brangah humiliated sinkies by what is called talent show

[†††††]

Dec 20, 2010
Foreign workers take centre stage
Talent contest at Marina Bay platform marks International Migrants Day
By Elizabeth Soh

HE TOILS nameless and unheralded under the tropical sun during the rest of the year, one among thousands of foreign workers in Singapore.

But yesterday, Mr Karu Gajarathi Raju's name rang out from the stage at The Float@Marina Bay, when he was announced the winner of Singapore's first-ever Migrant Workers Talent Quest.

About 12,000 migrant workers and Singaporeans cheered as Mr Raju, a 32-year-old safety supervisor with Hiap Seng Engineering, sang an old Bollywood song to win $3,000 in prize money.

The 10-finalist event was part of the biggest celebration of migrant rights ever held in Singapore.

'We wanted a venue big enough to hold 12,000 to 15,000 spectators, and also one that is symbolic - to recognise the contributions of migrant workers,' said Mr Bernard Menon, manager of non-governmental organisation Migrant Workers Centre (MWC), on the choice of venue.

He added it was symbolic of the country's deep appreciation for these workers that the event was held in a place which has hosted important events like the National Day Parade and the Youth Olympic Games opening ceremony.

MWC organised the event to mark International Migrants Day, which fell on Saturday and is meant to cherish the rights and freedoms of migrants.

'I am very nervous, but very happy to be given a chance to perform,' said finalist Saw Donay Moo, 25, a shipyard worker from Myanmar, who performed a Myanmar version of John Mellencamp's Hurts So Good.

Said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower and Health Hawazi Daipi, who was guest of honour at the event: 'This is one way for us to show that we appreciate what they have done and what they have contributed to Singapore's economy and society.'

The organisers spread word of the contest through trade unions, employers, dormitories and advertisements in Tamil and Chinese papers.

About 200 of Mr Raju's friends from Soon Lee Dormitories came down to Marina Bay to support him. Before he came to Singapore, he was a radio jockey in Andhra Pradesh, India.

The song he sang, a melody from the 1970s by famous Indian playback singer Kishore Kumar, was from the film Aradhana. It means 'to offer homage'.

[email protected]

See Singapore

THANK YOU

'This is one way for us to show that we appreciate what they have done and what they have contributed to Singapore's economy and society.'

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower and Health Hawazi Daipi

 

[Leongsam]

Singaporeans have been well and truly displaced. You'll all be fodder soon... sorry victims of the unstoppable tide of invading foreigners.

Makes you wonder what 2 yrs of NS is all about doesn't it.

 

[exSINgaporean]

<<<the stage at The Float@Marina Bay, ...........'We wanted a venue big enough to hold 12,000 to 15,000 spectators, and also one that is symbolic - to recognise the contributions of migrant workers,' ..............He added it was symbolic of the country's deep appreciation for these workers that the event was held in a place which has hosted important events like the National Day Parade and the Youth Olympic Games opening ceremony.>>>>

They come to take your jobs, then your home....now even the Grand Stand.

What is left?

Why don't they org. a competition for ex-Singaporeans like me to honour our guts to "escape" from SICKapore and thank us for our past contribution to nation building....after all we did complete our N.S., served many years of reservist. We risk our life what are they risking?

What have the FT do for N.S.

 

[potato29]

They come to take your jobs, then your home....now even the Grand Stand.

PAP invited them to come and take over our jobs else singapore will collapse and our women will be maids in other countries.

 

[†††††]

PAP invited them to come and take over our jobs else singapore will collapse and our women will be maids in other countries.

not necessary we could still opt to return back to malaysia or better still british

 

[Glaringly]

PAP invited them to come and take over our jobs else singapore will collapse and our women will be maids in other countries.

PAP invited them to come and take over our jobs, so that our women can become maids in other countries and our men will become coolee in our own countries.

 

[Rogue Trader]

Makes you wonder what 2 yrs of NS is all about doesn't it.

Two and a half!

 

[sunsetkid]

Singaporeans have been well and truly displaced. You'll all be fodder soon... sorry victims of the unstoppable tide of invading foreigners.

