Comments on: TOC International: Spaced-out in Singapore!

By: Bernard

Bernard — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 05:05:37 +0000

to 44 time,
so you think that the golden period of Singapore is gonna be over in 10 years down the road ? Alas, indeed. what come up – must come down eventually. Nothing is forever in history. Singapore is a goner or the ultimate survivor ?

By: time

time — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:27:09 +0000

Dear Gilbert Goh,

have u ever imagine singapore without Foreigners? Absolutely it will collapse!

Singapore has so less natural resources, if not be said none. Try to do statistics on Singapore-based companies projects..most of them are in other SEA countries. Keep in mind that political and social welfare are stabilizing for those SEA countries. They are all developing rapidly while you are relaxing in Australia.

No worries. I believe in the next ten years, most of foreigners will leave Singapore for other countries. They will bring along their investment, projects, markets, resources to China, Taiwan, at least to other SEA countries. Singapore as a hub will no longer be needed since in the next ten years…who needs any hub after all.

The foreigners then will come to Singapore not for business purpose any longer, but for tourism purpose. Singapore will be the “good old days” city..nothing more.

At that day, please write us another complain article in this blog…(if anyone still interested in reading Singaporeans opinion)

By: tiredsingaporean

tiredsingaporean — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:37:15 +0000

Ever wonder if all these FT are brought in not because they are cheaper workers by reason alone but understand most of them are offered or given PR and citizenships in just a couple of years of employment here. What could likely be the other reason then? do not forget that “every citizenships” are required by law to cast their vote when comes every GE, so can you see the point here? its politics. So for the rest of us singaporeans, if you are unhappy with the govt, please feel free to pack and get out of the country. They have more than enough renewed citizenships to replace you.

By: They are everywhere

They are everywhere — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:02:08 +0000

Go down to Orchard MRT on Sundays and you will find out yourself. Try out Macdonalds at Lucky Plaza. For a moment, i thought i was a foreigner in the crowd!

By: loop

loop — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 03:23:39 +0000

Just last weekend when I was visiting the clinic for a runny nose. I saw many foreigners coming to the clinic for medical check-up & hold up the queue. It is true we have too many foreigners.

By: loop

loop — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 03:19:08 +0000

Anyone wondering why we should have more kids when they will only add to overcrowding besides the foreigners? Ask those Christian groups to stop preaching about having a family & all the craps so the population will start to shrink.

By: cm liew

cm liew — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:42:02 +0000

In the sense of ..

Don’t worry, be happy.

By: Bernard young Singaporean

Bernard young Singaporean — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 19:02:15 +0000

LKY once said promised that he would make Singapore a great metropolis i.e. the New York of SE Asia. Indeed, more than 20 years has passed . Singapore is now one of the most cosmopolitan cities and is only going to become even more globalized in time to come. For that, we have to give due credit to the old man for bringing world recognition to this little island. Why is the rest of the world is amazed at this little red dot ? Some are even jealous.
On the other hand, there is a price to pay for becoming more and more globalized , this is the potential loss of the natives’ sense of belonging to this nation. After looking at NYC and its vibrant diversity, I am not sure that Singapore can handle such high levels of diversity in a melting pot . All people of different colors, religions and so on – mixing together.
In Singapore, we are like a salad whether every ingredient is still visible with distinct differences.
Looking at all of you’s comments and Gilbert’s post. It tells me something that a significant number of Singaporeans are uncomfortable with having more foreigners around. In NYC, the Americans are open to it as long as the foreigner is more capable. Of course, there is still a invisible ceiling level for foreigners. unless the foreigner is so good , then he/she will rise to the top.
NYC has the backing of the a big hinterland – New York State and the rest of USA. Singapore has none , we are on our own. The American who is tired of city life and fierce competition or cannot make it in NYC whatever reason, can go somewhere else. The American who has made big bucks and want to retire somewhere more relaxed , can go somewhere else. Singaporeans have no other place to go . go to Pulau Ubin ???
Simply put it, Singapore is just too small to sustain itself without the world. a man-made miracle. Therefore, immigration to other place for a less crowded place is natural and not being disloyal to country, it is similar to the New Yorker relocating to Buffalo for a cheap urban life without the excessive stress and competition. Even my Dad is going to retire to JB. long before Minister Mr Khaw’s suggestion.
As for me, I will still try my best to see if I can make it well in Singapore. If I can, I will stay on. If not, I will leave but at least I tried my best and make some contributions to repay back to Singapore. So MM Lee cannot say that I am ungrateful and have no conscience.
I don’t want to owe anything to Singapore, I can leave with a clear conscience.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:29:18 +0000

Ironically the only place that is devoid of foreigners and one may get Tranquillity 24hours a day is the Cemetery. Fresh hair without weird smell, peaceful with so much room to breath.

