SINGAPORE: Netizens criticised Madam Ho Ching’s suggestion that Singapore needs to bring in more people from abroad to ensure the city-state continues to function amid an ageing population and declining birth rates.

Mdm Ho also expressed confidence that with proper city planning, Singapore could accommodate up to 8-10 million people.

However, netizens pushed back against this idea, arguing against an over-reliance on the foreign workforce.

Instead, they emphasised that by supporting local families, Singapore could increase its Total Fertility Rate (TFR) organically, leading to a more sustainable solution to the country’s demographic challenges.

In a Facebook post on 27 September, Madam Ho, spouse of former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, addressed key issues concerning Singapore’s population growth and urban planning in response to the recent report showing that the total population has reached 6.04 million, a 2% increase since June 2023.

The former Temasek Holdings CEO highlighted the growing demand for caregivers as the population ages and the need for workers to sustain sectors like construction and engineering, particularly as the workforce shrinks due to lower birth rates.

“As we have less children, we need more people from elsewhere to join us to keep this city functioning, from repairing train tracks through the night to serving patients in hospitals through the night. ”

She referenced studies suggesting that taller buildings could enhance airflow and provide more space for greenery, contributing to a cooler urban environment.

Mdm Ho advocated for updating planning standards to include wider walkways, boulevards, and integrated bicycle lanes.

She also noted the equal allocation of land for public roads and housing, suggesting that elevated or underground roads could optimise Singapore’s space for living and recreation.

Netizen calls for policies to make family life more affordable, promoting an organic rise in TFR

However, observing netizens’ comments on Madam Ho’s Facebook page, it is evident that some highlighted the irony of her suggestions for addressing the growing population.

Some expressed doubts about the feasibility of accommodating a population of 10 million, with one user arguing that Singapore’s optimal population should not exceed 5 million due to the adverse effects already being felt at current levels.

The user described a population of 10 million as “madness,” regardless of any political agenda.

The netizen further argued that, unlike cities such as Los Angeles or Johor Bahru, Singapore lacks suburbs or hinterlands to balance urban density.

He also criticised the idea of planting more trees within the city, stating that it would not compensate for the destruction of primary forests on the island, viewing it as a case where “two wrongs don’t make a right.”

Netizens voiced concerns about Madam Ho Ching’s proposal to increase the influx of foreigners to offset Singapore’s declining TFR.

They emphasised the need to tackle the root cause by boosting the TFR instead of relying on immigration.

One user highlighted that importing citizens or reclaiming land for further development would create long-term issues rather than offering sustainable solutions for the city-state’s future.

Another comment criticised the idea of creating a densely populated city akin to a “sci-fi movie,” where buildings are stacked “like Legos” with wind tunnels and rooftop greenery to accommodate 10 million people.

Rather than relying heavily on foreign caregivers and construction workers, the netizen suggested exploring ways to reduce this dependency.

The comment advocated for policies that would make family life more affordable, enabling an organic increase in the TFR and offering a more sustainable solution for Singapore’s future.

A comment offered alternative solutions to reduce reliance on foreign labour, such as employing AI and robotics to fill labour gaps. This suggestion points to a broader discussion about technology’s potential in addressing workforce shortages.

Some highlighted the need to make local jobs, especially in construction, more appealing to Singaporeans, or to invest in measures that reduce the need for foreign caregivers.

Concerns raised over National Service purpose amid growing foreign population

Some netizens questioned the purpose of national service if the majority of the population were to become foreign nationals.

He expressed frustration over the idea that local soldiers would defend a largely foreign population, linking this to higher inflation and living costs that could affect the quality of life for Singaporeans.

There are comments echoing the sentiment, discussed how the influx of foreign workers contributes to rising property prices and rental yields. They argued that increased demand from foreign nationals impacts the housing market, making it more difficult for locals to afford homes.

However, one netizen reminded that the primary purpose of NS is to protect the country from foreign threats.

He raised concerns about who would defend Singapore in times of conflict if the population were predominantly foreign.

Call for transparency in immigration discussions

There are also comments emphasised the need for an honest conversation about immigration, pointing out that the public deserves to understand both the advantages and disadvantages of increased immigration.

Singaporean illustrator Lee Xin Li (李欣立) was shocked to discover that a copy of his 360-degree illustration, created for his client, Formula 1 Grand Prix in Singapore during the pandemic, was used as a mural in a food court without his permission.

Mr Lee criticised the unauthorised use of his artwork, stating that it was used without any financial compensation, permission, or prior communication.

“To further add insult, the generative ai tech was used to create some mangled mess to my artwork.”

According to Mr Lee’s social media posts, the mural was allegedly displayed at Shifu Food Court, located within Bras Basah Complex, an institution long associated with artists, writers, and members of the creative community.

Expressing his disappointment, Mr Lee called it a sad state of affairs, highlighting the irony of an institution dedicated to the arts committing “art theft,” using AI in a distasteful manner, and crossing the boundaries of client-creator relationships by taking his commissioned project without consent.

Mr Lee Criticises Bras Basah Complex’s Response, Highlights Public Promotion of Unauthorized Artwork

After reaching out to Bras Basah Complex to request the removal of the artwork, the institution responded via Facebook, issuing an apology.

Bras Basah Complex clarified that its Merchants Association is a volunteer group assisting merchants in fostering community spirit.

The association explained that the complex does not have a central management system, unlike modern malls managed by REITs, and that each shop is privately owned, meaning they have no authority over individual shop operations.

“As this happened in a private establishment and privately owned property, we had no preview and purview until its opening. ”

“Nonetheless we have reached out to the owner of this establishment and hope he will reach out to you to resolve this,” the group told Mr Lee.

However, Mr Lee expressed dissatisfaction, stating that this explanation did not sufficiently address the issue, particularly given the food court’s prominent public location.

He also pointed out that Bras Basah Complex had shared news of the newly renovated food court on its social media platforms.

Shifu Food Court Claims Unawareness of Unauthorised Artwork, says Interior Design Outsourced to Contractor

The food court later responded to Mr Lee’s Facebook post, claiming they were unaware of the unauthorised use of his artwork, as the interior design had been entirely outsourced to a contractor.

They assured him that an investigation would be conducted and that, if the claim was accurate, the mural would be taken down immediately.

Shifu Food Court also clarified that the murals outside the establishment were created by students and alumni from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), and proper credit was given to them.

However, Mr Lee emphasised that the food court should have communicated more clearly.

While they clarified that the outdoor murals were by NAFA, the mural inside featuring his artwork was the contractor’s doing.

In a follow-up comment, Shifu Food Court issued an apology, explaining that they were unaware the mural inside included Mr Lee’s artwork and assured him it would be removed promptly.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to his followers for sharing the incident and raising awareness. He also hoped the issue would be resolved soon.

He noted that both Bras Basah Complex and Shifu Food Court have not reached out to him in other ways except on social media comments.

He further clarified that NAFA was an innocent party mistakenly dragged into the issue due to Shifu Food Court’s earlier social media posts, which credited all murals, including those inside, to NAFA.

Mr Lee reiterated that the NAFA students did an excellent job with their own murals, and their artwork was unrelated to the dispute.