Pls read Bye Bye Singapore hello China

• Berries tan

  29 Oct 09, 15:21

  �光耀：新加�人应�助新移民�入社会

  12/04/2009 23:01:00

  字体:

  

  他说：“我认为，这里的人们应该接纳新æ�¥è€…，请他们到你们家，å�ƒä¸œè¥¿ï¼Œå–�茶，带他们到他们没去过的地方玩，你也交了朋å�‹ã€‚这样，你就让他们较容易更舒æœ�地进入了我们的社会。”

  新加�讯，新加�内�资政�光耀星期天说，新加�人主动接纳新移民，�助新移民�入新加�社会，是�常��的。
  
  他指出，虽然�入过程是��的，但新加�人必须展开�臂，迎接新移民，帮助他们�为新加�的一部分。
  
  �光耀是出席一家报纸的副刊有关新移民的新�目的开�仪�时，�表演讲。出席仪�的有大约450人，其中300人为新移民。
  
  六年�从马�西亚移居到新加�的92�的��说，他觉得新加�给了他更大的安全感。
  
  �自中国�建�上海和四�的新移民说，他们在新加��到了公平的对待。
  
  其中一人说：“过去18年，我在很多国家居ä½�过，如美国ã€�欧洲和å�°å°¼ï¼Œæˆ‘感到新加å�¡æ˜¯ä¸ªçœŸæ­£çš„好地方。我很感激。”
  
  å�¦å¤–一人说：“我è¦�感谢新加å�¡æ”¿åºœï¼ŒæŠŠæˆ‘çš„å­©å­�教育得很好。”
  
  �光耀说，新移民和新加�人的相互��是��的，�方都应该努力。
  
  他说：“我认为，这里的人们应该接纳新æ�¥è€…，请他们到你们家，å�ƒä¸œè¥¿ï¼Œå–�茶，带他们到他们没去过的地方玩，你也交了朋å�‹ã€‚这样，你就让他们较容易更舒æœ�地进入了我们的社会。”
  
  他也�求新移民的孩�们，必须为更好的�途努力学习，在新加�，掌�英语是达致�功的基本步骤。
  
  �光耀也说，新移民拥有高标准的�语，�以�助新加�人的�语水平。
  
  他说：“我就è¦�新传媒八频é�“和优频é�“，考虑è�˜è¯·èƒ½è¯´æ ‡å‡†å�Žè¯­çš„新移民当主播。”
  

  Source: http://www.nanyangpost.com/news/singapore/2060.html
• Berries tan

  29 Oct 09, 19:08

  �资政：她�新加�公民 张元元报效祖国没有错

  October 29, 2009 by admin  
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  �永欣 from Lianhe Zaobao

  �年国庆，政府都会邀请�有其他国家永久居民�的新加�人回��加庆�活动，包括出席国庆晚宴�念信约和唱国歌，那些国家�会因此而�议这群新加�人。这也是新加�人应�有的心�，新加�人必须�识到新加�永久居民�是公民，它�是�为新加�公民�的一步。

  国务资政å�´ä½œæ ‹æ˜¨å¤©åœ¨ç¦�建çœ� (Fujian province) 泉州市永春县å�´å²­æ�‘的祖乡探亲å�‚观å�ŽæŽ¥å�—本地媒体访问时，谈å�Šè¿‘日在新加å�¡é—¹å¾—沸沸扬扬的张元元“报效祖国”事件。

  �资政认为，张元元的选择没有错，身为一�中国年轻人，能够�加祖国60周年国庆的检阅礼是�为光�的事。更何况，张元元�是新加�永久居民，还�是新加�公民。

  现年29å²�的张元元在23å²�时离开北京到新加å�¡å­¦ä¹ ï¼Œä¸‰å¹´å�Žç”³è¯·æˆ�为永久居民，两年å�Žå›žåŒ—京，其å�Žæ¯…然报å��å�‚加了中国60周年国庆阅兵的女民兵方队，接 å�—“党和人民的检阅”，结果æˆ�为中国官方媒体努力打造的“爱国女海归”典型。有关报é�“被一些眼尖的新加å�¡äººå�‘现，由此在我国è¡�生一场质疑新移民认å�Œæ„Ÿçš„热 议。

  �资政说，更应该关注的是，如何�引这些永久居民�为新加�公民。当然，如果一个人�为了新加�公民，他自然就�应该�加其他国家的国庆检阅礼。

  他也说，新移民�便�为了新加�公民，也��味�他们必须与原属国家切断关系。新加�是个�国，历�较短，若与原属国家切断关系将�味�失去自己的文化和根，新公民将感到若有所失。因此，他鼓励新公民与原属国家尽����系，但�记得自己已是新加�人。

  å�´èµ„政表示，新加å�¡è¦�建立的是一个å�«æœ‰åŽŸå±žå›½å®¶æˆ�分的独有新加å�¡æ–‡åŒ–。他举例说，跟其他新加å�¡äººè®²ç¦�建è¯�时，他会说“我è¦�å�ƒroti（é�¢åŒ…）”ã€�“我去 巴刹”ã€�“你讲simi（什么）”，这些新加å�¡å¼�çš„ç¦�建è¯�å�ªæœ‰æ–°åŠ å�¡äººå�¬å¾—懂，ä¸�过，无论如何，中国的ç¦�建人还是能了解一二，毕竟里头的è¯�汇ä»�有很多是相 å�Œçš„。

  å�´èµ„政昨天是第一次回到å�´å²­æ�‘的祖乡，他告诉记者，回祖乡探访å�‚观的原因之一，是因为新加å�¡è¿‘日掀起了一股针对新移民的热烈讨论，他觉得此行有助于把这个课题概念化。“当然，这也因为我的祖乡刚好是在å‰�往泉州的路上。” – Zaobao.com

  Source: http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/10/29/%e5%90%b4%e8%b5%84%e6%94%bf%ef%bc%9a%e5%a5%b9%e9%9d%9e%e6%96%b0%e5%8a%a0%e5%9d%a1%e5%85%ac%e6%b0%91-%e5%bc%a0%e5%85%83%e5%85%83%e6%8a%a5%e6%95%88%e7%a5%96%e5%9b%bd%e6%b2%a1%e6%9c%89%e9%94%99/

• Berries tan

  30 Oct 09, 17:18

  Vietnamese NUS undergrad stole phone and laptops

  30 Oct 2009

  Source: The Straits Times
  
  A Vietnamese national was yesterday jailed for four weeks for theft and fraudulent possession of items that were not his.

  
  Pham Le Tuan Kiet, 24, had earlier been found guilty of having with him a cellphone and two laptop computers, which he could not account for satisfactorily in October last year, when he was arrested.
  
  When asked to operate the laptops, the then final-year National University of Singapore chemical engineering undergraduate claimed he could not do so because they were protected by passwords which he had forgotten.
  
  Pham, who has a theft conviction, pleaded guilty yesterday to stealing a $15 polo shirt that same month from a fellow undergraduate. Another theft charge was taken into consideration.

  Source: http://thecourtroom.stomp.com.sg/stomp/courtroom/case_of_the_day/272604/vietnamese_nus_undergrad_stole_phone_and_laptops.html

• Berries tan

  5 Nov 09, 11:29

  MM’s speech in US draws flak online in China

  November 3, 2009 by admin  
  Filed under Snippets

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  Straits Times, 3 November 2009

  Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew’s comments that the United States should remain engaged in East Asia have drawn criticism on the website of a state-owned newspaper in China.

  The Chinese-language Global Times, a sister publication of the flagship People’s Daily noted for its international coverage, said it reported on Sunday a speech Mr Lee made in Washington last week, and within hours, it claimed to have received more than 500 comments online.

  In his keynote address delivered at the US-Asean Business Council’s 25th anniversary gala dinner last Thursday in Washington, MM Lee said the US should remain engaged in Asia. ‘The size of China makes it impossible for the rest of Asia, including Japan and India, to match it in weight and capacity in about 20 to 30 years. So we need America to strike a balance.’

  He also warned Washington that it risked losing its global leadership if it did not remain engaged in Asia.

  MM Lee was conferred a lifetime achievement award for helping to foster US-Asean relations at the dinner last week.

  Many of those who responded were upset and said that MM Lee had treated the Chinese as outsiders although they had treated Singaporeans as ‘among their own’.

  ‘Lee Kuan Yew spoke for the feeling of those in the West who fear China’s rise would harm their vested interests,’ said one netizen.

  Another described MM Lee as ‘a political animal’, saying that while he ‘relies on China to develop his country’s economy, he is ushering wolves here to deal with China’.

  A third posting said: ‘Just because he has achieved some success in Singapore, he dares to play the guiding light that shows US the way. If he has the stuff, he should go to Africa and offer tips on how to shake off poverty and achieve wealth.’

  Another posting brushed off his comments as insignificant as Singapore was a small country. ‘Lee Kuan Yew had made such comments likely because Singapore is a small country that needs an interplay of balances in the international arena,’ said the netizen.

  ‘However, what significance do his words carry when the reality is that for a voice to be heard and the views realised, one needs to be truly powerful?’ the netizen added. – ST

  Source: http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/11/03/mms-speech-in-us-draws-flak-online-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-39083

• Miracles&Prophecies

  6 Nov 09, 09:22

  Why does a Chinese PRC want to work in Singapore if he can enjoy a good career at home close to family and his own people and government?
  
  China is seeing amazing economy growth for decades and will be the leading Asia's economy. Any ordinary Chinese PRC who ignores to ride on this trend is a fool. There's much more opportunities in China than in Singapore. Study in SIngapore work in China. What more could you ask?
• Berries tan

  6 Nov 09, 15:56

  这个�怎么也算在PR头上？
  
  今天《Today》的读者æ�¥ä¿¡“Perhaps it's the PRs ...”（也许是因为PR……）真有æ„�æ€�。读者认为新加å�¡çš„出生率和1990年比并ä¸�低，主è¦�是大é‡�移民：PR的生育率太低了。
  
  首先，PR在新加�出生的孩��是新加�公民；其次，新加�出生率的计算应该是出生的新加�公民除以新加�公民人数，难��是�？
  
  新加�生育率低，这个�怎么也算在PR头上？
  
  http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/ED...s-its-the-PRs-,,,
  
  
  Perhaps it's the PRs ...
  Letter from Chong Lee Ming
  05:55 AM Oct 06, 2009
  AS REPORTED recently, Singapore's total fertility rate remains one of the lowest in the world, at 1.28 last year.
  
  While most attribute the low rate to social-economic factors, I believe that the large number of permanent residents (PRs) has also contributed to the low fertility rate in recent years.
  
  While separate statistics are not published, it is likely that the fertility rate of PRs is much lower than that of citizens.
  
  First, there are also proportionately more singles, most of whom come to Singapore to work, while the older, more accomplished expatriates are likely to already have had children before arriving in Singapore.
  
  In addition, some could be "transient residents" who would probably choose to return to their home country should they choose to settle down and start a family.
  
  How does this affect Singapore's fertility rate? The number of resident live births was 49,787 and 37,277 in 1990 and 2008, respectively. The number of females aged 20 to 39 was respectively 532,000 and 556,000 in the same period.
  
  The number of female residents aged zero to 19 in 1990 - the group which would be of child-bearing age today - was 410,000.
  
  By making some assumptions to simplify the computations, the number of live births per thousand reproductive female citizens was approximately 94 in 1990 and 91 in 2008, using 410,000 as the denominator. However, if we use 556,000 as the denominator - in other words, the population including PRs - this number falls to 67 live births per thousand.
  
  This suggests that the fertility rate last year after adjusting for the impact of PRs could be much closer to the 1.83 of 1990.
  
  What are the implications on Singapore's population policy?
  
  First, it implies that Singapore's fertility rate will probably not improve much and might even decline further if Singapore is able to attract more PRs. However, this does not mean that our current immigration policy is not sound, as without attracting foreigners here, Singapore's population will age and decline in the long term.
  
  Second, to measure the effectiveness of the parenthood packages, more appropriate indicators - such as the fertility rate of citizens alone - should be used instead. If the current fertility rate of citizens is only slightly lower than that of 1990, as the above computation suggests, there is limited room for the Government to further boost the fertility rate.
  
  This does not mean that current measures are not necessary, but rather, using more appropriate indicators will help to better manage the expectations of the packages and fine-tune them so that they are more focused and effective.
  
  Third, studying the fertility rate of PRs separately will enable us to gauge how successful we are in attracting foreigners to sink their roots here.
  
  If a significant number of them are "transient residents", we might want to consider recalibrating our immigration policy to attract immigrants who will help boost Singapore's long-term population growth, rather than just increasing the numbers short-term.
  
