Minister of Social and Family Development, Chan Chun Sing, said that Singaporeans need to remember to give back to society and help the under-privileged.
He said that we should create a nation that is a “Singaporean Tribe” where people reach out to and help one another. He also said that it is important to seize opportunities when they are available.
"Even if the chips are down and opportunities are not there, these are the true Singaporeans who will stay here and say, I will rebuild this country even when the chips are down to provide a better life for my fellow Singaporeans.
"If we arrive at that stage, then we would have truly become the Singaporean Tribe. Otherwise, we are just economic sojourners and happen to be in Singapore at this time of the year, and when opportunities move, we move," he added.
He said that such economic migrants simply reap the benefits and never contribute back. He admitted that this may seem like a normal attitude but he also said that it is selfish.
“Singapore is only able to be at where we are today because those who have succeeded, those who are more accomplished, have a sense of contribution, a sense to want to give back something to the society, to help those who may be less privileged than some of us," Mr Chan added.
Mr Chan was speaking in front of 300 Singaporeans, PRs and new citizens at a National Youth Integration Forum at the ITE College East.
It is interesting that Minister Chan would criticise those who simply move from one place to another to follow economic benefits as selfish as this is exactly the type of “talent” that his government has been inviting to Singapore with their liberal immigration policies.
Other policies such as low corporate taxes and a relatively low tax rate for the super rich has promoted Singapore as a tax haven whee the Super Rich come to reap the economic benefits.
These foreigners obviously do not have a tendency to “give back” to their home communities as they come here to escape tax in the first place.
It seems that his speech was again only targeted at Singaporeans. For foreigners, they are welcome to come here whether or not they are selfish and have no desire to contribute to Singapore.
What do you think?