LKY urges Sgaporeans“bear†with competition with foreigners
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19 Feb 2010 - Temasek Review
MM Lee urges Singaporeans to “bear” with competition with foreigners
Written by Our Correspondent
Caught off guard by the rising public anger against its misguided immigration and pro-foreigner policies, the ruling party has been fire-fighting for the last few weeks to appease Singaporeans by introducing last-minute cosmetic changes to “sharpen the distinction between citizens and PRs.”
One of its chief architects and proponents of a disastrous plan to boost Singapore’s population to 6.5 million people, Singapore’s octogenarian strongman Lee Kuan Yew has made an amazing U-turn yet again.
In a speech made to Tanjong Pagar residents lately, Lee now said that Singapore citizens and PRs have received “very different treatment in government policies” and urged Singaporeans not to forget the “contributions” that foreigners have made to the economy.
He tried to fend off criticisms that the government has backtracked on its immigration policy now by explaining that the inflow of foreigners was being moderated now and not earlier because “they were needed for the building of the two integrated resorts, which will create more jobs for Singaporeans, draw tourists and boost the economy.”
“When you grumble about the workers, remember they do the heavy work for us. Without them, we would not be here.” he added.
However, besides blue collar workers, there is an increasing number of foreigners who are taking up jobs which can otherwise be filled by Singaporeans such as the PMETs.
According to a Wall Street Journal editorial, the relentless influx of foreigners into Singapore had depressed the wages of ordinary Singaporeans, increased the cost of living, especially that of public housing, decreased labor productivity and led to an overall decline in the standards of living.
Singapore’s GDP growth in the last few years was fueled largely by the availability of cheap foreign labor which keeps business costs low, thereby inflating the growth figures artificially.
A certain percentage of Singapore ministers’ multi-million dollar salary is pegged to GDP growth – the higher the growth, the more money they bring home.
At the same time, Singapore’s income gap between the rich and the poor has widened considerably. It is quite obvious that the economic gains “contributed” by foreigners are not shared equally across the population – the rich has become richer while the poor has become poorer.
Lee also called on Singaporeans to bear with the inconveniences or competition for space on buses, MRT trains, even in schools with foreigners as if the “the Government were to reduce the flow too much, the economy would slow and this would lead to property prices and incomes going down.”
‘We always give preference to our own citizens,” he added.
The ruling party appears to be completely clueless on how to lead Singapore in the next lap of development and is unwilling to wean off its perennial addiction to foreign workers.
Singaporeans should not be hoodwinked by Lee’s latest “wayang” to pull a wool over their eyes again.
Let us recall what he said in an interview with the National Geographic magazine only a few months ago:
“Over time, Singaporeans have become less hard-driving and hard-striving. This is why it is a good thing that the nation has welcomed so many Chinese immigrants.” Lee was quoted saying.
He described the country’s new subjects as “hungry,” with parents who “pushed the children very hard.”
“If native Singaporeans are falling behind because the spurs are not stuck into the hide, that is their problem,” he quipped.
[Source: The Singapore Solution]
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Hey, what about getting FTs Ministers to run Singapore to compete rice bowls with LKY, LHL, GCT and all in PAP and we tell them to bear with the competition with these FT Ministers????
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Some time bo bian
have to treat foreigners with extra treatment
because they tend to be more cash rich
Today see Today buy
Locals see , wait i C first....let me think again.
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Singaporeans need sharper spurs, PAP Ministers need more pay, what dichotomy.
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Originally posted by noahnoah:
Some time bo bian
have to treat foreigners with extra treatment
because they tend to be more cash rich
Today see Today buy
Locals see , wait i C first....let me think again.
I disagree with you. I understand you are saying this in your capacity as a housing agent. What you said is only applicable to your property field. -
all those wat upgrading skills
really able one to find better job?
I doubt so...
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I suggest LKY and all ministers put away with elitism temporarily, live a life as an ordinary Singaporeans for a period of time to feel and see what we are going through. Take bus, MRT, eat at food centres and so on. Then come tell us about the life and the polices in Singapore. Hopefully will change the way they think and implement policies..
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Originally posted by noahnoah:
all those wat upgrading skills
really able one to find better job?
I doubt so...
Some of those who went for the upgrading told me they still cannot find any jobs. They have "downgraded" their expectations also don't help them to find jobs.The main problem is the influx of foreigners competition with local for jobs. I have seen a company employs China nationales - almost 50% of the engineers are from China. The admin staff in the company are also from China.
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Originally posted by Fantagf:
Some of those who went for the upgrading told me they still cannot find any jobs. They have "downgraded" their expectations also don't help them to find jobs.The main problem is the influx of foreigners competition with local for jobs. I have seen a company employs China nationales - almost 50% of the engineers are from China. The admin staff in the company are also from China.
