Integration is key factor as more immigrants settle in S'pore: Minister

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/261658/1/.html

In this article, it is noted that new immigrants to Singapore are not adapting well here as locals and the foreigners are not able to accomodate each other. There are prejudices and stereotypes between the two parties and hence a social problem is created.

Personally, I feel that locals are more at fault for causing this problem. First of all, locals should accept that most of the foreigners who come and work here are true talents who can bring in benefits for our economy. They are highly skilled professionals who can easily get a job at places which offer better opportunities like New York, Shanghai, etc. But they chose to work here, and they can help pull up our economy with their skills. So, we should actually appreciate that they are willing to come here to apply their skills. Yet, if we keep thinking that it is unfair that foreigners can always get good jobs and treat the foreigners badly, they will not want to come and work here anymore and throwing away talents like that is really very wasteful. Although foreigners might seem arrogant, but we should try to understand how they feel. After all, they are foreign to Singapore, so they will try to shield their emotions and build a wall around them until they are closer to the locals. Hence, they will seem arrogant and aloof, but if we do not give them a chance to slowly get close to us, and instead term all of the foreigners as arrogant, the foreigners will not even feel encouraged to warm up to us. Obviously, they will be angry at us and we will be the ones losing out if all these talents are not willing to work in Singapore.

There are also many times when locals lose out their jobs to foreigners and says that employers are biased and will rather hire foreigners instead of locals. Though, this might be true sometimes, there are times where we have to accept the fact that there will be people more qualified to the job and in this case, foreigners. We cannot always give excuses such as employers being biased toward foreigners to cover up the fact that the foreigners might just be better than us at some aspects. We have to know that most of the time, everyone is given an equal chance, so if we really lose out our job to foreigners, maybe it is just that they are really better than us. Instead of coming up with excuses, we can just learn from the foreigners and in the future, we can be as skilful as them in our jobs.

If Singaporeans can just stop acting like a bunch of sour grapes and just try to understand the foreigners instead of condemning them so fast, this social problem can surely be solved and this will lead to Singapore's economy rising, which will then attract more foreigners to work here.

Better quality of life will define Singapore as a top First World nation

Article: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/260443/1/.html


The article states that Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew had said that Singapore can move from the lower half into the upper half of First World countries in the next 10 to 20 years. I agree that MM Lee's vision is a great one but nonetheless, difficult to carry out. Lush greenery, additional waterways and an even more vibrant social life will be seen in Singapore in the coming years but just as MM Lee said, this only contributes the physical aspect of the transformation. Our people also need to bond together well as a nation and put aside our differences. Most importantly, Singaporeans have to love their country and be willing to give for Singapore.

Many feel it is most apt for the Minister Mentor to paint this new vision for the country now and i agree with them on this. MM Lee is someone who brought Singapore to great heights with his great leadership and just as Halimah Yacob, MP and Assistant Secretary-General, NTUC, said, having the MM say this is also part of the critical ways in which to gel the population together, for us to tell Singaporeans that there is a future for Singapore. Furthermore, I feel that Singapore is now developing very fast; our economy is expected to do well in the years ahead, our ties with other countries are good and we are steadily being recognised by other countries as one of the leading countries in the areas of technology, service and many other areas. Hence, the MM, who is Singapore's great leader, delivering such a strong message now shows that we are able to move on to the next stage of the country's development and the citizens will be encouraged to strive for the best in whatever they do, be it for the economy or service we provide.

Although it is true that we are a small country and are lacking in resources and manpower compared to other countries, we must not look down on ourselves. We must make our citizens love our country and hence I feel it is very wise for the governemnt to try and develop Singapore into a more beautiful place with lush greenery and waterways. If our country is beautiful and admired by everyone all over the world, it is natural that our people will love Singapore and feel proud of her. This way, Singaporeans will be willing to work hard for the country's future and our nation will go even further. Of course, Singaporeans must also appreciate all the new structural developments that Singapore is about to have. For example, there have been many instances where a new hawker centre becomes dirty just after a few months of opening, especially the toilet. If we are ging to take all the new develoopments for granted, then their purpose will be defeated.

In conclusion, I agree that MM Lee's vision is not an impossible one as long as we Singaporeans work together towards it.