Mahathir
went to the Philippines to teach Duterte to such eggs, warning ‘the Philippines
against letting in foreigners who could “disturb” the country’s domestic
political stability’ in view of the influx of Chinese workers. During an interview this is what Mahathir
said, ‘Foreign direct investment should not involve brining huge numbers of
foreigners to live in the country, because that might disturb the political
equations in the country,…If huge numbers of any foreigners (come) to live and
stay in the country…you have to do some rethinking as to whether it is good or
bad, of the limits that you have to impose on them.’
Duterte
has different considerations based on the Philippines own situation. Last month
Duterte said that ‘Chinese workers should be allowed to continue staying in the
country as Beijing also hosted hundreds of thousands of Filipinos.’ This kind
of reciprocity is not in the thinking of Mahathir. To Mahathir it is one way,
can only benefit Malaysia and not the other party, like China pouring money
into Malaysia but must be according to Malaysia’s term and interest and China
must be the Santa Claus. Duterte sees it differently, win win for both parties.
Why
doesn’t Mahathir share his warning with the Singapore govt but only to the
Philippines? Singapore would likely show him the middle finger, other than
telling him to mind his own business, not to influence Singapore's policy making, Singapore would tell him that the more
foreigners the better, and Singapore woud be most happy to give citizenships to foreigners, not
just staying and working here. Mahathir probably did not know that Singapore is
now not a country but a hotel for everyone who wants to be here. Everyone can
come here and own Singapore, no problem. A hotel is not a country and has no misgivings about losing a country to foreigners. Singapore is
happy to share this piece of rock with anyone that comes here to work. Citizens
are now called locals, just like the foreigners living here as PRs, NOT citizens. In fact citizen is a bad word, 'local' is the new favoured word for those living in the island.
This
is a new model of state corporation, not nationhood, except that it has not
been officially spoken in this way. All the sensitivities and things like
disturbing the political equations in the country are none issues here.
Singapore does not see any problem with changing the political equation or
demography of the country. There is no
race issue here, everyone is Singaporean. Any race can become the majority and become the Prime Minister or President. Singapore can be taken over by any
race, no problem.
This is better than the theory of black cat or white cat as
long as it can catch mice it is a good cat. I am waiting for our political
leaders to utter this great catch phrase as the new Singapore slogan to the locals. Singapore simply loves to have foreigners, the more the merrier, wildlife also can.