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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>PRs, don't blame S'pore, choice is yours
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I AM writing in response to the letter, 'Please give PRs a break' by Ms Chan Mei Kuen (Sept 6).
I think some of her comments were unfair to Singaporeans and our system. First, Singaporeans do not distinguish between foreigners based on their income and housing, as she implied. To us, they are all foreigners but those who opt for permanent residence (PR) feel closer to us because by doing so, they have given a vote of confidence in our system and our way of life.
I believe this is the main reason Ms Chan and her family became PRs. However, there is still a need to differentiate benefits between citizens and PRs. Ms Chan is wrong to say that PRs are left out. Rather, PRs have opted out of citizens' benefits such as housing and health care for personal reasons. As such, she should accept the outcome of her decision. Incidentally, when Ms Chan mentioned that PRs are given the same benefits as citizens in Britain and Australia, did she compare these countries' tax rates with ours? Everything has a price and there is no such thing as a free lunch.
When she justifies herself by stating that coming from another country will always carry a stigma and she still wants to visit her family in her home country (Malaysia), I would like to highlight to her that my mother hails from Kuala Lumpur and today remains the only member of her immediate family to have changed citizenship. But she never suffered any stigma and our family has never had difficulty visiting my relatives in KL since I was young.
I have friends from China and Malaysia who became Singaporeans after many years here. We can also recall many distinguished Singaporeans who hailed originally from Malaysia, who include some of our founding fathers. They all made a crucial decision in their lives, that is, to call Singapore their home and to sing our National Anthem and recite our Pledge.
To those PRs who still ponder over whether to apply for citizenship, I believe the key is to follow your heart. Once you have made up your mind, accept the outcome wholeheartedly. Please do not blame Singaporeans and our system. The truth is, you have a choice.
Ivan Loh
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I AM writing in response to the letter, 'Please give PRs a break' by Ms Chan Mei Kuen (Sept 6).
I think some of her comments were unfair to Singaporeans and our system. First, Singaporeans do not distinguish between foreigners based on their income and housing, as she implied. To us, they are all foreigners but those who opt for permanent residence (PR) feel closer to us because by doing so, they have given a vote of confidence in our system and our way of life.
I believe this is the main reason Ms Chan and her family became PRs. However, there is still a need to differentiate benefits between citizens and PRs. Ms Chan is wrong to say that PRs are left out. Rather, PRs have opted out of citizens' benefits such as housing and health care for personal reasons. As such, she should accept the outcome of her decision. Incidentally, when Ms Chan mentioned that PRs are given the same benefits as citizens in Britain and Australia, did she compare these countries' tax rates with ours? Everything has a price and there is no such thing as a free lunch.
When she justifies herself by stating that coming from another country will always carry a stigma and she still wants to visit her family in her home country (Malaysia), I would like to highlight to her that my mother hails from Kuala Lumpur and today remains the only member of her immediate family to have changed citizenship. But she never suffered any stigma and our family has never had difficulty visiting my relatives in KL since I was young.
I have friends from China and Malaysia who became Singaporeans after many years here. We can also recall many distinguished Singaporeans who hailed originally from Malaysia, who include some of our founding fathers. They all made a crucial decision in their lives, that is, to call Singapore their home and to sing our National Anthem and recite our Pledge.
To those PRs who still ponder over whether to apply for citizenship, I believe the key is to follow your heart. Once you have made up your mind, accept the outcome wholeheartedly. Please do not blame Singaporeans and our system. The truth is, you have a choice.
Ivan Loh
:o 
