Singaporeans First - Is that so?
PM Lee says "Singapore" will make greater efforts at fostering integration
Wednesday, September 16
SINGAPORE: Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke at length on Tuesday evening, to some 1,500 students at the Nanyang Technological University on Singapore’s immigration policy and also gave the assurance that the interest of citizens will always come first.
Mr Lee explained that it was important for the issue to be discussed with the students because it concerned their future and eventually would be taken forward by their generation.
this govt takes its elderly for granted. It's the working adults who are facing this immigration and taking it and tolerating foreigners. How easy it is to sell to a younger audience.....
He said that the country will make greater efforts at fostering integration of new arrivals and that the National Integration Council will announce its initiatives soon.
"This is not a one problem you can solve one off, just answer an exam paper and settled. But it is a continuing issue with no final solution, where you have to manage it, decide, adjust your policy from time to time and as circumstances changed, adapt it in order to keep on going forward. And it’s a problem where what we do doesn’t just depend on the government or the government’s decisions but on how open our society is and how well Singaporeans adjust to and integrate new arrivals. And that depends on you, as your enter the workforce, work, settle your families and become the next generation of Singaporeans, what kind of Singapore you want," said Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Firstly, did you as PM ask Singaporeans (not students) what they wanted?
Secondly, since you equated "openess" to our society, is it not fair to say that the govt need to have initiatives to foster integration precisely because Singaporeans are not opening our arms to foreigners at a pace that suits the govt in the first place. What does it say that our opinions are not sought but instead is constantly being shaped by "initiatives" that suit the govt's agenda.
He said that while Singaporeans understand the need for immigrants and foreign workers, they still have some concerns given the large inflow in the last few years.
Some concerns certainly require a "National Integration Council"
When the Singapore economy was booming the country admitted many foreigners — more than 100,000 per year in recent years. Mr Lee, however, said the country will not continue to admit people at this pace as the nation cannot expect to continue booming as in the last few years.
So over the long term while Singapore needs to continue bringing in immigrants, it will be mindful of how quickly its society can absorb and integrate new arrivals.
"In the midst of all these discussions about Singaporeans and non—Singaporeans, I should emphasise one point— that in Singapore, the interests of citizens have to always come first. Not a short term interest but a long term interest. It is to safeguard the long term interest of Singaporeans, we must have a sustained, calibrated inflow of immigrants. We will make this differentiation sharper over time to reflect the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship. But we cannot make it so onerous for PRs and non—residents that nobody wants to come," Mr Lee said.
Is it not the long term interest of the privilege few who are insulated from the rest of the population - who travels in crowded MRTs, competes with low cost workers, struggles to afford their HDB homes, served by service staff who can't understand them - that is really the concern?
Furthermore, he mentioned that Singapore’s critical constraint isn’t with physical space but with its people — that with more good people, the country can generate new and creative ideas to expand the space and create more opportunities.
This country doesn't care for all its citizens - only those who are valued to its economic strategy. It treats its citizens like numbers.
At the start of his speech, Mr Lee also had a word on the Singapore economy for his audience.
He said the third quarter economic forecast didn’t look bad.
But he cautioned that the nation must be psychologically prepared for a slow pickup and even surprises like a W—shaped recovery.
Since when has this country with billions in its reserves not been constantly reminded of how threatened it is
From another forum
Originally posted by John Penn:Singaporeans First - Is that so?
PM Lee says "Singapore" will make greater efforts at fostering integration
Wednesday, September 16
SINGAPORE: Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke at length on Tuesday evening, to some 1,500 students at the Nanyang Technological University on Singapore’s immigration policy and also gave the assurance that the interest of citizens will always come first.
Mr Lee explained that it was important for the issue to be discussed with the students because it concerned their future and eventually would be taken forward by their generation.
this govt takes its elderly for granted. It's the working adults who are facing this immigration and taking it and tolerating foreigners. How easy it is to sell to a younger audience.....
He said that the country will make greater efforts at fostering integration of new arrivals and that the National Integration Council will announce its initiatives soon.
"This is not a one problem you can solve one off, just answer an exam paper and settled. But it is a continuing issue with no final solution, where you have to manage it, decide, adjust your policy from time to time and as circumstances changed, adapt it in order to keep on going forward. And it’s a problem where what we do doesn’t just depend on the government or the government’s decisions but on how open our society is and how well Singaporeans adjust to and integrate new arrivals. And that depends on you, as your enter the workforce, work, settle your families and become the next generation of Singaporeans, what kind of Singapore you want," said Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Firstly, did you as PM ask Singaporeans (not students) what they wanted?
