- Joined
- Jul 24, 2008
- Messages
- 33,627
- Points
- 0
<TABLE id=msgUN border=0 cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD id=msgUNsubj vAlign=top>
Coffeeshop Chit Chat - PRs must be fully committed to Singapore</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>kojakbt_89 <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>9:35 pm </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 2) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>30975.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>Apr 1, 2010
View PR changes positively
<!-- by line --><!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar --><!-- story content : start -->
I REFER to last Saturday's article, "PRs: Has the welcome mat been rolled back?"
The in-depth interviews with a number of permanent residents that explored their hopes, dreams and fears were a timely reminder that PRs are just trying to make a living and a home in Singapore.
My own father was a PR before he became a citizen, so I understand their concerns about the recent slew of government policies which widened the distinction between citizens and PRs, particularly in health care and education.
However, I urge them to view these developments positively, as a rolling out of the welcome mat to citizenship.
Singapore is more densely populated than ever before, and almost everything is in short supply nowadays: land, places in good schools, hospital beds, and even standing room on buses during peak hours.
Priority simply has to be given to Singaporeans, albeit without unduly burdening PRs beyond their means. If the playing field were level, as one foreign senior executive put it, what value is there in citizenship?
To enjoy the same benefits as citizens, PRs must be fully committed to Singapore, without the easy option of leaving on a plane any time. Paying income taxes and performing community service alone do not signal deep commitment - only taking up citizenship does.
David Lok
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
View PR changes positively
<!-- by line --><!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar --><!-- story content : start -->
I REFER to last Saturday's article, "PRs: Has the welcome mat been rolled back?"
The in-depth interviews with a number of permanent residents that explored their hopes, dreams and fears were a timely reminder that PRs are just trying to make a living and a home in Singapore.
My own father was a PR before he became a citizen, so I understand their concerns about the recent slew of government policies which widened the distinction between citizens and PRs, particularly in health care and education.
However, I urge them to view these developments positively, as a rolling out of the welcome mat to citizenship.
Singapore is more densely populated than ever before, and almost everything is in short supply nowadays: land, places in good schools, hospital beds, and even standing room on buses during peak hours.
Priority simply has to be given to Singaporeans, albeit without unduly burdening PRs beyond their means. If the playing field were level, as one foreign senior executive put it, what value is there in citizenship?
To enjoy the same benefits as citizens, PRs must be fully committed to Singapore, without the easy option of leaving on a plane any time. Paying income taxes and performing community service alone do not signal deep commitment - only taking up citizenship does.
David Lok
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
