<Pinoys celebrating their Independence day at Takashimaya Singapore>
I refer to the article: "SINGAPOREANS PROTESTING OVER PHILIPPINES INDEPENDENCE DAY HELD AT TAKASHIMAYA"
As tension between Singaporeans and Pinoys rises unabated, we need to understand the fundamental causes and underlying assumptions that are the root causes of our present misery. Having done that, it is this writer's hope that Singaporeans can support the proposed solution.
1. Fundamental differences in perception between Singaporeans and Pinoys
Singaporeans think that there are too MANY Pinoys in Singapore.
Pinoys think that there are too FEW Pinoys in Singapore.
Singaporeans are disgusted that the Pinoys have made Orchard Road (not just Lucky Plaza) their racial enclave as it is our main retail and lifestyle belt. It is a tradition for us, young and old, to chill out at Orchard Road. To make matters worse, all the noise, picnicking and sitting on the pavement fly into the face of our social norm.
Pinoys believe they have the right to gather along Orchard Road in huge numbers as there are also other foreign enclaves in the city.
Singaporeans think that Pinoys are destroying our social fabric by" hiring their own kind" and "sticking with their own". HDB heartlanders have also noticed the numerous Pinoy basketball gangs that occupy the courts every weekend in a blatantly exclusive manner.
Pinoys think that what they practise is none of our business.
2. The Government's naive belief that all nationalities can live harmoniously in a multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-lingual Singapore
Singaporeans are already one of the most tolerant communities in the world as foreigners constitute 40% of our population. Yet, there is no local riot against foreigners so far.
Due to their relatively homogeneous cultural background and lack of inter-ethnic education in their homeland, most foreigners (including Pinoys) are a liability in our multi-ethnic society.
Yet, many foreigners are able to assimilate into Singapore society as their cultural norms only differ slightly from us. Hence, we do not see any backlash against many nationalities based in Singapore. However, the huge and growing backlash against the Pinoys sticks out like a sore thumb.
One has to conclude that the Pinoys, by and large, are not suitable for a multi-ethnic society like Singapore.
3. CIMO abandoned
The traditional CIMO population structure, that comprises Chinese, Indian, Malay (& Eurasian) and Others has been seriously undermined. In our earlier years, Others only contribute 1% of our population. Today, the Pinoy composition in our citizen and permanent resident population is a state secret.
We have lived among our different races in harmony. Pinoys raised in Singapore generally do not pose a problem in integration. However, most Pinoys arrive here only in their adulthood and resent the fact that we are different from them.
A solution has to be implemented urgently to avoid a social meltdown.
All work passes by Pinoys, new and renewals, have to be REJECTED. This will be carried out over 2 years as work passes (WP, S Pass & EP) typically run for 2 years. Some of the jobs, especially at the PME level, will be replaced by unemployed but better qualified Singaporeans. However, the rest of the jobs will go to other nationalities.
We expect our government to possess not only high IQ, but also a reasonable level of EQ. Choose the foreigners working here across many nationalities so that none of them will be big enough to form a huge enclave and pose a security threat to our nation. Consider about the proportion of Pinoys working in our hospitals.
Think about the unimaginable.
Don't just shoot any Singaporean who choose to voice out the obvious danger.
David Ching
TRS contributor