By: KAM

KAM — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:09:58 +0000

I was “home” for a CNY visit too.
My advice is: only rich can “survive” in Singapore, with big house, big car, lots of money and 2 or 3 maids to clean up. They then can enjoy Singapore.
Working class, will be working.
If can, go overseas, at least that way you can breathe again “fresher” air and not so claustophobic. When parents and other family members depart from this world or this country, then can finally go away for good and no need to look back.
I am just a passerby in my own country. And the freaking rulers don’t give a damm. They just import more workers and build more dorms.
Long live the Lees….cos when they die, they will depart with the reserves.

By: Jim Tan

Jim Tan — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 15:58:53 +0000

I brought my elderly mother and father to Sentosa for the chinese new year “flower festival” as she love flowers. She ended up with a headache and unable to enjoy herself. Why? The whole place was so congested with foreign workers I felt like I was in India. I can see beach goers packing up because the foreign workers were ogling at them. The only ones enjoying themselves were the foreigners.

Today went to Geylang East library. Wow the whole place was swarmed with foreigners at every corner sitting, lying. No place for me. I went off to Paya Lebar to search for a place to sit down to use my laptop. Along the way, at the congested MRT, everyone was a foreigner.

Do Singaporeans still need to defend Singapore when it has already been invaded and occupied?

By: Donaldson Tan

Donaldson Tan — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 06:21:47 +0000

I would be happy as long as this Column bridges the stayer-quitter divide. The PAP Government tends to demonise whoever that contradicts its policy, even it means at Singaporeans’ expense. Instead of admitting that their own policies driving out Singaporeans, they accuse such Singaporeans as being unpatriotic quitters and then use the consequent brain drain issue as a bogey-man on the Singaporeans who stayed behind.

By: demon-cracy

demon-cracy — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 05:41:44 +0000

I must agree with the author, I can’t even find peace at beaches nor at home thanks to unrestrained kids racketeering.

By: Grief

Grief — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 04:42:37 +0000

Dear Mr Gilbert, what you have said is true. It Is the grim truth in singapore. Also to add on, foreigners are like parasites, they come here, steal our jobs, make the educated youngsters leave permanently. increase crime rates, bring their family members here ( including their in-laws, be it old or young), give birth and breed new scum, sabotage singaporean jobs so that their brothers or brother-in-laws can take up the jobs ( based on true things). This is foreign talent. And if u have been to the ST forums website, im sure u would have come across a thread in which a possible foreigner says that singaporeans do not deserve rebates as we do not work as hard as them. Now because of our loving goverment’s foreign policy, we have to hear these sort of rubbish. Also, might i remind u that these FTs are all “degree” holders who ask for $1000 pay. And I mean the degrees are all bought from the unis overseas. Yes Bought. When I went to china and india for
business sake, some of them actually told that you can buy degrees in anything you want for measly 8 dollars. They juz study a little bit about the job they plan to do and come here as a degree holder. These things are backed by reports on FTs who have degrees from unis that don’t exist.
Thank You.

By: gj

gj — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 12:54:03 +0000

Sorry guys,but i am wishing the recession lingers on a lot longer so that at least some of our FT’s can go back. At least, when i go to Ikea, I will not have to wait in a queque one mile long just to have a coffee and wait half hour for a table. When I am running at East Coast park, I used to head towards Safra club where it was less crowded.Now, I have to avoid cyclists, mothers with strollers, rollerbladers( all foreigners,I can tell) invading the running track. I can go on( overcrowded buses,trains,shopping centres,carparks,foodcourts etc,etc.Guys, the point I am trying to make is that our smart planners did not prepare the infrastructure first before they opened the floodgates to let the FT,s in. Now we are paying the price.

By: Gilbert Goh

Gilbert Goh — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 12:21:18 +0000

29) Bacterium/Donaldson

Just a matter of opinion – no big deal.

Let’s agree to disagree.

Thanks all for showing interest in my article.

I am also happy that I ahve the opportunity to move around abit between Singapore and Australia and maybe even China soon. It gives me more options which not many people have.

Gilbert

By: bacterium

bacterium — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 23:42:08 +0000

20) Donaldson Tan

TOC International reads ‘The Online Citizen International’ which means, that it is representative of the International community – of all nationalities.

TOC Abroad reads ‘The Online Citizen Abroad’ which means, that it is representative of the Singapore community – stationed abroad. I believe this is the main aim of TOC.

Just my personal opinion.

By: smallvice585

smallvice585 — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:20:26 +0000

Stewpug (#24),

The Singapore-China Comparison article is here: http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/02/toc-international-is-our-politics-any-different-from-chinas/

You can find also find list of TOC International Article here.

By: dweller

dweller — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:11:23 +0000

Have anyone visit geylang lately???

We ave great food if you are hungry.

We also have great food from asia, china, india along the road side……selling raw meat.

Once awhile we can see or read in papers that the local police arrested some of those street walkers….anyway, the suitations never change.

This is what happen when too many student passes were given out.

The locals can’t fight the influx of the oversea meat seller……NO info if their biz is effected.

By: Bling Bling

Bling Bling — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:43:05 +0000

25) Gilbert Goh on February 18th, 2009 10.26 pm

I would be honored to get your view on the following:

. what would you feel when or if in addition to 1 million foreigners, 2 million more come here?