After all, won't their children become the cement that ties the relationship between the two countries closer? Isn't that the objective in the policy of opening the doors wide for the PRC immigrants?
Singapore > Story
Sep 16, 2009
Many foreign-born do NS yearly
PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday addressed a pet peeve among Singaporeans, that new immigrants do not do national service (NS) or are called up for reservist training.
Mr Lee said every year, hundreds of foreign-born youths do their NS as new citizens or permanent residents (PRs).
'They come from different races and countries, but they have consciously committed themselves to do NS, and march together with Singaporeans,' he said at a dialogue with students of Nanyang Technological University.
In July, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean had said in an interview the number of such youths is in the 'high hundreds every year'.
On Tuesday, PM Lee also said a 'good number of these new citizens' excel in NS, attending Officer Cadet School or topping their cohort and being awarded the Sword of Honour.
Some have signed on to be regulars in the Singapore Armed Forces while others have won SAF scholarships, he said.
Mr Lee cited Lieutenant Kok Khew Fai, 21, a Malaysian-born officer, who became a citizen in May 2007. Lt Kok received the SAF merit scholarship last month and will be an air engineering officer after completing his aeronautical engineering studies at Britain's Imperial College.
He was awarded the SAF Medal for Distinguished Act last September for shielding a recruit from a grenade blast during an exercise in March last year.
Besides defence, PM Lee said new citizens and PRs also contribute in other areas. 'They not only contribute to our economy, they also enrich our society and make up for our population shortfall.'
Singapore made sure these newcomers raised the population's quality in terms of education, skills and drive, he added.
Singapore > Story
Sep 16, 2009
Many foreign-born do NS yearly
PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday addressed a pet peeve among Singaporeans, that new immigrants do not do national service (NS) or are called up for reservist training.
Mr Lee said every year, hundreds of foreign-born youths do their NS as new citizens or permanent residents (PRs).
'They come from different races and countries, but they have consciously committed themselves to do NS, and march together with Singaporeans,' he said at a dialogue with students of Nanyang Technological University.
In July, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean had said in an interview the number of such youths is in the 'high hundreds every year'.
On Tuesday, PM Lee also said a 'good number of these new citizens' excel in NS, attending Officer Cadet School or topping their cohort and being awarded the Sword of Honour.
Some have signed on to be regulars in the Singapore Armed Forces while others have won SAF scholarships, he said.
Mr Lee cited Lieutenant Kok Khew Fai, 21, a Malaysian-born officer, who became a citizen in May 2007. Lt Kok received the SAF merit scholarship last month and will be an air engineering officer after completing his aeronautical engineering studies at Britain's Imperial College.
He was awarded the SAF Medal for Distinguished Act last September for shielding a recruit from a grenade blast during an exercise in March last year.
Besides defence, PM Lee said new citizens and PRs also contribute in other areas. 'They not only contribute to our economy, they also enrich our society and make up for our population shortfall.'
Singapore made sure these newcomers raised the population's quality in terms of education, skills and drive, he added.
