<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>See how Balestier residents cope
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I READ, with increasing bewilderment, the series of reports on the saga of the dormitory to house foreign workers in Serangoon Gardens. The fair reporting and neutral stance of The Straits Times on this controversial issue is laudable.
Members of Parliament and the relevant government ministries have tried very hard to appease the residents to the extent of planning to spend $2 million of the taxpayers' money to build a new side road and installing additional barriers to cordon off these foreign workers. In turn, a new group of residents facing the proposed side road has made loud protests.
Clearly, we are not solving the problem, but rather trying to minimise the symptoms. The root of this saga is the irrational fear of Serangoon Gardens residents - an unpleasant and strong emotion caused by their wrongful anticipation of danger posed by these unknown foreign workers.
Therefore, the political leaders should first address how to dispel the residents' unwarranted fear and help them feel more secure. Trying to shield them from the perceived danger would serve only to accentuate and, inadvertently, justify their fear.
I suggest that the MPs organise a group tour for the Serangoon Gardens residents in the evening to stroll along Balestier Road, which I believe easily houses more than 600 foreign workers in the shop units and old apartments. I have lived there for some time.
The residents could then easily observe first-hand how the foreign workers and Balestier residents co-exist peacefully and comfortably with each other using common amenities like the NTUC supermarket at Shaw Plaza or the nearby food centres and fast food restaurants. Balestier, although a very small town, serves as the ideal microcosm for Singapore on how the local and foreign population can integrate and bond together.
I am sure the Serangoon Gardens residents will eventually realise their worries are unfounded. And, for the record, the value of my private property went up.
Dr Edmund Lam
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I READ, with increasing bewilderment, the series of reports on the saga of the dormitory to house foreign workers in Serangoon Gardens. The fair reporting and neutral stance of The Straits Times on this controversial issue is laudable.
Members of Parliament and the relevant government ministries have tried very hard to appease the residents to the extent of planning to spend $2 million of the taxpayers' money to build a new side road and installing additional barriers to cordon off these foreign workers. In turn, a new group of residents facing the proposed side road has made loud protests.
Clearly, we are not solving the problem, but rather trying to minimise the symptoms. The root of this saga is the irrational fear of Serangoon Gardens residents - an unpleasant and strong emotion caused by their wrongful anticipation of danger posed by these unknown foreign workers.
Therefore, the political leaders should first address how to dispel the residents' unwarranted fear and help them feel more secure. Trying to shield them from the perceived danger would serve only to accentuate and, inadvertently, justify their fear.
I suggest that the MPs organise a group tour for the Serangoon Gardens residents in the evening to stroll along Balestier Road, which I believe easily houses more than 600 foreign workers in the shop units and old apartments. I have lived there for some time.
The residents could then easily observe first-hand how the foreign workers and Balestier residents co-exist peacefully and comfortably with each other using common amenities like the NTUC supermarket at Shaw Plaza or the nearby food centres and fast food restaurants. Balestier, although a very small town, serves as the ideal microcosm for Singapore on how the local and foreign population can integrate and bond together.
I am sure the Serangoon Gardens residents will eventually realise their worries are unfounded. And, for the record, the value of my private property went up.
Dr Edmund Lam
