I REFER to the letter, 'Do more to integrate foreigners', by Mr Gilbert Goh Keow Wah (my paper, July 24).
He stated that nothing concrete is being done to help foreigners integrate into the Singapore community. He also claimed that foreigners bring with them their own religious and cultural values that may antagonise many Singaporeans.
I disagree with Mr Goh's conjectures and wish to allay his fears that foreigners will one day overrun Singapore.
<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=2 width=300 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Our Government is well known for being proactive. It has done its homework to ensure that foreigners holding permanent- resident status and those granted citizenship will not swamp Singapore's multiracial, multi-religious culture with their own religious and cultural values, thus antagonising Singaporeans.
For example, the Government set up the National Integration Council in April to help new immigrants settle in.
Meanwhile, the grass is not always greener in foreign lands.
I know of many Singaporeans who had migrated to countries such as Australia, only to be trapped in hardship when the economic crisis took its toll on employment.
I also know of some overseas Singaporeans who are thinking of returning to Singapore. They realised, perhaps, that they become 'second-class citizens' in a foreign country when they are in need.
Lastly, Singapore is a country where there is no racial or religious discrimination. I am not discriminated against or marginalised even though I am Eurasian, and I enjoy the same benefits and entitlements as all other Singaporeans.
Mr Lionel De Souza
He stated that nothing concrete is being done to help foreigners integrate into the Singapore community. He also claimed that foreigners bring with them their own religious and cultural values that may antagonise many Singaporeans.
I disagree with Mr Goh's conjectures and wish to allay his fears that foreigners will one day overrun Singapore.
<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=2 width=300 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Our Government is well known for being proactive. It has done its homework to ensure that foreigners holding permanent- resident status and those granted citizenship will not swamp Singapore's multiracial, multi-religious culture with their own religious and cultural values, thus antagonising Singaporeans.
For example, the Government set up the National Integration Council in April to help new immigrants settle in.
Meanwhile, the grass is not always greener in foreign lands.
I know of many Singaporeans who had migrated to countries such as Australia, only to be trapped in hardship when the economic crisis took its toll on employment.
I also know of some overseas Singaporeans who are thinking of returning to Singapore. They realised, perhaps, that they become 'second-class citizens' in a foreign country when they are in need.
Lastly, Singapore is a country where there is no racial or religious discrimination. I am not discriminated against or marginalised even though I am Eurasian, and I enjoy the same benefits and entitlements as all other Singaporeans.
Mr Lionel De Souza
