I Serve NS, But Refuse PR for Escape Route

[makapaaa]

<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Don't penalise PRs for holding on to roots
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I REFER to Mr Francis Ngiam's comments in last Saturday's collation of views ('Your insights') about the distinction between citizens and permanent residents (PRs).
Mr Ngiam's view is that if PRs happen to turn down invitations to become citizens when they are eligible to do so, they should be relegated to work permit holders or treated as foreigners. His argument is that for a PR to say no is a clear case of exploitation of privileges and perks that come with PR status.
I am 20 years old and have lived in Singapore for the past 19 years. I am currently doing my national service, just like any Singaporean, after having gone through the Singapore education system like any Singaporean. But unlike citizens, I am a PR.
Mr Ngiam's 'take it or leave it' option is wrong and penalises an individual's decision to hold on to his roots. The 'P' in 'PR' does not stand for 'provisional' - it stands for 'permanent'.
Ko Yuen Gi

 

[makapaaa]

<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=heading>Latest comments</TD></TR><TR><TD id=messageDisplayRegion width="100%"><TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left><TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left><TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" class=Post cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left>What if there is a military conflict between one's roots and one's non-root? This is a very serious matter, isn't it?
</TD></TR><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left>Posted by: kjks at Tue Nov 03 22:11:43 SGT 2009
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left><TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left><TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" class=AlternatePost cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left>I think this boy's parents are PRs, but citizens of their country of origin. Perhaps for him to take up citizenship would be like cutting ties with his parents, he might feel that he could not return to his country of origin someday if his parents should decide to.
</TD></TR><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left>Posted by: Misnomer at Tue Nov 03 22:07:00 SGT 2009
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left><TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left><TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" class=Post cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left>Ones like Ko Yuen Gi would like to selfishly hold on to the best of two or more countries if they can. If Ko doing NS to earn 'permanency' in Singapore without taking on citizenship, it is still a question where his ultimate loyalty lies. for citizenships Singapore is home, a place where we feel safe and loved, and which makes it worth defending and cherished.
</TD></TR><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left>Posted by: jlfhui at Tue Nov 03 21:31:34 SGT 2009
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left><TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left><TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" class=AlternatePost cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left>if a PR have been staying here for 20 years and saying its all good and nice here but still holding his malaysian or indonesian passport - then the question is WHY?
</TD></TR><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left>Posted by: betweenus777 at Tue Nov 03 20:47:33 SGT 2009
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left><TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left><TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" class=Post cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left>Don't think there is any country that would allow non-citizens to buy subsidized public housing....... even if it is "resale" low priced public housing. In the case of Hong Kong, there is little resentment against 'foreigners' because nobody need to serve in the PLA.

Singaporeans would not be bothered if landed properties and hotels are priced out of the world.

Perhaps we should follow the HK example, have a professional army and we can also keep the Gurkha contingent. Professional soldiers can have tour of duty of between 3 years to 6 years. There could also be savings if the military and the public hospitals, engineering companies can share some of their resources.

If this PR issue is going to be with us, we should find some permanent solutions and not try to talk our way out of this.
</TD></TR><TR><TD style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" align=left>Posted by: kjks at Tue Nov 03 20:04:55 SGT 2009
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[makapaaa]

Btw, what % of PeeRs serve NS?