I refer to the letter “Before deciding on hiring foreigners as cops, consider these issues” (May 6). A great nation such as Singapore, known for its magnanimity, should not spare even two cents on such thoughts.
Police, doctors and other life-savers who put service before self are beyond boundaries, religion and race. If not, then the United Nations would not have got people from various nations for their peacekeeping forces.
How often has anyone refused treatment from a doctor whose country of origin has a reputation for corruption? How fair is it to deny a talented person a job because some people in their country are corrupt?
Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi would not have made a mark in the world if they, too, had been judged on the country of their origin being corrupt.
Singapore has the beauty of having a cosmopolitan culture that is open and inclusive. Meritocracy is the operative word, and not corruption in the country of origin.
These are times when the world must come together and express solidarity towards common causes. Being big-hearted is good for such reasons.
NAMRATA BHATTACHARYA