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8 Jul 2012, 11.08AM

20 comments & replies |by REACH Administrator | Singapore Population and Demography

PM Lee Hsien Loong urged new Singapore citizens to try to integrate into society here and stressed the importance of adapting to local ‘norms’ which help define the Singapore identity.

According to the Sunday Times report, PM Lee in April had warned that a divide between Singaporeans and new arrivals would stand in the way of building a cohesive society.

Speaking to about 200 newly minted citizens at a Citizenship Ceremony at Teck Ghee Community Club yesterday, PM Lee said, “I hope that now you have become a citizen, you will integrate more closely into society... Do not just mix among yourselves, or with recent immigrants. Make friends with Singaporeans - your neighbours, colleagues - and with your children's schoolmates, and pick up Singaporean customs, lifestyles, norms and social rules.”

Yesterday, he urged those who had recently moved here to put more effort into adapting to the Singapore way of life. He also said, “Both sides have to make the effort.”

From 2005 to 2010, Singapore added between 17,334 and 20,513 new citizens to the population each year. Last year, the number dropped to 15,777.

Highlighting one way to integrate, PM Lee encouraged new citizens to be involved in the community by volunteering in schools, welfare organisations or self-help groups.

What are your views on this topic? Share with us also your ideas on ways for new citizens to integrate into Singapore society.

Read the Sunday Times article ‘Make more effort to integrate’ for more information.

Read also PM Lee’s Facebook post on Citizenship Ceremony @ AMK GRC-Sengkang West SMC.

959 views | 20 comments & replies |

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Guest

9 Jul 2012, 9.14AM

seems like pap has accorded such importance to foreigners turned citizens that they sent our PM to precide over the event. i have been a loyal integrated citizen for so many decades, i never got a ceremony with the PM when i recite my pledge... not even a perm sec. another case of loyalties and priorities gone wrong with this government.

most of these newly minted citizens are undeclared dual passport holders who will burn their singapore passports when it suits them anyway.

integrate? laughable...

Guest

9 Jul 2012, 9.22AM

wow, close to 100,000 new hardcore pap supporters every election cycle.

Guest

8 Jul 2012, 11.24AM

If PAP said this since year 2000 for every New Citizenship Ceremony, I would have accepted it.

But now, NO WAY! They will be always outsiders and we should make their lives miserable.

Guest

8 Jul 2012, 3.21PM

PAP is a great joke of the world.

Most countries will insist that the eager new immigrants fulfill all the 5 criteria (able to speak local languages Malay, Chinese and English, have minimal top 100 university degree, more than 3 kids, knowledge of the local history and laws . . . ) THEN upon passing the interview, to be later issued with the citizenship!

Guest

8 Jul 2012, 11.39AM

I always wonder why PAP is so xenophobic over these new immigrants for the past 12 and 20 years.

When this clear direction should have been told to them since then . Is this another sign of wrong timing, wrong words and wrong place?

Now, even 40% of the citizens and foreigners do not bother nor respect the government and he tried to push such statements around.

Haiz. Another failure of PAP and if I counted correctly, more than 40 failures already.

Guest

9 Jul 2012, 8.37AM

It is not about them integrating anymore. That was KPI for year 2007.

As for now, the government must reduce by REMOVING the exisitng foreigners ie those without 3 kids, do not have a recognised degree/ MBA, cannot speak Malay or English . . .

I forsee at at least 35K of them cannot meet the low requirements at all.

Guest

8 Jul 2012, 2.32PM

Dear Reach

Feedback to PM Lee, finally you get it, after so many write ups.

Unfortunately, I am afraid it may be too little too late.

Skepticism is very high amongst the population about PAP and the PAP government.

Hardcore opposition supporters have developed further and increased.

Earlier, kind warnings been given but not heeded.

Yes, some segments of population are advance party, minority are forecasters, intuitive, sensitive, unconventional, ridiculous at times.

Here is another tip:- Shut down jinx casinos, they are real jinx, affecting PAP and Singapore. Kind warning given again by sensitive people.

WHCL

Guest

8 Jul 2012, 5.31PM

" Unfortunately, ......it may be too little too late"

Diff backgrounds, diff mindsets, diff tastebuds, diff history, diff languages, diff families, diff 'everything'

...how can they intergrate in such a short span when it took Singaporeans over 40 years to nurture our 4 main races to understand one another ?

Guest

10 Jul 2012, 5.08PM

Now I know who I am going to vote into Parliament. I have made up my mind if things do not change. The Government is simply not listening.

Guest

8 Jul 2012, 5.42PM

It is just too little too late.

Guest

9 Jul 2012, 8.58AM

These are merely words that even newcomers know that he is not going to change anything for I see no genuine intention here. How do we reconcile his words and his team members' efforts to solicit support from the phantom "silent majority" against the "bigotry" of the minority. Where is the sincerity?

Fat MaMa

Guest

10 Jul 2012, 6.51PM

Another joke of the day.

I really doubt citizen foreigners to integrate.
They just say yes and pretend can liao. In absence of their new PM , they group to themselves and speak loudly again. That what i saw in buses, workplaces and some public amenities.

Next stop,I know what todo, 2013...2016. Bye Bye

Guest

11 Jul 2012, 4.27PM

Married foreign couples can do this. Husband convert sporean and wife remain as PR foreigner.