And yet the chinese managed to get Singapore citizenship. I have seen many Singaporeans still bo chup about getting a better piece of the pie and end up with low end upgrading. I want to see local universities remove the age limit on getting a professional degree. Govt boards always kao peh not enough doctors but the limitation is caused by age limit. Engineers who have a middle age career stagnantion can have the option to switch professions. really don't know what the fark govt thinking. -
Originally posted by Herzog_Zwei:
And yet the chinese managed to get Singapore citizenship. I have seen many Singaporeans still bo chup about getting a better piece of the pie and end up with low end upgrading. I want to see local universities remove the age limit on getting a professional degree. Govt boards always kao peh not enough doctors but the limitation is caused by age limit. Engineers who have a middle age career stagnantion can have the option to switch professions. really don't know what the fark govt thinking.
I did not know about the age limit that local uni have for people till I read from your post. This is discriminating.INsufficiency of doctors ??? This I can confirm they create problem for themselves. Ministry of Health is the one who set the limit on recruiting of doctors. They have indicated the total number of doctors to be recruited in each discipline/specialty. They ususally do not allow generous number of doctors to be recruited.
Govt is not doing much to deal with seniors in sg to continue working. They can probably come out with more incentives for companies to employ older staff other than a cut down in CPF contribution.
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Originally posted by Fantagf:
I suggest LKY and all ministers put away with elitism temporarily, live a life as an ordinary Singaporeans for a period of time to feel and see what we are going through. Take bus, MRT, eat at food centres and so on. Then come tell us about the life and the polices in Singapore. Hopefully will change the way they think and implement policies..
Just like 'Mito Komon'the popular TV drama about a Japanese ruler who mingles with his loyal subjects disguised as a commoner in order to understand and solve their problems.There is a strong resemblance between Mito Komon and LKY.They both love to talk cock! -
Originally posted by John smithy6699:
Just like 'Mito Komon'the popular TV drama about a Japanese ruler who mingles with his loyal subjects disguised as a commoner in order to understand and solve their problems.There is a strong resemblance between Mito Komon and LKY.They both love to talk cock!
the old heck is getting worse. going round do name calling on the people who feed him, see how ungrateful he is. He called singaporeans champions grumblers. I would say from the way he talks, he is a champion grumbler politician in the world. -
Easy for him to say since he is not the person bearing the brunt of the competition.
Try cutting the salaries of all the PAP Ministers to the level of the Australian Prime Minister. See how he feels about competition. We are not even asking him to compete with the PRCs by cutting his pay to PRC President, like what he is doing to us.
Wait a second, better not do that, else they will all resort to corruption.
Their salary can't even compete with other advanced countries and there he goes yelping to us about competition with PRCs.
Alexander the Great is a good general, one who fights alongside his men, he knows his soldiers, he knows the terrain in which he is fighting in, knows what can and cannot be done and achieves victory. Alexander doesn't yell his commands from the safe confines of his palace.
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There will be a revolt if they cut the salaries of those ministers.
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There is no Alexander the Great in the thunderstrike party but we do have lots of champions grumblers in the thunderstrike party.
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Ask lky to bear with it when 40 percent of the vote go to oppsition. And also let see how he can get up from his grave when singapore get into big big problem next 20 to 50 years.
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Originally posted by wsy1234:
Ask lky to bear with it when 40 percent of the vote go to oppsition. And also let see how he can get up from his grave when singapore get into big big problem next 20 to 50 years.
Only 40% and no win?
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LKY urges Sgaporeans“bear” with competition with foreigners
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For how long? Low wages are killing the pple slowly and softly.
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LKY claimed that income gap can be rectified if jobs are created. But there are jobs already being created currently and income gap only has widened. Going forth this gap will only widen further
In action, they are conducting training in CDC to brainwash Singaporeans that it is a trend to have low wage and work more. So do you people see the double standard here??
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i urge LKY and his lackeys to bear with it when they lose the next election
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Originally posted by keeptouch:
i urge LKY and his lackeys to bear with it when they lose the next election
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We still need to use the talent of some PAP menber and i am very sure that some menbers might disagree with what LKY said but cannot make noise openly. 40 percent is a good test for singaporean to see how the opposition can work. If they like malaysian then we have to bear with it for 5 years at least PAP still around. But if new party prove they can do it then vote for them to make 80 percent.
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Originally posted by wsy1234:
We still need to use the talent of some PAP menber and i am very sure that some menbers might disagree with what LKY said but cannot make noise openly. 40 percent is a good test for singaporean to see how the opposition can work. If they like malaysian then we have to bear with it for 5 years at least PAP still around. But if new party prove they can do it then vote for them to make 80 percent.
IF there come a day op takes over, we will have to give them more time to do the work - they may likely have to clear the shit left by thunderstrike party. Theirs will be a tough job. -
take no notice of old men who should be in old folks home.
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There will be tough jobs but at least we have NS to standby in case any big problem. But that day will not come so soon. 40 percent will be big lost for PAP. there will be at least 5 or 6 GRC go to opposition and some ministers. each GRC at least have 2 or 3 ministers.