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Analysis on yearly quota for imported citizens and PRs in Singapore
Constitution |
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Analysis on yearly quota for imported citizens and PRs in Singapore
Constitution
Let's examine if it is necessary and out of no choice for the PAP government
to implement a yearly quota on imported citizens and PRs in Singapore
Constitution.
Before we do that, we must examine the effects of steps taken by PAP
government to change and formulate policies in accordance to discovery and
realisation by PAP the much unhappiness and resentments of Singaporeans in
the recent GE 2011 in May 2011; whether is there any change in the
electorate mood after announcements of changes in various policies for the
benefits of Singaporeans.
After Singapore General Election 2011 in May, the PAP government has taken
steps in the right direction to focus on Singaporeans First to the extent of
outright declaration of Singaporeans First policy by PM Lee Hsien Loong at
National Day rally 2011 sometime in Aug 2011.
Despite all these announcements of changes in policies, in the recent
Presidential Election on 27 Aug 2011, Dr Tony Tan, ex-DPM PAP minister of 27
years, who was perceived by the electorate closer to the establishment, was
the only candidate among the four Presidential candidate to have been jeered
widely with "Bullshit" on nomination day and was voted in a 7th President of
Singapore with a razor thin winning margin of 0.34% with only 35.19% of
valid votes. His competitors, Dr Tan Cheng Bock, an ex-PAP grassroots
veteran, gotten 34.85% of the valid votes, ex-opposition candidate Tan Jee
Say gotten 25.04% of valid votes and independent candidate Tan Kin Lian
gotten 4.91% of valid votes.
From this, it can be seen that about 65% of the electorate voted for
candidates that are not closer to the PAP establishment, thus it would
appear that the electorate mood cannot be easily resolved by earlier
policies changes that had been announced and broadcasted widely by local
media. Quite a handful of the electorate remains deeply cynical and
skeptical of PAP to the extent of using "bullshit" in jeering.
What about new President-elect Dr Tony Tan? Can he play a meaningful role to
unify Singaporeans? If new President-elect Dr. Tony Tan, can and able to
unify Singaporeans across board then this would lessen for a need to
implement a yearly quota on imported citizens and PRs in Singapore
Constitution.
As of now, it would appear that it is going to be extremely difficult for
any human figure to unify a split Singapore and judging by this Presidential
Election, Singapore obviously remains split right in the middle and
polarised to various factions. Drastic measure in the form of yearly quota
on imported citizens and PRs in Singapore Constitution is needed.
In fact, based on calculations, PAP doesn't have much time and has to decide
soon whether to implement yearly quota on imported citizens and PRs in
Singapore Constitution before further polarisation take root deeply and PAP
cannot recover the lost ground. Any breach in gap or wound should not be
left to fester and allow germs to multiply into more germs thereby enlarging
into a deeper and wider wound. Actions have to be taken quickly to mend the
deep divide.
One has also to ask whether would such a drastic action to implement a
yearly quota on imported citizens and PRs in Singapore Constitution help to
plaster and mend the wounded divided?
Very honestly, our PAP government is really brilliant and fast to react (and
that's why PAP is able to be in power for so long), sources or policies that
caused unhappiness and resentments in our electorate are being removed or
changed within 3 months after the GE 2011 in May 2011; for example removal
of unpopular ministers, a new independent committee to review ministers'
salaries, increases in Build To Order HDB flats within few months, increases
in train services for various train lines, increase in university places by
2000, limit on foreigners in Singapore universities to 18%, changes to
employment passes, declared limit of 30% of Singapore labour force to be
foreigners, recent change in People Association rule to allow parties to
invite who they want for their booking of space belonging to the government
etc.
Now despite all these changes, to date, everyone who is living in Singapore
and closely in touch with the ground, can clearly see that such many and
earlier actions by PAP are not enough to assure a deeply skeptical and
cynical electorate.
Ask any politician and most politicians would strive to avoid implementing a
fixed yearly quota on imported citizens as they very well know that more
likely than not, new immigrants are a source of political support for any
party that opens the door to the new immigrants. It would be safe, logical
and reasonable to assume the same thoughts for Singapore ruling government
too.