Secondly, since you equated "openess" to our society, is it not fair to say that the govt need to have initiatives to foster integration precisely because Singaporeans are not opening our arms to foreigners at a pace that suits the govt in the first place. What does it say that our opinions are not sought but instead is constantly being shaped by "initiatives" that suit the govt's agenda.
He said that while Singaporeans understand the need for immigrants and foreign workers, they still have some concerns given the large inflow in the last few years.
Some concerns certainly require a "National Integration Council"
When the Singapore economy was booming the country admitted many foreigners — more than 100,000 per year in recent years. Mr Lee, however, said the country will not continue to admit people at this pace as the nation cannot expect to continue booming as in the last few years.
So over the long term while Singapore needs to continue bringing in immigrants, it will be mindful of how quickly its society can absorb and integrate new arrivals.
"In the midst of all these discussions about Singaporeans and non—Singaporeans, I should emphasise one point— that in Singapore, the interests of citizens have to always come first. Not a short term interest but a long term interest. It is to safeguard the long term interest of Singaporeans, we must have a sustained, calibrated inflow of immigrants. We will make this differentiation sharper over time to reflect the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship. But we cannot make it so onerous for PRs and non—residents that nobody wants to come," Mr Lee said.
Is it not the long term interest of the privilege few who are insulated from the rest of the population - who travels in crowded MRTs, competes with low cost workers, struggles to afford their HDB homes, served by service staff who can't understand them - that is really the concern?
Furthermore, he mentioned that Singapore’s critical constraint isn’t with physical space but with its people — that with more good people, the country can generate new and creative ideas to expand the space and create more opportunities.
This country doesn't care for all its citizens - only those who are valued to its economic strategy. It treats its citizens like numbers.
At the start of his speech, Mr Lee also had a word on the Singapore economy for his audience.
He said the third quarter economic forecast didn’t look bad.
But he cautioned that the nation must be psychologically prepared for a slow pickup and even surprises like a W—shaped recovery.
Since when has this country with billions in its reserves not been constantly reminded of how threatened it is
From another forum
First to die!
cos their diamond rice bowl not affected at all/intact
so, they can tell us any story they liked what.
The title says it all.
I think PM is also suffers political apathy ..imho. Why would he announce something critical as 'cooling off' day in Trinidad & tobago ...6,000 miles away?
Too afraid to announce it on home ground? I'm just guessing.
I'm just more kind with my comments.
Most people I speak to, first idea that comes into their mind about cooling off day is.. PAP is burning up from ground heat.
But ofcos taking opposition members to court, home ground is the best bet. Too many tea sessions with judges.
Maybe we need to educate our dear PM on being politcally energized. He should learn to taken on oppositions on policy debates ...live on tv.
Hope to see more lively debates on policies in the coming GE.
Hmmm PAP want to loose more votes? Pick on another Oppostion candidate over meager issues and avoid policy debates.
Example ..application not filled out properly - flash it in the headlines.
Maybe opposition say 'PAP corrupt' and threaten to sue - flash it in headline
or say "Oppostion is Liar" - flash it in headlines
Maybe we can see 33% go up to 45% or more...
no use already
rise in inflation everything f****** expensive
salary constant or depreciate
worse replace by foreigners
whose faults your fault loh
Well, just have to be thrifty with your spending. Chasing 5Cs is stupid ...this 'pursuit of Hapine$$' is misleading.
When you worry about status ..you fall even easier.
I believe there are more women now who are politcally inclined, so hopefully you'll meet some girl with the same principles as yours. Life can only be more soothing.
no more job security
don't know what "goodies" "they" are going to "sell" to people again
resale flats more expensive than BTO
really PHD - permaent headache
John,
Well you can always vote in OPPOSITION.
If you can't vote due to walkovers, then you may want to join OPPOSITION party groups to gain support.
just very pissed off by our ... ...
"they" welcome just too many foreign aliens that ... ...
those foreign buggers depress some Singaporean salary
everyone know what best for them ... ...
all thanks to the technology - web
Dear John,
Well then you can just vote in opposition ... donlt have to be a supporter. If you believe they can, then vote them in.