  
• Berries tan

  7 Nov 09, 03:04

   

• Berries tan

  7 Nov 09, 16:02

  中国留学生 狮城毕业�最容易就业

  ---

  中国《扬å­�晚报》针对中国留学生在新加å�¡ã€�è�·å…°ã€�ä¿„ç½—æ–¯ã€�法国ã€�澳洲ã€�加拿大ã€�德国ã€�日本ã€�英国ã€�美国等10个热门留学国家的就业难度进行了比较，新加å�¡ä»¥“1颗星”被列为毕业生最容易就业的国家。
  
  报�指出，�引海外人��狮城工作和生活已�为我国政府的一项长期政策，对于具有高技术专业知识的人��说，中国留学生毕业�，留在我国找工作是明智的选择。
  
  留学生�在�兰就业也很容易，因为�兰有大批的海外投资�业，需�大批的管��技术和金�人�。在法国则因为必须学习法语而被评为两颗星，但能够掌�法语则就业也�难。
  
  留学生在英国和美国就业就�分困难。在�景气的�济下，大公�纷纷�员节�，就业市场处于僧多粥少的局�，基本上，毕业等于失业。
  
  对于上述报�，在本地求学的中国学生表示赞�。
  
  æ�¥è‡ªé»‘龙江哈尔滨的陶醉（25å²�，è¯�券交易员）说：“我从国大毕业å‰�就已ç»�找到了工作，虽然为了找工作å‰�å‰�å�Žå�Žç”¨äº†å¤§çº¦å�Šå¹´çš„时间，但其中多数时间å�ªæ˜¯åœ¨ç­‰é�¢è¯•å’Œå›žéŸ³ï¼Œå¹¶æ²¡ç¢°ä»€ä¹ˆé’‰å­�。”
  
  æ�¥è‡ªç”˜è‚ƒçœ�ã€�27å²�的工程师王磊说：“在新加å�¡ï¼Œå�ªè¦�英语能过关，找工作就ä¸�会有什么问题。我一毕业就找到了ç�†æƒ³çš„工作，在公å�¸ä¹Ÿæ²¡æœ‰é�­åˆ°ä»»ä½•æ­§è§†ï¼Œä¸�åƒ�我一个在澳洲留学的朋å�‹ï¼Œä»–虽然找到了工作，但å�´å› ä¸�是澳洲本地人而在公å�¸å±¡é�­æŽ’挤。”
  
  27å²�ã€�æ�¥è‡ªæ¹–北çœ�的教师刘å°�å§�说：“å�ªè¦�所学的专业ä¸�是很冷门，在新加å�¡å°±ä¸šç¡®å®žä¸�会很难。å�³ä½¿çŽ°åœ¨çš„行情ä¸�好，我的中国朋å�‹ä»¬åœ¨æ¯•ä¸šå�Žè¿˜æ˜¯èƒ½æˆ�功找到工作，其中有些或许并未找到最ç�†æƒ³çš„工作，但我相信éš�ç�€ç»�济的å¤�è‹�，他们将æ�¥å¿…然å�¯ä»¥è½¬è€Œä»Žäº‹è‡ªå·±å–œçˆ±çš„行业。”
  
  就业难度比较（注：5颗星代表留学生最难在当地找到工作。）
  新加� ★
  �兰 ★
  俄罗斯 ★★
  法国 ★★
  澳洲 ★★★
  加拿大 ★★★
  德国 ★★★

• KingE

  7 Nov 09, 16:48

  Well, this is the kind of stuff you can expect from our so-called 'foreign talent' They leech on our benefits, then leave, hardly making any contribuitions. Haiz...so dissapointed. Of course, not all of them are like this though , but i think majority are........ Agree?
• Berries tan

  7 Nov 09, 19:21

  “永久居民”心æ€�上应该是本地的东é�“主å�—？

  ---

  �洋视界新加�讯，一�新移民在报纸上指责新加�的��日薄西山，�致舆论的批驳其�符事实。海峡时报引述学者认为，这件事凸显了新移民�尊�本地社会的情况。
  
  �自中国的新加�永久居民邹�，日�在��早报�表一篇文章，指新加�的��日薄西山，引�了激烈的辩论。�与辩论的�但包括在新加�的新移民，更有新加�音�界的著�人士。新加���团总��何伟山也撰文表明观点，��早报甚至为此�表社论。
  
  事件现在开始延烧到了英文报章。海峡时报今天刊载报�，引述了学者的看法。
  
  海峡时报指出，邹�在专访了新加���团的音�家��表的文章说，新加�政府一直在积�推动艺术，但公众�然缺�对音�的整体认�感。
  
  海峡时报引述她质疑说，新加å�¡çš„å�Žä¹�是å�¦æ—¥è–„西山，以å�Šåœ¨æ–°åŠ å�¡çš„环境里，音ä¹�家们在这个“ä¸�被鼓励的社会大环境下，被扼æ�€ç‰ºç‰²æŽ‰”。
  
  �自四�的新公民�建伟教授在接�海峡时报访问时，以邹�事件为例�，指出新移民需�认识到本地社会的感�。
  
  æ�¨å»ºä¼Ÿæ˜¯åœ¨2004å¹´æˆ�为新加å�¡äººçš„，之å‰�他在新加å�¡å±…ä½�了11年。他说：“在传统的å�Žäººæ•™è‚²ä¸­ï¼Œå…ˆæ�¥è€…是主人，å�Žæ�¥è€…者是客人。作为客人，你应该é�µå®ˆä¸€äº›ä¹ æƒ¯ï¼šå½“主人欢迎你，你应该表示应有的尊敬和感激。如果你开始å�¹æ¯›æ±‚疵，批评这批评那，主人会ä¸�高兴。”
  
  “我ä¸�是说ä¸�能批评，但最好å°�心处ç�†ã€‚”
  
  æ�¨å»ºä¼Ÿä¹Ÿå‘¼å��新移民“入乡éš�ä¿—”，“如果你ä¸�能改å�˜çŽ¯å¢ƒï¼Œä½ å�ªèƒ½æ”¹å�˜ä½ è‡ªå·±ã€‚è¦�环境为你改å�˜æ˜¯ä¸�现实的。”
  
  邹�事件�生之�，除了海峡时报今天的报�，事实上，也有一些人质疑，作为永久居民的新移民，是�是适�在公开场�以新加�人的代言人的身份�表看法。
  
  一ä½�ä¸�愿披露姓å��本地的音ä¹�界人士告诉å�—洋视界，邹ç’�在这篇文章中，“以新加å�¡ä¸€éƒ¨åˆ†äººçš„代言人的å�£æ°”说法，会令很多本地人ä¸�快。”
  
  事件�生�，邹�尚未公开给予回应。

   

  这�新加�学者，今天�表长篇文章：
  
  多å�¬ã€�少说ã€�欣èµ�ã€�称赞 ——新移民èž�入新环境的四项基本原则

   

   

   

  回�: 新加�学者指新移民�该�客为主

  ---

  'Listen more, connect more, criticise less, appreciate and praise more. Complaining every day won't buy you happiness, but regret. If you don't treat Singapore as home, Singapore won't treat you as part of its family.' 多å�¬ã€�少说ã€�欣èµ�ã€�称赞 ——新移民èž�入新环境的四项基本原则

   

  è¿™ä½�è€�兄知é�“什么å�«å�šèž�入。那ä½�张元元就是“don't treat Singapore as home”。身为PR，è¦�回去中国没有什么问题，ä¸�过为什么è¦�那么煽情的é�žè¦�çª�显自己Singapore PR的身份？如果真è¦�那么洒狗血，干脆当ç�€è®°è€…çš„é�¢æŠŠé‚£ä¸ªè“�色身份è¯�一刀两断ä¸�是更干脆？

   

   

• Berries tan

  7 Nov 09, 19:31

  回�: 新加�学者指新移民�该�客为主

  ---

  From The Straits Times - Oct 9, 2009. Insight.
  
  A NEW immigrant freelance writer triggered off a controversy in Lianhe Zaobao recently when she bemoaned the falling standards on the Singapore Chinese orchestra scene.
  
  
  In an article based on interviews with musicians from China in the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Ms Zou Lu commented that while the Government had been active in promoting and popularising the arts, the public still lacked a sense of identification with the music.
  
  She asked if the music was entering a 'sunset phase' and if Singapore's young talented artists were being 'strangled' by an unappreciative society.
  
  The immediate response was a flurry of letters from the local community defending the vibrancy of Singapore Chinese orchestra music and questioning Ms Zou's familiarity with the scene.
  
  Ms Zou's critique in the Chinese morning daily was singled out by a new citizen from Sichuan, Professor William Yang Jian Wei, as an example of how new arrivals need to be attuned to the sensitivities of their host society.
  
  As Prof Yang, who became a Singaporean in 2004 after working here for 11 years, put it: 'According to traditional Chinese teaching, the one who comes first is the master and the rest are guests. As a guest, there are rules for you: When the master welcomes you, you should pay due respect and be grateful. If you start to be picky and criticise this and that, the host won't be happy.
  
  'I am not saying that one should not criticise, but rather that it should be done carefully. Otherwise the host will say, do not lay your finger on my rice.'
  
  Prof Yang, 59, sits on the 17-member National Integration Working Group for Community, one of four groups set up by the Government since April to discuss and implement integration programmes.
  
  The vice-president of business consultancy Asia-Link Technology addressed a group of 250 mostly immigrant Chinese in a dialogue organised by the Tian Fu Club, an association for Chinese immigrants, and the Amoy Association at the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry last Saturday.
  
  Prof Yang, an author of several books on investing in China, referred to the tendency among new well-educated Chinese immigrants to gripe, for example, about the use of Chinese and English in Singapore.
  
  Rather than complain, he said, new arrivals should ru siang sui su - adapt to the customs of the place they are in. 'If you cannot change the environment, you can only change yourself. To want the environment to change for you is not practical.'
  
  
  

  Talking about how Chinese immigrants could be better integrated here, he noted how many came to Singapore mistakenly thinking that Singaporean Chinese culture was identical to mainland Chinese culture.
  
  He said that Singapore, after around 150 years of being a British colony, has developed a very different culture and operates on a system of laws and contracts rather than relationships, or guanxi.
  Drawing an example, he said that if Singaporeans were pulled up for a traffic offence, they would go to the authorities to pay a fine.
  
  'But the Chinese will tell the policeman, I think my brother's wife's uncle's son is a policeman, perhaps he can help? Chinese can't use guanxi here, that's why they get frustrated,' Prof Yang said.
  
  The result is that immigrants, unused to the Singaporean way of life, end up mingling with their own circle of people, whether they are studying or working here. Not knowing the world outside their circle, and not interested in exploring further, he said, they stay different from locals in their way of thinking, culture and the way they interact with people.
  
  As Prof Yang pointed out, immigrants also do not mix with the locals because they do not speak English. While Chinese immigrants mainly use Mandarin, English is the main language of communication in Singapore where even the local Chinese talk to one another in English, he said.
  
  Most adult Chinese immigrants here - apart from a small professional group - do not speak English well enough to communicate with the locals. And that, in Prof Yang's view, is the key factor that explains why locals and immigrant Chinese do not mix.
  
  A Speak Good English campaign targeted at immigrants from non-English speaking backgrounds can help, he said.
  
  But ultimately the onus is on oneself. To integrate, new immigrants have to work hard at learning English.
  
  'Listen more, connect more, criticise less, appreciate and praise more. Complaining every day won't buy you happiness, but regret. If you don't treat Singapore as home, Singapore won't treat you as part of its family.'

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

• Berries tan

  7 Nov 09, 19:35

  回�: 新加�学者指新移民�该�客为主

  ---

  言论自由�是无�制的。更尤其当新移民还��清楚状况，或者还抱�一些和本地价值观�相符�的��的��下�言，更容易引起�感。
  
  首先，新加��民�的共�语言是英文。为了英文的primus inter pares (1st among equals) 的地�，��是��，包括�度裔和马��都淡化了�自的语言和文化的传承。这是一�为了��多元民�和国际接轨所作的选择。
  
  这样的选择在好一些抱ç�€“五å�ƒå¹´æ–‡åŒ–å�šå¤§ç²¾æ·±” - chinese supremacy 的眼里看æ�¥ï¼Œå°±å�˜æˆ�一ç§�无法接å�—的崇洋媚外。明明新加å�¡æ˜¯ä¸€ä¸ªå�Žæ—�å� å¤šæ•°çš„国家，怎么新加å�¡å�Žäººäººçš„å�Žæ–‡é‚£ä¹ˆå¤šå·®åŠ²ï¼Œæ ¹æœ¬å°±æ˜¯ä¸€ç§�数典忘祖。
  
  那新移民去�表这样的言论看看，�是摆明挑衅�？就算�这么说，从骨�里轻视新加�人没有文化，没有水平，心里这样想，嘴里这样说，还加上一些嘲笑，能够让新加�人带�笑脸虚怀若谷，有则改之，无则加勉？新加�人�大度，也是泥人都有土性�。
  
  很多人一直question�入的标准 - 其实很简�，就是尊�这个多元民�文化和宗教的现实，�解这个地方对于语文和文化的选择的现实。�解这里的人在��dilemma里头所必须�的，也许�是最�想但�是最实际的选择的现实。

   

   

   

  Source: http://nanyangpost.com/forum/showthread.php?t=117701

• Berries tan

  7 Nov 09, 19:44

  多å�¬ã€�少说ã€�欣èµ�ã€�称赞 ——新移民èž�入新环境的四项基本原则

  'Listen more, connect more, criticise less, appreciate and praise more. Complaining every day won't buy you happiness, but regret. If you don't treat Singapore as home, Singapore won't treat you as part of its family.'

