TR EMERITUS

Written by Our Correspondent Following rising public discontent against the PAP's liberal immigration and pro-foreigner policies coupled with knee-jerk responses in the form of cosmetic policy changes to appease angry voters, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong now tried to reassure the immigrants that they are still "welcomed" in Singapore which has always been the case. Speaking at a community event at Marine Parade yesterday, Mr Goh said: "Our answer to this question as to whether we're rolling back the welcome mat must be a clear 'no'. But immigrants themselves must play a part." In 2003, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced his ambitious plan to increase Singapore's population to 6.5 million people via immigration. All of sudden, the floodgates were flung opened without warning and Singapore became swarmed by foreigners from all over the world, many of whom are unable to speak a single word of English. Foreigners now make up 36 percent of Singapore's population, up from 14 percent in 1990. Of the remaining 64 percent who are "citizens", an increasing number are born overseas. As too many foreigners were allowed into Singapore within too short a period of time, Singapore now has a problem integrating them with the local population. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that many do not known English, the lingua franca of Singaporeans and tend to congregate within their own community instead of reaching out to the larger population. The PAP unveiled a mega $10 million dollar Community Integration Fund sponsored generously by Singapore taxpayers to make the newcomers feel "welcomed" and "accepted" in Singapore when the onus is on them to integrate themselves into Singapore society and not the other way round. SM Goh reminded the audience that the search for talent was a global phenomenon, quoting the example of a pilot project by New Zealand to encourage Singaporeans to study, work or live there which has attracted some 4,500 Singaporeans to register their names so far. It is most disingenious of SM Goh to compare New Zealand's experience with Singapore. New Zealand has a very strict immigration policy unlike Singapore's. All prospective workers and immigrants must pass a standard English test or IELTS before they are allowed to even step foot there. Many of Singapore's China immigrants will fail the test, let alone able to obtain a work visa to work in New Zealand. Furthermore, New Zealand only accepts immigrants to fill certain sectors with a chronic shortage of skilled labor such as doctors and nurses. Singapore allows foreigners to compete directly with locals for jobs which can otherwise be taken up by them. To put it bluntly, the PAP has screwed up its immigration policies big time and it would have long been booted out of office in any other democratic nation. Unless Singaporeans reclaim their rights as citizens of Singapore in the next general election, they will be the ones who need to "integrate" into a new Singapore dominated by these foreigners brought in by the PAP, or rather FAP (Foreigner Action Party) to supplant them so that it can perpetuate its political hegemony forever.   EDITORS’ NOTE: Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so to create awareness of the current affairs affecting Singaporeans.   The UBS Series: >> Part 1: Singapore has lowest wages and domestic purchasing power among Asian Tigers >> Part 2: Moving towards a Russian standard of living >> Part 3: Why Singaporeans are paupers in a first world economy   Related articles: >> Singaporean working in China lashed out at grouses of Singapore PRs >> Eight reasons why foreign workers will be preferred over local ones >> Declining wages of Singaporeans and the continued denial by PAP leaders >> Halimah Yacob refutes UBS study findings >> Halimah Yacob: Productivity drive will be derailed if foreign worker challenge not addressed  >> Exposing the six major flaws in the PAP’s immigration policies >> Wong Kan Seng promises to tighten immigration policies >> SM Goh: Foreign workers numbers may still rise >> Malaysian car mechanic applying for Singapore citizenship >> PAP launches Singapore Citizenship Journey to help new citizens integrate >> Compulsory for new citizens to attend “sharing sessions” with grassroots leaders >> Wong Kan Seng urged Singaporeans to be more tolerant of foreign workers >> Tharman: Foreign workers increase income of low-income families >> Sylvia Lim: Pace and influx of foreigners over last few years is wrong >> Amy Khor urges Singaporeans to welcome foreigners >> PAP MP wants more money to be spent to make new citizens feel welcomed in Singapore >> Shanmugam: Foreigners generate jobs for Singaporeans >> Vivian happy there are 4,500 new citizens serving as grassroots leaders >> Cosmetic changes made to immigration policy >> SM Goh: New immigrants needed to make up population shortfall >> PAP ministers hailed contributions of foreigners >> SM Goh expressed support for Zhang Yuanyuan >> State media: citizens have more rights over PRs >> Zhang Yuanyuan got her Singapore PR in only 2 months >> Official reply from government on the Zhang Yuanyuan fiasco >> Singapore PRC PR proclaimed loyalty to China publicly >> PRC resident hung China flag to celebrate its National Day >> PRC student in Singapore wants more scholarships for foreigners >> PRC prostitutes solicit for customers on Singapore’s cyberspace >> ERA: 40 per cent of resale flats buyers are PRs  Read More →