Well believe is one thing, you can also be less apathetic about our country. You can join Non Government Organizations that advocate alternative politcs in singapore. Knowledge on Singapores history is good too. :)
one word stress
voting issue is p & c, try not to disclose it in the surface
cos, ip address could be tracked
later, free kopi
follwed by free chalet in Changi
Originally posted by John Penn:one word stress
voting issue is p & c, try not to ... ...
cos, ip address could be tracked
later, free chalet in Changi
u have not suffered enough in spore.............if u had.........all those are inconsequential......
free can read
Originally posted by John Penn:one word stress
voting issue is p & c, try not to disclose it in the surface
cos, ip address could be tracked
later, free kopi
follwed by free chalet in Changi
Why is voting preference private and confidential leh ?
You so scared they retaliate meh ? If you scared..then you must start to wonder.. what kind of petty gahmen you have that you need to fear so much ?
You want this kind of gahmen for how long ?
Lets face it lah. With the way election is being drawn, and the arrogance many PAP minsters exhibited these past few years... we all know that PAP will win the majority again this coming election lah.
So ah....PAP won't die with one less win.
Things won't get any better with one more PAP win.
So vote opposition lor.
jojobeach,
they told us one thing that is to be fast, cheaper, etc
some more must welcome those alien foreigners/buggers
their annaul salaries - wow lan - 7 figures
66.6% vote for them
singapore men - wow lan - ns blah blah blah
foreigners cannot do ns reason later they f*** off
after 1997, i give up on them ... ...
Originally posted by John Penn:jojobeach,
they told us one thing that is to be fast, cheaper, etc
some more must welcome those alien foreigners/buggers
their annaul salaries - wow lan - 7 figures
66.6% vote for them
singapore men - wow lan - ns blah blah blah
foreigners cannot do ns reason later they f*** off
after 1997, i give up on them ... ...
They ask you to go eat sai.. you will guai guai go eat sai issit ? Use your brain mah.
Originally posted by jojobeach:They ask you to go eat sai.. you will guai guai go eat sai issit ? Use your brain mah.
you don't understand my meaning meh ! - " after 1997, i give up on them ... ... "
they have many supporters in another forum
i gonna "hammer" by their supporters there
i bid them "good luck"
The title of this tread says it all for me.
Dear John,
I'm confused by your own fear. You said Voting is P & C yet you post articles here. Aren't you self defeating?
You know, let me debunk your fears alittle. Last election, 33% voted for opposition yes? So are they in jail now?
And I donlt think there is enough space for some many people. And plus with so many people in kails, it cost government more tax payers money to keep them alive in jails.
Nothing scares me.
Only me killing myself scares me.
The trend of their argument.
We: Oh Housing is so expensive. How can it be affordable?
MIW: We have grants.
We: But every year the price of flats is getting more and more expensive. It's not even a grant, it's just a maket value subsidy.
MIW: We have no control over property markets.
We: But aren't you HDB who supplies and build these flats, surely you can cap the pricing of flats.
MIW: We lost 2 billion. But we can't let you know why.
We: HDB lost 2 billion? Huh...So? So what?
MIW: So flats are affordable.
We: What? Where's the connection with 2 billion defecit and expensive flats.
MIW: Joint the dots yourself. Flats are affordable.
We: No, they are not. They are expensive.
MIW: You want to live in slums?
We: No ofcos.
MIW: Then flats are affordable.
We: Seriously. Please stop telling us it's affordable when it's CLEARLY NOT.
MIW: So you want no frills housing? I can give you a shell.
We: Are behaving like a profit making entity? We seem to be bargaining over price.
MIW: No. We are HDB. We supply affordable flats with quality.
We: But you are a public entity. You belong to the government so why aren't you doing anything about the prices?
MIW: Rrrrr. You have a problem? Talk to my MM Lee.
We: ............. I'm voting OPPO!
Originally posted by Iwanna Humpalot:The title of this tread says it all for me.
Dear John,
I'm confused by your own fear. You said Voting is P & C yet you post articles here. Aren't you self defeating?
You know, let me debunk your fears alittle. Last election, 33% voted for opposition yes? So are they in jail now?
And I donlt think there is enough space for some many people. And plus with so many people in kails, it cost government more tax payers money to keep them alive in jails.
Nothing scares me.
Only me killing myself scares me.
why i mention p & c
cos during ge they mentioned it's p & c
it's my fault for misleading
posting of artilces "is to let people decide" who they want to vote
Carry on here