  （2009-10-20）

  � �建伟
  热点�题

  �主按：尽管此文是针对新加�的新移民所言，但是，在交通通讯便利�社会�动频�的今天，��形�的移民�断增多，�信就�问你自己，你出生在你现在工作生活之地�？我们都需�适应新环境的能力。此文或许对您会有所��，因此，鄙人在此推�，敬请一阅。

  　　新移民如何平稳�顺利地�入一个新环境？这�仅仅是中国新移民在�入新加�的过程中所�对的问题，也是世界上所有的新移民�徙到一个新国家�新环境都��对的问题和困难。也正因为如此，新移民�入的课题便�为新加�从国家领导�政府部门到社会�阶层��方�都共�关心和关注的课题。

  　　新移民�入的问题，归根结底是一个供求关系的问题。倘若�是因为出生率�低�人��龄化的比例�年�高��引新移民已��为一项��的人�替代国策的�，新加�大��必�对这个矛盾和自寻烦�。

  　　关于引进外�人�的��性，�显龙总�在10月上旬出访日本之�，接�日本媒体的书�访问时，被问�哪项政策是他�以介�给日本首相鸠山由纪夫，�总�的回答是，引进外�人�政策。他首先说明新加�是�国，所�对的挑战自然与日本��。但两国都�对人��龄化的问题，这个问题的长期�果是国家的�济能力将��削弱。新加�的对策是开放门户�引外�人�，并欢迎他们移民并�入本地社会。

  　　他说：“如果没有移民，新加å�¡çš„人å�£å�ŠåŠ³åŠ¨é˜Ÿä¼�将在约2020年开始下é™�。ä¸�过日本还是很难接å�—移民的概念。”

  　　

  新移民�入新环境，少数人�能是一帆风顺，没有什么困难，多数人则会�对这样那样的问题，需�一个适应的过程和时间。新移民是把原�故国的熟地丢掉�新�拓�，当然�有一段耕耘的时间。�过，��辛勤耕耘，何�没有收获？

  　　根æ�®ç¬”者自己在新加å�¡ç”Ÿæ´»å’Œå·¥ä½œäº†16年的亲身ç»�历和感å�—，新移民如果希望顺利的èž�入新环境，最é‡�è¦�的是è¦�有一个正确的心æ€�，笔者把此归纳为新移民èž�入新环境的四项基本原则——多å�¬ã€�少说ã€�欣èµ�ã€�称赞。

  　　多å�¬ã€‚到了一个新环境，è¦�多学习ã€�多了解新情况；è¦�客观ã€�公正ã€�å…¨é�¢çš„了解，而ä¸�是主观ã€�片é�¢ã€�局部的了解，更ä¸�是“两耳ä¸�闻窗外事，一心å�ªè¯»è€�皇历”。

  “å…¼å�¬åˆ™æ˜Žï¼Œå��信则暗”

      å�¦çŽ‡åœ°è®²ï¼Œæ–°ç§»æ°‘看è€�移民有许多ä¸�顺眼，è€�移民看新移民å�Œæ ·ä¹Ÿæœ‰è®¸å¤šä¸�顺眼，甚至更多。这些ä¸�顺眼久而久之就会å�‘展æˆ�误会和隔阂。多å�¬å°±æ˜¯å¤šæ²Ÿé€šã€�多了解，这是å‡�少相互ä¸�顺眼ã€�化解误会ã€�消除隔阂的ä¸�二法门。鸡犬之声相闻，民至è€�æ­»ä¸�相往æ�¥ï¼Œè¿™æ˜¯å°�农ç»�济和å°�农æ„�识，ä¸�是现代社会和现代文明的表现。
  　　新移民�跳出自己人的�圈�，多和周围的当地人��移民接触�交往和交�，熟悉他们的生活，熟悉他们的语言��想与文化，和他们交朋�。了解他们在说什么�想什么，知�他们对新移民的看法和评价是什么。

  　　为什么�强调多�？《贞观政�》这部记载�太宗与群臣之间治�国事的问答哲�著作中有��的�述。

  　　贞观二年，太宗问é­�å¾�曰：“何谓明å�›ï¼Ÿä½•è°“æš—å�›ï¼Ÿ”é­�å¾�回答说：“å�›ä¹‹æ‰€ä»¥æ˜Žè€…，兼å�¬ä¹Ÿï¼›å…¶æ‰€ä»¥æš—者，å��信也。”这就是“å…¼å�¬åˆ™æ˜Žï¼Œå��信则暗”。对新环境没有全é�¢çš„了解，ä¸�知é�“外部的信æ�¯å’Œå��映，尤其是å�¬ä¸�到外界批评的声音，长此以往å�ªä¼šä½¿è‡ªå·±å�‘自闭症é� æ‹¢ï¼Œä¹Ÿå®¹æ˜“导致å��æ¿€ã€�å��è§�和互ä¸�ä¿¡ä»»

  　　少说。新移民是客人，�移民是主人，客人就�有身为客人的为客之�，这就是尊�主人�感激主人。入乡�俗�客�主便�到什么山唱什么歌，这些都是为客之�的起�原则。

  少说，是指新移民在�入新环境的过程中，在�临�入的矛盾和问题时，首先�检讨自己���自己，而�是指责别人�批评别人。���在一起便群情激奋的讲新环境的�是，得了别人的好处也�领情，�而是怨言多多，时间长了�会引起主人的�感。

  　　少说，少埋怨�少挑剔�少说负�的��。过多悲观�负�的��和情绪，�但使别人�高兴，也会打击和伤害自己，使自己丧失奋斗和进�的勇气，在困难��退缩。

  先熟悉游�规则�能改�它

  　　少说，也是因为病从å�£å…¥ï¼Œç¥¸ä»Žå�£å‡ºã€‚当然，任何社会都ä¸�是å��å…¨å��美的，都存在缺点和错误，新加å�¡ä¹Ÿä¸�例外。ä¸�过，作为åˆ�æ�¥ä¹�到的新移民，自己都立足未稳，自己的事情尚且没有ç�†æ¸…楚，就去急急忙忙批评别人，批评主人的这里ä¸�好ã€�那里ä¸�好，难å…�会在一些æ•�感事情上引起主人的ä¸�悦。主人嘴上ä¸�一定说，但心里大概一定会想：“ä½ ç®—è€�几？什么时候轮到你æ�¥æŒ‡æ‰‹ç”»è„šï¼Ÿ”è¦�知é�“，新移民到一个新环境，首先是熟悉游æˆ�规则，积æž�å�‚加游æˆ�。在刚刚有资格å�‚加游æˆ�的时候，就想ç�€æ”¹å�˜äººå®¶çš„游æˆ�规则，是ä¸�是太ç�€æ€¥äº†ä¸€äº›ï¼Ÿ

  　　少说，尤其是少说新环境的��，这�但是一��性�宽容和胸怀，也是一�生存的智慧。香港多产作家冯两努早就说过：��宽容的人。宽容的人�是会点人家的死穴，而是会点人家的喜穴。

  少说，也包括ä¸�è¦�盲目指责这里的英语，更ä¸�è¦�以指责这里的英语是Singlish或是“å�—洋英语”而掩饰自己的英语盲或英语è�’。è¦�清醒的认识到，这里的英语å†�ä¸�标准，也是英语；你的å�Žæ–‡å†�标准，也无法替代英语。新加å�¡æ˜¯ä¸€ä¸ªä½¿ç”¨è‹±è¯­çš„天地，ä¸�会英语或者英语程度ä¸�足，在这里是无所作为的。
  　　欣�。新移民到新环境，�对许许多多和原�的人生�验�一样��熟悉��习惯的事物，�用欣�的眼光和心�培养自己对新环境的喜欢和热爱。�拿自己的短处比人家的长处，而�是拿自己的长处比人家的短处。

  　　新加�这个蕞尔�岛�弹丸之地，无论从禀赋�素或国家学说的角度�衡�，都没有资格�为一个独立的国家，�是她�为了，并且用一代人的时间从第三世界跃�到第一世界，其政治的��济的�就远远超出了�国的国界，为全世界所瞩目�所赞��所学习�所仿效。

  这个æˆ�功的背å�Žï¼Œä¸€å®šæœ‰å¥¹çš„过人之处和值得我们æ€�考ã€�欣èµ�和学习的东西。比如：新加å�¡æ”¿åºœçš„廉æ´�与高效，新加å�¡ç¤¾ä¼šå¯¹æ³•åˆ¶å’Œè¯šä¿¡çš„高度推崇，新加å�¡ç¤¾ä¼šç›¸å½“高的公平与公正……也正因为如此，新加å�¡æ‰�å�¸å¼•äº†å·©ä¿�ã€�æ�Žè¿žæ�°ã€�ç½—æ�°æ–¯ç­‰ä¼—多æˆ�功人士æ�¥è¿™é‡Œå®‰å®¶è�½æˆ·ã€‚

  　　从1978年11月邓�平访问新加�开始，30多年�中国的党政干部，从江泽民到��市的领导，从没有间断地�新加�考察�学习和培训。�笔者了解，近年��年�新加�学习和培训的中国党政干部约有1100个团组。这也充分说明了新加�大有值得欣�和学习之处。

  　　称赞。在认��接�和欣�之�，还�学会称赞。称赞，就是�把内心深处对主人的尊�和感激之情说出��表达出�，让主人知�她的客人是明�之人，值得欢迎�值得接纳。

  　　根æ�®å�°æ¹¾è‘—å��文学家和历å�²å­¦å®¶æŸ�æ�¨å…ˆç”Ÿå€¾æ¯•ç”Ÿç²¾åŠ›çš„研究，人类有一个共性或者规律，那就是喜欢被人称赞——这也许å�¯ä»¥ç§°ä¹‹ä¸ºæ™®ä¸–价值。æŸ�æ�¨çš„惊人å�‘现是，这个规律竟然适用于所有的人：从è¥�褓里的婴儿到孩童到æˆ�人到è€�年人，从庶民百姓和贩夫走å�’到å¸�王领袖和伟人圣贤。当然，现代管ç�†ç§‘学也对此现象进行了系统的分æž�并给出了一个结论：激励——æ¿€å�‘和鼓励。美国著å��管ç�†å­¦å¤§å¸ˆå½¼å¾—·æ�œæ‹‰å…‹çš„å��言便是：正é�¢çš„激励永远比负é�¢çš„è®­æ–¥æ�¥å¾—有效。

  　　说到称赞，å”�æœ�诗人æ�Žç™½ç»™æˆ‘们树立了æž�好的榜样。天å®�14年（公元755年），æ�Žç™½å‡ºæ¸¸å®‰å¾½æ³¾åŽ¿æ¡ƒèŠ±æ½­ä¹‹å�Žä¹˜èˆ¹ç¦»å¼€çš„时候，当地人汪伦到岸边唱歌é€�行，令æ�Žç™½é�žå¸¸æ„ŸåŠ¨ï¼ŒäºŽæ˜¯èµ‹è¯—一首《赠汪伦》：“æ�Žç™½ä¹˜èˆŸå°†æ¬²è¡Œï¼Œå¿½é—»å²¸ä¸Šè¸�歌声。桃花潭水深å�ƒå°ºï¼Œä¸�å�Šæ±ªä¼¦é€�我情。”汪伦ä¸�过是å‰�去给æ�Žç™½å�šäº†ä¸€ä¸ªé€�行，æ�Žç™½å°±çœŸè¯šåœ°ç§°èµžæ±ªä¼¦äº²ä¸´é€�别的情义比桃花潭水还è¦�深厚，借此å�‘汪伦表达了自己最崇高的感激之情。新加å�¡ç»™æ–°ç§»æ°‘追求美好的明天æ��供了一个新的å�‘展机会和å�‘展平å�°ï¼Œè¿™ä»½æƒ…义大概ä¸�亚于汪伦到岸边给æ�Žç™½çš„é€�è¡Œå�§ã€‚

  政府�考虑引导新移民学习英语

  　　

   

  新移民èž�入新环境，è¦�立足，è¦�生存，è¦�å�‘展，就è¦�努力学习英语ã€�ä¸�æ–­æ��高自己的英语水平，这应该是新移民在新加å�¡å®‰èº«ç«‹å‘½çš„基本功。除了新移民自身的努力之外，新加å�¡æ”¿åºœå�¯å�¦æ¯”ç…§“å­¦å�Žè¯­è¿�动”的模å¼�，开展一个大规模的ã€�政府主导的“学英语è¿�动”？开设å�„ç§�类别的培训ç�­å’ŒåŸ¹è®­è¯¾ç¨‹ï¼Œå®šæœŸä¸¾åŠžç­‰çº§è€ƒè¯•å¹¶é¢�å�‘政府认å�¯çš„ã€�有å�«é‡‘é‡�的英语等级è¯�书。

  
  为了鼓励新移民积��主动地学习英语，政府�以研究和制定一套学习�绩和�济利益�就业机会挂钩的激励制度或物质奖励制度：一是考试�格者�获得高比例的学费回扣；二是�绩优异者�获得一笔奖金；三是�书获得者�获得雇主的优先录�。这样虽会给政府带�一些财务负担，但为了�高数�万�英语��的新移民的英语水平，也就是�高了他们的就业能力和生存能力，进而�高新加�的整体国民素质，这应该是一项既有�大现实�义也有深远历��义的有价值的投资。
  　　新移民�入新环境，�既�之，则安之。既然�到了新加�，就�把心放在新加�，把这里当�自己的第二故乡，安下心�在这里立足���和�展。对新环境�仅仅是人�往之，还�心�往之。这山望�那山高，心神�定，没有长期�展的打算；或者把这里当�一个跳�，�时准备转移和撤退，我猜想新加�对此�能会�表欢迎。这样的结果对自己�对新加�都没有好处。

  　　当然，新移民èž�入新环境，需è¦�一个过程，也需è¦�一段时间。“æ—¢æ�¥ä¹‹ï¼Œåˆ™å®‰ä¹‹”å�Œæ ·é€‚用于新加å�¡æ”¿åºœå’Œæ–°åŠ å�¡ç¤¾ä¼šã€‚大家都应该有充分的æ€�想准备，ä¸�è¦�急èº�ã€�æµ®èº�ã€�急功近利和急于求æˆ�，更ä¸�能拔苗助长。