Is there any other option left to truly and convince skeptical and cynical
electorate back to the folds of PAP other than having to implement yearly
quota on imported citizens and PRs in Singapore Constitution? This approach
is more of wanting to recover lost of support ground and unaccepting of the
other defeatist accepting of "new normal" approach whereby some believe it
is here to stay in Singapore politics. My guess is PAP itself is likely
split internally to 2 such camps too. As for me, I don't fully accept the
"new normal" approach as I personally prefer to believe that the electorate
does scrutinize the candidate or party up for vote and does their homework
and comparison. The reason for me not accepting the "new normal" hypothesis
is that I place my faith in Singapore voters who are sharp and very shrewd.
Although they do keep quiet most of the time, over the last 5 years, with
great influx of foreigners, they have risen up and not afraid to be tag as
supporting opposition openly in Singapore where politicians have been made
bankrupt and this is gutsy which is also why I totally disagree with Lee
Kuan Yew that foreign talents are better, more hardworking and enterprising.
The main reason for such a measure is to truly and deeply assure skeptical
and cynical Singaporeans that PAP is truly for Singaporeans and not
perceived to be for foreigners or for the benefit of PAP; which is the main
source of much unhappiness and resentments in our electorate.
In examining various options, there does not appear any measure left to
convince and bring back or unite skeptical and cynical polarised electorate.
Only with use of Singapore Constitution written in black and white, can a
woken previously trusting electorate goes back to being trusting of PAP and
its policies. Otherwise, without such a measure, the electorate will
continue to be distrustful, cynical and skeptical and will look with "dagger
eyes" to review any government policies.
For Singaporeans, any implementation of such a measure of yearly fixed quota
on imported citizens and PRs in Singapore Constitution in limited space
constraints of Singapore, would definitely appear that PAP has set aside
party politics and sacrifice political capital for Singapore. Skeptical or
cynical Singaporeans will have less ammunition to hit at PAP especially when
PAP is being seen as truly and proudly "Faithfully Singaporeans First"; that
the hard slogging quiet wife is not forgotten for what appears to be new younger prettier
concubines.
PAP has some pondering and calculations to do although the choice is clear
to some of us. Some pertinent questions PAP would be considering are :- Can PAP afford the loss
of not being able to bring in more immigrants for political support in
future? Does PAP have the political will to concede some future ground and
win back already lost ground? How many elections can new immigrants voters
be relied upon to vote for PAP before they too get turned off by PAP and
vote opposition, assuming PAP is going to continue its pro-foreigner
policies like liberal immigration and PRs policies? Does the benefit of
having yearly fixed quota on imported citizens and PRs in Singapore
Constitution out weigh future loss in political support due to restriction
on ability to import new citizens or will it be become overall loss for PAP?
What would PAP gain in 1 stroke with such an implementation of yearly quota
on imported citizens and PRs in Singapore Constitution? Can PAP continue
onward and avoid the need for such measure knowing festering of wounds would
likely enlarge the divide?
Singapore voters are very astute and politically smart. Never forget that
they have been electing the right team for many years and even manage to
send the right message in this Presidential Election 2011. It would be a
matter of time before more and more people would call for implementation of
fixed yearly quota for imported citizens and PRs in Singapore Constitution
to safeguard their children's future. Such calls would be expected from new
citizens too in an increasingly crowded Singapore.
Why then be forced to such a situation and not take a step ahead and
implement and gain glory for real self sacrificial and recover lost
political grounds with such a move before being forced to a corner and not
gain much out of such a move later? Of course, such a move has to be
complemented by continuous review of labour policies, employment limits,
declared limits and total control of influx foreigners into Singapore.
Hopefully, PAP can regain the trust of Singaporeans with such a move before
deeper skepticism and cynicism take deep roots among Singaporeans.
Contributor: W H C L
Copyright: Publishment in any media allowed with display of url link
http://www.singaporechatforum.com/singaporeforum/showthread.php?tid=270 |
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Thanks To Source(s):
SingaporeChatForum.com Discussion Thread
& Chat Forum Section |
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