Ang Moh DIE DIE Refuses Pink IC!

[makapaaa]

<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>PRs face a permanent disadvantage
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->AS A long-time resident (I first came here in 1981) and a permanent resident since 2001, I read with much interest last Saturday's Insight article, 'Minding the gap between the pink and the blue'.
One key difference that was not mentioned is that the status of a 'permanent resident' is nothing like permanent.
The re-entry permit attached to the status is renewable and each time, it is renewed only for a specific number of years. I am currently on a 10-year PR re-entry permit.
Will it be renewed? I do not know. Many years ago, a friend of mine saw her re-entry permit renewed for one year.
Many of my Singaporean friends are under the impression that being a PR means that one can live and work in Singapore for as long as one likes.
They also think that permanent residents enjoy all the advantages of citizenship without the requisite obligations and commitment. I believe this is pretty much the reason for this wave of public opinion on PRs.
Most Singaporeans seem unaware that a PR may live here for the greater part of his life and give much to the country (as I believe I have), without ever having the certainty of being able to truly stay here 'permanently'.

[COLOR=_______]=> Then why donch u want to take up the Pink IC leh? Cos u know it stinks, right?[/COLOR]

One might have constructed an entire life but see it crumble because of a sudden change in administrative policy.
The important and decisive difference in permanence between a PR and a citizen should be studied by Singaporeans - and the media - who complain about privileges accorded to permanent residents.
Gilles Massot

http://www.facebook.com/gilles.massot

 

[middaydog]

Michy Witchy is Bitchy

 

[BBBBBB80]

Is the difference between PR and citizens that great?

I will gladly pay that pathetic difference of a few hundred dollars in subsidies and be granted the option to hold another country's passport legally and avoid obligations like NS.

 

[Char_Azn]

He has no rights to complain about the government treating him like he is disposable if he himself does not have the balls to switch to citizen :oIo::oIo:

 

[shOUTloud]

angmohs full of shit, as usual.

 

[postnew]

Gilles Massot, artist & photographer residing in Singapore.

 

[postnew]

 

[wampoma]

Hi Guys, good to see that the letter triggered some reactions , even if it is to interpret what I said without giving me the benefice of doubt. So to get a few things straight:

1/ I never wrote in to complain. I wrote in to highlight an aspect of the situation which is completely overlooked in the current debate.

The original title of my letter was "PR is NOT permanent". This is a fact.

It was changed to "PR faces permanent disadvantage"by the editor of the forum. This is a comment.

This change of title gives a completely different tone to the content of the letter. But if any of you has already written to the ST forum, you will know that nothing can be done about it because they don't ask you if you agree to the changes.

It is Singapore's prerogative to decide on how the country wants to deal with foreign emigration and I am very thankful to be able to live here as a PR. But the false perception that the PR status is permanent needs to be corrected for the public opinion to have a realistic and complete perception of the situation. The difference between PR and Citizenship isn't just about a few extra bucks on a medical bill despite what BBBBBB80 thinks. Again... PR is NOT permanent. That makes a BIG difference. That's all.

2/ Contrary to what the title of the thread says I would in fact rather die die to get the pink IC. Alas... it isn't that simple. To begin with I have never been offered it. I may be already a little too old for the citizenship, and probably not enough of a high flier profile (like some friends of mine working in the finance industry who were offered it, see they only want people loaded with money, they don't care about feeling). I have been here for 30 years because I truly love this place and its people, not because I am making tons of money. But the process of giving up my French citizenship, requested by Singapore in order to get Singapore citizenship, is a very long and complex one. If I had been offered it I would have probably considered initiating it. Adding to this that most of my Singaporean friends tell me NOT to do the complete switch, inertia and day to day business make it that in the end I haven't done it. Not yet. But the desire to do so is growing quite strong. So how leh? Ha... one day at the time...

3/ Ang Moh full of shit, as usual. Well yes maybe. Just like Chinese, Black, Malays, Arabs and so many others are also full of shit as usual... racist generalization don't help us much in moving forward towards a better society. Anyway, here are a couple of photos from one of my recent immersion into true blue Singaporean culture which hopefully will give you the sense that I might not be quite the usual Ang Moh that you think I am.

