According to the Straits Times (here ), Mr.Lee Hsien Loong said that "Foreign workers help create good jobs for Singaporeans". It would have made some sense if he had said foreign investors!
There are few nations which would accept the building of an electronic plant, if it required that 40% of that factory's workers be foreign. There will be negative effects in terms of social issues, housing, and overcrowded subways among others. In a small nation, such effects will be magnified.
This is not natural growth. It is a forced, unnatural push to meet some target.
Possibly a target which will result in a higher bonus for the Prime Minister and his team!
Whenever I read and think about foreigners in Singapore and the feelings of alienation by Singaporeans, I am reminded of a book;
ReplyDelete"The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" by English historian Edward Gibbon.
Wikipedia link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Decline_and_Fall_of_the_Roman_Empire
Excerpts as follows:
"According to Gibbon, the Roman Empire succumbed to barbarian invasions in large part due to the gradual loss of civic virtue among its citizens. They had become weak, outsourcing their duties to defend their Empire to barbarian mercenaries, who then became so numerous and ingrained that they were able to take over the Empire."