  作者是新加å�¡å¤©åºœä¼šå‰¯ä¼šé•¿å…¼ç§˜ä¹¦é•¿ 

  Source: http://hua5432.fyfz.cn/blog/hua5432/index.aspx?blogid=532974

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

• Berries tan

  7 Nov 09, 20:04

  张元元事件 新移民通过报纸展开�击

  14/10/2009 13:40:00

  字体:

   

  新加�讯，新加�永久居民�中国�的张元元�加北京国庆阅兵游行引�的争议，在新加��续�酵。�自中国的新移民利用本地报纸展开�击。但新加�政府昨天表示，新加�将淘汰�赖外劳的低生产力产业。

   

  张元元在北京å�‚加女民兵方阵接å�—胡锦涛等的检阅。她在接å�—中国电视媒体的访问时说，“报效祖国是我的最大心愿”。相关报é�“也æ‹�摄了张元元æŒ�有的新加å�¡çš„居民身份è¯�。
  
  这项报�传到新加��，引�了新加�网民的愤怒。
  
  一些网民认为，政府给了新移民很多的好处，但他们最终还是离去并效忠自己的国家，政府应该检讨是�给新移民的好处太多。
  
  和个别新加å�¡“愤é�’”ä¸�å�Œï¼Œå¤§éƒ¨åˆ†ç½‘民认为，他们并é�žæŒ‡è´£å¼ å…ƒå…ƒçƒ­çˆ±å¥¹çš„国家，他们质疑的是政府引进的外国人是å�¦å¤ªå¤šï¼Œé€Ÿåº¦æ˜¯å�¦å¤ªå¿«ï¼Ÿ
  
  在新加�的英文网民社群，这个�题�为一个多星期�的热门�题。
  
  �过，本地有新移民则利用报纸，对新加�网民的讨论展开�击。
  
  è�”å�ˆæ—©æŠ¥æ˜ŸæœŸä¸€å�‘表一篇æ�¥è‡ªä¸­å›½çš„新移民的文章。文章中说：“这轮‘炮轰’背å�Žçš„情绪，并é�žé’ˆå¯¹å¼ å…ƒå…ƒä¸ªäººï¼Œå‡¸æ˜¾çš„是部分新加å�¡äººå¯¹æ–°ç§»æ°‘的怀疑。”
  
  这篇文章也指责网民的言论在新加å�¡ä¸º“é�žä¸»æµ�”，但文章并未æ��出民调数æ�®ã€‚
  
  文章还写é�“：“新加å�¡æ”¿åºœå’Œä¸»æµ�社会å�‘æ�¥æ¬¢è¿Žæ–°ç§»æ°‘，并一å†�呼å��新加å�¡äººï¼Œåº”该以更宽阔的胸怀接纳新移民。å�ªä¸�过，张元元事件让一些人ç�†ç›´æ°”壮了，他们认为ä¸�是自己的胸怀ä¸�够宽阔，ä¸�是他们ä¸�想接纳，而是新移民ä¸�æ„¿èž�入，新移民å�ªæ˜¯æ�¥å� ä¾¿å®œçš„，ä¸�管我们怎么接纳，他们始终都是外人，会象张元元一样选择离开。”
  
  文章也质疑那些“炮轰者”，ä¸�了解“新移民课题”。
  
  “没有了解，就ä¸�å�¯èƒ½æœ‰çœŸæ­£çš„信任或接纳。从这个角度æ�¥çœ‹é‚£äº›ç‚®è½°å¼ å…ƒå…ƒçš„人，他们对移民课题å�ˆæœ‰å¤šå°‘了解呢？”
  
  在�一天，��早报也刊载了对一些�自中国新移民的访问。
  
  一å��æ�¥è‡ªåŒ—京的新移民说：“我觉得好些本地人对张元元事件的å��应太过激烈，也没有站在他人的角度设想。æ�¢ä¸ªç«‹åœºï¼Œå¦‚果一å��新加å�¡äººåˆ°å›½å¤–长年打拼，回æ�¥å�Žè¡¨ç¤ºè‡ªå·±å¤šçˆ±æ–°åŠ å�¡ï¼Œæ˜¯å�¦å¾ˆæ­£å¸¸ï¼Ÿ ”
  
  在海峡时报，å�Œä¸€å¤©ä¹ŸåˆŠè½½äº†ç½²å��为“He Zhiyu”的文章，谴责一些人以为永久居民应该放弃原国ç±�，是“幼稚的”。一些新加å�¡ç½‘民认为这篇文章也是新移民所写，但海峡时报网站过å�Žæœ‰He_Zhiyu贴文声明，自己是在新加å�¡å‡ºç”Ÿçš„。
  
  这是海峡时报�表的唯一一篇针对张元元事件的读者�信。
  
  在海峡时报网站和报业控股旗下的亚洲网论�上，一�有网民表示，他们并�针对张元元的爱国热情。
  
  海峡时报一ä½�网å�‹å†™é�“：“这里很多人都没抓ä½�é‡�点……我ä¸�介æ„�永久居民回国å�‚加阅兵。……如果考虑到我的国民æœ�役，我认为如张元元这样的永久居民，享用了比如我这样的新加å�¡ç”·æ€§å…¬æ°‘更多的好处。”
  
  他写é�“：“政府必须醒醒了。男性公民完æˆ�国民æœ�役，但我没有看到和永久居民有何ä¸�å�Œã€‚他们也享有雇佣补贴等等。如果å�¯èƒ½ï¼Œæˆ‘ä¸�介æ„�放弃新加å�¡å…¬æ°‘æ�ƒï¼Œæˆ�为一å��永久居民，这样我å�¯ä»¥åœ¨å�Œç­‰æ�¡ä»¶ä¸‹åœ¨å°±ä¸šå¸‚场å�‚加竞争。”
  
  和新移民的“回击”ä¸�å�Œï¼Œæ–°åŠ å�¡ä¸€å��媒体人则投书报纸，表达了对新加å�¡ç½‘æ°‘çš„å�Œæƒ…。
  
  è�”å�ˆæ—©æŠ¥å�‘表的æ�Žæ…§æ•�的文章指出：问题是，张元元在接å�—中央电视å�°è®¿é—®æ—¶ï¼Œå‡ºç¤ºå¥¹çš„新加å�¡æ°¸ä¹…å±…ç•™è¯�件，自豪地å�‘中国广大人民群众表示“报效祖国是我最大的心愿”。这一幕看在一些新加å�¡ç½‘民眼里，é�žå¸¸ä¸�是滋味。
  
  “ä¸�过，与其说新加å�¡äººå……满排外情绪，ä¸�如说是有一些人对政府充满了怨气。当å‰�ç»�济低迷，新加å�¡æ”¿åºœä»�ä¸�断让外国人涌入，使得国民必须在已è�Žç¼©çš„就业市场继续与外国人竞争。”
  
  新加�上个月底公布的数�显示，新加�人�已增至近500万，其中四分之一是外国员工。路�社说，移民潮导致新加�人担心饭碗���生活标准下�。
  
  根�数�，新加�公民�总人�的比例�有64%。
  
  è·¯é€�社引述“淡马锡评论”网站在一篇有关人å�£æ•°å­—的文章中说，移民狂潮引å�‘了严é‡�的通胀，公寓价格飞涨，低收入者工资å�œæ»žä¸�å‰�。
  
  新加�总��显龙上个月曾表示，新加���全��济�机�创，政府将�制外国员工的�入，�过，他�时也承认新加��需�外国人。
  
  �过，�显龙昨天出席一项工会活动时表示，政府将�过仔细考��调整�收外�工人的政策，以在客工人数和�济增长之间�得最佳的平衡。
  
  这显然是对民间质疑移民政策所作出的回应。
  
  但�显龙也指出，�缓客工的�入虽然一方�能让工会�一�气，但�一方��会对�济带�显著的长期影�。
  
  �过，�显龙表示，新加�必须�组�济，�少过度�赖外劳的产业。
  
  海峡时报引述�显龙说，新加�最终�淘汰�赖外劳的低生产力的产业，如�盘驱动器产业，以新的产业�代。

   

  Source: http://www.nanyangpost.com/news/singapore/3188.html

• Berries tan

  7 Nov 09, 20:20

  谈张元元事件 �作栋：新加�欢迎好的新移民

  29/10/2009 10:26:00

  字体:

   

  新加�讯，张元元事件继续�酵，新加��总��国务资政�作栋在�建祭祖时表示，他�解张元元的作为，但他表示，新加��能��便便�纳新移民，而应该�过选择。

  正在中国ç¦�建çœ�进行访问的å�´ä½œæ ‹ï¼Œæ˜¨å¤©åœ¨å…¶ç¥–æ¯�的故乡——ç¦�建çœ�泉州市永春县å�´å²­æ�‘祖乡å�‚访时，接å�—海峡时报记者访问时承认，“新移民问题在新加å�¡å¼•å�‘了热烈的讨论。”

   

  他说，新加å�¡äººçš„å��应是，为什么新加å�¡éœ€è¦�“å�ˆä¸€è½®çš„新移民潮，”但我们也è¦�è®°ä½�，我们是æ�¥è‡ªå“ªé‡Œçš„。他说，新加å�¡äººçš„一å�Šï¼Œæ˜¯æ�¥è‡ªç¦�建人的å�Žè£”。

   

  �作栋指出，新加�人的生育率和出生率都很低。

   

  “如果我们è¦�ç»�济未æ�¥å¢žé•¿è‡³å°‘4-5%，你就需è¦�有人力资æº�，”他说。“所以你需è¦�增加新加å�¡çš„人å�£ï¼Œè¿™æ ·æ‰�能å�–得更多的增长。”

   

  但�作栋也指出，新加�人在欢迎移民时，也�设法��新移民，以将摩擦�少到最低。

   

  �有在�解了这些议题时，新加�人�能够��针对新移民的情绪性的辩论。

   

  å�´ä½œæ ‹è¯´ï¼š“我知é�“针对中国女孩有一些辩论，她是新加å�¡æ°¸ä¹…居民，å�‚加了中国国庆阅兵游行。”他指的是在中央电视å�°è®¿é—®æ—¶ï¼Œäº®å‡ºæ–°åŠ å�¡èº«ä»½è¯�的张元元。

   

  张元元声称效忠祖国，这激怒了新加�人，海峡时报说。

   

  å�´ä½œæ ‹æŒ‡å‡ºï¼Œåƒ�张元元这样的年轻中国公民è¦�å�‚加一个“é‡�大活动”是å�¯ä»¥ç�†è§£çš„。

   

  他指出，新加�人�有其他国家如澳洲和英国的永久居民身份，如果在他们国家�加新加�国庆，是�会��批评的。

   

  “所以，一样的，这就是我们的æ€�度——å°�试去å�¸å¼•ä»–们走下一步，å�³æˆ�为新加å�¡å…¬æ°‘。”

   

  他呼å��新加å�¡äººæ¬¢è¿Ž“对的人”加入新加å�¡å…¬æ°‘。

   

  “我们è¦�欢迎ç»�过选择的移民——我们ä¸�能开å�¯é˜²æ´ªé—¸é—¨ï¼Œè®©æ‰€æœ‰å�„色人等都进æ�¥ï¼Œæ–°åŠ å�¡å°†ä¼šä¸�知所措的。但是……我们应该选择对的人æ�¥ä¸ºæ–°åŠ å�¡å�šè´¡çŒ®ã€‚”

   

  他说，新加�是个主�国家，新加�人民有独一无二的新加�身份，有�中国��度和马�西亚的元素，�使以我们的说�方�都是这样。

   

  å�´ä½œæ ‹ä¹Ÿé¼“励新加å�¡äººå¯»æ‰¾è‡ªå·±ç¥–上的纽带，“我们是更大的整体的一部分。”

   

  新加å�¡æ˜¯åœ¨1965年独立的，但我们能追溯历å�²åˆ°è‹±å›½å»ºç«‹æ–°åŠ å�¡çš„1819年。å�´ä½œæ ‹è¯´ï¼Œè¿™å��应了“我们是更大的文明的一部分。”

   

  Source: http://www.nanyangpost.com/news/singapore/3281.html

• Berries tan

  7 Nov 09, 20:34

  敢与贫穷命�抗争的20�女孩留学生�转】

  ---

  这几天，圆圆的心情�花儿一样�烂。�过几天就�回中国家乡了。
  
  �新加�留学已有三年，这还是第一次回家。�当和妈妈说起回家，妈妈就会说：钱多烧的，那飞机得需�多少钱。
  
  圆圆是想念妈妈爸爸和�弟弟的。特别是想起中学�期的时候，在冬日里，枕在妈妈的大腿上，暖暖的阳光�过窄�的窗�照射到炕上，然��慢慢移到脸上，妈妈就用手��撒在眼�上的阳光，娘俩唠�贴心�，心里就涌现出甜滋滋的笑。
  
  三年�，圆圆以优异的�绩考上了�点大学。入学�久就被新加�国立大学选拔为全�奖学金得主，直接�新加�读大学。
  
  因此这样温馨的回忆，也足足��整整三年多了。
  
  今年一定�回去，这是一定的。于是�����妈妈的工作，还撒了一些�慌。
  
  其实，这次回家，�告诉妈妈也行，因为圆圆的主�目的并�是看妈妈，但如果�看看爸爸妈妈和弟弟，总觉得心里会�泪，虽然�能因为花钱会让妈妈生气。这次回去也就两周，花在国内路途的时间就得四天，也挺折腾人的。
  