 

[ps07857]

it must be a strange feeling seeing your own letter published in the papers and your words "twisted" and the title edited to twist the overall picture. I believe your words because you have been here as long as I was born in the country. The early days of modern Singapore were tough days and I don't think you came to SG those days to rip off the system. I think there are too many foreigners that come to SG nowadays, make a whole lot of money and then take off (like a hotel.) "leaving the place in a mess". Besides the whole lot of new foreigners add a new dimension of competition in many areas like housing, jobs, cars, and schools. Anyways, just my 2 cents. :o

 

[BBBBBB80]

The difference between PR and Citizenship isn't just about a few extra bucks on a medical bill despite what BBBBBB80 thinks. Again... PR is NOT permanent. That makes a BIG difference. That's all.

2/ Contrary to what the title of the thread says I would in fact rather die die to get the pink IC. Alas... it isn't that simple. To begin with I have never been offered it. I may be already a little too old for the citizenship, and probably not enough of a high flier profile (like some friends of mine working in the finance industry who were offered it, see they only want people loaded with money, they don't care about feeling). I have been here for 30 years because I truly love this place and its people, not because I am making tons of money. But the process of giving up my French citizenship, requested by Singapore in order to get Singapore citizenship, is a very long and complex one. If I had been offered it I would have probably considered initiating it. Adding to this that most of my Singaporean friends tell me NOT to do the complete switch, inertia and day to day business make it that in the end I haven't done it. Not yet. But the desire to do so is growing quite strong. So how leh? Ha... one day at the time...

Please don't give us more of your bullshit about not being eligible for citizenship. You obviously never even try and instead goes on excusing yourself with self pity and all sorts of sentimental reasons. You want both your cake and EAT IT. You want to have the option of having the best of both countries but without the OBLIGATIONS. If Singapore ever stinks up or get into war you can throw everything down and run away to FRANCE.

THAT IS THE FUCKING DIFFERENCE NO MATTER HOW MANY FUCKING YEARS YOU HAVE LIVED HERE AND HOW MUCH YOU SAY YOU LOVE SINGAPORE.

YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO SHAKE YOUR BUTT AND SAY SAYONARA SINGAPORE THANKS FOR ALL THE FISH FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS BUT MY LIFE IS MORE PRECIOUS.

WE DON'T. WE DON'T HAVE FRANCE TO ESCAPE TO.

Do you fucking understand this?

And to rub salt in the wound, the difference between PR and citizens is that few hundred dollars. You want to risk laying down your life and your family's to defend Singapore for that few hundred dollars and miss out on any opportunities France may offer you in the decades to come?

OF COURSE NOT!

But the real culprit here is not PRs or foreigners. The real fucker behind this issue is the PAP government. They are the ones who set the policies, they are the ones who determine if PRs and foreigners find it attractive to convert to citizenship. They are the ones who determine how Singapore Citizens are treated.

PRs and Foreigners merely react to PAP's policies.

And given PAP's reluctance to do anything to improve the treatment of Singapore citizens vis-a-vis PRs, foreigners, remember this and vote accordingly at the coming elections.

 

[fishbuff]

even the aussie that i had met here in brisbane who used to teach political science in sg exclaimed about FILTH and he vouched that most of the caucasians he met in SG arent up to scratch. And it is a dead wrong move that PAP govt has short changed the citizens quite drastically, no wonder there are so many singaporeans residing in OZ these days.

 

[wampoma]

hi and thanks for this posting. At least someone keeping an open mind and listen to what I am trying to say without jumping into conclusion and interpretation based on preconceived ideas, even if they don't necessarily agree.

No I wasn't really surprised to see the editing. I wrote a couple of times already to ST forum and know they do quite a bit of editing to the letters. But this time adding the word "disadvantage" in the title tilted the intention of my letter into a totally different direction. What to do... write in once more to complain maybe (^^)

I understand your point of view on the increasing number of foreigners over the last few years for having experienced the evolution myself. I think the turning point was reached when we started being sometimes unable to communicate in english in restaurants and shops because of mainland chinese attendants. That's when complaints started emerging. But actually... nothing new under the sun and nothing specific to Singapore. It is the same in France with north African (and Italian in the 19th century), Paki in England, Turcs in Germany, Korean in Japan and so on, wherever migration takes place. At some point a treshold is reached that triggered adverse reactions. And it can last for a very very long time... look at how Chinese are still perceived in Malaysia and Indonesia two hundred years later... Globalisation has been in the making for a very long time. And modern Singapore was born with it.

