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Singaporeans celebrate “Water Festival” with foreigners as part of integration efforts
April 19th, 2010 |
Author: Our Correspondent
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/0...th-foreigners-as-part-of-integration-efforts/
Over 200 Singaporeans and foreigners turned up yesterday to celebrate “Water Festival” at Bukit Batok. The event was organized collectively by Bukit Batok grassroots organizations.
The participants were given free water-guns and a tank of water to “shoot” at one another. They were also treated to a Myanmar Live Band Performance as well as songs and dances.
The Guest-of-Honor is Senior Minister of State for National Development Ms Grace Fu who turned up in a Burmese longyi (sarong) and gamely tried to sing a Burmese song on stage.
The event sparked a controversy in cyberspace with some netizens questioning the need for taxpayers’ monies to be spent on organizing cultural festivals for foreigners.
Though it was not mentioned explicitly, the funds for organizing the event is likely to come from the $10-million dollar Community Integration Fund unveiled last year to make the immigrants feel welcomed and accepted in Singapore.
In response to queries from a netizen, Ms Fu replied that the event is a way for Singaporeans to show their “respect” to foreigners.
Due to the PAP’s liberal immigration policies, foreigners now make up 36 percent of Singapore’s population, up from 14 percent in 1990. Of the remaining 64 percent who are citizens, an increasing number are born overseas.
View rest of photos on our Facebook here.
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/0...th-foreigners-as-part-of-integration-efforts/
Over 200 Singaporeans and foreigners turned up yesterday to celebrate “Water Festival” at Bukit Batok. The event was organized collectively by Bukit Batok grassroots organizations.
The participants were given free water-guns and a tank of water to “shoot” at one another. They were also treated to a Myanmar Live Band Performance as well as songs and dances.
The Guest-of-Honor is Senior Minister of State for National Development Ms Grace Fu who turned up in a Burmese longyi (sarong) and gamely tried to sing a Burmese song on stage.
The event sparked a controversy in cyberspace with some netizens questioning the need for taxpayers’ monies to be spent on organizing cultural festivals for foreigners.
Though it was not mentioned explicitly, the funds for organizing the event is likely to come from the $10-million dollar Community Integration Fund unveiled last year to make the immigrants feel welcomed and accepted in Singapore.
In response to queries from a netizen, Ms Fu replied that the event is a way for Singaporeans to show their “respect” to foreigners.
Due to the PAP’s liberal immigration policies, foreigners now make up 36 percent of Singapore’s population, up from 14 percent in 1990. Of the remaining 64 percent who are citizens, an increasing number are born overseas.
View rest of photos on our Facebook here.
