Friday, 14 August 2009

• MM Lee: Foreign talent is vital

  
  http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_416522.html

  MINISTER Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on Thursday warned Singaporeans of the dangers of closing the country's door to foreign talent.

  Without educated foreign residents, Singapore faces the threat of a declining economy with a shrinking labour force, he said in a speech stressing the importance of accepting and embracing them.

  Immigrants make up for the children Singaporeans are not having, he said. To shut them out is to risk an unwelcome scenario similar to that confronting Japan's greying population: 'They refuse to accept immigrants, so their economy is feeble and lacks vitality.'

  However, MM Lee reassured Singaporeans that the Government is very conscious of protecting their interests. The number of foreign residents would be carefully controlled to preserve the character and values of Singapore society, he told about 700 grassroots leaders and residents attending a National Day dinner in Tanjong Pagar GRC.

  In his speech, he also highlighted the challenge of grooming a core of bilingual Chinese talent to engage China. But this will not be done at the expense of English, which will remain the common language of all Singaporeans, he said.

  Singapore has about 1.68 million foreigners. Mr Lee noted that 70 per cent are here temporarily, holding renewable passes, mainly the employment pass, S-pass for semi-skilled workers or work permits for the low-skilled. The rest are permanent residents, or PRs.

  The large pool has led to growing discontent among Singaporeans. 'There are complaints about new citizens and PRs taking away jobs from our workers and that those in sales and service do not speak or understand English.'

  But, he added: 'We accept only immigrants who increase the average level of competence of Singaporeans.' They must have skills and at least secondary, preferably tertiary education.

  Mr Lee produced a string of figures to show why Singapore needs skilled workers and professionals from Malaysia, China, India and elsewhere in the region. Without them, the labour force will shrink because Singaporeans are not replacing themselves.

  In Singapore, the burden will be too heavy for the young if there was no immigration. So, it is in Singapore's interest to have immigrants 'who can be integrated without upsetting the racial balance', Mr Lee said.
  
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  What does that say about the 'stop at 2' policy implemented way back in the 60's? So now we have a shortage of home grown Singaporeans?
  
  On top of that, it is now costly to bring up a child, plus with the influx of 1.68 million foreigners who can barely speak proper english - productivity drops. Over crowding is only one sore sight. Wages get depressed too. A job that may befitting a Singaporean is bypassed to a FT/FW willing to work for lower wage. And we have to integrated with them and teach them english? What does that say about our immgration policy and how Immgration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) screens candidates to enter Singapore?
  
  Houston, we have a problem
  
  
  

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