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Singaporean unhappy at grassroots organizations hosting “Water Festival” for foreigners
March 21, 2010 by admin
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http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/03/21/singaporean-unhappy-at-grassroots-organizations-hosting-water-festival-for-foreigners/
Written by Our Correspondent
In other countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada, immigrants are expected to adapt and integrate themselves into local societies. It is the other way round in Singapore.
Due to the PAP’s liberal immigration and pro-foreigner policies, foreigners now make up 36 percent of Singapore’s population, up from 14 percent in 1990. Of the remaining 64 percent who are citizens, an increasing number are born overseaas.
As too many foreigners were allowed into the country within too short a period of time, Singapore is now experiencing a headache trying to integrate all of them.
Singaporeans have been exhorted repeatedly by PAP leaders to accept and welcome the foreigners with open arms and now they are expected to adapt themselves to their culture as well.
An irate reader tipped us off about a “Water Festival” organized by Bukit Batok grassroots organizations to welcome the New Year for the Thai, Burmese, Laotian and Cambodians living in Singapore:
He fumed:
“The Water Festival is celebrated to welcome the New Year in Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos. Organised by The grassroots organizations and the Myanmese community in Singapore. It is to welcome the New Year. 3,000 people expected. How come foreigners are not integrated into Singapore experience. Instead, we have to integrate into foreigners cultures. The money used, would it be possible from the tax payers money again?”
While foreigners have the right to celebrate their festivals in Singapore, it is not the business of grassroots organizations to use taxpayers’ monies to organize their festivals for them.
The Burmese Buddhist Temple and some other Thai temples in Singapore organize yearly “Water Festivals” for their devotees. Why is there a need for Bukit Batok grassroots organizations to do so?
Though it is not stated explicitly, the funds used to host the event are likely to come from the mega $10-million dollar Community Integration Fund unveiled by the Ministry of Community, Youth and Sports (MCYS) last year to make the foreigners feel accepted and happy in Singapore.
At the same time, it was revealed that there were only 11 successful applicants for Public Assistance (PA) scheme between July 2008 and December 2009. MCYS claimed this shows that Singaporeans want to be as “self reliant” as much as possible.
The money being splurged by the PAP on such events for the foreigners should be better utilized to help poor and needy Singaporeans instead. The foreigners have their own local civic and religious organizations to organize social events for them.
It is the duty of the elected government of the day to take care of its citizens who put them in office first and NOT foreigners unless of course the name of the ruling party is “Foreigner Action Party”.
March 21, 2010 by admin
Filed under Headlines
Leave a comment
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/03/21/singaporean-unhappy-at-grassroots-organizations-hosting-water-festival-for-foreigners/
Written by Our Correspondent
In other countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada, immigrants are expected to adapt and integrate themselves into local societies. It is the other way round in Singapore.
Due to the PAP’s liberal immigration and pro-foreigner policies, foreigners now make up 36 percent of Singapore’s population, up from 14 percent in 1990. Of the remaining 64 percent who are citizens, an increasing number are born overseaas.
As too many foreigners were allowed into the country within too short a period of time, Singapore is now experiencing a headache trying to integrate all of them.
Singaporeans have been exhorted repeatedly by PAP leaders to accept and welcome the foreigners with open arms and now they are expected to adapt themselves to their culture as well.
An irate reader tipped us off about a “Water Festival” organized by Bukit Batok grassroots organizations to welcome the New Year for the Thai, Burmese, Laotian and Cambodians living in Singapore:
He fumed:
“The Water Festival is celebrated to welcome the New Year in Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos. Organised by The grassroots organizations and the Myanmese community in Singapore. It is to welcome the New Year. 3,000 people expected. How come foreigners are not integrated into Singapore experience. Instead, we have to integrate into foreigners cultures. The money used, would it be possible from the tax payers money again?”
While foreigners have the right to celebrate their festivals in Singapore, it is not the business of grassroots organizations to use taxpayers’ monies to organize their festivals for them.
The Burmese Buddhist Temple and some other Thai temples in Singapore organize yearly “Water Festivals” for their devotees. Why is there a need for Bukit Batok grassroots organizations to do so?
Though it is not stated explicitly, the funds used to host the event are likely to come from the mega $10-million dollar Community Integration Fund unveiled by the Ministry of Community, Youth and Sports (MCYS) last year to make the foreigners feel accepted and happy in Singapore.
At the same time, it was revealed that there were only 11 successful applicants for Public Assistance (PA) scheme between July 2008 and December 2009. MCYS claimed this shows that Singaporeans want to be as “self reliant” as much as possible.
The money being splurged by the PAP on such events for the foreigners should be better utilized to help poor and needy Singaporeans instead. The foreigners have their own local civic and religious organizations to organize social events for them.
It is the duty of the elected government of the day to take care of its citizens who put them in office first and NOT foreigners unless of course the name of the ruling party is “Foreigner Action Party”.
