I value my pink IC because...

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1026209/1/.html

The headline reads "School fee hike may prompt more foreigners to take up citizenship".

I read this article with great disappointment. This is the latest government policy to widen the gap between Singaporeans and non-citizens, and it is part of a string of policies which I cannot agree with.


Background:
3-5 years ago, the Singapore government allowed large numbers of foreigners to come here to work and live. In good times, Singaporean citizens would accept this influx of foreign talent ("FT"), because it was inevitable that someone had to do the "dirty jobs" that Singaporeans in general tend to shun. These were generally low-paying jobs that included cleaning and construction.

However, bad times came with the 2007/08 economic collapse. People were losing their jobs and someone had to be blamed. Xenophobia spread like wildfire throughout the world, and Singapore, having a significant FT population of around 30%, was not spared. Soon, the Opposition took advantage of the situation and issued stinging articles and biting criticisms against the FT policy.

People voiced their unhappiness in various areas like jobs, housing, CPF, NS and social disruption. Interestingly enough, people started to complain of "disadvantages" of being a citizen. They claimed that NS had robbed them of 2 years, and continuously disrupted their lives for the next 10 years, something which FT do not have to undergo.


The Change
People began to question, "what is the value of my pink IC? Why am I a Singaporean, only to be disadvantaged by the FT?"

This country is a democracy, and the will of the people be done. The government soon began to implement policies to widen the gap between Singaporeans and non-citizens (FTs and PRs). First they published a list of statistics, varying from housing to welfare to medical to retirement benefits. These statistics show that for many years, Singaporeans have enjoyed a certain advantage over non-citizens.

Then, a string of policies to widen that advantage started to appear, and they would explain very carefully to the reader that "this was to make a greater distinction between Singaporeans and non citizens".

This is not a critique of the government's policy, because I understand the background and the rationale for it's implementation. Public policy is merely the reflection of the needs and wants of the people, and this is a critique of these wants.

Yes, as Singaporeans, many of us do not feel a great sense of belonging to this country. We have people who emigrate to greener pastures, and some of those who stay behind lament day and night over everything. BUT, this is not the way to do things! THIS is not the way to give people a sense of belonging! We do not need another reason to be materialistic!


I value my pink IC because...
One of the greatest character flaws in Singaporeans is our materialism. We strive towards material success and gains, and this has been widely criticized, even by ourselves.

One of these days, my grandson is going to ask me "Why am I a Singaporean? Why is it important or good?" I sure as hell don't want to say "oh because we get an additional 20% discount over the foreigners! things will be cheaper!"

Hello? It's not as if we don't have enough materialism already!

I looked at my pink IC.

This is NOT a credit card. I didnt get this so I can get cheaper housing, more transport subsidies, or discounts whenever I go shopping! This is NOT a card which I will attach a monetary value to! If we look at our pink IC and think of all the monetary benefits we enjoy over the non-citizens, then ONE FINE DAY, another country is going to offer better benefits, and when that day comes, where will our loyalty lie?

I looked at my pink IC.

This is an IDENTITY CARD. It identifies me as who I am, and tells the world of what we are.

This card tells the world that I live on a tiny rock that can't be seen on the atlas.

This card tells the world that I speak English, and some other Asian language (Chinese, Malay, Indian), which makes me a bridge between East and West.

This card tells the world that I'll likely die from high cholesterol, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes or all of them, but it SURE AS HELL won't stand between me and my char kway teow.

This card tells the world that I'm from a group of people that's made the impossible possible. We have learned to study for an aptitude test and has produced more SATS perfect scorers than any other country in the world.

This card tells the world that I'm honest, hardworking and innovative, and around the world, my skills and character set is much sought after.

This card tells the world that come hell and high water, I am able to hold a rifle, I can survive in the wilderness, and when the rest of the developed world is losing the war against flab and fat, we still have a fighting chance.

This card tells the world that we are a freak of nature. My father, and my father's father, have broken, if not SHATTERED, every fundamental economic, social and political model that Western theorists have been able to conjure to date. It is IMPOSSIBLE for a nation of our circumstances to have achieved this level of material comfort, social cohesion and political stability FROM ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

Oh and most important of all, this card tells the world... that I am Singaporean.

Reasons for banning Alex Tan.

This is in reply to any queries on the reasons for banning Alex. The YPN facebook follows the usual forum rules that are followed in other respectable forums. This is to facilitate proper discussion and rational discourse, and it was unfortunate that Alex did not follow such basic netiquette despite repeated warnings.

24 Hour Cooling off period

Today, PM Lee implemented a 24 hour cooling off period to be held after the 9 days of Electoral Campaigning. It means that all media coverage, campaigning, commentary will cease for 24 hours, in order for people to reflect and think rationally about who they wish to vote in as their next government.

On the policy change itself, it's certainly advantageous to the PAP, a party which has always been promoting itself on the merits of rational thought and practical policies. The Opposition on the other hand, would be severely hampered by this cooling off period, as they have had the track record of relying mainly on emotional arguments and sentimental appeal.

In my opinion, this is open to abuse on both sides.


PAP's dirty tricks?
Mr Low Thia Kiang (Member for Hougang) has raised on TODAY (http://www.todayonline.com/Hotnews/EDC091201-0000098/All-will-be-quiet-on-the-eve-,,) that the Government is likely to use the Mainstream Media to get around the 24 hour cooling off period, given the widespread belief that the PAP controls the newspapers and the airwaves through the SPH. There is of course, widespread support of this view amongst many Singaporeans.

But wait. Didnt Mr Low make this comment about Singapore's MSM on the MSM itself? Doesnt the fact that his view was published show that the MSM MIGHT be fair afterall? I think it's still too early to tell.

Furthermore, if the PAP resorted to such an underhanded trick, our more discerning Singaporeans would be able to detect it and they would vote against the PAP. It doesnt make strategic sense to enforce the allegations by the Opposition made less than 24 hours before.


Opposition/Online cooperation?
Cooperation on the Opposition front seems unlikely. The Online Citizen (www.theonlinecitizen.com) for the longest time, has declared itself an independant perspective, without prejudice for or against any Party. But a cursory glance across their articles and posts indicate otherwise. The vast majority of their posts are highly critical of the PAP and their policies.

What would the result of non-cooperation by the online forums? The PAP of course, has the ability to arrest and shoot all their editors and columnists. But such a drastic measure would almost guarantee an uprising against them, and if they're really as stupid as that, they really do deserve to be voted out the next day!

In my opinion, the Online sites have every ability to ignore these gag orders with impunity. And rightly so. The online community of political activists has grown by leaps and bounds over the last 5-10 years, and they can no longer be ignored or silenced.


Good or bad move?
This latest measure seems to indicate PM Lee's confidence in his policies standing on the right side of rationality. Seems that he's pretty damned convinced that Singaporeans would support his policies on the merit of rationality. But in the face of so much criticism of PAP policies in the past term, can this really be a given?

Furthermore, conservatives (probably including his father) have criticized his string of liberalisation as "giving away" power. If the GRC system worked to the PAP's advantage, why introduce more SMCs? No other country in the world gives away free seats in Parliament "because they want a bigger challenge". If you control the media, why would you encourage Opposition voices to get publicity?

From a purely strategic perspective, none of these measures seem to make sense. But maybe what some pundits say MIGHT be true. That the little Lee is not the same man as the old Lee. In other countries, people complain about a change of Party, but same system of administration. Could we be looking at the same Party, but a change of administration?

Or maybe little Lee is just a little craZEE. ;)