[h=1]TEO SER LUCK: FILIPINO SUB-COMMITTEE IN PUNGGOL NEVER FORMED[/h]
Minister of State for Trade and Industry Teo Ser Luck has clarified that a resident’s committee (RC) in his Punggol Central ward did not set up a Filipino sub-committee.
TRS understands that a Singaporean in the Compassvale Villa RC had put up a sign in Tagalog asking for volunteers to join a Filipino sub-committee earlier this year, as an effort to improve integration in the community.
A photo of the sign has been circulated online recently, re-igniting the debate about the lack of integration between foreigners and locals.
Only one such sign was posted in the RC’s vicinity, and was taken down a few days later when Mr Teo, an MP for Pasir-Ris Punggol GRC, which Punggol Central comes under, found out about it. The committee was never formed.
He said on Monday that he has counselled the RC members and told them that creating such sub-committees is not the right approach.
“(I told them)... we should not cluster and form such committees. The best integration is to work together in the same group,” he said.
The sign asks for volunteers for the sub-committee to contact the RC, and lists the RC’s contact details.
One netizen, who goes by the moniker Predeesh Emeritus Omerta, posted the picture on Mr Teo’s Facebook wall and said: “ Despite Resident’s Committees intending to be a group to promote integration, it appears that the authorities are allowing different racial and language groups to form their own, segregated groups within them.
“As a Singaporean, I personally find such ads racially biased as I believe the RC should look after and cater to all regardless of race.”
Minister of State for Trade and Industry Teo Ser Luck has clarified that a resident’s committee (RC) in his Punggol Central ward did not set up a Filipino sub-committee.
TRS understands that a Singaporean in the Compassvale Villa RC had put up a sign in Tagalog asking for volunteers to join a Filipino sub-committee earlier this year, as an effort to improve integration in the community.
A photo of the sign has been circulated online recently, re-igniting the debate about the lack of integration between foreigners and locals.
Only one such sign was posted in the RC’s vicinity, and was taken down a few days later when Mr Teo, an MP for Pasir-Ris Punggol GRC, which Punggol Central comes under, found out about it. The committee was never formed.
He said on Monday that he has counselled the RC members and told them that creating such sub-committees is not the right approach.
“(I told them)... we should not cluster and form such committees. The best integration is to work together in the same group,” he said.
The sign asks for volunteers for the sub-committee to contact the RC, and lists the RC’s contact details.
One netizen, who goes by the moniker Predeesh Emeritus Omerta, posted the picture on Mr Teo’s Facebook wall and said: “ Despite Resident’s Committees intending to be a group to promote integration, it appears that the authorities are allowing different racial and language groups to form their own, segregated groups within them.
“As a Singaporean, I personally find such ads racially biased as I believe the RC should look after and cater to all regardless of race.”
