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Coffeeshop Chit Chat - Minorities: We don't want specials</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right>
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</NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>3:06 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 5) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>20083.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>Minorities say 'no' to special privileges
Should Singapore's minorities be given special protection or help by the Government?
If a random straw poll of 50 non-Chinese Singaporeans is anything to go by, the answer is no.
Of the 50 surveyed, 47 said they do not think the Government should accord them special privileges or rights. They felt that since Singapore is a meritocratic society, everyone should be treated equally.
'I don't think one race should get extra help, but I do think that the Government should give more help to everyone, especially lower-income people and old folks who are retired,' said Mr Kasim Samat, 56, a part-time taxi driver.
Special treatment can also lead to complacency, they said.
'No one race should be given preferential treatment or more help,' said Mr Mohamad Ahmad, 30, an IT manager.
'Emphasis should be on equality for all races. Giving more financial help to any one group will result in that group developing a crutch mentality,' he added.
'They will not be motivated to work hard because they know if they mess up, the Government will cushion their fall.'
The 50 people polled included professionals, labourers, retirees, housewives and students.
They comprised 27 Malays, 20 Indians and three Eurasians.
Some of them feel that ethnic self-help groups should continue to exist as those in need will be more receptive to receiving help from people who speak the same language and share the same culture.
Some also want some form of protection when it comes to the practice of religion and minority representation in political elections.
When asked how they felt about being part of a minority group in Singapore, 38 said they are neither well treated nor discriminated against because of their race.
None said they are discriminated against or that opportunities are lacking. The majority also said they feel the Government has done enough to help ethnic minorities.
But a social stigma still exists in the workplace, some felt.
At least 44 of the 50 wanted racial profiling - or putting people in race categories, such as Chinese, Malay, Indian and 'Others', on identity cards and application forms - to cease.
'We are Singaporeans. Why do we need to further identify ourselves as Chinese Singaporeans or Malay Singaporeans? I think if we really see ourselves as Singaporeans, our race should not matter,' said salesman I. Hashim, 45.
Others like speech-language therapist Sajlia Jalil, 27, feel that even without racial classification on ICs, a person's name will clearly reveal his race.
But the bigger concern of minorities, it seems, is how to integrate the influx of new citizens into society.
Twelve of those polled cited the perceived large number of new Chinese immigrants and said they sometimes felt sidelined because of an inability to communicate with these new citizens.
[email protected]
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Should Singapore's minorities be given special protection or help by the Government?
If a random straw poll of 50 non-Chinese Singaporeans is anything to go by, the answer is no.
Of the 50 surveyed, 47 said they do not think the Government should accord them special privileges or rights. They felt that since Singapore is a meritocratic society, everyone should be treated equally.
'I don't think one race should get extra help, but I do think that the Government should give more help to everyone, especially lower-income people and old folks who are retired,' said Mr Kasim Samat, 56, a part-time taxi driver.
Special treatment can also lead to complacency, they said.
'No one race should be given preferential treatment or more help,' said Mr Mohamad Ahmad, 30, an IT manager.
'Emphasis should be on equality for all races. Giving more financial help to any one group will result in that group developing a crutch mentality,' he added.
'They will not be motivated to work hard because they know if they mess up, the Government will cushion their fall.'
The 50 people polled included professionals, labourers, retirees, housewives and students.
They comprised 27 Malays, 20 Indians and three Eurasians.
Some of them feel that ethnic self-help groups should continue to exist as those in need will be more receptive to receiving help from people who speak the same language and share the same culture.
Some also want some form of protection when it comes to the practice of religion and minority representation in political elections.
When asked how they felt about being part of a minority group in Singapore, 38 said they are neither well treated nor discriminated against because of their race.
None said they are discriminated against or that opportunities are lacking. The majority also said they feel the Government has done enough to help ethnic minorities.
But a social stigma still exists in the workplace, some felt.
At least 44 of the 50 wanted racial profiling - or putting people in race categories, such as Chinese, Malay, Indian and 'Others', on identity cards and application forms - to cease.
'We are Singaporeans. Why do we need to further identify ourselves as Chinese Singaporeans or Malay Singaporeans? I think if we really see ourselves as Singaporeans, our race should not matter,' said salesman I. Hashim, 45.
Others like speech-language therapist Sajlia Jalil, 27, feel that even without racial classification on ICs, a person's name will clearly reveal his race.
But the bigger concern of minorities, it seems, is how to integrate the influx of new citizens into society.
Twelve of those polled cited the perceived large number of new Chinese immigrants and said they sometimes felt sidelined because of an inability to communicate with these new citizens.
[email protected]
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