MP Inderjit Singh wrote in a Facebook post on May 26 that Singapore should not “bend backwards” to give citizen privileges to foreigners who use Singapore as a stepping stone to their future life somewhere else.
I agree with Mr Singh’s view.
I am acquainted with many foreigners who have obtained Singapore permanent residency for themselves but choose not to do so for their children.
This is because in obtaining permanent residency, they can enjoy the benefits – from education and health-care subsidies to eligibility for public housing.
However, these people do not consider Singapore their home and will eventually return to where they came from.
That is the reason they have chosen not to apply for permanent residency for their children. Their sons also do not have to undergo national service.
It would be good if the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) could share what it considers in an application before granting permanent residency.
In Hong Kong, the requirements are clear – you need to have lived in Hong Kong for a continuous period of seven years, and in China for five years.
There seems to be no such requirement in Singapore.
To see how committed the applicants are to Singapore, should ICA not consider if they include their children in the application?
Neo Seok Kian (Ms)
*Letter first appeared in ST Forum, 10 Jun, “Share criteria for granting permanent residency”.