PRs vetted carefully

[Ithunk]

THE government looks closely at permanent residents' (PRs) contributions to Singapore before deciding which ones can become citizens, said Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on Sunday night at a Tanjong Pagar GRC event.

 

'So please put up with the new immigrants. We are very careful about who becomes a citizen,' he said, responding to criticisms over the growing influx of foreigners living and working here.

 

There were more than 1.2million foreigners in Singapore last year.

 

Mr Lee said that 10per cent of the pool of foreigners here are new PRs, while another 20per cent are PRs who have been here for some time.

 

'This 20per cent, we will look at their performance and slowly absorb those who can help us. If they don't help us raise the level, they won't be citizens. We are not stupid.'

 

As for the remaining 70per cent of foreigners who are here on work permits, 'they are not citizens and never will be', he added. 'They will go home after two years. They do the difficult jobs and without them, MRT stations will not go up.

 

Read the full story in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.

 

[Ithunk]

i am a true blue singaporean born and bred in singapore...of course the PAP is not stupid...but it is always important to improve their policies

[Ithunk]

They make a mistake? Bring in too many Foreigners? Yes No? Calibrated not Calibrated?

[Gendut]

THE government looks closely at permanent residents' (PRs) contributions to Singapore before deciding which ones can become citizens, said Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on Sunday night at a Tanjong Pagar GRC event.

 

'So please put up with the new immigrants. We are very careful about who becomes a citizen,' he said, responding to criticisms over the growing influx of foreigners living and working here.

 

There were more than 1.2million foreigners in Singapore last year.

 

Mr Lee said that 10per cent of the pool of foreigners here are new PRs, while another 20per cent are PRs who have been here for some time.

 

'This 20per cent, we will look at their performance and slowly absorb those who can help us. If they don't help us raise the level, they won't be citizens. We are not stupid.'

 

As for the remaining 70per cent of foreigners who are here on work permits, 'they are not citizens and never will be', he added. 'They will go home after two years. They do the difficult jobs and without them, MRT stations will not go up.

 

Read the full story in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.

 

They mean those that will vote for them

[Stary]

The question is, will those PR even want to be citizens in the first place?

[Sunlight]

what rubbish :angry: most PR do not want citizenship so they can enjoy best of both worlds.

dont play with words by using citizens and singaporean residents to try smoke people.

Review the open leg wide policy in handing out PR!!!

[Amuze]

The majority of these PRs DO NOT live in their neighbourhood... therefore their idiosyncrasies do not bother the MIWs.

[Scenic98]

realised old man has been appearing in the ST a lot more than these days.

[Asd78]

realised old man has been appearing in the ST a lot more than these days.

 

He's moving from front page to the back pages just before the sports section soon....

[Sgnick]

PRs are given out too easily lah.

 

Given PR liao, they fast fast buy a HDB at any COV then fast fast rent out start making income, when HDB value rise, they flip and sell again at high high COV. HDB is meant as home for citizens or investment/speculation for PRs, which is it?

 

Bring in the PRs if need to, but put some sort of restrictions to which PRs can buy HDB. Maybe those that PR for >3 years then can buy HDB. Buy liao within 5 years cannot sell on open market, etc.

Edited November 9, 2009 by Sgnick

[Unltd]

THE government looks closely at permanent residents' (PRs) contributions to Singapore before deciding which ones can become citizens, said Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on Sunday night at a Tanjong Pagar GRC event.

 

'So please put up with the new immigrants. We are very careful about who becomes a citizen,' he said, responding to criticisms over the growing influx of foreigners living and working here.

 

There were more than 1.2million foreigners in Singapore last year.

 

Mr Lee said that 10per cent of the pool of foreigners here are new PRs, while another 20per cent are PRs who have been here for some time.

 

'This 20per cent, we will look at their performance and slowly absorb those who can help us. If they don't help us raise the level, they won't be citizens. We are not stupid.'

 

As for the remaining 70per cent of foreigners who are here on work permits, 'they are not citizens and never will be', he added. 'They will go home after two years. They do the difficult jobs and without them, MRT stations will not go up.

 

Read the full story in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.

 

That is the issue, they come here to earn the "paltry" sum of money squeeze 6 people into one room so their cost of living is low because they can take it as they are still young and very able. Thus they bring down the salaries of this income bracket, making Singaporeans unable to survive with the wages. They then save a little over the 2 years, but with the savings of a few K they can go back to buy a nice house, car and survive. With the same amount they get a month, citizens cannot even fathom how to survive because citizens are stuck with the cost of living as citizens do not go somewhere else after 2 years.

