New fault lines between new citizens, native S'poreans
-
SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has cautioned Singaporeans to pay attention to new fault lines that have appeared between new citizens and native Singaporeans.
Speaking at Teck Ghee Community Club's racial harmony celebrations, Mr Lee said new citizens may be ethnically similar, but fault lines may develop as the new citizens have different norms, habits and attitudes.
So he said Singaporeans must watch out for instances of social friction, especially online.
Mr Lee said new citizens and those born in Singapore must work together to ensure that differences do not affect social stability.
"The new arrivals - to embrace the Singapore values and norms and try and fit in as Singaporeans. And Singaporeans - to encourage the new ones to integrate, to help the new ones to fit in."
In his speech, PM Lee reminded Singaporeans the reason for racial harmony celebrations.
He cited the two racial riots of 1964 when Singapore was part of the Federation of Malaysia. The riots left more than 30 dead, 500 injured and thousands arrested.
Looking back, Mr Lee said Singapore has come a long way but challenges remain.
He pointed out that the ease of joining online communities amplifies intolerant views as people are less restrained in cyberspace.
Mr Lee said the peace that Singapore now enjoys did not happen by chance, but by pure effort and deliberate policies.
These include ensuring equality, meritocracy and setting up institutions like the Presidential Council for Minority Rights and the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony to protect those groups' interests.
And it's important to continue to do so.
PM Lee said: "In normal times, we get along well together, but when there's a crisis for example, if there's a terrorist attack, then even though we're under pressure, stay together and we don't pull apart."
So as the population becomes more diverse, Singaporeans will have to work harder at keeping social cohesion.
Mr Lee added, that perhaps Singaporeans can start today.
"Today of course, is the first day of Ramadan, and we wish our Muslim friends a happy fasting month and I hope you'll accept your Muslim friends' invitation to visit them during the month of Ramadan, if they invite you to break fast with them, take the opportunity to invite them for dinner the next time if you can," he said.
And bit-by-bit, he said, this will keep the Singapore society harmonious.
- CNA/ck -
dear PM.. when you guys came up with the idea to bring in citizens to "boost the numbers" particularly GDP and per-capita numbers, did you not think that bringing in very very "capable" and high paying people would cause these very people to cloister themselves away from the normal people because they have the financial clout to do so?
did you not realise that by coming from other countries, they will bring in their own culture and norms, and will be able to buy their own comfort zones by again, cloistering themselves away from the normal citizens?
worse, these new citizens will have the financial clout which you idiots in power love.. and will happily take them into your inner circles.. and listen to them, increasing their influence on you...
these things are happening now..
in the RCs, we have new citizens from PRC who cannot carry out a coherent conversation in English (which is the language of government) yet are part of the committee, saying, bragging.. that they have access to the MPs.. and ministers.. and speak to them a lot...
so how... when you send kar-kias to the "meet the people" sessions and yet these new citizens who cannot converse with the rest of Singapore have your ear.. you don't think these fault lines won't widen?
it is up to you, PM, to fix this.. not by telling us to plaster over the fault lines.. it is up to you to shut the hell up about these "new citizens" and your FTs.. and live among the normal people, to listen to them and know what it is like.. otherwise, it's all hot air from you.. and your idiots in power...
-
y does it sound like it's our fault??
-
Originally posted by FireIce:
y does it sound like it’s our fault??
the PM is saying that..
notice the other topic about Iswaran? it was clearly him telling the Singaporeans to integrate with others.. not the other way around.. and then when the media realised it, they changed it.. even Google turns up numerous tweets, blogs and such stating that Iswaran told Singaporeans to integrate..
the 60.14% have a lot to answer to when they put this bunch of idiots into parliament
-
http://singaporenewsalternative.blogspot.sg/2012/07/chan-chun-sing-our-job-as-leader-is-not.html
"What do you think " Teo
When the country achieved the GDP and they collected their bonus, it is because of their talent.
When the country is now filled with repercussion from the GDP growth, it is the people fault all the time.
Why are we accountable and responsible for the loose FT influx ?
Now, we are blamed for integration ?
Or is the dragon still living in his castle and listening to Gold 90.5 ??
-
http://singaporenewsalternative.blogspot.sg/2012/07/chan-chun-sing-our-job-as-leader-is-not.html
"What do you think " Teo
When the country achieved the GDP and they collected their bonus, it is because of their talent.
When the country is now filled with repercussion from the GDP growth, it is the people fault all the time.
Why are we accountable and responsible for the loose FT influx ?
Now, we are blamed for integration ?
Or is the dragon still living in his castle and listening to Gold 90.5 ??
We own the place, why should we bend and kudos to FTs ?
Where is the national pride of Singapore ?
I feel lost.
-
No need to talk too much cock with the PAP.
Just concentrate on how to get rid of them.
