Gayle Goh’s article from BlogTV:
Singaporeans have often been accused of not having a heart for home. The identity angst of our young nation-state has manifested itself variously in aspects such as high emigration statistics and cultural dialogue. “Singapore you are not my country”, poet and activist Alfian Sa’at once wrote. “Singapore you are not a country at all.”
A recent paradox has emerged in the bitter debate over immigration policy that challenges this impassioned shout. On the one hand, Singaporeans profess to feel alienated and second-class in their homeland – Singaporean, perhaps, but cynical as to what this identity actually offers or entails; on the other hand, they retreat into terms such as ‘us’ and ‘them, ‘ordinary citizens’ and ‘foreign trash’ – terms which I have seen thrown around Internet forums with alarming frequency.
This polarizing rhetoric of difference between ‘us’ and ‘them’ demonstrates that our alienation has developed into an identity of its own; that some long-buried territorial instinct to defend our home, long suspected of being absent in our kind, has given us the energy to say that we have some manner of definitive rights to its riches. Yet this very rhetoric damages our sense of self. It amplifies our emotions of disenfranchisement and reinforces our insecurity in our identity as Singaporeans. To and fro, these two phenomena – alienation and xenophobia – feed each other.
If nothing else, the dynamic of interaction between them demonstrates that when it suits us, Singapore is a country. When it concerns our rice bowl and our future, Singapore becomes our country.
Gayle Goh is currently reading Literature at Cambridge University.
Read the full article on BlogTV.
Gayle’s I Speak blog.
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To: 152) Robox
By making Singapore a ‘transit’ to their next destination is making life miserable for many of us.
The PRs are snapping up the resale flats with high cash paid for the COV. Result is as citizens, we have to compete with foreigners for housing needs. Are we 2nd class citizens?
The foreigners need a place to stay while working here, so they rather purchase a flat instead of renting a place to stay. To them it’s a win win situation cos when they decide to move on, they sell the flat .. take all their monies and say bye bye. To them there’s nothing to lose cos at the end of the day, it will be more worthwhile for them to pay for their own flat which they can dispose for a profit later rather than paying rental for a place that don’t belong to them.
The prices of flats will continue to rise absurdly, cost of living will rise etc… ultimately the ones who suffer are us, the poor citizens.
The inability to get a flat… the prices of flats continue to rise.. income level gets stagnent or reduced… hence no chance and no ability to own even a small flat.
In Singapore, there are a lot of us who are of the lower income level who are finding it very difficult to keep up with the costs of living,… i mean the basic costs of living..
Our govt should really review the harm that’s already done with their policies.. and do something to stop things from getting worse…
Or could it be the situation has already gotten out of hands that they don’t know how to provide remedies for the condition?
“In all of this, Singapore citizenship has been greatly cheapened by the PAP government because it is being offerred to all on cheap sale.”
I very very much agree on this statement as I have seen how easily these foreigners are being offered blue ics here. And like offering the blue ics to their doorstep.
I wonder whether anyone from the authorities are reading our comments here at TOC?
I sincerly hope they will really take into consideration our concerns, our plight and look into the problem.
It is official.
Five Million in about 750 sq kilometre of land
without the slightest natural resources except
the polluted air and the seawater with no fish.
More immigrants ???
patriot
theforgottongeneration,
Thanks for your comment. Aye, they will feed us some BS figures. The problem some ‘book-smart’ Sporeans (like SingaShadow?) fail to see is the practices and politics of it all. In theory, this statement “higher supply of labour bring down cost of goods” is true, however will businesses pass on the cost savings esp if they are monopolies, eg housing referring specifically to HDB? Secondly, if Sporeans are out of job due to over supply, what use is it for cost of goods to be cheaper?
Re your stats, according to a poster in ST forum, foreigners & PRs now make up 36% as at 30 Jun 2009. (See http://comment.straitstimes.com/showthread.php?t=24892&page=13)
When the PM says calibrate, did he give any outline of actions. Does he mean stopping any further intake? Does he mean introducing stricter criteria of admisson? Does he mean searching for illegals or expired PRs and shipping them back? Anybody knows?
Gayle,
When Alfian Sa’at wrote ““Singapore you are not a country at all”, I take it as a discourse to mean that Singapore is operating as a profit making company. I do not think that the context has to do with identity.
You concluded with “If nothing else, the dynamic of interaction between them demonstrates that when it suits us, Singapore is a country. When it concerns our rice bowl and our future, Singapore becomes our country.”
