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[h=2]On Foreigners, Xenophobia and The Straits Times[/h]
August 29th, 2012 |
Author: Contributions
The Straits Times
In this year’s National Day Rally (NDR), besides announcing new policies, such as the construction of more universities and increase in social security, Prime Minister Lee also brought up the issue of xenophobia and hostility towards foreigners as well as the need for foreigners to integrate. However, the big picture has been missed once again, by the PAP establishment.
The Issue With Foreigners
The issue with foreigners, unfortunately for PM Lee is not a simplistic case of a few black sheep in society who are openly hostile and xenophobic.
Firstly, the PAP government needs to appreciate the fact that many Singaporeans are aggrieved by the fact that they lost their jobs or have to settle with lower salaries due to the influx of foreigners, due to the fact that they cost less to employ, not necessarily because they are better, but because they are cheaper. While I am strongly for the idea of free markets and capitalism (I am strongly against socialism), the hiring of foreigners defeats the spirit of capitalism, because while companies have their choice on whom they want to hire, the groundsmen are denied opportunities to prosper form a capitalistic system. PM Lee needs to take into consideration that not only are foreigners taking up jobs that Singaporeans dislike, they are taking up jobs that Singaporeans are willing to do, such as jobs in food service and retail outlets due to better salaries. At the same time, Singaporeans have been displaced from their white collared jobs, jobs that Singaporeans are also willing to take up in order to bring in foreigners with questionable qualifications.
Secondly, hostility towards foreigners did not develop overnight. Could the PAP government have played a role too? Before GE 2011, the government has tried to make the influx of foreigners acceptable by speaking on how foreigners are more hardworking and more motivated compared to foreigners as compared to local Singaporeans. Not only do these statements ignore the fact that these foreigners are thrown into a situation where they are forced to fight with backs to the wall to survive in a foreign land, it does not take into account that some Singaporeans are similarly just as hardworking. At the same time, such rhetoric only sows seeds of hostility and jealousy by forming an “us and them” situation, with the foreigners and the government on one side and the groundsmen, some of whom are willing to work hard to earn a decent living, on the other. Not only is this rhetoric from the government, people in educational institutions and positions are also articulating this position. Perhaps, before asking us to change our attitudes towards foreigners, should the PAP do a soul searching of its own.
The Straits Times
The reports in The Straits Times on PM Lee’s speech on foreigners have been found wanting. Once again, their objectivity is thrown into the spotlight. There have been many issues PM Lee spoke about, but the issue on foreigners received the most coverage, to the extent it being disproportionate. More than ninety percent of these articles criticise the xenophobic attitudes among Singaporeans but none of the articles address the issues Singaporeans face with regards to the foreigners. The articles go on to the point that it appears as if The Straits Times is giving Singaporeans a third day running of lectures and scoldings towards “the xenophobic few”. Why don’t The Straits Times address some of the sentiment on the ground? Why doesn’t The Straits Times call into question certain government policies or missteps that could have led to this situation? This is part of upholding the national pledge, where citizens pledge to make Singapore a democratic society.
The Xenophobic Few
While there are Singaporeans who are upset with Singapore’s liberal immigration policy, there are some, whom I observed on TR Emeritus who treat the presence of foreigners as a tool to lynch the PAP. At the same time, there are some whose attitude towards foreigners resemble close to that of the fascist and far right groups in Europe. My question to these people is, do we want Singapore to become a situation like Nazi Germany, where the Jews are blamed for almost anything bad that happened? Most of us know what followed afterwards. Yes, we may be unhappy with the PAP’s policies on foreigners, but that gives us no excuse to adopt fascist-like attitudes towards them.
.
Singaporean Citizen
.
Editor’s note: With regard to the author’s comment about “The Straits Times on PM Lee’s speech on foreigners have been found wanting” and “more than ninety percent of these (ST) articles criticise the xenophobic attitudes among Singaporeans but none of the articles address the issues Singaporeans face with regards to the foreigners”, this should not come as a surprise.
According to a WikiLeaks document [Link], the editors of the mainstream media in Singapore are handpicked by the State and groomed to tow the official line. In the document, it was revealed that an ST Bureau Chief in U.S. had previously told a member of American Embassy in Singapore that ST editors have all been groomed as pro-government supporters and are careful to ensure that reporting of local events adheres closely to the official line. He observed that none of the editors has the courage to publish any stories critical of the government. He also revealed that the government exerts significant pressure on ST editors to ensure that published articles follow the government’s line. TRE understands that the ST Bureau Chief now no longer works for ST.
