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<TABLE class=forumline border=0 cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=row1 vAlign=top width=150 align=left>supermario
Joined: 10 Mar 2009
Posts: 676
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Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 8:15 pm Post subject: NEWS: Dr Vivian urged poly students to “accept” foreigne</TD><TD vAlign=top noWrap>
</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2>Dr Vivian urged poly students to “accept” foreigners
September 18, 2009 by admin
Filed under Top News
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From our Correspondent
The government’s pro-foreigner policy has come under siege again this time at a polytechnic forum where Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community, Youth and Sports is the guest of honor.
A male student asked Dr Vivian point-blank in the face why the government is allowing foreigners to compete with Singaporeans for job.
The feisty Dr Vivian shot back immediately:
“Would Singaporeans be willing to be taxed heavily to support the country’s ageing population in 20 years’ time? This would be the case if Singapore did not bring in foreign talent.”
Dr Vivian then proceed to placate the audience with the standard (official) reassurance that the government will continue to safeguard the interests of citizens:
“You have a birthright. Everything we do is for your long-term benefit. Foreigners are here to help make Singapore more viable and competitive and to help us create more job and opportunities but it’s all about Singaporeans.”
Dr Vivian did not elaborate more about the “long-term” benefits that Singaporeans have acquired from the government other than the mandatory 2 year National Service for Singapore males.
During the dialogue which lasted for more than one hour, Dr Vivian also answered questions on political apathy put by a group of students who proposed that a political education program, along with the continued cultivation of a media landscape would help address the problem.
Dr Vivian dismissed the students’ proposal altogether by claiming that there was no political apathy among the youths without substantiating them. He also warned against labeling youths as apathetic, saying it was “trendy” to do so.
[A classic PAP way of addressing genuine concerns of Singaporeans - by ignoring the existence of the problem in the first place!]
As the dialogue drew to a close, Dr Vivian would not fail to notice the restless and dismayed looks on the faces of some students.
The PAP government is feeling the heat from the electorate especially on some of its important long-term policies such as the massive influx of foreign talent, rising costs of HDB flats and the non-transparent nature of the way the country’s reserves are being managed.
It will only be a matter of time before Singaporeans start questioning the inherent deficiencies in the one-party system promulgated by the PAP.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=forumline border=0 cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=row1 vAlign=top width=150 align=left>supermario
Joined: 10 Mar 2009
Posts: 676
</TD><TD class=row1 height=28 vAlign=top width="100%"><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%">
Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 8:15 pm Post subject: NEWS: Dr Vivian urged poly students to “accept” foreigne</TD><TD vAlign=top noWrap>
</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2>Dr Vivian urged poly students to “accept” foreigners September 18, 2009 by admin
Filed under Top News
Leave a comment
From our Correspondent
The government’s pro-foreigner policy has come under siege again this time at a polytechnic forum where Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community, Youth and Sports is the guest of honor.
A male student asked Dr Vivian point-blank in the face why the government is allowing foreigners to compete with Singaporeans for job.
The feisty Dr Vivian shot back immediately:
“Would Singaporeans be willing to be taxed heavily to support the country’s ageing population in 20 years’ time? This would be the case if Singapore did not bring in foreign talent.”
Dr Vivian then proceed to placate the audience with the standard (official) reassurance that the government will continue to safeguard the interests of citizens:
“You have a birthright. Everything we do is for your long-term benefit. Foreigners are here to help make Singapore more viable and competitive and to help us create more job and opportunities but it’s all about Singaporeans.”
Dr Vivian did not elaborate more about the “long-term” benefits that Singaporeans have acquired from the government other than the mandatory 2 year National Service for Singapore males.
During the dialogue which lasted for more than one hour, Dr Vivian also answered questions on political apathy put by a group of students who proposed that a political education program, along with the continued cultivation of a media landscape would help address the problem.
Dr Vivian dismissed the students’ proposal altogether by claiming that there was no political apathy among the youths without substantiating them. He also warned against labeling youths as apathetic, saying it was “trendy” to do so.
[A classic PAP way of addressing genuine concerns of Singaporeans - by ignoring the existence of the problem in the first place!]
As the dialogue drew to a close, Dr Vivian would not fail to notice the restless and dismayed looks on the faces of some students.
The PAP government is feeling the heat from the electorate especially on some of its important long-term policies such as the massive influx of foreign talent, rising costs of HDB flats and the non-transparent nature of the way the country’s reserves are being managed.
It will only be a matter of time before Singaporeans start questioning the inherent deficiencies in the one-party system promulgated by the PAP.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