In this context, whether Singapore is a country or not, is not the point. It is to do with inheritance (of earlier investment of hardwork by forefathers) and rights as descendents of earlier settlers.
159) Carol on September 29th, 2009 7.08 pm
Seems like I’m always behind time with the stats, though I did feel the buses/MRT were a tad more crowded the past year. (Ha, Ha).
Anyway, so Singapore has about 1% increase in the foreign-born population in 1 year? Per my earlier post#105, other countries typically see 1% increase every DECADE. I guess we are REALLY in a hurry to hit the 6.6m target.
theforgottongeneration,
it is pretty obvious why LKY will want to hit that extraordinary number ASAP. LKY is a pragmatic man who calculate every move. If he says that he will have 6.6 millions, he will get that number in matter of time especially it is within the government’s control. He possibly thinking that if it is going to reach that number anyway, why not make use of foreigner-converted citizens to win the election then ? Moreover, the foreigners will contribute to the GDP (etc buying houses ) and recoup of investment loss and will not question the gov after all since they choose to be here as citizens.
Will those foreign citizens then create social issue in the future ? But then will the gahmen ever care since those who make and support the decision of foreign policy won’t be around anymore to be accountable and responsible (as the old man dies). The same usual blame will then fall on the new batch of leaderships who have to clear those mess of previous leadership.
Daniel: “The same usual blame will then fall on the new batch of leaderships who have to clear those mess of previous leadership.”
Like the big banks! This was how they fell in the recent financial fiasco. They dish out loans like nobody’s business reporting huge profits and getting big fat bonuses for the year. Most of the loans take a lifetime to pay back as they are mortgages but will the directors care? Would they want the millions in bonus now or would they care about what happens if they can’t pay within the 20 or 30 years. Leaders of the first world countries (refering to real 1st world) are clamping down on these fly-by-night bankers, our leaders are acting exactly like the bankers.
@161) Daniel on September 30th, 2009 8.28 pm
@162) Agent008 on September 30th, 2009 9.27 pm
“….The same usual blame will then fall on the new batch of leaderships who have to clear those mess of previous leadership….”
Firstly, they never admit that there is any mess. In fact, any failed policy is explained like something prudent at that time. So it’s like Singaporeans should thank them for any mess, not be “ungrateful” to them.
Secondly, I don’t think they even bother to clean up the mess. Stop-at-2, high-myopia eyesight issue of Singaporeans, low fertility rates, grow at all costs, etc… In fact, since the mess is already messy, it appears that they just convince themselves to continue milking S’poreans — like I already robbed you of $10, then might as well take another $100 since I definitely don’t want to return that $10. To be fair, any drastic change of ingrained policies will take much more effort than to keep opposition off the back of the PAP. Such policy changes will (most importantly) hit the GDP number — e.g. (a) more women taking time off to have more babies means less are working in the industries; (b) not relying on foreign labor means substantial capital must be injected into the economy (e.g. for automation, redesign of jobs, productivity tools, R&D to find new growth areas, etc…) which mean less monies for TH/GIC to play with; etc…
Lastly, it seems the 6.6m population is a mean to a goal (i.e. a desired optimum GDP level). The flaw to this is that unhappy or unmotivated people are not productive, so if the desired GDP level is not achieved, then the population may “subsequently” have to be increased past 6.6m. Ask ourselves: usually, it takes 5 FWs to dig a hole — 4 watching 1 with the shovel. If we employed more productive workers to attain the goal (i.e. the dug hole), wouldn’t we get the same result but with less overcrowding (i.e. less than 6.6m)?
