ST Forum: A Foreigner's Appeal To Singaporeans

[Vulcann]

Agree with the writer.

 

We should not be xenophobic and classify all of them as baddies.

 

It's the poilcy that we have issues with, not the person.

 

From ST Forum:

 

http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-...oreans-20130223

 

A foreigner's appeal to Singaporeans

Published on Feb 23, 2013

 

I AM a second-year student at a university here. I am also what many would call "foreign talent" - someone "who steals university places from your relatives and friends, and studies at the expense of your parents' tax money".

 

The recent uproar over the Government's policy on immigrants has been of some concern to me.

 

I decided to study in Singapore because it is close to and culturally similar to my country.

 

My education here has been, to a large extent, subsidised through a Ministry of Education tuition grant. This grant requires me to work for at least three years in Singapore after I graduate. So I would be competing with my Singaporean peers for jobs.

 

This raises the question: Am I making Singapore less Singaporean? Am I unknowingly making life too difficult for citizens? It was certainly not my intention to do so.

 

I came here to get a good education. It saddens me to see how netizens paint all immigrants in the same bad light and post racist and xenophobic comments online. Getting more immigrants from New Delhi, for example, would certainly not make Singapore the "rape capital of the world".

 

Immigrants have different cultural and educational backgrounds. Many of us share the aspirations of Singapore citizens. When I see the hatred for foreign workers, I sometimes wonder if it would be possible for me to work here and serve out my bond.

 

I urge Singaporeans not to let prejudice and stereotypes guide public policy.

 

I hope to graduate in a Singapore that still respects diversity, not because the law says so but because the people genuinely believe it is the right thing to do.

 

I hope Singapore's new citizens are treated in a way that is reflective of the educated, meritocratic and unbiased society that Singapore is.

 

I hope the recent uproar does not create further barriers between citizens and foreigners.

 

Abhinav Mishra

[Vulcann]

From ST Forum:

 

http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-...nk-not-20130223

 

Xenophobic? I think not...

Published on Feb 23, 2013

 

I DISAGREE that people who are critical of the Population White Paper's policies on foreigners are xenophobic ("White Paper debate: Who's xenophobic?"; Thursday).

 

Let us assume a scenario where adequate infrastructure allows us to accommodate 27 million foreigners and three million citizens on our island.

 

Will the Singaporean core survive in this case? I think not. If I then object to having so many foreigners, am I being xenophobic? I think not.

 

Foreigners have lived and worked among us for so long that they are part and parcel of our Singaporean way of life. So the issue is never about whether we are for or against foreigners.

 

The real question is: How many foreigners should we have?

 

It is irresponsible to paint a picture of xenophobic hysteria when none exists. To continue to do so would not only cause unease among the foreigners who are here to contribute to our economy, but also ignore the real concerns that many Singaporeans have about the White Paper.

 

Wei Ming Kai

[Nullifi3d]

Agree with the writer.

 

We should not be xenophobic and classify all of them as baddies.

 

It's the poilcy that we have issues with, not the person.

 

From ST Forum:

 

http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-...oreans-20130223

 

A foreigner's appeal to Singaporeans

Published on Feb 23, 2013

 

I AM a second-year student at a university here. I am also what many would call "foreign talent" - someone "who steals university places from your relatives and friends, and studies at the expense of your parents' tax money".

 

The recent uproar over the Government's policy on immigrants has been of some concern to me.

 

I decided to study in Singapore because it is close to and culturally similar to my country.

 

My education here has been, to a large extent, subsidised through a Ministry of Education tuition grant. This grant requires me to work for at least three years in Singapore after I graduate. So I would be competing with my Singaporean peers for jobs.

 

This raises the question: Am I making Singapore less Singaporean? Am I unknowingly making life too difficult for citizens? It was certainly not my intention to do so.

 

I came here to get a good education. It saddens me to see how netizens paint all immigrants in the same bad light and post racist and xenophobic comments online. Getting more immigrants from New Delhi, for example, would certainly not make Singapore the "rape capital of the world".

 

Immigrants have different cultural and educational backgrounds. Many of us share the aspirations of Singapore citizens. When I see the hatred for foreign workers, I sometimes wonder if it would be possible for me to work here and serve out my bond.

 

I urge Singaporeans not to let prejudice and stereotypes guide public policy.

 

I hope to graduate in a Singapore that still respects diversity, not because the law says so but because the people genuinely believe it is the right thing to do.

 

I hope Singapore's new citizens are treated in a way that is reflective of the educated, meritocratic and unbiased society that Singapore is.

 

I hope the recent uproar does not create further barriers between citizens and foreigners.

 

Abhinav Mishra

 

Making a mountain out of molehill aren't we? Sure, there have been some grouses and complains about the white paper but do Singaporeans shout racict and anti-foreign comments on the street? Maybe the punk should try walking down the streets in certain parts of Australia or white-town county in United States.

 

"When I see the hatred for foreign workers, I sometimes wonder if it would be possible for me to work here and serve out my bond." - This sentence makes me laugh. The punk travelled all the way to Singapore to study and graduate. What the flying F would such 'hatred' of foreign talents/workers affect his/her ability to graduate?

[Jman888]

Making a mountain out of molehill aren't we? Sure, there have been some grouses and complains about the white paper but do Singaporeans shout racict and anti-foreign comments on the street? Maybe the punk should try walking down the streets in certain parts of Australia or white-town county in United States.

 

"When I see the hatred for foreign workers, I sometimes wonder if it would be possible for me to work here and serve out my bond." - This sentence makes me laugh. The punk travelled all the way to Singapore to study and graduate. What the flying F would such 'hatred' of foreign talents/workers affect his/her ability to graduate?