  下这么大决心�回去，�是一天两天的决定，这个决心已�下了有�年多了。在这一年多时间里，如果没有这个远方声音，圆圆真�知�自己怎么能挺过�。
  
  一个22�的纯情少女，这是第一次带�一��忑与激动的心情�与一��里之外的陌生男生��。为了这样的�忑与激动，圆圆在�期里拼命打工，�天打两份工，�留下两周回国。其实飞机票用�了这么多，但�给妈妈��飞机票的钱，妈妈�会觉得回�一次�算。
  
  一个22å²�的多情少女，这是第一次得到男生的关心，虽然仅仅是电å­�邮件ã€�声音和网络视频，但对于圆圆æ�¥è¯´è¿™å·²ç»�足够了。圆圆也期盼ç�€å’Œè¿™é‡Œèº«è¾¹çš„男生谈谈情，说说心里è¯�，哪怕是普通朋å�‹ä¸€æ ·çš„接触也行。但感觉这里的男生都当她是通明的。圆圆心里也明白，自己没有一件超过å��元钱的衣æœ�；自己的头å�‘也没拉直；自己身上那个“å±±”呼呼的感觉还没挥去；更有，这两年早出晚归地打工，闷头去学习，也ä¸�能怪男生注æ„�ä¸�到自己。
  
  但圆圆心里还是在划弧，中国的�学有的还�如自己也能找到男朋�，怎样都是一个罗�一个�的。特别是国内女�学��与男�亲密快�的照片，圆圆就�感孤独了。是啊，对于多情的少女，有什么比谈谈情说说爱，更让人激动与�往的呢，有了爱，贫穷根本�算什么。
  
  圆圆试�和国内大学网站的大学生�天，就认识了一�家乡�城大学男生，正在读大四。男孩是学文科的，但和圆圆�其谈得�。圆圆虽是学�工科的，但读书很多，看问题�但��也有自己的�地。特别是圆圆的声音很美，如果你�在她眼�，你甚至怀疑这个好�的声音是从收音机里传�的。
  
  为了这个男生，圆圆甚至给自己的�途都规划好了。因为拿奖学金�绑定三年在新加�工作，于是圆圆就设想：第一年给弟弟挣足学费；第二年给爸妈挣点养�费；第三年给自己攒�妆。
  
  圆圆是想回国生活的。因为她�知，在这里，自己的感情的�陆点在哪儿，看到想到的都是���的渺茫。圆圆的情感是丰富细腻的，她的心�是�春�康的。她娓娓��的柔声，说到高兴时眼�里泛起的柔光，你会觉得很亲切，善良而高尚。但圆圆的身体好��甚�康，看似微胖有点浮肿，脸色也是暗淡的，站久了会头�，更�敢蹲下，�则，站起�会�得�扶桌�。
  
  圆圆�月有500新�的奖学金，�新加�的第一年�实过得很滋润，虽然第一年她就从奖学金里给在家乡县城�点中学�校读中学的弟弟寄回了5000人民�。但她还是有足够的钱生活，逛逛乌节路，到处走走逛逛。也有心��视一下其她时髦�丽的女孩。
  
  家里的�然�故，让这个那时刚刚20�的�春女孩承担了一切。家里在�僻的中国农�，好的年景家里收入也就 4 5�元人民�。因此�里人都说她家祖�冒�气了，养了个这么争气的姑娘，上大学�花钱还给钱，并且�年还能供弟弟5000人民�，看样�养姑娘�是赔钱的货，她家农�那里�男轻女�其严�。
  
  好景�长，就在两年�，父亲借别人家的�四轮�（一�农�用的机动车）去乡里集市�东西的路上，把别人撞伤，车也撞到大树上。几��的修车费是�钱，这被撞伤的人躺在医院里�是个无底洞。圆圆的爸爸妈妈都是�实巴交的庄稼人，这一辈�也没��过事儿，这次�被撞蒙了，��房��让地。房�都�值一万人民�，这地让出去�啥呀？看样��能让弟弟退学了，�年��下八�，一万的。想到弟弟那�明伶�的样�，圆圆哭�请妈妈��让弟弟退学。其实，圆圆的爸妈何�愿�弟弟退学，那也是�两�养�的��啊�
  
  但此时，圆圆的爸妈真的没招了，该借的都借到了，满算�也就借到一万多�，先给伤人的家属拿去。这以��怎么办呀？
  
  圆圆用自己那纤细的肩膀把家里所有的担�都扛了过�，她开导妈妈：我已上大二了，现在英文也过关了，我�以出去打工，这里打工很好赚的。晚上，圆圆哭了�宿，她很茫然很无助，她�知�怎样打工，到哪里去打工。
  
  圆圆开始到处找临时工作，无论有没有工作，她�月最低都往家汇款2000多人民�。找�到工作的时节，�月的生活费�留下100新�。她甚至�以一周���包沾白糖，一天�两个大枕头�包。��圆圆找到一个�甜甜圈�包的工作，离学校�远。晚上下��，��还会把剩余没�出去的甜甜圈�给圆圆，为此她常常��晚饭，下��一次�以��多个甜甜圈，剩下的�以�早�。这样圆圆中��以�两元钱的饭�了。
  
  两年时间里，圆圆总共给家里汇了五万多人民�。
  
  圆圆性格是开朗的，ä¹�观的，从ä¸�éš�è—�自己的观点，也愿æ„�è°ˆè¯�。你è¦�是请她去家里å�ƒé¥­ï¼Œå¥¹ä¼šè¯´ï¼šä¸�行呀，æ�¥å›žè½¦è´¹å››æ–°å¸�，我能å�ƒä¸¤é¡¿é¥­ã€‚这是事实，饭è�œçš„è´¨é‡�å’Œè�¥å…»å¹¶ä¸�é‡�è¦�，é‡�è¦�的是节约æ¯�一个“é“œæ�¿”和时间。她的学业一直很优秀，å�¦åˆ™å¥–学金被å�–消了，更得ä¸�å�¿å¤±äº†ã€‚
  
  圆圆打工越�越熟练了。这�，这个�期白天在一个公��文员，晚上继续�她的甜甜圈。
  
  �说大四�毕业论文�能忙些，还�找工作什么的，圆圆的压力是�会很大？也许被撞伤的人也康�许多��
  
  让我们衷心�愿圆圆�康，快�，爱情美满�

   

  Source: http://www.nanyangpost.com/forum/showthread.php?t=92540

• Berries tan

  9 Nov 09, 06:09

  海峡时报：新加�人为何对永久居民�高兴

  28/10/2009 13:22:00

  字体:

  新加�讯，新加�海峡时报星期六刊载文章，分�了为何新加�人对永久居民感到�高兴。文章引用数�说，其中一个主�原因是，新加�人认为政府批准永久居民太过宽�。

  文章说，一个无�争议的因素导致了很多新加�人感觉公民的�利已��缩，�使这并�事实。这是因为永久居民��居民总数的比例在�高。

   

  文章列举数�说，在1990年，�23个公民�有1个永久居民，但2000年�10个公民有1个永久居民，今年，�6个公民就有1个永久居民。

   

  上个月的统计数�显示，新加�的人�逼近500万，公民数则为320万，为总人�数的64%。

   

  截至今年6月，永久居民数较一年�上�了11%，达到了53.3万人。其他外国人则有125万人。

  s

  大部分人�入是因为�济需�。在新加�人�报告中，人�统计学家�瑞�总结说，如果没有新公民或永久居民，生育率还是�续低，2010年的居民人�就�有360万，然�就从2020年起下�，2030年达到352万人，2040年为323万人，2050年为286万人。

   

  尽管é�¢ä¸´è¿™æ ·ä¸¥å³»çš„现实，政策研究院学者Leong Chan Hoong指出，大é‡�的新永久居民，加上大力å�¸å¼•å¤–国人æ‰�，“å·²ç»�制造了å�°è±¡ï¼Œæ”¿åºœå�‘出永久居民身份è¯�，太宽æ�¾äº†ã€‚”

   

  他指出了三个因素导致了新加�人对新移民的担忧。

   

  第一个是对资�和机会的竞争更加激烈了，尤其是�屋�教育和就业机会。尽管这并�新加�独有的想象，但最近的�济�机加剧了这样的情况。

   

  第二，男性公民需�承担两年的国民�役的�责，接�还�承担10年的预备役，而永久居民则�必。

   

  第三，一部分永久居民缺少èž�å�ˆï¼Œä¹Ÿå¯¼è‡´ä¸€äº›é™ˆæ—§çš„观点，å�³ä¸€äº›å…¬æ°‘认为他们å�ªæ˜¯“酒肉朋å�‹”，也ä¸�会和社群打æˆ�一片。

   

  社会学家�官委议员斯特劳�认为，新加�较�的地�空间使这样的感觉难以��，越�越多的�公民的出现，公民最终和他们的接触就多得多。

   

  "一定会有更多的�应，积�和消�的，很�惜，我们一直没有足够强调积�的交�。"她说。

   

  现在尚难以度�消��应的强度，但最近的张元元事件，�应出这类情绪很容易被激起。张元元2003年�到新加�，2006年得到了永久居民资格。

   

  Source: http://www.nanyangpost.com/news/singapore/3271.html

   

   

   

  ChannelTimes: Isn't the Singaporean person why happy to the permanent inhabitant

  28/10/2009 13:22: 00

  Typeface:

  SingaporeThe news, the Singapore channel Times Saturday prints the article, analyzed added for He XinSlope personFeels to the permanent inhabitant not happily.The article quotation data said that, primary cause is, the Singaporean person thought the government authorizes the permanent inhabitant too excessively to be loose.

   

  ArticleSaid that, an indisputable factor caused very many Singaporean people to feel citizen's right already reduced, even if this by no means fact.This is because the permanent inhabitant occupies the inhabitant total proportion to elevate.

   

  Article rowLifts the data to say, in1990Year, each23Citizen only then1Permanent inhabitant, but2000Year each10A citizen has1Permanent inhabitant, this year, each6A citizen has1Permanent inhabitant.

   

  Previous monthThe statistical data demonstrated that, Singapore's population approaches500Ten thousand, the citizen countsThen is320Ten thousand,For total population64%。

   

  Up to this year6The month, the permanent inhabitant countsA year ago rose11%Achieved53.3Ten thousand people.Other foreignersThen has125Ten thousand people.

  s

  Because the majority of streams of people enter areFor economical need.In the Singapore population report, population statistic scientist Su Ruifu summarizes said, if does not have the new citizen or the permanent inhabitant, the fertility rate continues lowly,2010Year resident population only then360Ten thousand, then from2020Year drop,2030The year achieved352Ten thousand people,2040YearFor323Ten thousand people,2050YearFor286Ten thousand people.

   

  Although surfaceNear such stern reality, policy research institute scholarsLeong Chan HoongPointed out that, the massive new permanent inhabitants, vigorously attract the foreign talented person in addition,“AlreadyAfter made the impression, the government has sent out the permanent resident identification card, too was loose.”

   

  He has pointed out three factorsCausedSingaporean personTo new immigration worrying.

   

  First isHas been more intense to the resources and the opportunity competition, lives the room, the education and the employment opportunity in particular.Although this Singapore is in sole possession of by no means imagination, but the recent economic crisis intensified such situation.

   

  Second, the masculine citizen needs to undertake two years national to serveThe responsibility, then also needs to undertake10YearReserve duty, but the permanent inhabitant does not need.

   

  Third, part of permanent inhabitants lack the fusion,Causes some obsolete viewpoints, namely some citizens thought they only are“Fair-weather friend”Also cannot become integrated with with the social group.

  The sociologists, the official entrustCongressman the Straw graciousness believed that, the Singapore small geography space causes such feeling to avoid with difficulty, the more and more many non-citizen's appearance, the citizen finally and their contact are much more.

   

  "Certainly can have many insteadShould, positive and negative, was a pity very much, we always do not have the enough emphasis positive exchange."SheSaying.

   

  Now still with difficulty measured the negative response the intensity, but the recent Yuan event, responded this kind of mood was very easy to arouse.Zhang Yuanyuan2003The year comes to Singapore,2006The year obtained the permanent inhabitantQualifications。

   

  Source: http://www.nanyangpost.com/news/singapore/3271.html

   

  This is a computer translation of the original webpage. It is provided for general information only and should not be regarded as complete nor accurate.

• Berries tan

  9 Nov 09, 14:17

  MM Lee urged Singporeans to “bear” with tide of foreigners

  November 9, 2009 by admin  
  Filed under Top News

  From our Correspondent

  For the third time in a week, a senior leader of the cabinet had spoken on the issue of immigration, an indication of how serious the problem has become which may cause the ruling party to lose some votes in the coming elections.

  A day after Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong had mused publicly about whether to allow immigrant “enclaves” to emerge in Singapore, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew exhorted Singaporeans to “put up” with the new immigrants in a tacit admission that a growing number of Singaporeans are unhappy with the government’s liberal immigration policy.

  “The government looks closely at permanent residents’ (PRs) contributions to Singapore before deciding which ones can become citizens…..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. Singapore’s population has crossed the 5-million mark in June this year of which 36 per cent are non-Singaporeans. This means that one out of three people you meet in the streets is a foreigner.

  MM Lee repeated the circular argument used by his son PM Lee that foreigners are needed to take up jobs shunned by Singaporeans without which Singapore’s economy will stagnate:

  “Look at the Integrated Resorts. (On the) rooftop, not one (construction) worker there is a Singaporean. (They are) China Chinese and the Indians. If you don’t have that, where’s the IR, and the 10,000 jobs (they will create)?” he asked.

