Sharp drop in PR passes granted in 2010
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SINGAPORE: Singapore authorities have halved the number of permanent residence passes granted in 2010, compared to the year before.
Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said 29,265 PR passes were issued last year - a sharp drop from the 59,460 in 2009 and some 79,000 granted in 2008.
He added there has also been an improvement in the quality of new PRs.
The number of new citizens remained relatively steady at 18,758 in 2010, compared to 19,928 for 2009.
Mr Wong, who heads the newly formed National Population and Talent Division, revealed the numbers as he laid out the country's long term strategy for managing population growth.
Speaking at the Singapore Perspectives 2011 conference, he said the function of the new division is to formulate, coordinate and review all of the government's policies related to population and talent.
In doing so, he said the focus is on achieving a "sustainable population profile".
Three principles will guide this effort - to preserve and uphold what is distinctive and unique about Singapore, to ensure growth and change benefit Singaporeans, and to remain nimble and prepared as well as make adjustments along the way.
Mr Wong said what is unique about Singapore is that its people "value hard work, thrift and honesty".
Singapore has also made multi-ethnic diversity work for it.
In managing the population, Mr Wong said the government will "always be guided by the need to preserve a strong citizen core" and to "maintain stability" in the ethnic mix.
To ensure that growth and change benefit Singaporeans, he reiterated that citizens' interests will always come first.
However, he stressed the government will need to tap on immigration to augment the population.
This is to ensure sufficient manpower for economic growth and to mitigate the impact of an ageing population.
As Singapore is still facing the problem of having not enough babies, Mr Wong said the government will continue to support couples' decision to get married and have children.
He added authorities will aim for a pro-family environment but he also acknowledged that boosting fertility will take time.
Preliminary estimates show that the country's total fertility rate fell further to 1.16 in 2010 - even lower than the 1.22 recorded in 2009.
"Singapore's population story is still evolving. Looking ahead, continual refinements will need to be made at appropriate junctures to ensure that Singaproe will remain our best home. Like other countries around the world, we must continue to welcome suitably qualified people to work and live in Singapore and contribute to our society," said Mr Wong.
-CNA/ac -
Looks like elections are scheduled for first half of the year.
Or even the first quarter after the CNY.
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Then after election, they r going to increase back the Power Ranger intake. Haiz, what does PAP take us for?
Why govt think onli married couple can support pop growth? Wat about single parents? What about divorcees? No support at all. Sg is first world country but benefit like third world.
Immigration oso dun take in low quality immigration like bus driver n shop asssistant. Bring in High Skill immigration la, like doctor, engineer n scientist tat can benefit the Sg citizen not benefit the Power Ranger.
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Elections are really around the corner. This is my first time voting.
I better make sure I vote correctly.
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aIYA, What is diff? Everybody say they want to make a diff...complain, complain. Aromanista oso complain about PAP every day. But in the end, all Sg people oso vote for PAP.
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Originally posted by Pure Emptiness:
Elections are really around the corner. This is my first time voting.
I better make sure I vote correctly.
sekali walk over, no need vote......
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like i care. i still can draw a torties on my ticket. its still my rights.
these are things that should have been done years ago. penalty for doing it late.
also when are they going to change 'increase' CPF contribution to 'restoration' of CPF contribution?
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Originally posted by troublemaker2005:
like i care. i still can draw a torties on my ticket. its still my rights.
these are things that should have been done years ago. penalty for doing it late.
also when are they going to change 'increase' CPF contribution to 'restoration' of CPF contribution?
Let me quote something from Reform Party blog http://votingrp.wordpress.com/ -"The Party has put forward nineteen reforms that we want to make to put Singaporeans first (http://votingrp.wordpress.com/about/). These include stricter curbs on foreign labour, a minimum wage, reform of housing policy to deliver affordable housing to those who need it, universal comprehensive medical insurance, a basic old age pension, giving you control over your CPF savings and a stake for Singaporeans in our sovereign wealth funds. "
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Originally posted by Julian.khor:
aIYA, What is diff? Everybody say they want to make a diff...complain, complain. Aromanista oso complain about PAP every day. But in the end, all Sg people oso vote for PAP.
I will not vote for PAP. -
Originally posted by charlize:
Looks like elections are scheduled for first half of the year.
Or even the first quarter after the CNY.
There will be 2 elections this year. One is the general election and the other is the president election in August. So PAP has to schedule the general election in the first half of the year so as not to clash with the president election. Hope there will be no walkover for president election.