Amid calls for the meting out of tough punishment on those involved in the Little India riot (“Tough action needed” by Mr Christopher Chong and “Wake-up call for S’pore” by Mr Lawrence Loh Kiah Muan; both on Forum Online, Tuesday), it is easy to forget how similar the foreign workers are to our forefathers who came to Singapore to make a living.
Indeed, it is too easy to forget that they are “human beings who deserve to be treated with dignity” (“Remind foreign workers of tough laws here” by Mr Francis Chowdhurie; Forum Online, Tuesday).
The media has been highlighting the perspectives of the authorities and Singaporeans on the situation. But it would surely be enlightening to understand how the foreign workers view the issue.
There is a need to resist easy answers as to why the riot occurred or how to resolve the situation.
While it is easy to blame intoxication or characterise foreign workers as an unruly and lawless bunch, the fact is that they need a place to gather and relax on weekends, just like us.
While the residents of Little India certainly deserve to be protected, discouraging foreign workers from congregating in the area will simply shift the issue to another neighbourhood (“Take immediate action to protect residents” by Mr Lee Kok Leong; Tuesday).
Ultimately, unless their dormitory facilities improve drastically, there must be a place where foreign workers can congregate and relax.
Lastly, even as we shower accolades on our law enforcement officers, the authorities ought to consider recognising the efforts of the man who was seen in many videos trying to stop rioters from attacking a bus (“Man in plaid shirt saved my life, says bus helper”; yesterday).
Doing so would give a human face to the many foreign workers in Singapore who are too often simply ignored or shunned by many of us.
Tan Jin Yong
*Letter appeared in ST Forum (12 Dec)