Identify real causes of negative behaviour towards foreigners to solve integration issues
The commentary “The paradox of strong family ties in the integration of immigrants” (June 28) does not seem to identify the real causes of the “negative behaviour towards foreigners”.
I would be concerned that the authors have assumed that there is cause for worry about xenophobic tendencies based on online comments and a small group gathering at Hong Lim Park.
First, from what I have read and noticed, the unprecedented rate at which foreigners were accepted into Singapore in the first decade of the 21st century had upset many Singaporeans.
According to the 2010 census, the non-resident population increased to 25.7 per cent of the total population, from 18.7 per cent a decade earlier. The latest statistics show that the percentage last year was 29.5 per cent.
If we add Permanent Residents to the number, the percentage of non-citizens here works out at 39 per cent. If a careful, gradual increase had been adopted, there would have been little concern.
Second, there had been more cases of foreign managers hiring foreign applicants while bypassing locals who meet the job requisites, leading the Manpower Ministry to institute regulations to prevent this abuse.
Unfortunately, the authors did not allude to these and other reasons behind some Singaporeans’ anger at this phenomenon.
If the true reasons for the problem with integrating immigrants into Singapore are not identified, I cannot see how homestay programmes can be a solution.
The call for such government intervention in the integration of foreigners here is an attempt at social engineering.
It is best to let the integration evolve over time as a natural process in which foreigners and Singaporeans see mutual understanding and benefits.
