I haven’t posted any writings on societal issues for quite some time already because I wanted to instead focus on things that are more important for improving my own life (e.g., find a job, think about how to get out of Singapore for good, etc).
But some recent developments really infuriated me and hence I am writing about this now…
First of all I think it is essential to post this disclaimer: I am not being racist or encouraging racism. I understand there are good PRC nationals and bad ones, just as there are good Singaporean people and bad ones too. However, my personal observations as well as this recent development I will comment on in this post shows the typical mentality of some PRC people in Singapore – that we Singaporeans are stupid and jealous of PRC people who are able to do better than us in studies and in careers.
There is an ongoing fiasco involving a PRC student named Jeff who is enrolled in NAFA. Apparently he was caught red-handed when he tried to sell a dog he adopted for $350 for $2,000 – a hefty profit – and in his online advertisements he claimed that he paid $4,000 for it. This matter infuriated dog lovers and netizens who quickly exposed his many lies and identity on a Hardwarezone forum thread. Jeff replied to the thread as well, claiming his innocence and scolding netizens for being “racists”. In his first reply in the thread, Jeff said:
nx time if anyone wants to call my mom, plz make sure ur chinses is gd enough to understand her ok? n i think, only unhealthy minded man will say somethin like “sell half eat half” thing. nv heard of a better version. n wat “rain wanna be”? u digged into my profile, found my pics, which r totally just pics n u say im rain wanna be? did i write anything there? if u r stupid, plz don waste the space here. anyway, i didn not invite u to view my profile n to upload my FRIENDS` PICS! if anyone of u hv a prob with chinese PRC, try shout it out in front of the PRCs n see wat happen. u ve just proved urself that u r a dickless man with no brain. just for ur info, PRCs r always the top student in the schs. u name any sch, there will be a top student being a PRC. work hard ppl n u will be the same, no point being racist here. 吃不着葡萄嫌葡萄酸.
So this is the kind of people we have attracted into Singapore. Congratulations to the Government of Singapore, we have successfully attracted talents from China who are dominating Singapore and doing so much better than native Singaporeans in school and at work... and they are now scorning Singaporeans, laughing at us for being jealous of their abilities to do better than us.
What’s more, some recent online discussions were on how PRC students were discussing on Chinese forums about how to cheat Singaporean taxpayers’ money by leaving Singapore after completing their taxpayer money sponsored scholarships in Singapore universities without completing the requisite bonds. In other words, how to be freeloaders and fleece a free education in Singapore using hardworking Singaporeans’ taxpayer monies and then go back to China or greener pastures outside Singapore.
Jeff is definitely not the only PRC student in Singapore with such an attitude towards Singaporeans. The Government obviously has recognized this problem, and they are now embarking on a (taxpayer money sponsored) program to better integrate immigrants into Singapore society. I’m sorry to say this, but I think these efforts have come a little too late. Look in the local online forums – how many discussions are there discussing Singaporeans’ unhappiness with foreigners?
I do not think Singaporeans are like what these PRCs make us out to be – “jealous” of their success. I believe the problem is more about unfairness – Singaporeans are feeling VERY MUCH SHORTCHANGED and VERY UPSET about the unfair treatment they are receiving compared to what the Government is according to foreigners and immigrants. I don’t think I need to rattle of the entire list of issues but here are a couple just to indicate what I mean – invitation letters for foreign students to become PRs (and eventually, citizens if they like) upon completion of their studies while Singaporeans guys have to spend more than 2 years of our lives serving the nation in NS. Eligibility for PRs to buy resale flats in Singapore while Singaporeans struggle to get queue numbers to buy flats priced at record high levels partly due to demand from new immigrants jacking up prices on the resale market.
I do not blame all PRCs for our troubles. I have Chinese friends, and I am of Chinese heritage (and not ashamed of it in any way). Like I said a long time ago in another post, I love Chinese culture and history, and I love traveling in China. I don’t blame people for wanting to improve their lives by moving to Singapore, just like how I want to improve my life by leaving Singapore. I don’t even blame them for making comments such as what Jeff said, even though I must admit that I am very angry and upset about it. A possible reason why they make such comments might be because of the attitude they receive from Singaporeans who see them as intruders and not respecting enough of Singaporeans. Then again, it is not our (Singaporeans’) fault either for feeling upset and angry about foreigners’ intrusion, competition and impact in every aspect of our lives (studies, work, buying flats, etc).
