Pro-S'porean policy in jobs, housing impractical
THE notion of a pro-Singaporean policy is noble but not practical. What many policymakers and many well-meaning citizens fail to recognise is that many Singaporeans are married to non-Singaporeans.
You mean not practical to you.
Non-Singaporeans may, for one reason or another, not be in a position to take up Singapore citizenship. This may be because they have elderly parents in their native country or they do not meet general requirements to take up citizenship.
Not in position, do not qualify - so is this unique just to Singapore for foreigners?
As someone in this category, I find that this pro-Singaporean policy penalises this segment of the population. Over the years, we have contributed thousands of dollars to the Singapore economy, we pay taxes and levies and we have decided to setup of our family unit in Singapore. We have bought an HBD flat and look forward to being proud owners of a home in Singapore.
Every country has pro-citizen policies. Your country has even banned issuing work permits to foreigners.
I hear too many times from foreigners using this stupid excuse that they pay taxes and therefore expect citizen privileges. Which country in the world where foreigners working there pay taxes have the same privileges as their citizens?
I am not in a position to take up citizenship, as it is my responsibility to take care of my parents in Malaysia. They have chosen their home and I cannot, in good conscience, force them to relocate here.
Very simple. Go home to take care of your parents. Nobody twisted your arms to come here to make money. In fact, consider it a privilege offered to people like you to be allowed here to make a living.
Imagine this. Our flat will be ready only in 2012. Of our two incomes, I earn more than my wife. My income pays for almost everything, including rent (which has increased astronomically). The cost of living has gone up, and even cooking at home is no cheaper then eating outside. Paying utility bills, insurance premiums, car loan, education loans and so on leaves us with just enough to make ends meet. In recent months, we have had to dip into our savings to pay for many things.
So are you paying more than the Mr Average Singaporean? So you earn more than your wife. Big deal. You expect your wife to pay for your bills just because she is Singaporean?
We used to consider ourselves slightly better off than middle class, but now we are not even in that category. If I lose my job, because I am not a Singaporean, where would that leave us?
Are saying that Singaporeans are not feeling the pinch? If Singaporeans lose their job, where would that leave them? In your case, you can still go home to your parents, plant tapioca and survive. Singaporeans do not have this option.
Consider this as well. I pay goods and services tax (GST), income tax, Central Provident Fund (CPF) and every other payment as Singaporeans do, but I get few if any benefits. I do not get GST refunds; nor am I a beneficiary of any other monetary initiative to relieve the sufferings of Singaporeans, despite the fact that I am forming a family unit with a Singaporean in Singapore.
Adrian Gopal
You are damn lucky to have the privilege of working in Singapore, buying a "heavily subsidised" HD flat and now enjoy coverage of so-called "Jobs Credit". You can enjoy the benefits of your home country if you get yourself a job there. Do not come here and intentionally remain a non-citizen then bitch about the lack of citizenship privileges. You came here with your eyes wide open. You have probably weighed the pros and cons of getting a job elsewhere including your home country, in comparison to Singapore, calculated and decided that you still come off tops by being here since we have a foreigner compliant govt and hence try your luck in pushing the borders.
..... and hopefully his parents can still recognise him after that.