 

[TeeKee]

give people a break lah..they should be allowed to choose which passport they want.

 

[middaydog]

give people a break lah..they should be allowed to choose which passport they want.

.. they should be allowed to choose which God they want.

 

[scroobal]

Dear Gilles

Taking into account your explanation on the change of heading and thus the tone and discounting for it, the content came across pretty badly still. The reaction is nothing personal but result of changing policies impacting many Singaporeans who have just one home with no backup or the opportunity to work and live in another country.

I know for a fact that having lived in Singapore for 30 years, you would have been eligible for citizenship unless you have a criminal record or some blackmark. If the later is true, your PR would also have been revoked. So your explanation is somewhat doubtful. If you clarify that you only decided on citizenship at the tail end of your 30 years stay here, then age would be a certain issue.

Much of the negative reactions from locals in the last decade is the obvious feature of this country to liberally allow employement pass, PR and citizenship and there are no country that is so liberal in this respect. ( except maybe tonga and some banana republic etc).

Disappointed that after 30 years, you can't read the local nuances and the challanges facing the locals. Waiters unable to communicate in English is least of the issues in the scheme of things for the local. A foreigner whether a PR, a pass holder etc has other options elsewhere and a home elsewhere. Get the picture. Paying taxes or employing locals does not automatically equate to rights of being a citizen.

You remind me of a little boy invited to a birthday party of another child demanding that he be allowed to blow the candles on the basis that he was not given a party by his family.

hi and thanks for this posting. At least someone keeping an open mind and listen to what I am trying to say without jumping into conclusion and interpretation based on preconceived ideas, even if they don't necessarily agree.

No I wasn't really surprised to see the editing. I wrote a couple of times already to ST forum and know they do quite a bit of editing to the letters. But this time adding the word "disadvantage" in the title tilted the intention of my letter into a totally different direction. What to do... write in once more to complain maybe (^^)

I understand your point of view on the increasing number of foreigners over the last few years for having experienced the evolution myself. I think the turning point was reached when we started being sometimes unable to communicate in english in restaurants and shops because of mainland chinese attendants. That's when complaints started emerging. But actually... nothing new under the sun and nothing specific to Singapore. It is the same in France with north African (and Italian in the 19th century), Paki in England, Turcs in Germany, Korean in Japan and so on, wherever migration takes place. At some point a treshold is reached that triggered adverse reactions. And it can last for a very very long time... look at how Chinese are still perceived in Malaysia and Indonesia two hundred years later... Globalisation has been in the making for a very long time. And modern Singapore was born with it.

 

[makapaaa]

quote=wampoma;335501]Hi Guys, good to see that the letter triggered some reactions , even if it is to interpret what I said without giving me the benefice of doubt. So to get a few things straight:

1/ I never wrote in to complain. I wrote in to highlight an aspect of the situation which is completely overlooked in the current debate.

The original title of my letter was "PR is NOT permanent". This is a fact.

It was changed to "PR faces permanent disadvantage"by the editor of the forum. This is a comment.

This change of title gives a completely different tone to the content of the letter. But if any of you has already written to the ST forum, you will know that nothing can be done about it because they don't ask you if you agree to the changes.

=> Given the hidden agenda held by the 154th, why did some Thumbi minister still feel dul lan that the 154th is ranked 154th?

Hi Guys, good to see that the letter triggered some reactions , even if it is to interpret what I said without giving me the benefice of doubt. So to get a few things straight:

1/ I never wrote in to complain. I wrote in to highlight an aspect of the situation which is completely overlooked in the current debate.

The original title of my letter was "PR is NOT permanent". This is a fact.

It was changed to "PR faces permanent disadvantage"by the editor of the forum. This is a comment.

