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PR status just a privilege
from Chris Ng Siu Wai
04:45 AM Jun 02, 2012
I refer to the current discussion in Voices on the issue of whether permanent residents here should serve National Service. I agree with Mrs Cherie Ball that there is a clear line between naturalised citizens and permanent residents in Singapore.
The biggest difference is that their PR status is not permanent. Elsewhere, like in Hong Kong, once the status is granted, it will not be taken away unless they commit a serious offence.
Furthermore, its PRs can receive the same benefits and welfare as citizens. The only exception is the issuance of passport. If this were the case in Singapore, I would agree that PRs should serve NS. But it is not.
=> But do Hongkongers and citizens in other countries need to serve NS? Why should SGs need to risk their lives and limbs to protect foreigners while they are given freebies and lagi worse, SGs need to pay for them. Isn't this double whammy? No matter how you look at it, SGs are appallingly shortchanged...No...BETRAYED by a TRAITOR Govt! And how often more do you see the FAP revoking PR than forcing SG critics into exile?
A Singapore PR must renew the re-entry pass every five years, and the Government has the right to terminate the pass any time, meaning that the PR status is not really permanent.
I remember that Singapore Airlines pilot Ryan Goh, a Malaysian, had his PR status revoked following his activities in the pilots' union.
On one hand, Singapore cannot commit to its PRs, who are treated differently from citizens. On the other hand, it wants its PRs to offer the same as citizens.
Although PRs here receive benefits such as in education and health, they pay the same tax, too. But, as the PR status is not permanent, if one does not pay enough tax and receives only benefits, it might not be retained.
from Chris Ng Siu Wai
04:45 AM Jun 02, 2012
I refer to the current discussion in Voices on the issue of whether permanent residents here should serve National Service. I agree with Mrs Cherie Ball that there is a clear line between naturalised citizens and permanent residents in Singapore.
The biggest difference is that their PR status is not permanent. Elsewhere, like in Hong Kong, once the status is granted, it will not be taken away unless they commit a serious offence.
Furthermore, its PRs can receive the same benefits and welfare as citizens. The only exception is the issuance of passport. If this were the case in Singapore, I would agree that PRs should serve NS. But it is not.
=> But do Hongkongers and citizens in other countries need to serve NS? Why should SGs need to risk their lives and limbs to protect foreigners while they are given freebies and lagi worse, SGs need to pay for them. Isn't this double whammy? No matter how you look at it, SGs are appallingly shortchanged...No...BETRAYED by a TRAITOR Govt! And how often more do you see the FAP revoking PR than forcing SG critics into exile?
A Singapore PR must renew the re-entry pass every five years, and the Government has the right to terminate the pass any time, meaning that the PR status is not really permanent.
I remember that Singapore Airlines pilot Ryan Goh, a Malaysian, had his PR status revoked following his activities in the pilots' union.
On one hand, Singapore cannot commit to its PRs, who are treated differently from citizens. On the other hand, it wants its PRs to offer the same as citizens.
Although PRs here receive benefits such as in education and health, they pay the same tax, too. But, as the PR status is not permanent, if one does not pay enough tax and receives only benefits, it might not be retained.
