
'But such friction can be overcome, if we adopt an open heart and mind, and an attitude of helping and accepting each other. This way, we can then rally together to make Singapore a better place for our families.'
At the media conference, Dr Balakrishnan announced three broad strategies and key initiatives to 'open the doors, hearts and minds' of new arrivals to Singapore and locals.
The NIC panel members are: Mr Ed Ng, Chairman, Keat Hong Citizens Consultative Committee; Mr Vis Shankar, Group Head of Origination and Client Coverage and Chairman of Principal Finance and Private Banking, Standard Chartered Bank Singapore; Mr Goh Sin Teck, Deputy Editor, Lianhe Zaobao and Consulting Editor, my paper; and Ms Anisa Hassan, Managing Director of It's Just Lunch.
Latest comments
Did Balakrishnan know what is he talking about? Or we heard him wrongly?
'Open heart and mind' to the invaders. They came in very strongly supported by our govt. They are changing our culture and society. Singaporean now are not friendly to each other anymore, because of this bad influence the ALIENS brought in. Ask yourself what you people have done to us. Stop pretending like a wise guy.
Posted by: perry0164 at Wed Sep 16 21:14:00 SGT 2009
One of the strategies for integration is to set up a fund.............. to provide subsidy to teach foreign workers English! Shouldn't they pay for this themsevles? Why don't we do the same, or do even more, for citizens?
Posted by: kjks at Wed Sep 16 20:36:41 SGT 2009
It's not Singaporeans are against foreigners in our midst. We've always been quite accepting of foreigners if they don't cause trouble. But the Government should seriously reconsider its policy with regards to foreigners.
I think that Singaporeans are generally happy to welcome people from other countries. I, for one, am always enthusiastic about meeting people of different cultures. However, when the policy goes overboard, and there seems to be an endless stream of immigrants, it becomes a increasing burden on the local population.
To take a simple example, the crowds in shopping malls now are so terrible that some locals are shunning these places. They would rather stay at home or drive to more out of the way places to spend their weekends. And then there are foreigners who cause trouble for local residents. I know of one case of disturbances caused by a foreign resident to locals. The authorities were informed, but they were too passive and did not do anything about it.
While formerly there were gathering places for foreign workers in city areas, now, even some places in heartland Singapore are turning into "Little China", for instance, those estates where a lot of Chinese students reside. You feel like you are in China when you are in this areas, and you really wonder, what happened to Singapore?
I am sure the Government will help Singaporeans financially now and then, but that isn't really the main problem. The problem is that the foreigners are physically here, and with that comes a lot of population pressure that I think the infrastructure, facilities and ameneties in Singapore were not built to support, e.g. overcrowded malls, the lack of flats, overcrowded public transport.
Is the Government able to meet the challenge to ensure that Singaporeans continue to be comfortable in their own country? It will be able to if it can accept that our grouses have a strong basis and we are not just complaining. If the Government can't accept that, then it is in denial, and over time, it will lose credibility with the voters. (Frankly, I like having foreign friends, and I am already uneasy about the high number of foreigners here. I cannot imagine how the people who dislike foreigners feel.)
Posted by: khunying at Wed Sep 16 19:38:17 SGT 2009
vivian,
dun talk cock lah, tryiing to kid us again.
we will not buy in this round.
Posted by: millionaire394 at Wed Sep 16 19:25:10 SGT 2009
Wonder whether the Govt is pro-foreigners or pro-Singaporeans. The answer is very clear. During a budget debate where a request to increase the subsidy to the poorer Singaporeans, the minister says no. Now he tells you to be nice to foreigners and make them welcome to avoid friction.
So now who is important to Singapore, the answer is obvious.
Pity all Singaporeans, we have been slammed in everything we do or think
Posted by: handy2008 at Wed Sep 16 19:10:18 SGT 2009
The garbramen definition of 'Singaporeans' is some highfalutin aspiration.
Home > Breaking News > Singapore > Story
Sep 16, 2009
Bend down and open backside
Dr Balakrishnan announced three broad strategies and key initiatives to 'open the doors, hearts and minds' of new arrivals to Singapore and locals. -- ST PHOTO: ALBERT SIM
SINGAPOREANS are urged to adopt 'an open heart and mind, and an attitude of helping and accepting each other' to avoid friction with newcomers to the country.