This change of title gives a completely different tone to the content of the letter. But if any of you has already written to the ST forum, you will know that nothing can be done about it because they don't ask you if you agree to the changes.

It is Singapore's prerogative to decide on how the country wants to deal with foreign emigration and I am very thankful to be able to live here as a PR. But the false perception that the PR status is permanent needs to be corrected for the public opinion to have a realistic and complete perception of the situation. The difference between PR and Citizenship isn't just about a few extra bucks on a medical bill despite what BBBBBB80 thinks. Again... PR is NOT permanent. That makes a BIG difference. That's all.

2/ Contrary to what the title of the thread says I would in fact rather die die to get the pink IC. Alas... it isn't that simple. To begin with I have never been offered it. I may be already a little too old for the citizenship, and probably not enough of a high flier profile (like some friends of mine working in the finance industry who were offered it, see they only want people loaded with money, they don't care about feeling). I have been here for 30 years because I truly love this place and its people, not because I am making tons of money. But the process of giving up my French citizenship, requested by Singapore in order to get Singapore citizenship, is a very long and complex one. If I had been offered it I would have probably considered initiating it. Adding to this that most of my Singaporean friends tell me NOT to do the complete switch, inertia and day to day business make it that in the end I haven't done it. Not yet. But the desire to do so is growing quite strong. So how leh? Ha... one day at the time...

3/ Ang Moh full of shit, as usual. Well yes maybe. Just like Chinese, Black, Malays, Arabs and so many others are also full of shit as usual... racist generalization don't help us much in moving forward towards a better society. Anyway, here are a couple of photos from one of my recent immersion into true blue Singaporean culture which hopefully will give you the sense that I might not be quite the usual Ang Moh that you think I am.

 

[makapaaa]

40% of Peesai is now made up of FTrash. Free scholarships and jobs are reserved for them while NS is for Sporns. The govt is the BEST PAID in the world. Which functional cuntry in the world does this? *PTUI*

 

[gbomega]

Please don't give us more of your bullshit about not being eligible for citizenship. You obviously never even try and instead goes on excusing yourself with self pity and all sorts of sentimental reasons. You want both your cake and EAT IT. You want to have the option of having the best of both countries but without the OBLIGATIONS. If Singapore ever stinks up or get into war you can throw everything down and run away to FRANCE.

THAT IS THE FUCKING DIFFERENCE NO MATTER HOW MANY FUCKING YEARS YOU HAVE LIVED HERE AND HOW MUCH YOU SAY YOU LOVE SINGAPORE.

YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO SHAKE YOUR BUTT AND SAY SAYONARA SINGAPORE THANKS FOR ALL THE FISH FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS BUT MY LIFE IS MORE PRECIOUS.

WE DON'T. WE DON'T HAVE FRANCE TO ESCAPE TO.

Do you fucking understand this?

And to rub salt in the wound, the difference between PR and citizens is that few hundred dollars. You want to risk laying down your life and your family's to defend Singapore for that few hundred dollars and miss out on any opportunities France may offer you in the decades to come?

OF COURSE NOT!

But the real culprit here is not PRs or foreigners. The real fucker behind this issue is the PAP government. They are the ones who set the policies, they are the ones who determine if PRs and foreigners find it attractive to convert to citizenship. They are the ones who determine how Singapore Citizens are treated.

PRs and Foreigners merely react to PAP's policies.

And given PAP's reluctance to do anything to improve the treatment of Singapore citizens vis-a-vis PRs, foreigners, remember this and vote accordingly at the coming elections.

You think this country is no good but you want others to join you reflect poorly on you. Anyway it is up to the PR to choose. Forcing them makes you more of a Communist. Furthermore this is the govt policy. You better get things right.

 

[scroobal]

Was not aware that it is govt policy. Will be more responsible now. By the way, is it govt policy to use your brains?

Furthermore this is the govt policy. You better get things right.

 

[kojakbt]

Furthermore this is the govt policy. You better get things right.

So? PAP says we go jump from a building and you will do it, is it?
How typical of the 66.6% mentality.

There is always a choice for the citizens. If we think a certain govt policy is strangling us, we can choose to vote against it!