Society
A core of 65%
As the economy shrinks, Mr. LKY seemingly puts up a ceiling to the foreign influx. What are the implications? Seah Chiang Nee.
Jul 10, 2008

“We must have a core — at least 65 per cent of people born and bred who understand this place..” declared the Singapore’s most influential man when he addressd one of hottest issues in the state.

“(These people) are part of this society and who know how we got here and why we do things ... and who will get the immigrants to acquire our habits which we are doing,” Minister Lee Kuan Yew told the Nomura Asia Equity Forum.

Translated simply this means Singaporeans will have to be the decider of Singapore’s habits, not the large number of foreigners who flock here in overwhelming numbers.

What it means the ratio of Singapore’s population must be true-blue Singaporeans (not permanent residents before they become citizens).

“There are many bright Chinese and bright Indians who are joining us, but if we have more immigrants than the rest ... we become a different people, we wouldn’t be what we are,” Mr. Le said in reply to a question.

What are the implications?

Firstly, he has - at least for now - put paid to his original plan of Singapore with a population of 6-7 million. This assumes that his “born and bred” description refers only to true-blue Singaporeans and not include permanent residents (PRs).

Secondly, the government can still circumvent this ceiling in future by rapidly granting citizenship to a large number of PRs to push up the “bred” portion of the equation.

Thirdly, the foreign influx may not have a lot more steam to go unless the local birthrate suddenly jumps up. This is because the ‘born and bred’ Singaporeans (no PRs) cannot number more than 3m to 3.1m currently - or just about the 2/3rd level of the 4.68m population..

Why does he make it clear now?

Partly, it is to placate public unhappiness at the large number of foreigners coming into the country. Nine out of 10 Singaporeans view them as a threat to their jobs especially in a downturn.

If they continue to pile in, they would take away not only jobs from professionals but also cleaning work from the aged and lower skilled – the most needy of Singaporeans.. and of course, threaten the cushy political status of the ruling party.

Another factor could be the quickly deteriorating economy. In the next two years, the number of newly created jobs are likely to drop -- sharply.

Instead of more foreigners coming in, many of those who are here may actually leave.

Mr. Lee is also worried about social and cultural divisions in the Singaporean society.

Immigrants will continue to be a necessity, he said, but “You want to choose immigrants who are easily assimilable, who will make the next generation more or less like you.

Even if the new immigrant’s ethnicity is different, society can accommodate him.

Citing the example of a Ukrainian boy who is serving National Service as his family decided to settle here, Mr. Lee said: “We don’t have to assimilate him. We can absorb and accommodate him.

“He can marry another Ukrainian, move another Ukrainian here, that’s fine with us.

“We see our future as a cosmopolitan society ... Before, we were just an Asian society — Chinese, Malays, Indians. Now, we’ve got a real rainbow spread.”

He is talking of a Singapore that he, and many of us, will not be around to see. That’s not an uninspiring thing if timed well.

By Seah Chiang Nee