 

 

after govt say review the hiring from Indian, he worry about his future gold mine here

[Zyklon]

The questions I wish to ask the author are:

 

1. Will he ask for a lower than market rate pay in order to get a job and then go somwhere else after fulfilling the 3 years bond?

 

2. Or will he just fark care the 3 years bond and just leave for some other country that can offer him better prospect?

 

3. Of the so many friends and classmates that he has, how many of his friends are actually NOT his type of people? How many of his project group mates are actually singaporeans?

 

4. One fine day, if he is promoted to a managerial position, will he start to replace the whole department with people from his country, regardless of real merit or qualifications?

 

This is problem with the system now. The government is trying too hard to please foreigners. It makes them think WE OWE THEM A LIVING.

 

Singaporeans might be getting xenophobic, but it is important to note that singaporeans were NOT in the past. When we were getting malaysian coming over to work, and then they became PR and even SC. We always welcomed them. So what has change from that time till now? Quality of the people coming in? Government policies?

[Jtb]

The questions I wish to ask the author are:

 

1. Will he ask for a lower than market rate pay in order to get a job and then go somwhere else after fulfilling the 3 years bond?

 

2. Or will he just fark care the 3 years bond and just leave for some other country that can offer him better prospect?

 

3. Of the so many friends and classmates that he has, how many of his friends are actually NOT his type of people? How many of his project group mates are actually singaporeans?

 

4. One fine day, if he is promoted to a managerial position, will he start to replace the whole department with people from his country, regardless of real merit or qualifications?

 

This is problem with the system now. The government is trying too hard to please foreigners. It makes them think WE OWE THEM A LIVING.

 

Singaporeans might be getting xenophobic, but it is important to note that singaporeans were NOT in the past. When we were getting malaysian coming over to work, and then they became PR and even SC. We always welcomed them. So what has change from that time till now? Quality of the people coming in? Government policies?

 

I agreed with your question 4 as it has happened.

[Tarenn]

The writer of the first piece should get real and not play the innocent.

He is an alien to our community and the onus is on him and his kind to gain acceptability by the community, instead of making such "appeal" to put the host community on the defensive.

What he wrote reflects his reasoning, and his attitude.

Stereotyping is a social bias, but there are always some truths in them.

 

Another case here of bad investment on foreign talent by our government.

Edited February 23, 2013 by Tarenn

[Mockngbrd]

Farg chew writer go back to ur country!

[Renegade777]

I love this quote.

 

 

- someone "who steals university places from your relatives and friends, and studies at the expense of your parents' tax money".

Edited February 23, 2013 by Renegade777

[Vulcann]

I AM a second-year student at a university here. I am also what many would call "foreign talent" - someone "who steals university places from your relatives and friends, and studies at the expense of your parents' tax money".

.....

 

My education here has been, to a large extent, subsidised through a Ministry of Education tuition grant. This grant requires me to work for at least three years in Singapore after I graduate. So I would be competing with my Singaporean peers for jobs.

 

Give the writer credit when due as he or she at least acknowledges what we are worried about.

[Rncw]

yeah man....phuck off back to his own rapist county....and soak in his filthy rapists ganges

[Tarenn]

I love this quote.

 

 

- someone "who steals university places from your relatives and friends, and studies at the expense of your parents' tax money".

 

No, it was the government who did the robbing.

 

He was just the recipient of stolen property.

[Hamburger]

I have nothing against ft

but not so the garment ....

 

why are ft so heavily subsidized and given places in university at the expense of our children :angry:

[Tarenn]

Give the writer credit when due as he or she at least acknowledges what we are worried about.

 

???

Every bengala on the street are aware, and they do not need to be in NUS to know that.

[Brendon1980]

actually the garment should make funds for FTs to study here similar to a donation and not to take directly from taxpayer's money.

implement this and those who wish to opt out of this may write in (similar to organ donation law here).

perhaps the garment would realise what we think about apportioning the taxpayer's funds in that department.

[Maseratigood]

The questions I wish to ask the author are:

 

1. Will he ask for a lower than market rate pay in order to get a job and then go somwhere else after fulfilling the 3 years bond?

 

2. Or will he just fark care the 3 years bond and just leave for some other country that can offer him better prospect?

 

3. Of the so many friends and classmates that he has, how many of his friends are actually NOT his type of people? How many of his project group mates are actually singaporeans?

 

4. One fine day, if he is promoted to a managerial position, will he start to replace the whole department with people from his country, regardless of real merit or qualifications?

 

This is problem with the system now. The government is trying too hard to please foreigners. It makes them think WE OWE THEM A LIVING.

 

Singaporeans might be getting xenophobic, but it is important to note that singaporeans were NOT in the past. When we were getting malaysian coming over to work, and then they became PR and even SC. We always welcomed them. So what has change from that time till now? Quality of the people coming in? Government policies?

Well said

 

Also, it's the policies which allow too many, but not good quality, men n women from outside to come here. Who make these policies as if they are the only solution?

Edited February 23, 2013 by Maseratigood

[Maseratigood]

No, it was the government who did the robbing.

 

He was just the recipient of stolen property.

LOL.... But you've got the point

[Rubbishman]

My education here has been, to a large extent, subsidised through a Ministry of Education tuition grant. This grant requires me to work for at least three years in Singapore after I graduate. So I would be competing with my Singaporean peers for jobs.

 

This raises the question: Am I making Singapore less Singaporean? Am I unknowingly making life too difficult for citizens? It was certainly not my intention to do so.

 

 

His statement also raise my questions; Would he have come if not for the tuition grant? Knowing that the 3 year bond would set the door opener for a permanent residency. I have seen personally so many FT who came during the early 2000s, gotten their PRs, gotten a flat, selling it off and make big bucks and pack their bags back to their countries for good.