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9/22/2006
myth 66
'PAP gahmen should have policies which will make people want to stay back in Singapore and not policies that will make citizens run away to another country... Because if a policy can chase away Singaporeans, sooner or later the same policy will also chase away these foreign quitters'
This is a quote from Zap posted in YPAP forum on the foreign talent policy.
What Zap fails to see is that this policy obeys the cardinal rules of nature, a perpetual cycle. This policy is self sustaining and people will come because of this policy, and people will go also because of this policy.
This is how it works. As a foreigner, one is attracted to be a citizen by all the privileges of citizenship, especially if they came from a less well managed country. So they will all come. But after becoming citizens, they realised that it was a foolish thing to do as the responsibilities and liabilities do not justify the privileges which they are entitled to as a PR. The differences are minimal. So they will go.
And the cycle will be repeated continuously just like the cycles of nature. No beginining and never ending. And complying with the laws of nature is a guarantee for eternity. It is a great policy formulated to encompass all the principles of Tao.
At a deeper level, the differences between citizenship and permanent residency is anything but minimal. Citizenship confers on you the indisputable right to reside in the country without any restrictions. A citizen can also come and go freely without worrying about his residency status lapsing. A PR on the other hand only has permission from the government to enter and reside subject to certain conditions. He cannot stay outside the country without having a valid Re-Entry Permit, otherwise he will lose his right to enter as a permanent resident. That permission can also be revoked at a moment's notice, thus rendering the permanent resident an illegal alien. Ask a certain former Singapore Airlines pilot by the name of Ryan Goh if you're still not convinced :-)
ReplyDeleteryan goh, as a pr, shouldn't get involved in local politics. i too will object to prs messing around with real politics. i am not sure whether he was messing around with working conditions or incidental politics.
ReplyDeletefor many rich folks, they are welcomed in most places anyway and would not be bother with citizen. they just want to enjoy their good life and make more money.
actually a rich bugger would be nice to hold a western passport but live in whichever country he finds comfortable with and need not be bothered with politics. why care about other people's problems when the world is a paradise?
I believe he was fighting for better working conditions in his capacity as a union officer. He did not go to SPeaker's Corner cursing the First FamiLee. So how can that be construed as getting involved in local politics ? Anyway, that is besides the point. The point is that the differences between being a citizen and permanent resident is not minimal, as you put it.
ReplyDeletehi joe,
ReplyDeletesorry that i forgot to extend a welcome to you. i have another joe in my forum and your joe seems too familiar.
the difference between citizenship and pr can be regarded as minimal or very significant, depending on what is important to the individual. if one has the intention of contesting for political office, just this point alone is impt enough to make a real dif. but for rich and mobile prs who are not interested in politics except a good life, they only need to find a country that welcomes them and they can live happily thereafter. singapore is a pr haven. treated not much difference from a citizen, if not better. why bother about the difference that is of no interest to him.
significant or marginal is relative to the person concerned.