Anything bad happen to singapore, they just vanish into their own mother country.

I believe there are still more ways to do it. It is interesting learn from them. LOL.

Guest

27 Jul 2012, 1.10AM

Dear Sir

Firstly, you have to dramatically reduce the number of new citizenship. Let the structure of the country develop before you decide on your ambitious plan to boost GDP (KPI) again. The whole apology thing for the lack of housing and public facilities is a joke considering you already targeted imports without thinking where to house them.

Secondly, be a realist. Look at developed countries all over the world. I am sure you can see that our reaction is no different from the other developed world on the topic of new immigrants. If you think mindset can be change in a few years, thats a dictator mindset. This is our home, I can invite a couple of foreign friends to come, but i definitely do not invite a truckload of strangers into my home. Let me know when is your house is open to strangers.

Thirdly, everyone live once. So if i serve NS, i have gave the country 2% of my life if i live to 100 not including reservist. When you import truckload of people, it means it is a high possibility that i have to compete with them for resources in our country regardless of how many jobs it help create. There are essentials like transport and housing which does not increase in availability like your never-ending imports. Why should my life and my son's life be indifferent from so many others. Its too unfair for us to bear. You cant end NS, so please restrict your imports.

Lastly, i am a Malaysia turn Citizen who served the NS. I have integrated myself into the society without asking Singaporeans to adapt to me. I think you should stop asking Singaporeans to integrate to the mess you create. Rather ask whoever is new to adapt or get lost.

Guest

10 Jul 2012, 7.00PM

I heard 5 years can be citizen of singapore, what an easy and effective policy.

I hope United States, Australia or other countries will adopt this policy. So.......Good.

(Master)

Elijah

11 Jul 2012, 1.33AM

It takes 2 hands to clap.

If you invite them for a buffet brunch on Sunday during a block party, would they come if it is not free?

Guest

16 Jul 2012, 11.33AM

I like these jokers
"Why so serious"

Guest

6 Aug 2012, 2.27PM

In theory, a relatively open immigration policy can make our economy more competitive and the country more vibrant. However it is crucial that we bring in the right type of immigrants. I think in this case, it is too many too soon resulting in a host of problems on the ground.

Singapore can be a great place to live and we can afford to be more selective in the type of foreigners we bring in.

We need to have clear objectives - which sector or industry needs value addition that can be provided by foreigners? We have a lot of foreigners in the service industry particularly Filipinos. From my experience it's always a pleasure to deal with them as they are are generally warm, have a great smile and eager to help . they can help to elevate our service standards.

The other good development is the F&B industry which has become a lot more exciting in the last five years with the entry of foreigners who set up small restaurants here in Singapore

it is also important to- have a proper assimilation programme for new immigrants so that they have a good idea of the dos and donts, the Singapore history and culture. I have witnessed many times unsavory behavior in the public that can perhaps be prevented eg groups of foreigners talking at the top of the voices disturbing everyone, taking off their footwear on public transport, and poor personal hygiene resulting in foul smell.

In our continued quest towards a more gracious society, we cannot afford to pay lip service to integration issues. Reading about foreigners calling our country sad and lonely without them, having our old folks lambasted and threatened with violence, and having foreign neighbours complain about the smell of our curry place me very far from wanting to embrace them as one of us.

Afterall we are emotional creatures and this is our home and our people

Guest

13 Aug 2012, 10.45AM

The Government underestimated the lengths businesses will go to to save money and that creates an extremely unlevel playing field for Singaporeans. Singaporean businesses have little loyalty to Singaporean workers. Similarly, Singaporeans have little loyalty to Singapore enterprise also.

But the important point is one of fairness. Foreigners can and should continue to come. But the conditions must be put in place for Singaporeans to be treated fairly and to be able to earn a decent living. And with those conditions, I think Singaporeans would welcome foreigners as it is only then that it will be clear that foreigners add value and help us grow the pie.

Foreigners have contributed a lot to Singapore. They have added colour, diversity, helped us in tangible and intangible ways and should continue to do so.

Allowing the PAP a strong mandate allows the PAP to do many things very quickly and with little opposition. But they have gotten too used to this way of doing things and have rammed many policies through with what appears to be little consideration for unintended negative side effects.

Guest

15 Aug 2012, 9.03PM

I have asked my friends who are PRs and foreigners on their frank opinion if they are going to become Singaporeans and stay in Singapore indefinitely. Most of them have decided that they would return to their own country after a short to mid term stay in Singapore judging from the situation now.

My family and myself are products of the 2nd-Generation immigrants of Singapore from Malaysia. We come to Singapore for good education, good jobs and serve NS dutifully.

But today, I have seen my own brothers being marginalised due to the uncontrolled immigration PRs and foreigners and we have the feeling just like any Singaporeans. My brothers lost job for a long time due to foreign competition in jobs that traditionally belongs to Singaporean in Government Link Companies.

Can we ask ourselves again, is it worthwhile just like any other Singaporeans, that we need to be subjected to this type of impartial treatment by the hands that feed us? We ask ourselves if becoming Singaporeans, do our social and job security still stay the same today?

Look at the enclaves in HDB, in Sport Halls, in Social Events. We cannot ask for integration because it is not that we would not embrace integration. It is just normal countrymen's feeling that they would prefer to stick to their own kind from their own country.