PRs upbeat about S'Pore

A SURVEY of new citizens and permanent residents has unearthed among them largely positive attitudes towards Singapore as their new home.

But it also highlighted the need to ramp up efforts to integrate new immigrants at the workplace and educate them on the importance of Singapore's multiculturalism.

The survey of 360 new citizens and PRs was conducted in April and May by a study group commissioned by Reach, the government's feedback unit.

Among its findings: while almost four in five felt welcome in Singapore, 35.3 per cent also felt that co-workers in the workplace perceived them as competition.

The feeling was particularly acute among Filipinos, with 20.8 per cent of them reporting the sentiment.

On living in Singapore, 80.6 per cent found the cost of living manageable, and 77.2 per cent enjoyed watching local TV productions.

Dr Terence Chong, a sociologist with the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies and vice-chairman of the study group, noted that the largely positive findings were not surprising, given that the sample was drawn from those attending citizenship certificate presentation ceremonies.

These events are held at grassroots or national levels to welcome new citizens.

He said: 'Quite predictably, the results are positive because they wouldn't be new citizens if they do not enjoy living in Singapore.'

Still, he noted, the survey threw up some trends that Singapore needs to be alert to.

***From The Straits Time on 25th September