 

Thus, this is artificially depressing wages for people in this bracket and then the top complains that citizens do not want to take up these jobs. But taking up these jobs means citizens might survive and save a little, but not enough for retirement here.....

 

We should model after Japan, whereby you have to PROVE that Japanese CANNOT do the job, then you can hire foreigners. This also helps spread the incomes among the top earners and the bottom and give the culture of helping and looking after our own. In this way, we do not have salaries which are too obscene when the lower income earners earn so little. Helps to spread the income more evenly.

 

Just my 2 cents.....

Edited November 9, 2009 by Unltd

[Sgnick]

Well said

[Noobcar]

But the problem lays in our Gahmen and the mentality of our employer... Gahmen say salaries too high no ppl invest in Sg, employer singing the same song saying overhead too high they move out of Sg. In all the Gahman and employer join hand to undercut the employee......so LL can't do anything.

 

The Gahmen only wayang say we got pro-worker union, but who also know the union oso Gahmen control de.

[Iisterry]

Acceptance of Singapore scholarship starts Nov. 16

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudaily...p-starts-Nov-16

 

Starting Nov. 16, the Singapore Embassy will be accepting scholarship applications for school year 2010-2011.

 

This undergraduate scholarship offered by the Singapore government is applicable to the National University of Singapore, The Noynay Technological University and Singapore Management University.

 

All courses are open to the scholars, except for medicine and dentistry.

 

The scholarship covers three to four years of tertiary study depending on the discipline, return airfare, full tuition and a living allowance of $4,300 per year (approximately P142,000).

 

Scholars will be selected based on their academic merit, leadership qualities and potential to contribute to the Philippines' development.

 

They are expected to return to the country after graduation.

Applicants must be Filipino citizens with excellent academic records and a good command of English.

 

Shortlisted nominees will take the entrance examinations set by the Singapore universities.

 

Nominees are further shortlisted based on the results of their entrance examination and will undergo interview by the representatives of Singapore universities.

 

Application forms for the scholarship are available at the Singapore Embassy or may be downloaded online through website www.mfa.gov.sg/scp.

 

All application forms should be submitted to the Singapore Embassy in Manila by Dec. 14.

Edited November 9, 2009 by Iisterry

[Ahwhye]

and that is why they are so keen to made those people happy.....

 

 

They mean those that will vote for them

 

 

 

[Unltd]

But the problem lays in our Gahmen and the mentality of our employer... Gahmen say salaries too high no ppl invest in Sg, employer singing the same song saying overhead too high they move out of Sg. In all the Gahman and employer join hand to undercut the employee......so LL can't do anything.

 

The Gahmen only wayang say we got pro-worker union, but who also know the union oso Gahmen control de.

 

Yes, I agree overheads are high.... But on which side of the salary expenditure? If salaries are a little more flat (I am not saying pay the top management the same as the lower waged workers), this could also help deflate the overheads.

 

But well, we do have very good Gov. They are at least showing the world our corporate culture in terms of income! Hahahahaha

[Noobcar]

Yes, I agree overheads are high.... But on which side of the salary expenditure? If salaries are a little more flat (I am not saying pay the top management the same as the lower waged workers), this could also help deflate the overheads.

 

But well, we do have very good Gov. They are at least showing the world our corporate culture in terms of income! Hahahahaha

 

Ya, and got the cheek to say that their salaries should be comparable to those CEO and it is even lower then other country top pay CEO. But I think they had just miss the point, if it is $ they are after please go join other MNC but if they want to really serve the Sg citizen please don't give us crap like this.

[Ahwhye]

overhead in singapore is too high, but not because of the salaries.....

if they are sincere to bring down the overhead, get JTC/HDB/URA etc to lower the rent, get PUB to reduce the utilities rates, get LTA to reduce the ERP, etc..... instead of squeezing the salaries....

 

my house downstair used to hv a provision shop for many years....things are cheaper than NTUC, business was good, profitable despite rental i heard was some 16k/month...until recently contract renewal, kena up rent, and owner find it not worth......new chains took over, things are more expensive than NTUC, business is much quieter.....so if this is the way they help the people and small buisness, then i will say they are seriously out of touch in this downturn......