A correspondent from German press agency had send me an email asking some questions with regards to the PAP government and it's immigration policy.
Below are the questions and my personal view.
1) What was your reaction to Lee Hsien Loong's comment about Singapore belonging to everyone who lives here?
Ans: Disappointed, a leader of a country shouldn't be making this kind of statement. What kind of message is he sending to the citizen of Singapore?
Foreigners coming to Singapore to work or tourist, we Singaporean should show them the hospitality as they are our guests in our country. To tell us that Singapore belong to them too, It's telling us foreigners own a part of Singapore too! It's the most absurd statement that I have came across.
Being a male citizen of Singapore, we are required serve my national service in the form of joining the Army, Police or Civil Defence Force. We serve the nation is to protect our country, our family. If Singapore do not being to Singaporean only, why should male citizens serve to protect the country while foreigner owning a part of Singapore do not need to protect Singapore as well? What kind of logic is this?
2) Why did you decide to start the petition?
Ans: A leader making this kind of statement is not fit to be a Prime Minister of Singapore! Together with a number of miscalculated policies like the 6.9M Population White Paper, the opening of floodgate for foreigners to come to work in Singapore etc.
3) Have you personally faced any discrimination in the job market?
Ans: I starting searching for a job at the age of 34 in the private sector in 2011 with a bachelor of Business (Economic and Finance, grad in 2001), with no prior experience working in the finance industry, I was asking a gross salary of only SGD$2000 per month, willing to learn from the seniors, willing to work long hours and willing to travel if necessary.
There isn't an interview granted for me after I searched and submitted lots of Resume when the employers are telling the government that they feel the labour crunch!
What kind of discrimination that I have is for you to decide.
4) What do you think is the main source of Singaporeans' unhappiness these days?
Ans: The government of pro business policy.
I. The opening of floodgate for PMET job in Singapore. A company can employed 0% Singapore citizens with either
1. all EP pass holders
2. All Permanent Resident with EP and S pass holders
As of date, Singapore work force is 50.5% combination of Permanent Resident, EP holder, S Pass Holder and Work Permit Holder. Effectively, the Citizen workforce is only 49.5% which made us Singaporean a minority in the workplace.
II. No minimal wages for Low Wage workers.
Just look at a security guard earning $950 (as of now), cleaner $1000.
With the high cost of living in Singapore, these workers are being exploited.
III. National Service (Reservist) for male citizen. Every male citizen have to perform up to 10 cycle of reservist before they are discharge from serving. This to an employer is an disruptions to their work. These have made known to the government and nothing had been done so far.
IV. Due to opening of floodgate to foreigner to come to work in Singapore, the infrastructure cannot handle with the sudden influx of foreigners. These cause a strain in Housing, Transportation and Medical Facilities.
5) What do you think needs to change to improve the situation?
Ans: The changes might be necessary to the following:
I. Be more Pro Citizen, taking good care of her citizen, like higher subsidies for medical treatment, lowing the housing cost.
II. Tougher control on the influx of foreigner coming to work in Singapore especially the PMET.
III. Integration of foreigners into our community rather than ask Us Singapore Citizen to integrate with the Foreigners. As a common saying, When in Rome, do what the Roman Do.
IV. Lastly, a change of leadership!
6) What is your response to comments that there has been a rise of xenophobia in Singapore? Do you agree with this assertion?
Ans: How do you define xenophobia? Protecting our own Citizen interest is xenophobia? We questions the policy considered xenophobia?
We Singaporean are the friendly lots and we have friends around the whole world, why should we be xenophobia against the foreigners?
The answer is for you to think.
7) And just to finish off, if you wouldn't mind telling me your age and your occupation that would be great.
Ans: I'm currently age 37 and I'm a full time Cabby.
William Lim
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