  Singaporeans are aware of the need to have low-cost foreigners in certain sectors like the construction industry, but what they cannot comprehend is the ease at which PRs are given to foreigners who are neither educated or skilled.

  For example, Ms Zhang Yuanyan, who caused a stir lately by publicly proclaiming her loyalty to China, came to Singapore on a students’ pass armed with only a diploma from an unknown institution in China.

  Ms Zhang revealed that she got her Singapore PR within only 2 months of application when she found work as a Chinese language teacher in a private school. The authorities have yet to provide any explanation on how Ms Zhang became a Singapore PR in double-quick time when her English proficiency is a suspect.

  A Singapore Indian told the state media that he was shocked to discover that his daughter was in the minority in a class of 15 out of which 13 are children of expat Indians. He expressed concerns about the future of his daughter who will have to compete with more and more foreigners.

  Despite the rising resentment on the ground at the relentless influx of foreigners, the ruling party is adamant that it will not make any wholesale changes to its policy other than some minor “tweaks”.

  A $10 million Community Integration Fund was unveiled lately to make the newcomers feel “welcomed” in Singapore. Ironically, the fund is contributed unwittingly by Singapore taxpayers.

  The ruling party has also been actively recruiting new citizens and PRs to join grassroots organizations such as the Resident Committees. One PAP MP Charles Chong even remarked that foreigners are easier to “please” than Singaporeans.

  The Straits Times has been publishing letters from PRs expressing their support and appreciation for the ruling party, the latest by a Sam Ahmed who condemned Singaporeans for not being “proud” of their countries.

  Speaking to his constituents in English, Chinese and Malay, MM Lee urged them to bear with the tide of foreigners, ‘even if it’s making Singapore a little uncomfortable and cramped’. Initially, it was only a trickle, now the tide is becoming a storm.

  In the past, Singapore has encouraged mainly Malaysians and Hong Kongers to take up citizenship to settle in Singapore. Since PM Lee took over as Prime Minister in 2003, the pace of immigration has accelerated.

  Today, one can find new citizens hailing from many countries in the region – PRC, India, Philipines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand etc. Some of them cannot even speak proper English to communicate with the Malay and Indian minorities in Singapore.

  Foreigners help to keep labor costs down and contribute to the country’s GDP figures. An unknown substantial portion of the ministers’ million-dollar salary is pegged to Singapore’s GDP growth rates.

  Besides the economic benefits, new citizens who are largely ignorant of local politics will tend to vote for the ruling party which gave them the opportunity to start life afresh in Singapore thereby helping them to remain in power for quite some time to come.

  Unless Singaporeans send a strong message to the ruling party in the next general election, they will find themselves having to “re-integrate” back into a new Singapore society dominated by foreigners.

  Source: http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/11/09/mm-lee-urged-singporeans-to-bear-with-tide-of-foreigners/

   

   

   

   

• Berries tan

  9 Nov 09, 14:35

  This sounds a lot like what happned before Singapore's independence.
  
  Remember Singapore once merged with M'sia?
  Msia wanted to include Indonesia,Sabah,Sarawak and Phillippines in the merger cos they did not want the Chinese in Singapore to make up the majority after merger.
  
  Now instead of merging,my guess is that,SG govt is happy to welcome Chinese nationals to make up the number for Chinese population cos the number is dwindling.
  
  That's just my guess.However,obviously,the culture is different and many of them really took up too many of our jobs.SG has so many migrants until everywhere u go,you will see a non-singaporean.Where's our identity?We have alr lost it.

  Source: http://flowerpod.com.sg/forums/Singapore-Elderly-Cleaner-Bullied-Prc-Hawkers-t85598.html&st=40&start=40

• Berries tan

  9 Nov 09, 14:45

  �作栋：新移民对新加�人的生活质�有益

  08/11/2009 09:58:00

  字体:

  图为在新加�的客工，路�社图

  新加�讯，新加�国务资政�作栋说，新移民有助维�和丰富新加�人的生活质�，亚洲新闻�报�。这是�作栋在三天内第二次谈�新移民课题。

  å�´ä½œæ ‹è¯´ï¼Œæ²¡æœ‰æ°¸ä¹…居民和新公民，新加å�¡çš„人å�£åˆ°äº†2020年就会开始å‡�少，我们会走å�‘“è·Ÿæ��龙一样的命è¿�”。

   

  他说，过去10年，65�或以上的人数增加了大约10万人，而15�以下的孩�人数则�少了5万人。这是难以�续的人�结构，�济增长也�能�少1-2个百分点。

   

  最近，�作栋去�建�祖乡�访，使他有机会��新移民和国家认�的问题。

   

  “之å‰�å��六代，包括我的父亲，都是出生在中国。我ä¸�是以中国人的身份å�—到欢迎，而是以新加å�¡äººçš„身份。对新移民æ�¥è¯´ï¼Œåœ¨ä¸€ä»£äººé‡Œï¼Œæˆ�为效忠新加å�¡ï¼Œæ•ˆå¿ æ–°åŠ å�¡çš„价值，为新加å�¡ç¤¾ä¼šå�šè´¡çŒ®ï¼Œæ˜¯å�¯èƒ½çš„。”

   

  �作栋是在星期六晚间，出席一项社区活动时，�表上述看法。

   

  他说，他�解一些新加�人感到比�过新公民和永久居民，无论是�房��业还是学校。

   

  他们也认为新移民利用这里更好的机会，没有回馈社区或履行国民�役义务。

   

  �作栋指出，新移民的引进已��为一个情绪性的议题。

   

  �作栋说，问题在于，他们是�能维�并增加自己的生活质�。他表示相信，通过支�人�与�济增长，丰富文化景观，新加�人的生活质�就能维�并更加丰富。

   

  但是，政府也需�解决新移民的�入问题，以�怎样帮助他们。

   

  å�´ä½œæ ‹è¯´ï¼š“我们必须正视新加å�¡äººé�‡åˆ°çš„问题，用统计数æ�®ä½œæ•´ä½“çš„å®�观解释是ä¸�够的。我们必须处ç�†æ–°åŠ å�¡äººé�¢ä¸´çš„实际问题。”

   

  他说，必须让国人知�，新移民的引进其实他们也是利益相关者，新移民的到�让他们的生活更好了而�是更�。

   

  “如果赶走移民，这将给新加å�¡ä»–带æ�¥å�¯æ€•çš„长期å�Žæžœã€‚如果我们以正确的数字和质é‡�引进他们，就会增加我们ç»�济的活力。”

   

  �作栋说，这样的议题正由国家�济战略委员会认真考虑。

   

  他强调，他�是��开�一轮和新移民有关的辩论，�是�说明这对国家未�的��性。

   

  Source: http://www.nanyangpost.com/news/singapore/3343.html

   

• Berries tan

  9 Nov 09, 15:55

  Senior Citizen’s $1,200 Water Bill Shock

  December 13, 2008 by admin
  Filed under: The New Paper 

   

  New Paper, 13 Dec 2008

  
  New Paper link

   

  BEING home again after a two-month trip to Malaysia was not so sweet for Mr Francis Tan.

  First, he could not get into his one-room flat in Toa Payoh because the lock had been changed.

  Then, he learnt that it was mosquito-busters who had done it, as authorised under the law.

  They had broken in to check for mosquito breeding, after failing several time to gain entry.

  Mr Tan went to the National Environment Agency (NEA) to collect the key to get in.

  That was when he found his toilet cistern damaged. Water was gushing out. And the toilet was in a mess.

   

  But worse was to follow a month later — the 71-year-old retiree ended up with a $1,200 water bill.

   

  So, what led to the escape of water over an extended period?

   

  Mr Tan claimed that all was in order when he left for his holiday at the end of May.

   

  He thinks it was the intrusion by NEA officers that could have triggered the leak.

   

  They were the only ones who were in his flat when he was away, he claimed.

   

  When contacted by The New Paper, NEA said its inspection team was not negligent.

   

  Under the Control of Vectors and Pesticides Act, authorised officers may enter any premises to survey, inspect, search or execute any works stated by the Act.

  NEA entered flat

  Mr Tan, a divorcee who has been living alone in the flat for the past two years, does not dispute NEA’s right to break into his flat.

   

  The NEA said it had tried informing Mr Tan of its visit.

   

  Mr Tan showed The New Paper an NEA notice, dated 20 Jun, which arrived about a month after he had left to visit friends in Malaysia.

   

  The notice said its officers had made a ‘few visits’ to Mr Tan’s flat but no one was home.

  It asked for Mr Tan to be at home from 10am to noon the next day for the inspection.

   

  When Mr Tan returned on 30 Jul, he found a notice on the door that said NEA officers had entered his flat on 26 Jun to check for mosquito breeding following cases of dengue fever in the neighbourhood.

   

  The officers did not find any signs of mosquito breeding.

   

  After they entered the flat, they replaced the padlock for the metal gate. The notice asked Mr Tan to collect the key from the NEA Central Regional Office in Bukit Merah.

   

  After collecting the key, Mr Tan returned to find another notice outside his flat, this time from the national water agency PUB.

   

  It said a PUB officer was at his home earlier to check his water meter and found ‘high water consumption’.

   

  The notice read: ‘We found that the dial of the water meter serving your premises was moving even though no one was in. As this could be due to a leak in your plumbing, you are advised to check for leakage.’

   

  As a precaution, the PUB had turned off his water mains.

   

  When Mr Tan turned the mains on, he found water leaking from the cistern in his bathroom.

  He recalled: ‘When I lifted the cover of the cistern to check, one of the pipes inside was bent sideways. The water was flowing out like a tap. I ran out to turn the mains off.’

  He said the floor around the kitchen was also dirty and messy.

   

  He contacted NEA the next day.

   

  Over the next few days, he had to manually flush the toilet by pouring water into the toilet bowl.

   

  On 2 Aug, a plumber from the Housing Board (HDB) came to fix the cistern. But it did not end there.

   

  In September, Mr Tan received his utilities bill for August from SP Services.

  The water bill, which he showed us, was for more than $1,200 — about $900 for water and more than $300 for water conservation tax.

   

  ‘I was shocked. I had expected the water bill to come up to no more than $200 (even with the leakage),’ Mr Tan said.

   

  The bar graph for past consumption that was printed on the bill also showed a sharp spike upwards for water consumption in August.

  He said he usually pays about $5 a month for water. He showed us copies of his previous utilities bills as proof.

   

  Could he have left a tap running when he left for his holiday?

   

  He said: ‘I’m very cautious when it comes to using water and electricity.’

   

  Was the damage man-made? The New Paper tried contacting the plumber, but he could not be reached.

   

  Mr Tan has so far refused to pay the $1,200 bill. He said he did not have the means to pay even if he wanted to.

   

  ‘Would I be living in a one-room flat if I could pay?’

   

  He now faces the prospect of having his utilities supply cut off.

   

  In mid-October, he received a reminder notice from SP Services.

   

  Later that month, another notice informed Mr Tan that his utilities supply may be cut off if he does not pay by 6 Nov.

   

  So far, the supply has not been stopped.

   

  Mr Tan said he has called and written to NEA several times. He showed us three replies from NEA, denying responsibility.

   

  NEA’s latest reply to him, dated 15 Oct, said that its officers had entered Mr Tan’s house ‘in the presence of two police officers and two Resident’s Committee members’.

   

  It said that NEA is ‘unable to accept that the water leakage and (Mr Tan’s) high utilities bill were a result of our entry into (his) flat’.

   

  Mr Tan is sticking to his guns and refusing to pay the bill.

   

  ‘I will let (my utilities supply) be cut off (if it has to be).’

  ---

  NEA inspected cistern, but says no damage done

  ITS inspection officers were not to blame for Mr Tan’s high water bill, an NEA spokesman told The New Paper.

   

  ‘Our investigations show that there is nothing to suggest any negligence or fault on the part of NEA’s inspection team,’ the spokesman said.

   

  ‘The leak could have been a latent or pre-existing condition and it may have gone unnoticed by our team or occurred later due to fair wear and tear.’

   

  NEA officers had carried out checks for mosquito breeding on flats at Blocks 163, 168, 170 and 174, Lorong1 Toa Payoh from 3 Jun onwards due to a dengue fever outbreak in the area (there were 45 cases from 3 Jun to 22 Jul).

   

  The spokesman said Mr Tan’s flat at Block 170 was among 12 flats the officers could not inspect despite notices being left for the owners.

   

  Notices were left outside Mr Tan’s flat on 20 and 22Jun.

   

  Said the spokesman: ‘As there was still no response from Mr Tan and in light of the increasing number of dengue fever cases in the area, we were compelled to invoke Section 36 of the Control of Vectors and Pesticides Act to (enter) Mr Tan’s flat.’

   

  They did it ‘with the assistance of a locksmith and in the presence of police officers and grassroots leaders’.

   

  ‘We had lifted the cover of the toilet cistern to check for mosquito breeding and then added granular insecticide into the cistern,’ the spokesman said.

   

  The officers had not damaged any property inside Mr Tan’s flat.

   

  But the NEA spokesman said that ‘in light of the circumstances and on compassionate ground’, NEA is considering helping Mr Tan to settle his water bill, and will be in touch with him.

  ---

  TIMELINE

  END-MAY: Mr Tan leaves for Malaysia.

   

  20-21 JUN: NEA officers try to check on mosquito breeding at Mr Tan’s flat, leave notices to say they will return.

