I think the current situation is more than the wide rich-poor income gap. Let me offer a few key issues facing us:
1. The poor governance relating to the persistently high cost of living with the majority's incomes not able to keep pace
2. the persistently obscene super-high salaries the government pays themselves while they are delve tying sub-par performance. It begs the question of, 'who are they working for?'
3. The government seems to have fingers in almost aspect of the commercial world. Their GLCs, REITS, control of the press, taxis, buses, etc. in China, they are called State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs)
4. The question of CPF. Having worked all our lives and responsibly bringing up our families, paying our dues and the mortgage, they cannot trust us to manage our money at this stage of our lives. They should give us the OPTION of leaving our money in the account and not decide what's good for us
5. The generous influx of foreigners. I am amazed to note that they now outnumber the core Singaporeans! My God, how did we allow this to happen? And lastly
6. These ministers (back to point #2) seem to wake up one day to realize we have issues with overcrowding....in the streets, schools, housing and even in the hospitals
Mr Ministers, you have won the hearts and minds of many in the past. It will be a challenge to regain them and I truly wish you start working in the interests of true-blood Singaporeans! Please!
Many recent policies that are introduced has made many feel unsatisfactory, frustrating and worse, fearful and angry.
The most obvious policy, which was introduced about 1998 during Goh Chor Tong's arena, was the foreign talent introduction. With the flux of foreigner intake, many Singaporeans have lost their jobs because they could not compete with the foreigner talents. When one's rice bowl is threatened, one cannot help but think whether this policy is meant to build the nation or make it worse. In actual fact, it was the beginning of the domino effect that soon lead to many other problems.
When the government introduced 6.9 million population policy by 2030, it was really a daring adventure being expedited on their own and not in the favour of the people. There were already enough problems with the FT that were still lingering around. To add it a further burden to our nation, the infrastructure of the nation was overlooked to sustain the current situation.
Never ever seen in my lifetime, riots and strikes that were carried out illegally in Singapore were re-created, from LKY's time, in his son's time. Amazingly, such acts were not carried out by the locals but the FT. This made many think is the introduction of 6.9 millions going to be good or bad for the nation.
Singapore has been trained to go after soaring numbers. One of the way is like the "instant noodle" mode. You just get results within minutes. So, to get great sportsmen, Singapore purchases many FT sportsmen. But instead of rejoicing with the winning of these people who represent our nation, Singaporeans felt that there was no attachment with them and hence felt disgusted about it. That was because these FT are training for sport all their lives while Singaporeans are academically trained all their lives. Living in two different worlds, the attachments could not be linked. No matter what the government said about we should not isolated them but rejoiced with them, it is going to be a vain discussion. Furthermore, when they got what they want, some of them, such as Li Jiawei, have decided not to root themselves here. It only questions ourselves how effective is the instant noodle effect. They have forgotten the long term of taking instant noodles on a long-term basis have very bad health problem that could even lead to death.
Recently, they have relaxed some other foreigner's marriage policy. Although this is meant to help many international couples with Singaporean as their spouse, this will lead to another level of cultural disintegration due to different in upbringing and thoughts. Singapore systems is very systematic and the FT must know how to integrate into our society and not us to them. In the adage, "In Rome, do what the rome do". Many are still trying to integrate their colours and beautiful identity here in a very drastic ways. One such example was that the Filipino wanted to carry out their National Day in Orchard Road. There was a huge uproar among the Singaporeans. Fortunately, the Filipino are sensitive not to do so. A culture is being cultivated with a long time and need to be accepted by the local society and not by just a single group.
Ng Cher Choon & David Teo