MM Lee outlines two challenges for Singapore to undertake
Channel NewsAsia - Friday, August 14
SINGAPORE: Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has highlighted two challenges for Singapore to undertake in order to do well in the next five to ten years.
Speaking on Thursday at the annual National Day Dinner at his Tanjong Pagar constituency, the minister mentor said Singapore can reach a new level of development, but difficulties will crop up along the way.
To resolve them, the nation must always face them squarely and work together.
The first challenge is integrating new citizens and permanent residents (PRs) with the local population. The speed of this process depends on the openness of Singaporeans who are born and raised here, and the willingness of new citizens to adapt and be part of the Singapore society.
Mr Lee explained that without immigration, the ageing problem will be too heavy a burden for the young. Immigrants who can be integrated without upsetting the racial balance are in Singapore’s interest.
He said: "We need immigrants to make up for the children we are not having. That’s a very hard fact of life. Between age 25 and 40, more than 30 per cent are unmarried — that means single and childless.
"Those who marry have an average of 1.8 children — replacement is 2.1. If we do not have educated Malaysians, China Chinese and India Indians and others from the region, our economy will decline and our labour force will shrink."
Mr Lee, however, assured Singaporeans that the government is conscious of protecting the interests of citizens. In fact, there is a clear distinction between citizens and PRs in terms of HDB housing, hospital charges, education fees and the Resilience Package.
On the other hand, he added that Singapore cannot make the immigration process so onerous that no one comes. For example, it cannot insist that PRs or new citizens be fluent in English when even some existing citizens are not.
Mr Lee’s second challenge is to encourage Chinese Singaporeans to speak more Mandarin and to take up scholarships to study in China’s top universities.
He said Singapore needs 200 to 300 A—level students to be proficient in both languages and cultures to manage the work with China — both government—to—government and in the private sector.
He added: "This does not mean we are displacing English as our working and common language — our first language. English will remain the master language for all Singaporeans.
"Our new immigrants know that in Singapore, without an adequate command of English, they cannot go far. The command of English is the decisive factor for the career path and promotion prospects of all Singaporeans."
As for the resident population, Mr Lee said the government is conscious of the need to keep the character and values of the Singapore society, so it is carefully controlling the inflow of PRs and new citizens to maintain this balance.
— CNA/so
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Friday, August 14, 2009
MM: Foreign talent is vital
Aug 14, 2009
MM: Foreign talent is vital
Dangerous to shut off flow as Singapore's economy will decline
By Clarissa Oon & Goh Chin Lian
MINISTER Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on Thursday warned Singaporeans of the dangers of closing the country's door to foreign talent.
Without educated foreign residents, Singapore faces the threat of a declining economy with a shrinking labour force, he said in a speech stressing the importance of accepting and embracing them.
Immigrants make up for the children Singaporeans are not having, he said. To shut them out is to risk an unwelcome scenario similar to that confronting Japan's greying population: 'They refuse to accept immigrants, so their economy is feeble and lacks vitality.'
However, MM Lee reassured Singaporeans that the Government is very conscious of protecting their interests. The number of foreign residents would be carefully controlled to preserve the character and values of Singapore society, he told about 700 grassroots leaders and residents attending a National Day dinner in Tanjong Pagar GRC.
In his speech, he also highlighted the challenge of grooming a core of bilingual Chinese talent to engage China. But this will not be done at the expense of English, which will remain the common language of all Singaporeans, he said.
Singapore has about 1.68 million foreigners. Mr Lee noted that 70 per cent are here temporarily, holding renewable passes, mainly the employment pass, S-pass for semi-skilled workers or work permits for the low-skilled. The rest are permanent residents, or PRs.
The large pool has led to growing discontent among Singaporeans. 'There are complaints about new citizens and PRs taking away jobs from our workers and that those in sales and service do not speak or understand English.'
But, he added: 'We accept only immigrants who increase the average level of competence of Singaporeans.' They must have skills and at least secondary, preferably tertiary education.
Mr Lee produced a string of figures to show why Singapore needs skilled workers and professionals from Malaysia, China, India and elsewhere in the region. Without them, the labour force will shrink because Singaporeans are not replacing themselves.
In Singapore, the burden will be too heavy for the young if there was no immigration. So, it is in Singapore's interest to have immigrants 'who can be integrated without upsetting the racial balance', Mr Lee said.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=35570.2
MM: Foreign talent is vital
Dangerous to shut off flow as Singapore's economy will decline
By Clarissa Oon & Goh Chin Lian
MINISTER Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on Thursday warned Singaporeans of the dangers of closing the country's door to foreign talent.
Without educated foreign residents, Singapore faces the threat of a declining economy with a shrinking labour force, he said in a speech stressing the importance of accepting and embracing them.
Immigrants make up for the children Singaporeans are not having, he said. To shut them out is to risk an unwelcome scenario similar to that confronting Japan's greying population: 'They refuse to accept immigrants, so their economy is feeble and lacks vitality.'
However, MM Lee reassured Singaporeans that the Government is very conscious of protecting their interests. The number of foreign residents would be carefully controlled to preserve the character and values of Singapore society, he told about 700 grassroots leaders and residents attending a National Day dinner in Tanjong Pagar GRC.
In his speech, he also highlighted the challenge of grooming a core of bilingual Chinese talent to engage China. But this will not be done at the expense of English, which will remain the common language of all Singaporeans, he said.
Singapore has about 1.68 million foreigners. Mr Lee noted that 70 per cent are here temporarily, holding renewable passes, mainly the employment pass, S-pass for semi-skilled workers or work permits for the low-skilled. The rest are permanent residents, or PRs.
The large pool has led to growing discontent among Singaporeans. 'There are complaints about new citizens and PRs taking away jobs from our workers and that those in sales and service do not speak or understand English.'
But, he added: 'We accept only immigrants who increase the average level of competence of Singaporeans.' They must have skills and at least secondary, preferably tertiary education.
Mr Lee produced a string of figures to show why Singapore needs skilled workers and professionals from Malaysia, China, India and elsewhere in the region. Without them, the labour force will shrink because Singaporeans are not replacing themselves.
In Singapore, the burden will be too heavy for the young if there was no immigration. So, it is in Singapore's interest to have immigrants 'who can be integrated without upsetting the racial balance', Mr Lee said.
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