Merinews.com, 2 May 2014
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and President Tony Tan Keng Yam have been urged to put an end to blatant discrimination reportedly prevalent in the rental housing market of Singapore against Indians.
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that rental listings saying “no Indians” should not be acceptable in the 21st century, especially in Singapore which claimed to promote multiculturalism and racial harmony.
Zed argued that racial discrimination should not be condoned and a legislative effort might be required for a more specific anti-discrimination law in housing.’
The above is a sign of more things to come when foreigners and foreign govts think they have a right to tell our govt what to do, a kind of interference with our domestic affairs. So how should our govt respond to such remarks? Don’t forget, if we don’t comply and don’t behave respectfully to their demands, they may pull back all their workers and not allow them to work here. Then we will not have cheap labour and no economic growth. You want economic growth?
What do you think? Should our govt say yes, yes, we will do as you wish? Or would the govt show him the middle finger? The advertisements for ‘No Indians and No PRCs’ are done by private landlords who have had bad experiences with these group of foreigners. And it is their right as to who they want to rent out their properties to. Tiok boh? Many have had very bad experiences with the tenants and ended losing a lot of money. Should our govt tell this foreign leader to go and reflect on his people and educate his people to respect the properties rented to them and live like decent respectable Singaporeans with proper hygiene and cleanliness?
Or maybe they can squat at the Istana garden if they cannot find a landlord willing to let their properties to them. This could be a good compromise solution. And it is a temporary problem. Once Sinkies are used to their unhygienic country bumpkin lifestyles, once Sinkies have integrated with their way of life, I think it will no longer be a problem. Just get use to the untidiness, the smell of unclean homes and unwashed bodies. These are the experiences of those who have rented their properties to them or who have lived next to them. Welcome to the new Sinkieland of 3rd World living. We are progressing into the 3rd World.
Though not all are bad and dirty tenants, it only needs a few bad experiences and the landlord would only want to play safe to protect their properties. Is it wrong for the landlord to protect themselves or is it another form of xenophobia?
Chua Chin Leng aka redbean
* The writer blogs at mysingaporenews.blogspot.com.