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4 Jul 2012, 11.20PM

14 comments & replies |by Guest | Our Common Space

Why are people steering the focus to xenophobia? What is the real issue here?

If there are only 10-20% foreigners in Singapore, will there be any xenophobic sentiments? No, of course not. Fundamentally, we Singaporeans are not like that.

With 40% and its variety of consequences for Singaporeans, of course there are frustrations vent out in all directions and in all manners.

Isn't the real issue the aggressive population growth due to the disproportionately high number of foreigners in this little island: xenophobia being but one of its effect. Don't make xenophobia the main issue here for it is not.

So all those expert voices, if you want to talk so much, please talk about the actual issue.

599 views | 14 comments & replies |

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Guest

5 Jul 2012, 2.15AM

Obvious counter propaganda to arrow back those people who complained about Foreign Trash,

Such to back fire propaganda. People not *****, they will say wait a minute and ask by the way aren't we minority in our own country? Why can't we feel this way since we are minority in our own country which is rather ridiculous.

1.4 mil foreigners
560K PRs foreigners
3.2 mil Singaporeans + immigrated Singaporeans

60% foreigners vs 40% Singaporeans.

No longer, PAP or Straits Times say something we say yes sir yes sir.. Smart ones will counter back.

Recently, PAP government claimed that inflation only affect small percentage of population, smart ones counter back saying that follow up inflation through high rental and high cost translate to high prices and affect a lot of people. PAP government then keep quiet.

Guest

6 Jul 2012, 6.02PM

The REAL issue is the GOVERNMENT.

They plan . . .and plan . . while the stat board execute and roll-out. They just blatantly refuse to check, review or audit their own plans! And with this contiuing, PAP will loose more votes.

PAP Ministers are worse than Sigma Yellow Belt and only worth $5k salary per mth!!

Guest

5 Jul 2012, 6.36AM

Blaming it on xenophobia is a good distraction of PAP's deficiencies. The people are smart enough to know the difference.

Guest

5 Jul 2012, 12.40PM

it is the standard ploy of governments. just like malaysia using singapore as a punching bag whenever election fever is around the corner, the singaporean government also knows the right knobs to press to deflect pressure on themselves.

pap (vivian) has even tried to incite racial tension in singapore without thinking about the consequences. they know it is a sensitive topic - so the best way to draw attention away is to make ludicrous claims or raise a even more controversial topic - with racial incitement, they can divide and conquer.

you say people are smart to see the difference,but i have to disagree, the tactics are working. the fact that we are discussing whether we are xenophobic or not rather than on the main original topic of failed government policy in immigration shows the success of PAP

Guest

5 Jul 2012, 12.48PM

yes, i believe inciting racial tension is a chargeable offence under ISA..... unless you are PAP member of course...

Guest

5 Jul 2012, 1.11PM

They have control of the media. Of course they have the upper hand the first round.

But always remember, the truth will prevail and defeat all propaganda eventually.

As it is, more people online are questioning the xenophobic distraction propaganda when we Singaporeans are minority in our own country and very few nations have such large foreigner population in their face everyday. There is nothing irrational about fear of foreigners, it is absolutely alright to be anti-foreigners for this country is overwhelmed with foreigners.

This additional xenophobic distraction propaganda will make Singaporeans even more skeptical about PAP and Straits Times thereby badly affecting the trust factor for PAP and Straits Times. This is the wrong strategy from start to beginning.

If PAP is watching me, they would have know which strategy to use as I have earlier wrote "The Wasted opportunity for PAP in the ferrari driver case" recently on www.singaporechatforum.com.

WHCL

Guest

5 Jul 2012, 1.25PM

no offence but i think you are crediting the singaporean on the street with too much intelligence to see beyond what they read on mypaper. propaganda if repeated oft enough will become truth in the people's minds.

as you say, fear of overwhelming numbers of foreigners is a common theme in other countries but most singaporeans do not live or have lived overseas to know that. they will only hear that they are being ungrateful hosts who are not making our foreign friends feel more welcomed. these FTs are people who have single handedly saved us from a similar greek debacle and given us a comfortable lifestyle relative to our neighbours.

i don't detect more than usual levels of scepticism of PAP. it has always been there and is still much much lower than other countries' distrust of their government. come next elections, watch for it, still the majority of the population will vote for the incumbent. propaganda will make sure of that

Guest

5 Jul 2012, 6.50PM

' these FTs are people who have single handedly saved us from a similar greek debacle'
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

huh? no credits to our people? THEY, the FTs 'singlehandedly' saved Singapore...THEY???! ROFLMAO!

Say, you aren't that lowdown, gullible and ignorant, are you?

Guest

6 Jul 2012, 8.48AM

You simply can't blame any Singaporeans holding on to those beliefs. It sounds so much from the school propaganda machine which all of us graduate from. With all our "talents" coming from there, have we heard of any of them challenging what was written in our History/Social Studies books and examination questions? As I suggested, parents please share with our children what we know of our histroy and governance, instead of relying on the school. Also, please take a closer look into these books and help them identify the propaganda tilt away from the very ordinary people who made this city-state what it is today. This is the least we can do and we owe the truth to our future generations.

Fat MaMa

Guest

6 Jul 2012, 10.46AM

history books are written by the victors of wars... they can write anything they want and brainwash future generations

Guest

6 Jul 2012, 12.52PM

They have done what they want. Time for us to intervene and do our part.

Fat MaMa

Guest

5 Jul 2012, 9.16AM

The problem isn't xenophobia or overpopulation.

The problem is the lack of infrastructure planning by the authorities. When the realise the infrastructure shortcomings, they are quick to deflect responsibility and slow to rectify.

Policies need a rethink. Singaporeans cannot be forced to compete in a completely open market against oceans of people from poverty stricken Asia who only intend to come to Singapore for the short term, flog the system for what it is worth, earn as much as possible and use those funds to pay for inexpensive retirement back home. It is not reasonable.

Guest

6 Jul 2012, 6.06PM

PAP can only fill- up their cabinet with trash=> academically inclined but not smart people. Heard of those PSB scholars that joined the foreign sectors and were terminated?? What about Ho Ching's ka- giang from Defence?

It is easy to replace 20% of the PAP Ministers with just diploma holders and make them sit down and memorise all the policies and procedures for 2 years!

Guest

5 Jul 2012, 10.41AM

Yes, xenophobia is not the real issue. It is an issue nonetheless.

The real issue is what I called SAR21 (no, not your standard issue weapon) - Singaporean Awakening and Realization in the 21st century. In the past, leaders can do anything and get away with it They have not changed, but we have. We are now more aware and politicized. We question and challenge their behaviours and policies both past and present. Most importantly, we are asserting our claims to this country. As such, they are finding it hard to operate like in the past. Xenophobia is a double-edged sword. Play with it, and you will also be killed by it. Used as a tool (for whatever reasons) by our leaders, it will boomerang right into their face. They are warned.

Fat MaMa