   

  26 JUN: NEA officers enter flat. They leave notice to inform Mr Tan of their entry. They replace padlock on his gate.

   

  30 JUL: Mr Tan returns from M’sia, gets key from NEA office. PUB officer leaves notice at flat about high water consumption. Mr Tan goes home, sees notice, finds water leaking from cistern.

   

  31 JUL: Mr Tan reports leaking cistern to HDB.

   

  2 AUG: Plumber from HDB fixes cistern.

   

  EARLY SEPT: Mr Tan gets August utilities bill of more than $1,200.

   

  31 JUL-24 NOV: Mr Tan calls and writes to NEA six times. NEA replies, denies responsiblity for water leakage and high bill.

  ---

  WHY DID CISTERN OVERFLOW?

  A normal cistern or toilet tank has two main mechanisms to ensure it does not overflow: The overflow pipe, and the float ball and valve.

   

  OVERFLOW PIPE

   

  Directs water from tank into the toilet bowl when there is too much water in the tank

   

  FLOAT BALL

   

  Rises as water level in tank rises. Closes the fill valve when the tank reaches its maximum water level limit

   

  PISTON

   

  Connected to flush lever. Releases water into toilet bowl when lever is pushed He said one of the pipes inside his cistern was bent sideways.

  ---

  What can go wrong

  Old valves may fail to close tightly, which may result in continued water flow into tank

   

  Dented or damaged overflow pipe may fail to direct overflow water into toilet bowl

   

  Punctured or damaged float ball may keep valve from closing properly

   

  Source: http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=1550#more-1550

• Berries tan

  9 Nov 09, 17:04

  张元元�访：网民有�表达看法

  11/10/2009 10:31:00

  字体:

  新加å�¡è®¯ï¼Œåœ¨ä¸­å›½å�‚加国庆阅兵典礼å�Žé�­åˆ°æ–°åŠ å�¡ç½‘上大多数留言抨击的张元元，在接å�—星期天时报专访的时候表示，网民有表达看法的自由，并介ç»�了她对新加å�¡ä»¥å�Šå›½åº†é˜…兵的想法。她说：“我爱新加å�¡ã€‚”

  张元元是新加å�¡æ°¸ä¹…居民，是中国公民。她在å�‚加这次阅兵典礼之间接å�—中央电视å�°çš„专访，称“报效祖国是自己最大的心愿”。央视播出的节目中，也显示了她的新加å�¡è“�色身份è¯�。
  
  这在新加�网民中引�了巨大的��。大多数网民�满张元元的�法，并指责政府的移民政策。�过，在海峡时报和新明日报展开报��，新加�报纸对此��低调，甚至有的报纸干脆�报�。
  
  星期天时报今天报�，张元元在�访时说，她没料到这次接�央视的访问会在新加�掀起轩然大波。
  
  她在新加�的朋�告诉她，在报纸上看到她的照片。但张元元本人�是通过互�网阅读讨论的。
  
  报é�“说，张元元对讨论感到平é�™ã€‚“这没什么，æ¯�个人都有æ�ƒè¡¨è¾¾è‡ªå·±çš„观点。他们在网上å�¯ä»¥ç•…所欲言。”
  
  她说，她当�在接�电视�访问时并没有出示新加�的身份�。而是电视�采访她妈妈时，记者�求看新加�身份�。
  
  张元元说，她喜欢五年的新加å�¡ç”Ÿæ´»ã€‚她2003å¹´æ�¥åˆ°æ–°åŠ å�¡æ˜¯å› ä¸ºå¯¹è¿™ä¸ªå›½å®¶æœ‰“很好的å�°è±¡”。
  
  她也希望在中国获得文凭之�出去看看世界。
  
  她在新加�花了两年，在剑桥学院学习英语。之�，她在Julia Gabriel教育中心担任�文教师。�时，她也在亚太管�学院修读商业管�文凭课程。
  
  她在新加�期间，和�外三�中国朋�一起，一起�在武�知马上段的一所公寓里。
  
  去年4月份，她回到北京，花更多的时间和父�在一起，她的父�都近六��了，都已�退休。
  
  “我是独生å­�女，我的父æ¯�也在å�˜è€�，所以我决定回家照顾他们。”
  
  她说她想家，�时，也看到崛起的中国有很多机会。她现在在北京一家房地产公�工作。
  
  张元元说，她在2006年申请新加�永久居民。2-3个月�获得批准。
  
  “那时候，我想我以å�Žåœ¨ä¸­æ–°ä¸¤åœ°æ—…行就会很容易。”
  
  她说，她有很多新加�的朋�。这些朋�在奥�期间访问北京是，她还招待他们。
  
  “我爱新加å�¡ï¼›çŽ¯å¢ƒä¸€æµ�。”她说。
  
  张元元也澄清，她是公å�¸æ��å��她å�‚加阅兵女民兵方队的。“但我自己也想å�‚加，我觉得这是难得的机会。说到底我还是一个中国人，我觉得我有义务报效祖国。”
  
  当问å�Šå¥¹æ˜¯å�¦æœ‰æ„�回到新加å�¡ï¼Œå¼ å…ƒå…ƒè¯´å¥¹è¿˜æ²¡ä½œå‡ºå†³å®šã€‚“我还没有想好未æ�¥çš„计划。”

   

• Berries tan

  10 Nov 09, 04:26

  Singapore to give scholarships to Filipino students for them to contribute to the Philippines’ development

  November 9, 2009 by admin  
  Filed under Top News

  Leave a comment

  From our Correspondent

  The Singapore government is offering scholarships to Filipino students to study in its three universities. All courses are open to the scholars, except for medicine and dentistry.

  According to a Filipino daily – the Global Nation, the Singapore Embassy will be accepting scholarship applications for school year 2010-2011 starting 16 November 2009. (Source: Global Nation)

  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. It has no bond and scholars do not need to work for the Singapore government.

  The scholars will be selected based on their academic merit, leadership qualities and potential to contribute to the Philippines’ development.

  Besides the Philipines, the Singapore Ministry of Education as well as its three varsities are known to award various scholarships to bright college students in other countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, China and India.

  The Schools of Engineering of both NUS and NTU have a sizable proportion of students from India and China. (Your correspondent thought he was in China when he had lunch at the NUS Science Canteen recently after visiting a friend who was warded in NUH)

  Each year, there are a number of Singapore students who fail to qualify for the course of their choice in the local universities and have to pursue their tertiary education overseas.

  While some local undergraduates have to take up part-time jobs to finance their studies, some foreign students studying in Singapore universities on government scholarships offered by MOE have their tuition fees pay for entirely on top of a monthly allowance. They are often enrolled in courses like engineering, computing and science.

  Some of these scholars are guaranteed good-paying jobs upon graduation - they are required to work in approved companies by the Singapore government for between three to eight years. 

  While other scholarships like the one above do not require the scholars to serve the Singapore government, they are permitted to stay on to work. A number of them take up Singapore PR and citizenship eventually.

  In contrast, Singapore graduates have to seek out jobs on their own and are burdened with a hefty study loan to repay at the same time. Singapore males are at the losing end compared to foreigners as they have reservist obligations to fulfill yearly.

  First-generation PRs and citizens do not have to serve any form of National Service and they are entitled to the same rights and benefits as Singaporeans, not that they amount to much anyway.

  Attached below is a list scholarships offered by local universities and MOE to foreign students:

  1. National Technological University

  2. National University of Singapore

  3. ASEAN scholarships (full tuition fees covered with an annual living allowance of $4,200, no bond required)

  4. Goh Keng Swee scholarship for Asian students (full tuition fees covered with annual maintenance allowance and one return economy air passage to home country, required to work for three years in approved company in Singapore – essentially a bond)

  5. Singapore Undergraduate Scholarship (tuition fees covered with annual maintenance allowance of $6,000 and one return economy air passage to home country, required to work for six years in sponsoring/approved company in Singapore)

  6. Singapore scholarship for foreign students (tuition fees covered with annual maintenance allowance of $4,300 and one return economy air passage to home country, no bond required.)

  7. C N Yang International undegraduate scholarships (tuition fees covered with annual maintenance allowance of $8,200, guaranteed place in hall of residence for 4 years, 3 years bond with Singapore government.)

  Source: The Temasek Review

• Berries tan

  10 Nov 09, 04:44

  Minding the gap between THE PINK & THE BLUE
  October 24, 2009 by admin
  Filed under Snippets

  
  Leave a comment

  
  By Zakir Hussan from Straits Times
  
  IF YOU are a Singapore citizen, you have the right to vote, visit 150 countries without a visa on your red passport, and receive a slew of tax reliefs and a cornucopia of subsidies.
  
  If you are so inclined, you can form a political party, launch a tirade and stage a protest at Speakers’ Corner on most matters – but race and religion are off-limits.
  
  Indeed, from the cradle – or from the point you are given a pink IC – to the sick bed, you have a leg up over permanent residents (PRs) and foreigners working or living here. (see graphic: From cradle to sickbed)
  
  Should you have the misfortune of becoming destitute or unable to support yourself, you would qualify for public assistance, ComCare aid, a rental flat and handouts to help pay your utility bills and conservancy charges. And if you fall ill, you can bank on Medifund to pay for your hospital bills.
  
  The distinctions between citizens and PRs could not have been clearer.
  
  As the National Population Secretariat (NPS) under the Prime Minister’s Office declares unequivocally: ‘Our citizens’ interests are the priority of the Government.’
  
  As it points out, a PR holds an entry permit, which is issued under the Immigration Act that grants him or her the right to enter and remain in Singapore.
  
  ‘Citizenship is a birthright for legitimate children of Singapore citizen parents. As such, citizens enjoy more rights and benefits than PRs,’ said the NPS.
  
  Yet, with all these perks and privileges, many Singaporeans still complain about being marginalised by the influx of new arrivals and becoming strangers in their own land. They say they see no difference between the benefits enjoyed by citizens and PRs.
  
  To allay these concerns, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told 1,500 students at a Nanyang Technological University forum last month that there will be a sharper differentiation in the way citizens and PRs are treated ‘to reflect the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship’.
  
  Elaborating a day later, Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said: ‘We are looking at this whole issue of calibrating the differences, so Singaporeans can see in concrete terms what it means to come first.
  
  ‘Foreigners in our midst will still feel a sense of welcome, but they must understand that they cannot demand the same privileges that come with membership. This is something we have to keep calibrating with time.’
  
  So what is contributing to the growing groundswell of discontent and disquiet among Singaporeans? Why the need to review the distinctions between citizens and PRs for the second time since 2006? What more can be done to reassure citizens that they still bask in the Singapore sun?
  
  The numbers game
  
  IT ALL has to do with the numbers, according to observers. One indisputable factor that causes many Singaporeans to feel that the privilege of citizenship has diminished, even when it has not in reality, is the significant rise in the proportion of PRs to citizens.
  
  In 1990, there was one PR for every 23 citizens, but in 2000 this narrowed to one PR for every 10 citizens. This year, there is one PR for every six citizens.
  
  Statistics released last month show Singapore’s population nearing the five million mark, with citizens numbering 3.2 million, or 64 per cent of the total.
  
  As of June this year, the number of PRs rose by 11 per cent over the previous year to hit a record high of 533,000. Other foreigners numbered 1.25 million.
  
  Much of the inflow is driven by economic necessity. In his book Population Of Singapore, demographer Saw Swee Hock concluded that if no new citizens or PRs are admitted and fertility rates remain constantly low, a resident population of 3.6 million in 2010 will start to decline from 2020. It would fall to 3.52 million in 2030, 3.23 million in 2040, and 2.86 million in 2050.
  
  Despite this stark reality, notes Dr Leong Chan Hoong, a research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), the large number of new PRs and the drive to attract foreign talent ‘has created the impression that the Government is giving away permanent residency too easily’.
  
  He identifies three other factors that have contributed to citizens’ unease about new arrivals.
  
  One is the more intense competition for resources and opportunities – especially in housing, education and the job market – from this large influx of newcomers. Although this is not peculiar to Singapore, it has been exacerbated by the recent economic downturn.
  
  Two, male citizens shoulder the responsibility of two years of national service followed by 10 years of annual reservist liabilities, while their PR counterparts have no such obligations.
  
  Three, the lack of effective integration among some PRs has led to the stereotypical view that such residents are ‘fair-weather friends’ who have little intention to contribute to or engage with the community.
  
  Sociologist Paulin Straughan, who is also a Nominated MP, feels that Singapore’s dense geographic space makes it inevitable that, with the rising number of non-citizens, citizens end up interacting much more with them.
  
  ‘There are bound to be more reactions, both positive and negative, and it is a pity we have not been able to highlight the positive exchanges,’ she tells Insight.
  
  It is hard to measure the intensity of negative reactions, but a recent incident is reflective of the level of emotion the subject can stir up. A TV clip from China was circulated online, which depicted Singapore PR Zhang Yuan Yuan, 28, as an overseas China national who returned home to take part in her country’s national day parade. She came to Singapore in 2003, lived here for five years, and became a PR in 2006.
  
  Irate netizens questioned her allegiance to Singapore and seized the opportunity to vent their spleen against PRs. Her defenders, however, pointed out that Ms Zhang was entitled to be loyal to China as its citizen.
  
  The NPS noted then that PRs are not citizens and it is up to them to become naturalised. ‘It’s not realistic to expect PRs to have the same level of commitment as citizens. They’re likely to retain ties with their countries of origin, just as we would like our overseas Singaporeans to retain ties with Singapore,’ said its spokesman.
  
