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<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>kojakbt_89 <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>Apr-5 6:58 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 15) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>31137.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>PAP Minister Lim Hwee Hua to Singaporeans: You must avoid “irrational” fears of new immigrants
April 5, 2010 by admin
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http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/04/05/pap-minister-lim-hwee-hua-to-singaporeans-you-must-avoid-irrational-fears-of-new-immigrants/
Written by Our Correspondent
Concerned at the fast rising public disgruntlement and anger at the PAP for bringing too many immigrants into Singapore within too short a period of time, another PAP minister has exhorted Singaporeans to embrace and welcomed the newcomers.
Speaking at the first anniversary celebration of Crossroads, a weekly section of Lianhe Zaobao featuring new immigrants and citizens, Minister in Prime Minister’s Office Lim Hwee Hua said she understands Singaporeans’ concerns over immigrations, but they MUST avoid developing irrational fears toward new immigrants.
[Source: Straits Times, 5 April 2010]
Repeating what Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong had said earlier, Ms Lim exhorted Singaproeans to “prepare for, rather than resist, an increased willingness among people worldwide to travel and relocate.”
She pointed out that “Singapore itself had grown out of a society of immigrants from different birth countries” and emphasized that “the Government would continue to put the interests of Singaporeans ahead of non-citizens as a matter of policy.”
The PAP has introduced some cosmetic changes in its discriminatory policies against native Singaporeans lately to placate angry voters.
However, there will be no wholesale changes made to its ultra-liberal immigration policies as SM Goh took pains to reassure foreigners that they are still “welcomed” in Singapore.
Ms Lim said that ”a collective effort was needed to integrate the new immigrants and their families, so that in time, those who can contribute meaningfully to Singapore will put down roots as citizens here,” the Straits Times reported.
“While the Government has set up the National Integration Council last year to spearhead initiatives that promote and foster social cohesion and integration, true integration requires collective efforts from various groups such as the community, employers, other immigrants and even the media,” she added.
In other countries, immigrants are expected to integrate themselves into local societies. It is the other way round in Singapore and somemore taxpayers’ monies have to be spent to help them “integrate”.
Singaporeans have always been told by PAP leaders to be “self-reliant”, but it sees fit to splurge $10 million dollars of taxpayers’ monies on a Community Integration Fund to make the foreigners feel welcomed and accepted in Singapore.
Part of the funds will be used to organized language classes and cultural festivals for foreigners to show Singaporeans’ “respect” for them, to quote the words of Senior PAP leader Ms Grace Fu.
It remains to be seen how the PAP is going to integrate large number of Chinese immigrants who are unable to speak a single word of English.
Foreigners now make up 36 percent of Singapore’s population, far higher than other immigrant nations such as Australia (25%) and United States (12%).
To exacerbate matters, Singapore is a small island of only 700 sqkm2 in size and the radical change in demographics is becoming more obvious with each passing day as Singaporeans find themselves being a stranger in their own country.
Not that the PAP cares much anyway. New citizens tend to vote for the ruling party and their increasing numbers will form an influential voting bloc to keep them in power forever.
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April 5, 2010 by admin
Filed under Headlines
Leave a comment
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/04/05/pap-minister-lim-hwee-hua-to-singaporeans-you-must-avoid-irrational-fears-of-new-immigrants/
Written by Our Correspondent
Concerned at the fast rising public disgruntlement and anger at the PAP for bringing too many immigrants into Singapore within too short a period of time, another PAP minister has exhorted Singaporeans to embrace and welcomed the newcomers.
Speaking at the first anniversary celebration of Crossroads, a weekly section of Lianhe Zaobao featuring new immigrants and citizens, Minister in Prime Minister’s Office Lim Hwee Hua said she understands Singaporeans’ concerns over immigrations, but they MUST avoid developing irrational fears toward new immigrants.
[Source: Straits Times, 5 April 2010]
Repeating what Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong had said earlier, Ms Lim exhorted Singaproeans to “prepare for, rather than resist, an increased willingness among people worldwide to travel and relocate.”
She pointed out that “Singapore itself had grown out of a society of immigrants from different birth countries” and emphasized that “the Government would continue to put the interests of Singaporeans ahead of non-citizens as a matter of policy.”
The PAP has introduced some cosmetic changes in its discriminatory policies against native Singaporeans lately to placate angry voters.
However, there will be no wholesale changes made to its ultra-liberal immigration policies as SM Goh took pains to reassure foreigners that they are still “welcomed” in Singapore.
Ms Lim said that ”a collective effort was needed to integrate the new immigrants and their families, so that in time, those who can contribute meaningfully to Singapore will put down roots as citizens here,” the Straits Times reported.
“While the Government has set up the National Integration Council last year to spearhead initiatives that promote and foster social cohesion and integration, true integration requires collective efforts from various groups such as the community, employers, other immigrants and even the media,” she added.
In other countries, immigrants are expected to integrate themselves into local societies. It is the other way round in Singapore and somemore taxpayers’ monies have to be spent to help them “integrate”.
Singaporeans have always been told by PAP leaders to be “self-reliant”, but it sees fit to splurge $10 million dollars of taxpayers’ monies on a Community Integration Fund to make the foreigners feel welcomed and accepted in Singapore.
Part of the funds will be used to organized language classes and cultural festivals for foreigners to show Singaporeans’ “respect” for them, to quote the words of Senior PAP leader Ms Grace Fu.
It remains to be seen how the PAP is going to integrate large number of Chinese immigrants who are unable to speak a single word of English.
Foreigners now make up 36 percent of Singapore’s population, far higher than other immigrant nations such as Australia (25%) and United States (12%).
To exacerbate matters, Singapore is a small island of only 700 sqkm2 in size and the radical change in demographics is becoming more obvious with each passing day as Singaporeans find themselves being a stranger in their own country.
Not that the PAP cares much anyway. New citizens tend to vote for the ruling party and their increasing numbers will form an influential voting bloc to keep them in power forever.
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