Difficult ties that bind
Loyal to Singapore, but will never be Singaporean
Letter from Peter Wadeley
05:55 AM Sep 09, 2010
I WAS very surprised to hear that some permanent residents may be asked in the future to become citizens or else their PR status may not be renewed.
I live in Singapore because I have a Singaporean wife and two Singaporean children.
But for my wife, I would never have come to Singapore.
We are not a burden to society, and my wife and I have produced two intelligent children.
Our children are encouraged to have as much understanding of the Chinese language and culture as of the English language and Western culture. I am already preparing my son to do National Service (which is many years away).
Singapore is my home and I feel loyalty to Singapore. But I am not Singaporean and never will be. Although I feel more immediate connection to Singapore than the country of my birth and citizenship, I simply do not feel Singaporean. Nothing will ever change that.
I sincerely hope that such a policy is not implemented.
Not the big stick again
Letter from Soh Gim Chuan
I REFER to the report "A good idea, or maybe not..." (Sept 8). Forcing a person to take up citizenship under threat of withdrawal of permanent residency is a very bad idea.
It reinforces the perception that the Government tries to solve problems with a big stick.
Taking up citizenship involves more than just economic cost-benefit analysis. Would, say, a Georgian sever ties with his country and take up Singapore citizenship when he cannot find a Georgian community here?
Loyal to Singapore, but will never be Singaporean
Letter from Peter Wadeley
05:55 AM Sep 09, 2010
I WAS very surprised to hear that some permanent residents may be asked in the future to become citizens or else their PR status may not be renewed.
I live in Singapore because I have a Singaporean wife and two Singaporean children.
But for my wife, I would never have come to Singapore.
We are not a burden to society, and my wife and I have produced two intelligent children.
Our children are encouraged to have as much understanding of the Chinese language and culture as of the English language and Western culture. I am already preparing my son to do National Service (which is many years away).
Singapore is my home and I feel loyalty to Singapore. But I am not Singaporean and never will be. Although I feel more immediate connection to Singapore than the country of my birth and citizenship, I simply do not feel Singaporean. Nothing will ever change that.
I sincerely hope that such a policy is not implemented.
Not the big stick again
Letter from Soh Gim Chuan
I REFER to the report "A good idea, or maybe not..." (Sept 8). Forcing a person to take up citizenship under threat of withdrawal of permanent residency is a very bad idea.
It reinforces the perception that the Government tries to solve problems with a big stick.
Taking up citizenship involves more than just economic cost-benefit analysis. Would, say, a Georgian sever ties with his country and take up Singapore citizenship when he cannot find a Georgian community here?