Singaporeans shouldn't entertain too many illusions about the PAP.
-
What is the defination of A Singaporean?
Singapore Citizen is easy. Pink NRIC, Singapore Passport.
But a Singaporean?
Now we have a couple of new lables, added to FT and needy.
New Citizens and Natives.
I am now a native.
-
let's archive this kind of topics. will be very useful when we reach GE 2016.
-
No need to archive the topic.
Nothing happened in 2011 and nothing will happened in 2016.
Except we will be ruled by New Citizens in power.
The present batch simply dun want to provide answer, provide solution and give any thing.
I dun even know why they are being paid so high if they dun even bothered to attend the house meeting which is once in a blue moon.
-
It is the government who should be "paying attention to new fault lines that have appeared between new citizens and native Singaporeans"
open your eyes and ears big big to pay attention
-
Originally posted by FireIce:
y does it sound like it’s our fault??
Of cos it is our fault, the elites once mention that they have the mandate of the Singaporean which is true, at least it was shown during the last G.E and the G.E before. Since the majority of the Singaporean agree with the FT policy, and now cannot agree that the FT have more right than Singaporean. Then of cos it is the Singaporean fault. -
I like the way you structured the situation.
Please copyright the comments as it will be used very soon by some talent.
-
Originally posted by FireIce:
y does it sound like it’s our fault??
First day living in Sg?
-
I like this:
Benedict Low, 32, said the government also had to think twice about its open-door immigration policy.
"That's something the government have to solve, not us. You don't throw us a problem and expect us to solve it. After all, it's their immigration policy that has allowed the sudden influx of new citizens," he said.
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/pm-lee-warns-of-new-cracks-between-new-citizens--singaporeans.html
-
__________________________________________________________
Felicia Goh, 24, said the “reality” is that new citizens should be given a chance to integrate into the Singapore culture.
She said, "I think native Singaporeans must start accepting the reality that there will be more new citizens coming in. So instead of complaining and being unhappy about it, we can start embracing them and see them as one of us."
__________________________________________________________
Its catching on.
New Citizen and Natives.
-
Originally posted by Honeybunz:
They already said you are supposed to solve their problems.
They won't give you any answers.
What do you think?
-
Originally posted by charlize:
They already said you are supposed to solve their problems.
They won't give you any answers.
What do you think?
the last sentence is so familar...
-
"He pointed out that the ease of joining online communities amplifies intolerant views as people are less restrained in cyberspace." Less restrained = more naked truth... Some people just cannot handle the truth.... But as with all things read and heard, take a pinch of salt and lots of common sense... "He cited the two racial riots of 1964 when Singapore was part of the Federation of Malaysia. The riots left more than 30 dead, 500 injured and thousands arrested." Locally bred Singaporeans are docile, its the foreigners and the NEW citizens he should be watching out.... "These include ensuring equality, meritocracy and setting up institutions like the Presidential Council for Minority Rights and the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony to protect those groups' interests." Ha! Ho Ching he de he neng? Leading by example... "And it's important to continue to do so" How about those elderly? Those unfortunate enough to live with little or no dignity. That's a minority, right? "PM Lee said: "In normal times, we get along well together, but when there's a crisis for example, if there's a terrorist attack, then even though we're under pressure, stay together and we don't pull apart." The enemies have infiltrated and are among us.... They are a terror to behold but no they are not terrorists. "So as the population becomes more diverse, Singaporeans will have to work harder at keeping social cohesion." Deal with the rich - poor gap and I guarantee you social cohesion will follow. "And bit-by-bit, he said, this will keep the Singapore society harmonious." What do you think?
-
Futile talk leads to nothing achieve. Let's make concerted effort to get the "prince" out in 2016. Calling all AMK residents to do so.
-
As Singapore follow the Westminister system, the Prime Minister need not be a Member of Parliament. The Secretary-General of the ruling party can be appointed as Prime Minister.
-
Smart, scheming and shameless , adopts whatever that benefits them the most.
Let Super power get him out.
-
prob, there shld be a training center like those trainin 'household helper' for ft before integration is smooth. this center is also very difficult to materialize as the sg identity is not as certain. a cent of opinion is that if everyone is not align with the spirit temperament of 'ramadan', it's doubtful for a real blissful sg identity to surface. let go for break fast but holding on to ramadan firmly. Majulah Singapura ! pe-pe-oleh Ramadan. May Ramadan always lovely and peace for the sake of a pureland sg
-
sg prob has reached a stage of re-looking into its national song, instead of majulah singapura in malay language, it shld be able to connect electronically, computerly with multiracial and multireligious, multi nationals language that is palpable but non readable yet sing-able... prob look like that....
-
Singaporeans only know how to kpkb.
After that, go back to working to pay off their 30 year hdb loan.