Foreigner problem - inside out

This is my humble piece. Do share your thoughts.

Part 1: The foreigner 'problem' - on the surface

(It was never about foreigners individually)

This is in response to some who misunderstand our efforts at criticizing the PAP's foreign talent/labour policy, and their failure to differentiate between real xenophobia, and justified social discontent:

No one wants to pit Singaporeans against foreigners just for the sake of it. I have made this point over and over, but still there are mistaken, imbecile, or simply sinister fellows (who pretend not to know) who cannot see the point and accuse us of being "just against foreigners" and "targeting people just because of their nationalities".

Firstly, maybe there are indeed parties who target foreigners unfairly (some would say, The Temasek Times; not the new TR Emeritus, please take note if you have not). I have to state that I am not with them, and I believe the other thinking people who question the government's ultra-liberal foreign immigration policy are not with them either. But talking about spewing genuine xenophobic vibes, MSM like STOMP is quite guilty of that, since they don't do policy-hitting behind their 'PRC', 'China' story headings. 

Secondly, I would say most of the discourse I see online so far are within reasonable standards of non-xenophobic decency. (Note that my scope of 'discourse' here excludes individual 'rants' coming out in a pit of anger)

Thirdly, even if there are genuine anti-foreigner sentiments (which I suppose to be quite rare), who do we blame that on?

For the most of us, I believe, it is not about "foreigners", but about the influx, the extent and manner in which the influx takes place, the problems the influx has created, and the unhappiness and tensions caused as a result, that worries and frustrates us. 

It is many a time, in our beloved homeland of Singapore, not about being "anti-foreigner", but about being against seemingly "pro-foreigner/foreigner-biased" attitudes and ways of our authorities (perhaps you want to call that reverse xenophobia?).

Which means that if you want to find fault in Singaporeans disliking foreigners, especially their influx, you should know who to blame.

When foreigners are valued over us as citizens, surely we do have the right to be angry, and sometimes this anger would seem to be pitted against the 'job-stealers' and 'bullies' (some of whom might really deserve it), but we emphatise with most of you, really, our overseas guests. You are only here to seek a better life for yourselves and your family and we should not be furious about that.

What we are upset about is the fact that we are stripped of our rights as citizens to be taken care of with priority. I know some advaned countries in Europe treat foreigners almost as equally as their citizens (due to human rights and a declining local population) and some may bring that up as an excuse for what is practised in Singapore, but for goodness sake, do those advanced states do that at the expense of their own citizens? 

Lastly, I think we do have the right to question policies, and highlight, through specific examples, the problems faced by Singaporeans as a result of those policies.

So bear with us when we blame 'overpopulation' for our congested MRT trains and stations, 'new' drivers for the regular road accidents, 'cheap labour' for our unemployment, and so on.

But wait, those are surface reasons that the government does not mind that you 'know' and talk about...

Part 2: The real reason behind the foreigner import

(The PAP's love of money and their 'strategy' of growth-at-all-costs)

Our government's foreign labour/talent policy is tied together with its stance on low wages (to keep costs low for businesses and to increase 'productivity'), hence resulting in the lack of a minimun wage, which in turn leads to an influx of 'cheap labour', which creates the problem of unemployment/insufficient income for the lower levels of our society.

It is also far 'cheaper' to import already-trained 'talents' from abroad than to 'waste' money on developing local minds and skills, those top-notch ones needed for our financial economy.

It is a selfish regime behind this governenment that works at all costs to maintain high GDP and growth, so that they do not lose votes, as they justify their hold on power with 'excellent' economic performance. Their political hold on power is presumbly more important than our equality and rights. And when they keep their growth numbers running, we are mere 'digits' at their disposal, always 'ready' to be replaced by 'new blood' who could help them attain better 'figures'.

Of course they would then claim that "their way" "benefits all", as the 'pie' would become larger and only then, there would be sufficient to distribute, and distribute more. But should not the people's decent minimum livelihood be of top priority? Of course they would claim that "no one lives in poverty in Singapore" and "everyone lives decently". But are you satisfied, not even spiritually, sometimes even materially? Are your standards of living improving or otherwise, and we are not even asking for the Swiss standard of living they had 'promised'?

Should not we stop encouraging high economic growth at a high expense of ordinary citizens' well-being, and end the tyranny of this elitist, rich man's world? One would only have to look at where the 'pie' goes, to decide. Again, another reason for their exobitant ministerial remunerations is the sustaining of their hold on power (willingness to join the ranks of the PAP), preposterously argued with the 'fact' that "only they can do the job", that "there is only enough space for one 'A-Team'".

This is how the PAP defines wealth and properity, and economic efficiency and 'productivity'. At our costs.

This is how they maintain their hold on power. To their benefit.

You decide.

Part 3: The reluctance to prevent/solve foreigner problems

(Again, money and power)

Even if they want to bring in so many people, they should at least ensure that our infrastructure like transport, housing, etc. can keep up. But, it seems too 'expensive' for the government to improve our infrastructure to keep up with their influx of these new immigrants.

Yes - too 'costly' to give adequate training to the 'new' bus drivers, to ensure a decent level of communication ability between the 'new' waiters and waitresses and their Singaporean customers, and to make sure our trains and tracks can withstand increased usage due to the need for increased frequency of trips. Maintenance costs 'too much' for our otherwise wealthy government, who can only afford 'cable ties' to secure our tracks (okay la, they said it's only temporary)

And only until recently have they become more 'active/proactive' in the 'promotion' of 'integration' between new and old immigrants, whose effectiveness still remains to be seen. This difficulty could be due to our government's innate inability to handle cultural stuff (look at how they have handled even our own culture) on the one hand, and their reluctance on the other (do they really want us to integrate? have we forgotten another reason they are here for, to dilute our v***s? if we become sama-sama (the same) with shared interests, then who to vote for them?)

And does the government even bother that we are feeling uneasy, or does it take it lightly, only until recently? Does the government think of our feelings and reactions, and possible consequences of their policies on us, before they come up with them? If they do not, they are not fit to serve us. If they do, it still does not make them fit! Because if they have foreseen all these problems, why did they not prevent them from occuring? Have they tried hard enough?

Or do they, worse still, just do what they like without fear of losing power, since it is already so entrenched, guaranteed by what we have mentioned above, in addition to oppression of political rights, supression of the Oppositiion, and control over the mass media. Yes, the mass media that would help them propagate that they 'have our interests at heart' and also that "you can't please everybody" and "sometimes we need to make unpopular, but necessary decisions". 

Are you pleased, Singaporeans (and maybe, foreigners, alike)? 

And what do you consider necessary to be done at this juncture?

First posted on facebook note: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=273109766115049

and published on TR Emeritus: http://www.tremeritus.com/2012/05/03/my-humble-take-on-foreigner-problem-inside-out/