  Rights not enough
  
  ANOTHER reason Singaporeans feel hot and bothered over the citizenship issue is the perception that they do not have any rights that are uniquely theirs, and that PRs seem to have the same rights but without the attendant responsibilities and obligations.
  
  IPS’ Dr Leong finds that in absolute and quantifiable terms, the amount of privileges and rights for citizens versus PRs remains highly favourable for Singapore citizens.
  
  He notes that there was little distinction in benefits between the two categories before policy changes in 2007.
  
  That year, the hospital subsidy PRs enjoyed was reduced by five percentage points. Last year, it was reduced by a further five percentage points.
  
  Hospital subsidies for foreign workers, previously the same as for citizens, were also slashed to zero.
  
  Tertiary education fees for PRs and foreigners were raised.
  
  Yet, some people argue that tossing up all these hard facts does not quite address the wider concerns and worries of citizens who feel they have few special rights as one.
  
  In a 1950 essay on citizenship that continues to be widely cited, British sociologist T.H. Marshall noted that citizenship confers on a citizen three kinds of rights.
  
  The first is civil rights such as the right to free speech, to own property, to freedom of religion and to equality before the law.
  
  The second is political rights such as the right to vote and to stand for office.
  
  The third is social rights such as the right to education, housing and protection against poverty.
  
  To public law expert Kevin Tan, Singaporeans have some grounds when they feel they do not have enough of these rights due to them as citizens.
  
  ‘If you say you are a citizen, the most blatant right is the right to vote, but because of the GRC system, there are a large number of Singaporeans who have never voted in their life. As a result, they do not feel they are citizens in the political sense,’ he says.
  
  Associate Professor Straughan adds that many Singaporeans have not had the opportunity to exercise the right to vote because of the lack of opposition.
  
  ‘If you actively voted a government in, it will be in your vested interest to support that government and ensure that the governance will be a success. But if you did not exercise that right, there is a high likelihood that you may end up just watching from the sidelines and throwing in criticisms whenever you deem appropriate,’ she says.
  
  She believes there is a greater need for the Government to engage voters, and hopes concerned citizens will likewise take advantage of the available platforms to engage the Government.
  
  Dr Tan acknowledges that citizens have some exclusive rights, such as the right to speak freely at Speakers’ Corner, but says these are not tangible enough. Political leaders have maintained repeatedly that politics remains the preserve of citizens.
  
  ‘If citizens can stage protests, without a permit, everywhere, that is something else,’ he says. ‘If you feel you are empowered, then you are more likely to feel this country belongs to you.’
  
  As for social rights, there is a growing perception that PRs enjoy many of the same rights citizens have, albeit with restrictions.
  
  These include the right to live in subsidised HDB housing, even if PRs can buy only resale flats, and the right to significant subsidies in areas like education.
  
  Dr Tan believes that citizens are clamouring for more rights because they feel hard done by policies that entitle PRs to a slice of the benefits they receive as citizens – and they feel these privileges make life harder for Singaporeans as a result.
  
  Many new PRs tend to be mid-career professionals who join the middle class and upper-middle class. So when they clinch their pink IC, they would receive about the same benefits as born-and-bred citizens, even though the latter have gone through national service and paid a lifetime of taxes.
  
  Observers, however, reject a differentiation between various groups of citizens, as this would create a category of ’second-class citizens’. As Prof Straughan puts it: ‘A democracy will protect every citizen equally.’
  
  Tough global competition
  
  ALTHOUGH the Prime Minister spoke of having more distinctions between citizens and PRs, he said that the Government ‘cannot make it so onerous for PRs and non-residents that they do not want to come’.
  
  Singapore’s immigration policy is unequivocal about seeking talented migrants who can help grow the economy and augment the quality of its citizens.
  
  Citizens do have a headstart in the 120,000-strong public service, where non-Singaporeans account for 7 per cent of the workforce.
  
  Make citizenship more appealing to PRs
  
  The Public Service Division tells Insight that these PRs and foreigners are employed where special skills are needed – such as language competency, as well as for roles that require technical and other competencies which Singaporeans may be short of.
  
  But elsewhere, it is no surprise that citizens feel the heat of the competition – whether in schools, universities or the workforce – as they have to put in more effort to do well.
  
  In the view of Singapore Management University sociologist Chung Wai Keung, one way to allay discontent is to stress that while Singapore welcomes foreigners to work here to keep the economy competitive, Singaporeans should be given priority, based on meritocracy.
  
  This means that if a Singaporean and a foreigner have similar qualifications, the job – or university spot – should go to the Singaporean first.
  
  But what if the foreigners coming in are far better-qualified?
  
  Government ministers have explained that it is better to have the top talents here to compete with Singaporeans, and help Team Singapore stay ahead, as otherwise such minds would just go elsewhere and compete against Singaporeans.
  
  However, international projects coordinator Danny Ong, 29, admits that this reality can be tough to stomach. His experience illustrates both sides of the coin.
  
  Nine years ago, he failed to clinch a place in a local university despite several appeals, and felt resentful that Singapore favoured the foreign talents who were taking his university place.
  
  Mr Ong managed to secure a place to read psychology and business management at Monash University in Melbourne, and his family dipped into their savings to help him pay his way through. He worked part-time while studying, and recently received an Australian government scholarship.
  
  ‘It took me almost eight years overseas to finally understand that privileges, even though they are given to citizens, should be earned and respected,’ says the overseas Singaporean who lives in Melbourne and is now an Australian PR.
  
  ‘I have every right to enter a local university, but I never looked at myself and ask why did I not study hard enough to secure a place in a local university in the first place?’
  
  Given the universal Singapore aspiration for a degree, policymakers will have to think how they can keep universities here competitive and attractive to talent from all over the world, even as they seek to satisfy citizens’ wishes for a university spot.
  
  Global city or country?
  
  MOST major cities around the world today have large populations that are not born in the country. Take New York, where 40 per cent of the population is not born in the United States. A similar ratio applies here.
  
  But the key difference, explains sociologist Sharon Siddique, is that Singapore is both a city and a nation.
  
  Many see this place as one or the other. The fundamental issue for Dr Siddique is whether an individual considers Singapore as a nation, or just a city.
  
  ‘For those who follow the ‘Singapore is my country’ route, the identity, perks, and obligations of citizenship are vital. For those who consider Singapore primarily as a city, the freedom to leave, to move on, to see this as one place on a global cosmopolitan continuum, will prevail, whatever passport one carries,’ she says.
  
  ‘We should never forget that Singapore as a city and country is an anomaly. Perhaps our policymakers need to reflect more carefully on this.’
  
  For Prof Straughan, the focus should remain on growing the pie even larger – as both a global city and as a country – so that there is enough to satisfy everyone.
  
  At the end of the day, the effort to reassure citizens and entice PRs must pitch citizenship in a broader perspective.
  
  As Mr Danny Ong tells Insight: ‘In a globalised world, locals from anywhere can live overseas and yet create mutual benefits for their home and host countries.’
  
  The challenge for Singapore, as it re-calibrates the distinctions between citizens and PRs, is that a matter like winning more new citizens cannot be all about material inducements.
  
  PRs must continue to feel they have a place here, as they would otherwise leave for more welcoming shores, to Singapore’s loss.
  
  But citizenship has to also appeal to them, just as it has to mean more to those born-and-bred here, beyond the bread-and-butter concerns and monetary advantages.
  
  As Prof Straughan sums it up:
  
  ‘Being Singaporean means membership in a sovereign state that is socially, politically and economically stable and secure, where people from different races can live together in harmony, and where our respective religions can be practised openly.
  
  ‘More importantly, being Singaporean also means we can rely on a government that is free from corruption and where national policies are sensible and apt.’
  
  ‘If we continue to advance Singapore as a city state where you can raise your family in a wholesome, vibrant city governed by efficient and honest policymakers, with a world-class education and health-care system, and where basic needs of citizens are met, I think that would elevate the prestige of Singapore citizenship.’ – ST
  
  Source: http://www.temasekreview.com
• Berries tan

  10 Nov 09, 04:56

  张元元事件 新加�社会爆严�分歧

  19/10/2009 02:30:00

  字体:

  中国�的新加�永久居民张元元�加中国国庆阅兵游行，在新加�引�的争议，显示出新加�媒体和网民之间出现了严�的分歧。

  张元元在新加�幼儿中心当�文�师，并�得了新加�永久居民的资格。她于去年回返中国，并在今年中国国庆六�周年的阅兵典礼上，作为女民兵方队的一员，接�了中国国家主席胡锦涛的检阅。
  
  张元元在接å�—中央电视å�°è®¿é—®æ—¶è¯´ï¼š“报效祖国是我的最大心愿”.
  
  消�传到新加�，引起轩然大波。
  
  在互�网上，一些网民质疑张元元作为永久居民的身份认�，但更多的网民则质疑新加�政府的移民政策。他们表示，张元元学历很低，政府为何�给她永久居民身份。
  
  新加�近年�引进大�的新移民，使得新加�人�逼近500万人�。新加�人抱怨，新移民的涌入导致了房价飙�，公共交通拥挤�堪，以�和本地人士争抢工作机会。张元元事件�度挑起了社会上这�抱怨的情绪。
  
  但是，�样是针对张元元事件，新加�的报纸则力挺张元元，抨击网民的言论是错误的。
  
  继新移民之å‰�å�‘表文章，指责那些在张元元事件中æŒ�批评æ€�度的网å�‹æ˜¯“é�žä¸»æµ�”之å�Žï¼Œæ–°åŠ å�¡è�”å�ˆæ—©æŠ¥ï¼Œæ˜ŸæœŸå…­å�‘表该报副总编辑严孟达的文章，指“网上攻击张元元å�‚加中国国庆大阅兵的言论ä¸�值得一驳。”
  
  文章写é�“：“å�šå®¢è€…，足ä¸�出户，臀ä¸�离席，弹指之间，å�¯è°¤äººäºŽæ— å£°ï¼Œä¼¤äººäºŽå�ƒé‡Œä¹‹å¤–。”
  
  他说：新加å�¡äºº“å�‘以‘èž�å…¥’为准绳，求诸新æ�¥ä¹�到之移民，以致ä¸�å�£æ“�æ–°å¼�英语ä¸�足示其èž�入，ä¸�数典忘宗ä¸�足示其èž�入，ä¸�日日作èž�入状，ä¸�足示其èž�入。èž�入二字几æˆ�ç´§ç®�咒，新之移民颇å�—折腾。”
  
  从整个文章�看，严文主�还是�焦于网民诉求张元元的身份认�上，但对网民�出的新加�移民政策，则几乎没有�墨。
  
  在批评日本“长期排外”çš„å�Œæ—¶ï¼Œä¸¥æ–‡å†™é�“：“新国å�šå®¢è‡ªè§†å¿ è‰¯ï¼Œè´£äººçˆ±å›½ã€‚爱国岂有专利，岛国心æ€�，莫甚于此。”
  
  时隔一天，新加��行�最大的英文海峡时报星期天版�表社论，力挺张元元。
  
  社论指出，社论说，一个国家的永久居民是在这个国家居�相当时段的外国人，主�是工作或�商，他们没有放弃自己的国�。他们享有居民利益，但他们享有的并�东�国公民的利益。在新加�，这样的差别是很明显的。他们缴税，为社会作出�济和社会的贡献。他们最��能�为公民，也有一些人选择回国或移居其他国家。
  
  并�新加�一个国家在�引专业人士�创业人士和特殊技能的人士。这些人士具有高度的�动性，并适应这个全�化的时代。很多国家为�引他们展开竞争，因为这些人�为本地人�增加�外的层次。对新加�这样的�国，这样的�外层次是很��的。
  
  但是，新加�网民们则似乎和报纸的论调�咬弦。网民们开始�求国会讨论张元元事件。
  
  一��客在《淡马锡论�》上�求，国会议员应把张元元事件�交到国会上去。他�求知�，为何低学历的张元元能在�出申请��到两个月就获准�为永久居民。
  
  在海峡时报网站上，张元元事件�为该网站读者�表评论最多的内容。
  
  一些网民�出，新加��出的永久居民资格是�太过宽�。有网民建议申请者必须居�超过八年，�能�给其永久居民资格。
  
  在å�—洋视界论å�›ä¸Šï¼Œä¸€ä½�网民写é�“：“海峡时报ç��眼说瞎è¯�，张元元算什么专业人士，创业人士和特殊技能人æ‰�了？è¦�学历没学历，è¦�事业没事业，……这样的人有高度的æµ�动性？除了新加å�¡ä¼šç»™å¥¹æ°¸ä¹…居民，还有那个国家会给？离开新加å�¡ï¼Œé™¤äº†å›žä¸­å›½ï¼Œå¥¹è¿˜èƒ½æµ�动到哪儿去？”
  
  他写é�“，现在中国的移民到新加å�¡å�˜æˆ�了一ç§�“æ�ƒåˆ©”，å�ªè¦�想æ�¥æ–°åŠ å�¡å°±è¦�å¼ å¼€å�Œè‡‚热烈欢迎？å�¦åˆ™å°±æ˜¯ä¸�认å�Œï¼Ÿæ–°åŠ å�¡äººè¦�认å�Œçš„是自己的国家和社会，什么时候新加å�¡äººè¦�认å�Œä¸­å›½äº†ï¼Ÿ
  
  张元元事件在新加�引�辩论已�近两周，但从�方的言论�看，看法上的差��但没缩�，�而有扩大之势。
  
  而且，一个明显的趋势是，报纸所�应的为其中的一派，而网民则�映的是�一派。