Using Singapore as a stepping stone had been going on for many years – even by or closest neighbour Malaysia, not only for subsidised education (they only paid I think at that time 10% more in poly and university). Many do not served NS and some even migrated overseas. I met one on government scholarship, attending Glasgow University. Imagine the frustration many of us Singaporean who had completed NS and poly and were denied a place in the university. Those who do not have a rich parent had to saved for years for an oversea education – took me 9 long years. I understand about 21% of the university places were reserved for non citizens. I knew of another who borrow from relative. I believe there are many who gave up for the tuition fee was 5000 UK pounds per semester. People like me with a tight budget have to go for the cheapest housing, meat and anything to save cost. Most purchase were done in the sunday market. Come winter, got to put on thick clothing at all time to save on heating bill. These trustees who are formulating policies are a privilege lot on scholarships on public funds and not a few from rich background. I wonder how can they be so selfish by taking up the scholarship instead of giving others without the means a chance. I understand, no university in US will give a scholarship to anyone whose family are well to do just because he got all As. If they are to serve the nation, they should have taken the scholarship and gave the money back to allow others a chance. Service to the nation comes from the heart, hence many in the US gave up a lucrative job to serve the nation. Never do you heard of politicians becoming millionaires after they took up high office. Leaders are to lead by example so that those after them would do the same. Many of our first generation leaders did it. Singaporeans must always remember these people who have the nation at hearts – not for gain or glory. They are the true leaders and this must not be forgotten otherwise our next generation would only want to serve the country because of the glory and money and not the people. Serving the nation is servanthood and sacrifices. It is the satisfaction of the heart and the respect from the people.
# 156
For most Singapore Singaporeans, the feeling is that we have already breached the 6.6 million population mark.
It dosen’t matter whether you are window-shopping in Orchard Road, taking a lift down an HDB apartment, having a drink in a nearby coffeshop or taking a quiet walk in some Ulu places in Singapore, you will bump into a foreigner.
Makes you feel as if you are in a tourist in a foreign land…
If there is no respite / reverse in the influx of foreigners into this tiny Red Dot, the dam of tolerance of Singaporeans will surely break soon….
Let’s hope that the Creators of this “love foreigner” policy wake up from their slumber soon.
For those interested in comparing TFRs, the best reference I found is at:
http://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2127rank.html. S’pore is estimated to rank 222 out of 224.
Trust the CIA!
Seems like our policies are to run to the top in monetary terms (GDP, pay for civil servants, etc..) while running to the bottom in social aspects (TFR, working conditions, foreign content, etc..). So on the average, I suppose our current batch of leaders think S’pore is doing OK!
To 161) theforgottongeneration
Your link is broken. Just checked and verified the new link is as follows:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sn.html
TFR is 1.09, just ahead of Hong Kong (1.02) and Macau (0.91).
But we have the best in terms infant mortality rate – 224 – lowest in the world (total: 2.31 deaths/1,000 live births)
Life expectancy at birth: 81.98
Dumb & Dumber
I would certainly hope that the good infant mortality rate is the result of good or sensible policy by this Govt. They got to get something right!
In my earlier post concerning supply of labour bringing down cost of goods, I am still uneasy about this statement. If the Govt is sincere in bringing down cost of goods and improving service and efficiency, the sensible way (practised all over the World) is increase the supply of goods & services. With competition, customers will really enjoy the benefits. Best eg, HDB. If there are another 2 or 3 competitors providing similar housing and without Govt intervention on pricing, viola! all our housing cost solved.
@167) Dumb and dumber on October 1st, 2009 2.17 pm
OK, don’t trust the CIA to provide a consistent link!
So what if our infant mortality rate is excellent? If our children will only end up as healthy slaves to elites and foreigners??
Yup the guy who said that new citizens & Spore PRs who use western embassies as a shortcut to obtain western countries PRs is very spot on! In fact, I was a witness to it in 2000, nine years ago, the phenomenon had already taken off by then so its old news. I was at the Canadian High Commission at IBM Towers along Anson Rd, not sure whether its still there as its 9 years ago. I was amazed that all the seats were filled with Ah Tiongs from China & Indian waiting for their PR interviews. Myself was there with a friend to submit her postgrad student visa application, This was before the USA terrorist attack Sep 11 so I could accompany her in. She just submitted her form at the counter while I turned around to look at PR interview applicants. There was a notice on the board that stated PR interviews were conducted on certain days of the week in the afternoon & that was how I knew they were would be applicants for Canadian PRs.
This article comes from Gayle Goh???
I am sincerely surprised! A 180-degree turn-around just within a short period of two years?
Perhaps, it is caused by the new environment in a foreign country or the lonely cold weather? Or is it because of too much good foods and too much free time? Or is it because of the yearning for home and family? Or is it because of the scholarship?
What have happened to your clarity of thoughts and logical rational arguments in the past, Gayle?
If we only allow foreigners who get a fat pay package that will allow them to rent/buy private properties, yes, I will welcome them with my open arms. Any other Tom, Dick & Harry that chose to stay in HDB hence squeezing out Singaporeans chances of getting a decent flat, I am not interested.