Makes you wonder what 2 yrs of NS is all about doesn't it.

i just finish my reservist for this yr. kena humtum by mosquito out in the field.
i think most of the younger fellas quite anti-foreigner. n those i speak to seem to be quite upset with the ruling party lo.

 

[no_faith]

Makes you wonder what 2 yrs of NS is all about doesn't it.

NS is implemented to make a sg guy lagging for 2 yrs.

 

[streetsmart73]

Singaporeans have been well and truly displaced. You'll all be fodder soon... sorry victims of the unstoppable tide of invading foreigners.

Makes you wonder what 2 yrs of NS is all about doesn't it.

hi there


1. bro, well said.
2. words of wisdom and very soul searching too!

 

[Received_by_Kings]

Where are the Jews and the Brazilians? I want the money and soccer songs.

 

[123456787654321]

Singapore doesn't need local non-white Singaporeans for anything.

 

[Agoraphobic]

In the 70s (or 80s), STPB was marketing Sg as "Instant Asia."

It has come true.

Cheers!

 

[Cruxx]

I'm all for globalization and laissez-faire capitalism. What I'm clamouring for is consistency. Why let in FTrash and give away citizenship perfunctorily while appealing to nationalistic sentiments to justify National Slavery? This might sound petty to some but National Slavery is one of the reasons why I'm relinquishing my Sinkie citizenship

 

[EssaiveE]

At the rate this is going, I won't be surprised if there's an entire contingent of foreig...I mean "new citizens" marching along in NDP 2011

 

[Watchman]

Respect for FTs are long over-due .

Not forgetting . We will continue to make Singapore a GHOST TOWN .

We will make housing and transport shoot UP to the SKY and beyond.

 

[butoh6050]

I heard an annual "Punch singaporeans in the face event" in the pipeline.

 

[manokie]

i just finish my reservist for this yr. kena humtum by mosquito out in the field.
i think most of the younger fellas quite anti-foreigner. n those i speak to seem to be quite upset with the ruling party lo.

if they serve NS for 2 years, it's quite natural that they feel angry when they go out to work or to universities and find themselves still on a level playing field with FT

it's quite shocking that PAP hasn't done anything to mend that gap. NS men don't even have health benefits, which is a nightmare. US army men get cheap healthcare even when they enter the reserves

 

[myo539]

Why don't they org. a competition for ex-Singaporeans like me to honour our guts to "escape" from SICKapore and thank us for our past contribution to nation building....after all we did complete our N.S., served many years of reservist. We risk our life what are they risking?

What have the FT do for N.S.

What's so grand about doing NS? Thousands of Sporean men completed NS in different vocations each year successfully and went on to greater things in civilian lives. They include your grandfathers, fathers and uncles as well. They complained - which Sporean doesn't - but felt it was a duty to protect our country.

I bet they contributed more than you - Did you have to fight with the millions of houseflies in Tekong during mealtime? Nah, probably you slept in much better bunks and catered cookhouses.

NS probably taught you to be stronger, more mature, less dependent on your mother and less sissy - you should be thankful - rather than thinking you have died for your country.

Instead of a medal, you should be receiving an obituary. You scooted off probably you are afraid of your sons having to serve NS. But the rest of Singaporeans stayed behind - willing and supporting their sons to do NS and learn from it, learn from their parents.

Ex-Sporeans shouldn't come back and enjoy the success of the country after they have left - success contributed by Sporeans who stayed behind and are managers and masters of Malaysians, Banglas, Pinoys and Indons. Those who left and thought that they have become kings of FTs in their host country ought to have their head examined. They may be as detested by the host countrymen as the Bangla FTs of Singapore - except that they are yellow in colour.

Merry Christmas.

 

[myo539]

Singaporeans have been well and truly displaced. You'll all be fodder soon... sorry victims of the unstoppable tide of invading foreigners.

Makes you wonder what 2 yrs of NS is all about doesn't it.

Those who do not wish Singapore well will have lots of negative things to say in the same vein as those who do not wish the Australian, Japanese or Americans well.

Similarly those who wish Singapore well has plentiful of things to say about the resource-less island which is a miracle to many people - supporting thousands and thousands of families far beyond its shore.

It's a fair game alright!