à don't know what I 'm defending anymore'...
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http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2010/10/30/i-dont-know-what-im-defending-anymore/
Young Singaporeans like Lim Zi Rui are becoming increasingly disillusioned and they’re not afraid to let it show.
The 23-year-old final-year aerospace engineering student was among a 1,000-strong crowd who attended a Ministerial Forum organised on Friday by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Students’ Union.
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong was the guest-of-honour.
During a dialogue session after SM Goh’s main address, Lim stood up and asked if the Minister was aware that many young people no longer felt a sense of ownership in Singapore.
“When I was younger, I was very proud of being a Singaporean,” said Lim.
“But that was about five, ten years ago. Five years later, with all the changes in policies and the influx of foreign talent, I really don’t know what I’m defending any more.”
He said this was a view that many of the men he served with during National Service also held.
“I feel that there is a dilution of the Singapore spirit in youth… We don’t really feel comfortable in our country any more,” he said.
Mr Goh replied, “‘This is one early sign of danger… If this is happening, it is very serious.” He went on to ask Mr Lim why he felt disconnected.
Mr Lim told SM Goh, ”‘I’m still serving as an officer and I definitely would love to defend Singapore.”
But he said the key difference between him and his foreign friends was, “I tell them, this is my country. I can’t just leave here whenever I want to. You can come and play and work here, but I have to stay here.”
SM Goh responded by defending the government’s policy of welcoming foreigners.
“You want to have a home. Who’s going to build your HDB flat?” said the Minister.
Lim replied that due to the inability to afford the sky-high public housing prices, his brother had to call off his engagement.
“My brother got engaged, but lost his engagement because he could not afford an HDB flat,” said Lim, who went on to state that his question was not about “integrating foreigners”.
“My question was, how are we going to help the younger generation feel a sense of belonging to Singapore? I don’t think it’s about integrating foreigners,” said Lim.
“This is your country,” SM Goh replied. “What do you want me to do to make you feel you belong?”
“For my part, don’t worry about me,” Mr Lim said. “I will definitely do something, if I can, for Singapore. But I can tell you honestly that the sentiment on the ground is a bit different.”
“If this is happening, it is very serious,” said SM Goh.
“If the majority feel they don’t belong here, then we have a fundamental problem. Then I would ask myself: What am I doing here? Why should I be working for people who don’t feel they belong over here?” asked SM Goh.
Earlier on during the dialogue session, the Minister made the point that the next General Elections, due to be held by February 2012, would be a “watershed” for the future of Singapore from which a “fourth Prime Minister and a core team of younger ministers will emerge”.
SM Goh also challenged the young undergrads in his audience to “make a difference to Singapore” by joining local politics.
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Finally there's one guy brave enough to express what most of our Singapore guys are experiencing these days...
Non-provocative.... but in a polite manner... nonetheless expressing clearly very single detailed point out to the govt.
I hope PAP takes this objective very seriously and re-consider its liberal immigration
and labour restrictions on foreign labour.
Kudos to the guy, GREAT JOB! =) -
I salute this guy's balls. They must be made of steel lol. Anyway, I saw what he saw a long time ago. I'm overseas now. Just make the move, it's a big big world out there.
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Originally posted by Rock^Star:
I salute this guy's balls. They must be made of steel lol. Anyway, I saw what he saw a long time ago. I'm overseas now. Just make the move, it's a big big world out there.
When you are force into corner and no place to breadth or survive. Human will learn to fight back..This guy serves NS and end up need to pay his own Uni school fee while China man/woman from China gets free NTU degree plus on top of $800 pocket money per month while only need to serve a bond of 6 years working in Singapore only....
You do yr own maths which is a better deal?
Our own Gov don't value local.. 'You die yr own business and most important is you contribute, contributing more to Temasek money box. Those who can't contribute are thrash.'
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Agree.. =)
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i m proud of this guy's action! totally agree with him.
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Agree! -
Will it make it to the main paper? No? Nobody gives a shit.
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I also feel like a guy without a country. Singapore is not my country.
Let's retake Singapore by voting out PAP.
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Originally posted by ditzy:
Will it make it to the main paper? No? Nobody gives a shit.
Everyone gives a shit.
But PAP doesn't give a shit.
If the paper is controlled by opposition, 100% will make it to newspaper.
But the paper is controlled by PAP, that is why it will never make it to newspaper.
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Originally posted by ditzy:
Will it make it to the main paper? No? Nobody gives a shit.
Reported in Straits Times and Mediacorp News Radio 93.8... =)
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Originally posted by Junyang700:
Reported in Straits Times and Mediacorp News Radio 93.8... =)
serious? You know ST quite well.
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Originally posted by Vote PAP OUT to Save SG:
serious? You know ST quite well.
It was an open dialogue session.... even mainstream news on TV reported on it...
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Originally posted by Junyang700:
It was an open dialogue session.... even mainstream news on TV reported on it...
So, the state media reported on lost of ownership for Singapore?
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Originally posted by Junyang700:
It was an open dialogue session.... even mainstream news on TV reported on it...
They might have reported the event, but did they cover in detail and picked out the highlights like the above?
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Originally posted by zenden9:
When you are force into corner and no place to breadth or survive. Human will learn to fight back..This guy serves NS and end up need to pay his own Uni school fee while China man/woman from China gets free NTU degree plus on top of $800 pocket money per month while only need to serve a bond of 6 years working in Singapore only....
You do yr own maths which is a better deal?
Our own Gov don't value local.. 'You die yr own business and most important is you contribute, contributing more to Temasek money box. Those who can't contribute are thrash.'
you mean they are really so smart and good piece of shit that even ours shit donw smell as nice either? OMG
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Originally posted by ditzy:
They might have reported the event, but did they cover in detail and picked out the highlights like the above?
I think ST did. But TV news and Radio news shortened it into a few words.... but the point is there.
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Originally posted by Junyang700:
I think ST did. But TV news and Radio news shortened it into a few words.... but the point is there.
You think, I thought, who confirm? I have not touched the ST for the past month, primarily because I leave the house before the paper arrives, and reach home late only to eat, shower, and sleep.
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Originally posted by ditzy:
You think, I thought, who confirm? I have not touched the ST for the past month, primarily because I leave the house before the paper arrives, and reach home late only to eat, shower, and sleep.
You should cancel ST if that is the case.
Why you subscribe to ST in the first place?
Since you have not read ST for one month, your mind should be clearer and more free from propaganda. That is healthy.
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Originally posted by Vote PAP OUT to Save SG:
You should cancel ST if that is the case.
Why you subscribe to ST in the first place?
Since you have not read ST for one month, your mind should be clearer and more free from propaganda. That is healthy.
Well I don't really have a say if I'm living with my folks you know? And I can't really decide whether I want to or not take job assignments given to me, that requires me to sacrifice 16 hours a day to my job.
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Originally posted by ditzy:
Well I don't really have a say if I'm living with my folks you know? And I can't really decide whether I want to or not take job assignments given to me, that requires me to sacrifice 16 hours a day to my job.
You should persuade them to end the subscription.
It's all worthless shit anyway.
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Originally posted by Vote PAP OUT to Save SG:
You should persuade them to end the subscription.
It's all worthless shit anyway.
Then they end up buying TNP instead, isn't that alot worse?
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Originally posted by ditzy:
Then they end up buying TNP instead, isn't that alot worse?
TNP mostly tabloid news, not much PAP propaganda, people don't take it that seriously, so I consider it less harmful.
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TNP no need buy. Not much tabloid news these days... getting more and more boring....