President Nathan: We must appreciate foreigners and welcome them

Repost from Temasek Review (http://www.temasekreview.com/2011/04/26/president-nathan-we-must-appreciate-foreigners-and-welcome-them/)
---------------------

Paving the way for another 900,000 ‘Foreign Talents’, President S R Nathan has called on Singaporeans to appreciate and welcome foreigners into Singapore.

Speaking at an Indian community event, the President was quoted by the local media as saying: “New arrivals and foreign workers may cause discomfort because of our unfamiliarity with their diverse accents and habits, but we must not forget how they have made our lives better.”

“We must appreciate the contributions of these foreigners and new citizens, and welcome them into our midst, as our ancestors were welcomed in days gone by.” he added.

Barely 3 days ago, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has hinted that Singapore needs another 900,000 to “do the construction and other heavy work, jobs Singaporeans are not willing to do.”

Although Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had on a seperate occasion promised to ’slow down’ on the intake of foreigners, he backtrack later on to reiterate that foreigners help create jobs for Singaporeans.

According to a Wall Street Journal editorial in January 2010, the rapid inflow of foreigners has depressed the wages of ordinary Singaporeans, increased the cost of living, especially that of public housing and led to an overall decrease in the standard of living in Singapore.

Foreigners now make up 40 percent of Singapore’s population, up from 14 percent in 1990. Of the remaining 60 percent who are citizens, an increasing number are born overseas.

The next general election may be the last window of opportunity for native Singaporeans to reclaim ownership of their own country. The PAP’s present immigration policies are likely to continue if it forms the government again and Singaporeans will soon be relegated to being minorities in their own country of birth.