This call came from the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan on Wednesday when he highlighted the social integration strategies to be rolled out by the National Integration Council (NIC).
But the minister assured Singaporeans that their interests will come first, even as the nation continues to open its doors to foreigners who are needed to enlarge the economic pie.
'Singapore must always be for Singaporeans, and the Government will look after the interest of all Singaporeans,' said Dr Balakrishnan, who is chairman of the NIC.
'All Singaporean citizens, new or old, are equally important, and must play their part for Singapore. There will inevitably be some social friction due to the number of newcomers within our society, who are joining our Singaporean family.
'But such friction can be overcome, if we adopt an open heart and mind, and an attitude of helping and accepting each other. This way, we can then rally together to make Singapore a better place for our families.'
At the media conference, Dr Balakrishnan announced three broad strategies and key initiatives to 'open the doors, hearts and minds' of new arrivals to Singapore and locals.
The NIC panel members are: Mr Ed Ng, Chairman, Keat Hong Citizens Consultative Committee; Mr Vis Shankar, Group Head of Origination and Client Coverage and Chairman of Principal Finance and Private Banking, Standard Chartered Bank Singapore; Mr Goh Sin Teck, Deputy Editor, Lianhe Zaobao and Consulting Editor, my paper; and Ms Anisa Hassan, Managing Director of It's Just Lunch.
Latest comments
Did Balakrishnan know what is he talking about? Or we heard him wrongly?
'Open heart and mind' to the invaders. They came in very strongly supported by our govt. They are changing our culture and society. Singaporean now are not friendly to each other anymore, because of this bad influence the ALIENS brought in. Ask yourself what you people have done to us. Stop pretending like a wise guy.
Posted by: perry0164 at Wed Sep 16 21:14:00 SGT 2009
One of the strategies for integration is to set up a fund.............. to provide subsidy to teach foreign workers English! Shouldn't they pay for this themsevles? Why don't we do the same, or do even more, for citizens?
Posted by: kjks at Wed Sep 16 20:36:41 SGT 2009
It's not Singaporeans are against foreigners in our midst. We've always been quite accepting of foreigners if they don't cause trouble. But the Government should seriously reconsider its policy with regards to foreigners.
I think that Singaporeans are generally happy to welcome people from other countries. I, for one, am always enthusiastic about meeting people of different cultures. However, when the policy goes overboard, and there seems to be an endless stream of immigrants, it becomes a increasing burden on the local population.
To take a simple example, the crowds in shopping malls now are so terrible that some locals are shunning these places. They would rather stay at home or drive to more out of the way places to spend their weekends. And then there are foreigners who cause trouble for local residents. I know of one case of disturbances caused by a foreign resident to locals. The authorities were informed, but they were too passive and did not do anything about it.
While formerly there were gathering places for foreign workers in city areas, now, even some places in heartland Singapore are turning into "Little China", for instance, those estates where a lot of Chinese students reside. You feel like you are in China when you are in this areas, and you really wonder, what happened to Singapore?
I am sure the Government will help Singaporeans financially now and then, but that isn't really the main problem. The problem is that the foreigners are physically here, and with that comes a lot of population pressure that I think the infrastructure, facilities and ameneties in Singapore were not built to support, e.g. overcrowded malls, the lack of flats, overcrowded public transport.
Is the Government able to meet the challenge to ensure that Singaporeans continue to be comfortable in their own country? It will be able to if it can accept that our grouses have a strong basis and we are not just complaining. If the Government can't accept that, then it is in denial, and over time, it will lose credibility with the voters. (Frankly, I like having foreign friends, and I am already uneasy about the high number of foreigners here. I cannot imagine how the people who dislike foreigners feel.)
Posted by: khunying at Wed Sep 16 19:38:17 SGT 2009
vivian,
dun talk cock lah, tryiing to kid us again.
we will not buy in this round.
Posted by: millionaire394 at Wed Sep 16 19:25:10 SGT 2009
Wonder whether the Govt is pro-foreigners or pro-Singaporeans. The answer is very clear. During a budget debate where a request to increase the subsidy to the poorer Singaporeans, the minister says no. Now he tells you to be nice to foreigners and make them welcome to avoid friction.
So now who is important to Singapore, the answer is obvious.
Pity all Singaporeans, we have been slammed in everything we do or think
Posted by: handy2008 at Wed Sep 16 19:10:18 SGT 2009