Dear MP Lim Biow Chuan, I am writing in with regards to the comment that you had made on 7 March 2010, which was published in Shin Min Daily and highlighted extensively on internet portals andnetworking sites. With all due respect, I am appalled as well as disappointed that such a remark was made by yourself to the media (Shin Min Daily) that is considered to be insensitive and also callous. Being a lawyer yourself, it is no secret by now that all it needs is just one word for you to win or lose a case. It does not matter whether you converse in English, Chinese or even Malay - I believe that the jist of what you had said is reflected properly and correctly in the statement that you had made. It also worries me and the residents that you are in our GRC riding on the success that SM Goh had created in our constituency for God Knows How Many Years. This is because, over the years, with the kind of candidates and MP that are introduced to our GRC, you are easily the worst of the lot. In addition, allow me to ask you a few questions pertaining to the comments made barely a month ago: Weak in Mandarin as an excuse of convenience: Mr Lim, allow me to quote (and not mis-quote) you that you had made and found on here  which states that "...ableto connect with them (people in HDB) quite easily and can converse with them in simple Mandarin or Hokkien". However, now you are stating that you are weak in Mandarin and do not understand the question that the reporter had asked you. MP Lim, how is it then possible to simply push everything away with a simple notion that it is a case of 'lost in translation'? Are you then also implying, along the same lines, that when residents looked for you during 'Meet the People Session', you do not really know what they see you for, as your 'Mandarin is weak'. It is a total contradiction to what you had written in 2006, either that or something happen to your command in Mandarin suddenly. Clarification on Facebook: Whilst many people are now more IT-savvy and using "Facebook" as a tool of communication, do you not think that making a so-called 'clarification' is not enough when your comments are published on Shin Min Daily (paper publication) and not on Facebook? Alas, Mr Lim, you went on record to state that Shin Min Daily had published a clarification but what readers read was actually a separate comment that you made with regards to another question posed. In addtion, the comments that were published was a exact translation of what you had posted on your Facebook account and letter to one Ms Jessica Tan. It is also noteworthy that the article was in no way said to be a clarification over the previous comments (7 March 2010) that was published. Thus, based on your reliance of Facebook to make supposed clarifications, are we then expect to log in to Facebook as and when you make callous comments to look out for clarifications? In addition, would you base your campaign in the next election solely on the platform of online media, especially Facebook. Since your account is 'private' and only viewable by people who are your 'friends', who would then be able to see any clarifications that you had made? Humility of a Man not Evident: You brought in your religion to speak, just like you did in your pre-election brochure. I believe that Christianity preach about being 'humble' and 'seeking forgiveness when one is wrong'. However, I find it very hard to identify the basic fundamentals of Christianity with a 'Christian Leader' like yourself. Mr Lim, or rather Christian Leader Lim Biow Chuan, the Bible told us explicitly that 'we are responsible for what we do and say' but you are a total contrast of this belief. No words of apology or remorse and instead, what we get is actually more defiance in the statements that you made on your Facebook and reply to a lady who had questioned you. What good is a man who do not apologize for the mistakes that he had made and 'move on'? Christian Leader Lim, is this the way that you 'connect with your residents' on the same light. A good leader is one who acknowledges his mistake, seek forgiveness and then move on. Look at John Cheng aka Ah Nam, after realising that he had made a callous comment that almost identical to the nature of the comment that you made, he issued and apology to 'anyone who felt offended by the statement'. In this sense, Ah Nam is more 'chrisitan-like' than you - and he is no leader. Defamation Suit: If all else fails, and you feel aggrieved over the 'mis-quote' of Shin Min Daily and the reporter who asked you the 'killer-question', then why did you not sue the relevant parties just like how your colleagues with 'good career development' did to The Tribune Herald and got back $160,000 in compensation? Mr Lim, with all respect, do you not think that sueing Shin Min Daily is 'unavoidable' then? From this fracas, you come to me as a man who is very proud - and to a certain extent arrogant - and refuse to admit your mistake - just like any lawyers. You also seem to take the easy way out and keep mum when you realise that you are heading the wrong path. Thus, as a voter, where is the confidence level that I would have of you? I would be really afraid that whatever issues that are raised up to you would turn on 'deaf ears' - just like what Mr Lim Swee Say said. You may even chide me for being a 'complainer' when you wrote on the Brochure that you are "...able to empathize easily with people from a poorer economic background because of my personal experiences as a fruit seller’s son throughout my younger days." MP Lim Biow Chuan, I hope that you are able to at least stand out, apologize and seek forgiveness - just like any good Christians would. Else, you can forget about having my votes - come Election Day, if I ever have the chance to. To end off, I quote you "I try my best to assist where I can so that I can help them the way other people have helped my parents and I to improve our lives." Thus, I believe that you can assist me now by clarifying once and for all - with remorse, no less - on your stand and the actual happenings pertaining to the comment that you had made on 7 March 2010.   Jason Koh Resident of Marine Parade GRC  Read More →

Written by Our Correspondent Minister in Prime Minister's Office Lim Hwee Hua gave a befuddling reply to a question from Channel NewsAsia on the walkabouts of opposition parties at various constituencies after a forum on women's leadership role in the New World yesterday. "I suppose they are preparing for the General Election. And in a way trying to work the ground so that they can at the General Election truly say that they've been working the ground unlike the rest of us who have been working the ground." she was quoted as saying. The Singapore opposition has been making regular walkabouts since the last general election except that the mainstream media seldom reports on it to give the impression that they have been"idle" in between the elections. On the hand, there were complaints from some Singaporeans in cyberspace that they had not seen their PAP MPs for a long time which was not highlighted by the media. "I think it reflects the expectations of the electorate. People do expect you to know the ground and to have done things for the people and to be able to demonstrate that you're committed to being there and not just for the General Election itself," Ms Lim added. In case Ms Lim is not aware, the expectations of the electorate are getting higher, especially the younger generation of voters who want to see more accountability and transparency in the way the government operates and not just "shaking hands" with the MPs. During a parliamentary session last month, Ms Lim said it is “not realistic” to avoid losses on every investment made by the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation or GIC. Such an irresponsible comment coming from a Minister without Portfolio who earns millions of dollars a year from Singapore taxpayers is absolutely unacceptable. The PAP's misguided policies have affected many ordinary Singaporeans and they will not forget it at the next general election where it is expected to lose more seats including a GRC.   EDITORS’ NOTE: Please join our Facebook discussion on this article here and invite your friends to do so as well to raise awareness among fellow Singaporeans.  Read More →