.
In this year’s National Day Rally (NDR), besides announcing new policies, such as the construction of more universities and increase in social security, Prime Minister Lee also brought up the issue of xenophobia and hostility towards foreigners as well as the need for foreigners to integrate. However, the big picture has been missed once again, by the PAP establishment.
The Issue With Foreigners
The issue with foreigners, unfortunately for PM Lee is not a simplistic case of a few black sheep in society who are openly hostile and xenophobic.
Firstly, the PAP government needs to appreciate the fact that many Singaporeans are aggrieved by the fact that they lost their jobs or have to settle with lower salaries due to the influx of foreigners, due to the fact that they cost less to employ, not necessarily because they are better, but because they are cheaper. While I am strongly for the idea of free markets and capitalism (I am strongly against socialism), the hiring of foreigners defeats the spirit of capitalism, because while companies have their choice on whom they want to hire, the groundsmen are denied opportunities to prosper form a capitalistic system. PM Lee needs to take into consideration that not only are foreigners taking up jobs that Singaporeans dislike, they are taking up jobs that Singaporeans are willing to do, such as jobs in food service and retail outlets due to better salaries. At the same time, Singaporeans have been displaced from their white collared jobs, jobs that Singaporeans are also willing to take up in order to bring in foreigners with questionable qualifications.
Secondly, hostility towards foreigners did not develop overnight. Could the PAP government have played a role too? Before GE 2011, the government has tried to make the influx of foreigners acceptable by speaking on how foreigners are more hardworking and more motivated compared to foreigners as compared to local Singaporeans. Not only do these statements ignore the fact that these foreigners are thrown into a situation where they are forced to fight with backs to the wall to survive in a foreign land, it does not take into account that some Singaporeans are similarly just as hardworking. At the same time, such rhetoric only sows seeds of hostility and jealousy by forming an “us and them” situation, with the foreigners and the government on one side and the groundsmen, some of whom are willing to work hard to earn a decent living, on the other. Not only is this rhetoric from the government, people in educational institutions and positions are also articulating this position. Perhaps, before asking us to change our attitudes towards foreigners, should the PAP do a soul searching of its own.
The Straits Times
The reports in The Straits Times on PM Lee’s speech on foreigners have been found wanting. Once again, their objectivity is thrown into the spotlight. There have been many issues PM Lee spoke about, but the issue on foreigners received the most coverage, to the extent it being disproportionate. More than ninety percent of these articles criticise the xenophobic attitudes among Singaporeans but none of the articles address the issues Singaporeans face with regards to the foreigners. The articles go on to the point that it appears as if The Straits Times is giving Singaporeans a third day running of lectures and scoldings towards “the xenophobic few”. Why don’t The Straits Times address some of the sentiment on the ground? Why doesn’t The Straits Times call into question certain government policies or missteps that could have led to this situation? This is part of upholding the national pledge, where citizens pledge to make Singapore a democratic society.
The Xenophobic Few
While there are Singaporeans who are upset with Singapore’s liberal immigration policy, there are some, whom I observed on TR Emeritus who treat the presence of foreigners as a tool to lynch the PAP. At the same time, there are some whose attitude towards foreigners resemble close to that of the fascist and far right groups in Europe. My question to these people is, do we want Singapore to become a situation like Nazi Germany, where the Jews are blamed for almost anything bad that happened? Most of us know what followed afterwards. Yes, we may be unhappy with the PAP’s policies on foreigners, but that gives us no excuse to adopt fascist-like attitudes towards them.
.
Singaporean Citizen
.
Editor’s note: With regard to the author’s comment about “The Straits Times on PM Lee’s speech on foreigners have been found wanting” and “more than ninety percent of these (ST) articles criticise the xenophobic attitudes among Singaporeans but none of the articles address the issues Singaporeans face with regards to the foreigners”, this should not come as a surprise.
According to a WikiLeaks document [Link], the editors of the mainstream media in Singapore are handpicked by the State and groomed to tow the official line. In the document, it was revealed that an ST Bureau Chief in U.S. had previously told a member of American Embassy in Singapore that ST editors have all been groomed as pro-government supporters and are careful to ensure that reporting of local events adheres closely to the official line. He observed that none of the editors has the courage to publish any stories critical of the government. He also revealed that the government exerts significant pressure on ST editors to ensure that published articles follow the government’s line. TRE understands that the ST Bureau Chief now no longer works for ST.
.