So, whose to blame for all these trouble and the divide we are facing now between Singaporeans vs PRCs and other immigrants? The Singapore Government should reflect on its open-door policy… instead of trying to spend more taxpayers’ money on “integrating” foreigners, we should think about how the many years of having this open-door policy has negatively impacted native Singaporeans and our children and our hopes for the future. How much is a Singaporean PR or Citizenship status worth today if we are to put price tags to them? When one can become a PR after completing a one or two years’ private school diploma… what kind of talents are we trying to attract? When a PR can become a citizen after several years’ working and competing with Singaporeans in the job market on an unfair basis – what is the value of Citizenship in Singapore?
I have already gave up hope on a better Singapore, or a better life for me and my future family in Singapore. My heart is elsewhere, and my mind is already focused on how to achieve a better future, somewhere else besides in “Uniquely Singapore”.
No related posts.
There is hardly any other developed country besides Singapore where the citizens have so many advantages over PRs. Citizens can buy new HDB flats, which PRs cannot, and they can even get up to $40.000 subsidies! They also get subsidies for school fees, and their children can get into good schools easier. Can you name any other country where the citizens enjoy comparable advantages over PRs? In Europe, a PR typically is exactly the same as a citizen, except that he/she cannot vote.
Would you seriously take away e.g. the PR’s right to buy resale flats? How would you expect them to want to settle down in Singapore with the exorbitant rents?
In most developed countries, getting PR takes a long time. For e.g. in US, most immigrants are there on work permit, not PR (green card) status. It takes about 5 years or more to get a green card, even if the person is working in a big technology company and have a Masters or PhD from a top tier university. Can you name another developed country where getting PR takes one year or so like Singapore?
Furthermore, if you want to talk about benefits, why just mention housing? How about social safety nets, national health insurance etc for citizens that exist in many developed countries but may be inadequate (or non-existent) in Singapore.
As for housing, I don’t begrudge PRs buying HDB, but I think the Government has failed to anticipate the demand from immigrants, resulting in insufficient supply of HDBs for the general population. The government should have built more houses in the past, to cater for the more liberal immigration policy. Can you name another country where getting a pigeon hole sets you back half a million?
If the only difference between a Singaporean and PR, ie the only obligation a Singaporean has to undertake is to vote, then many would not mind to let take away all those mentioned “advantages”.
On the other hand, how many countries in Europe or developed countries, where citizen has so many obligations over so many years? There is even one that forbid citizen from renouncing citizenship even if they had left the country long before as a child …
If the law is to change to let all PRs enjoy the same “advantages”, as well as obligation as the Citizen, would the PR not make the same “noise” if Employment Pass or Work Permit holders are subsequently allowed to buy resales flat but their male children need not serve NS?
http://www.home-in-singapore.sg/sgp/cms.www/content.aspx?sid=155&s=6&s2=62
Not too much of a difference if you ask me.
oi, want to talk about Education, what about England? Free education from 3 years of age until 18. open your eyes!
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The Singapore govt also think it is too late. Too late to retain Singaporeans, so they switch to overdrive mode to attract foreigners. They cannot reverse their machinery nor want to forgo all the foreign “talents”, therefore they will milk whatever there is left to milk from this land and her native citizens. Til then, who can stop them? You? Me? Even after MM Lee dies, there is no change one la.
What I think, we depend on MNC to become prosperous. We are still relying on that. MNC gained much of the power to “rule” over the people.
Now, we are moving into depending on foreign workers called “talent”. Now, I was not very sure is this a right move.
As the foreigners come in numbers, it is obvious that they will gain much say in what they do best. One will be in no doubt that fighting for more rights here and there while the Singaporeans IC cheapens will happen. What can Singaporeans say when foreigners are gaining ground?
I felt that I am living in a country that discriminates her citizen.
Anon, I totally agree, and I am thoroughly disheartened with PAP’s policies. Which country in this world discriminates her own citizens? Even the lioness doesn’t eat her own cubs.
Mr Biao, I feel exactly like you do. Despite all the grievances expressed by Singaporeans, I too have given up hope on a better Singapore, or a better life for me and my future family in Singapore. My heart is elsewhere, and my mind is already focused on how to achieve a better future, somewhere else besides in “Uniquely Singapore”.
Mr Biao, sorry I clicked too fast. Didn’t mean to plaguarise you.
Despite all the grievances expressed by Singaporeans, the govt is still proceeding head-on with its senseless policies. I agree with Kam, with our “pragmatic” PAP, its head-on policies are suspiciously for its own votes.
I feel exactly like you do, Mr Biao, I too is utterly disheartened and have given up hope to a better Singapore. How sad, considering not that ago, I was still singing proudly to “There was a time when Singapore couldn’t make it, but we did….”.
My dear PAP, I hope you are reading this, and I hope you realise what you are doing to your own fellow countrymen. You are a Singaporean too, you know.
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Please don’t leave.. with a mind and spirit like yours you should stay and work to change the system..