Dear future lawmakers,
The weekly "Coffee Talk! Chit-Chat and All That" is a section of the blog designed by the Committee for aspiring young people like you to have discussions on current public policy issues from all sectors of society. The aim is to ignite your thought process and sharpen your critical thinking skills, both of which are invaluable traits of a policymaker. Participants are encouraged to comment on the post and perhaps even engage in constructive debate with others. We hope this section will benefit you well in preparation for MPPC 2012!
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This week, we shall talk about a rising dilemma faced by a country across the causeway: the issue of reducing the number of foreigners in Singapore.
After years of practicing the open door policy, the government of Singapore has been pressured by locals to curb the influx of foreigners into Singapore. Foreign workers—both the professionals and the unskilled— are now lesser in demand due to the threat the Singaporeans feel with regard to their jobs and businesses. The lack of priorities these Singaporeans feel and the cheaper pays foreigners demand result in increased concern among the Singaporeans.
Here is an article related to this week’s topic:-
Click here to view the article
It is an undeniable fact that the foreigners in Singapore play an important role in the sustenance of Singapore’s economy. However, with the issue on the rise, the open door policy that has been in use for years might no longer be practical, since the increasing number of aliens might result in violence and increased conflict between the locals and the foreigners. So what policies should be imposed? If the open door policy continues, the government/PAP might have to face the consequences of losing out in the upcoming vote. However, if Singapore were to close its doors to foreigners, Singapore may face the possibility of lower economic growth. Having said that, will Singapore’s global competitiveness be reduced if the number of immigrants drops? This situation exemplifies the dilemma in balancing the right and popular policies.
Since many locals are now largely against the idea of the open door policy, what types of foreign workers should be permitted to enter? Should Singapore filter these foreigners according to “talent and skill”? As of now, freezing the number of immigrants has been largely welcomed by the Singaporeans. Also, with the growing number of ‘new citizens,’ will patriotism soon become an issue?
Let us know what you think!
Seah Chiang Nee's articles about issues in Singapore are always a good read. (:
ReplyDeleteAnyway, my study stint in Singapore made me realise that Singapore really does have a practical and top-down approach, which is why economic growth is arguably the government's number one priority, and the public generally follow what the government says. Economic prosperity is about the only real ammunition that Singapore has to navigate global waters. Being a small country with scarce natural resources, Singapore's disproportionate influence in global affairs is largely due to it's economic strength. Having said this, perhaps the Singapore government should sacrifice economic growth a little, as social cohesion is also a top priority. There is a social cost to integration of foreigners into Singapore society. The government should take that into account when deciding how many foreigners to let in.
I feel that as citizens of a young nation, Singaporeans are still struggling to find their unique national identity. Hence, they reject the high influx of foreigners as it threatens their national identity.
Of course, there are also the irresponsible or downright ignorant foreigners who offend locals with unacceptable actions like crashing a Ferrari into a taxi or hanging a Philippines flag. I doubt these potential culprits can ever be totally filtered out of the selection process, so perhaps the immigrants should at least be briefed about cultural sensitivity before they are given their work permits or PR status. Also, foreigners should always be aware of their status - outsiders.
Having said that, currently the Singapore government has already begun enacting more populist, pro-local policies.