Treat new citizens equally!

SINGAPORE accepts only skilled and educated immigrants "who increase the average level of competence of Singaporeans", Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said yesterday.

"Once they become citizens, they must be treated as equally as native-born Singaporeans, or our society will be fractured," Mr Lee warned.

Singaporeans have complained about new citizens and permanent residents taking away jobs from citizens, and that they do not speak or understand English even when they are working in sales or the service industry, he noted.
But their struggle with English means that "they cannot compete against Singaporeans", he said, addressing these complaints yesterday at a National Day dinner in Tanjong Pagar.
Yet they can be integrated because most of them come from familiar countries such as Malaysia, China and India, he said.
Their children will grow up as Singaporeans, learn English and compete with children of existing citizens for university places and scholarships.
But the Government will raise the number of bursaries and scholarships, and that of places in top schools, for existing citizens' children.

"So they will not be disadvantaged in getting admission to polys or universities," he said.

"Without the immigrants, Singapore will decline."

The Government has protected citizens by ensuring that they enjoy more privileges than permanent residents in areas like applying for HDB flats, the size of hospital and school fees, and in receiving Budget surpluses.
On immigrants, he said: "But we cannot make it so onerous that they will not come. For example, by requiring permanent residents or new citizens to be fluent in English, which even some existing citizens are not!"
Foreign workers have helped Singapore grow faster when conditions were favourable, and buffered the shock in the downturn, he added.
Many of the job losses this year have been among foreign workers rather than citizens. In fact, more citizens and permanent residents here have gained jobs in the first half of this year.
"Had we not had the foreign workers, more Singaporeans would have lost their jobs," Mr Lee said.
Despite the recession, the outlook is positive for Singapore, going by a recent investment here by the world's biggest oil company, ExxonMobil, he said.
It has just given Singapore a vote of confidence, by investing $4.5 billion to build a new plant on Jurong Island, he revealed.

Yesterday, he also urged Singaporeans to speak more Mandarin and study in China's top universities, so that they will have an edge in doing business with China.
But he reassured Singaporeans, saying: "It does not mean we are displacing English as our working and common language, our first language. English will remain the master language for all Singaporeans."
***Source from AsiaOne