As the dust settled for PRC scholar Sun Xu who was duly fined and stripped of his remaining scholarship perks, another incident involving an article on Swiss expats saying that there won’t be jobs available for Singaporeans ensured that the anti-foreigner sentiments will still be in play.
I have never seen such intense anti-foreign sentiments before until the beginning of this year. Xenophobia feelings among locals seem to take on a popular undertone and t is a dangerous overplay.
The frequent local-foreigner physical spats played out in the press so prominently also did not help the situation one bit coupled with some dead bodies lying around - mostly believed to be foreigners.
Introduction
Yet, it is most amazing to see how foreigners have treated locals - as if the whole country belongs to them. There is an obvious lack of respect for the country’s local culture and habits resulting in growing resentment against foreigners here.
The fact that they stole jobs away from us, jacked up our HDB resale prices and clog up public infrastructure also do not augur well for any social cohesion and integration programmes.
In fact, the whole social situation here looks perilous and some friends were saying that the local-foreigner physical spats will probably increase dramatically if nothing is done to alleviate the current situation.
The same problem happened in Sydney where I stayed for a few years on and off.
Some shopping malls are mostly dominated by Asians and you can hardly see white Aussies around.
Whites hardly mix with the immigrants and they likewise form their own enclaves in their own towns. Some immigrants don’t even speak a word of English!
Many of the whites have in fact escaped to Queensland whereby the weather is better and housing prices saner.
In Melbourne, however, some Indians were knifed in 2010 in a series of systematic attacks targetted at immigrant Indians resulting in the Indian PM calling Australia a dangerous place to travel for Indians.
I remembered shockingly how one Indian worker was knifed to death in a backlane while travelling to work in Melbourne early in the morning. Several similar knifing copycat incidents soon followed.
I do not hope to see similar incidents happening here.
I have provided 5 reasons why foreigners do not respect local Singaporeans here:-
1. Foreigners proud to work abroad
Many foreign expats were brought in using the covetous EP work permit meant for graduates and so-called talents.
For workers belonging to the third world countries, it is a big success if you travel to work abroad.
I remembered how in China people were sending their loved ones off to work in Singaporean – many beaming with pride even though they are merely here working as kitchen helpers and cleaners.
They thought that they are something when actually they are not.
I also remembered I had the same proud feeling when I travelled to China for a teaching job.
I was only paid $3000+ but it felt like a $30,000 job as I was working abroad. Everyone congratulated me as if I have struck the lottery.
Your ego suddenly received a tremendous boost and you felt good having all the intention lavished on you prior to your departure.
The same could have happened to our foreign friends here and this may have given them a fattened ego and a big head when they started to call us “dogs”.
2. Our government over-pampering them
It is still a mystery why our government continues to bring in so many PRC students studying on our limited tax payer money when so many of us have to send our children abroad for expensive tertiary education.
They also continue to bring in foreign expats when many of our local educated mid aged workers are still jobless.
Many analysts have speculated that the PRC Chinese could be brought in to beef up the reducing Chinese population as many Chinese families prefer to stop at two and some even at one.
Polytechnics are known to have set aside around 10% of their yearly intake for foreign students or scholars – largely from PRC.
Most of their school fees are paid for and they also get an allowance for daily expenses.
Some local tertiary institutions have even make visits to Chinese schools and invite them to apply for such scholarship study incentives.
If you woo, dine and over-indulge while trying to bring in too many foreigner scholars, they may feel that they are one class up on the local population.
Moreover, its a big thing to be called a scholar in China and when you land a overseas scholarship award your whole village celebrates for ten days and nights with wine and dance.
3. Foreigners getting special treatment by the law
All of us will know by now the infamous incident involving the Suntec City foreigner spat.
The accused persons, New Zealander Robert Stephen Dahlberg, 34, and Briton Robert James Springall, 25, face charges over a brawl that took place at Suntec City two years ago.
Another accused, the pair’s Australian friend, Nathan Robert Miller, 35, has since pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three weeks’ jail.
However, shockingly, the New Zealander and Briton pair managed to jump bail and returned to their own country making a mockery of our judiciary system here.
Many Singaporeans were also frustrated that many incidents involving expat foreigners were let off easily whereas those from third world countries were harshly punished for similar crimes.
For example, two live 8mm ammo was found on a Aussie woman Jessica Powter aged 34 years old while she transit at our Changi airport on Oct 12 last year.
She was merely let off with a warning only and the case was also unreported.
We only knew about this serious breach when Australia NT News reported the incident later.
All these imbalanced treatment given to foreigners only provide them the feeling that they are untouched and even given special priviledges.
It is no wonder sometimes I felt that our foreigner expats talk louder than us and some even walk with a superior swagger.
4. Foreigners getting more pay than us
It is no secret that foreigner expats doing the same kind of work will be getting better salaries than local ones.
Sometimes the salary difference could even be 2 to 3 times that of our local staff.
Granted that the whole expat salary package will have to cover our expensive rental and other start up cost but local workers will feel the pain when they saw how much our expats are being paid while performing the same kind of work.
In fact, Singapore foreign expats enjoyed the second best salary package in the world with the majority making more than $150,000 a year. It is no wonder they dine at the finest restaurants and stay in swanky condos here with our local gals bidding by their side.
It is fair to assume that the class division is more apparent between our foreign talents and local workers.
Even junior foreign Indian IT programmers working in MNC banks are paid more than $5000/month – some armed with only two years of working experience.
Local staff will count themselves fortunate if they could draw a basic salary of $3000 and above for fresh graduates working in the IT line.
Such imbalanced salary renumeration has also caused foreigners to feel superior and even look down on their local counterparts.
Their sheer massive presence in certain industries also allows them to step all over us and also many locals now have to report to younger foreign bosses.
5. Singaporeans lacking self confidence and communication skills
I always feel that local Singaporeans lack self confidence when it comes to their communication skills and handling of difficult work situation.
Perhaps our innate lack of the spoken language has caused us to step back rather than take on someone when there is a difference in opinion at the work places. We give way and retreat rather than trying to voice out our opinion passionately.
Maybe we are always taught in schools and for guys in the army not to speak out anymore or else we will be punished.
In most work places that I knew of, meetings were dominated by the managers or one of two individuals and the rest of us will be silent or merely nodding in passive agreement.
The real discussion only commenced when all the managers are gone and we are back in the canteen ;later.
Maybe we felt marked out if we always voiced out our own opinion in the office. We rather behaved properly so that we are well liked and considered not a trouble maker.
Most people whom we knew in class or the army were punished when they tried to be a hero and spoke out against the teacher or army officer.
However, in today’s working world whereby as much as 40% of our work force could be a foreigner and many of them are our bosses, keeping silent when an idea needs to be presented urgently is considered a sign of weakness.
I remembered staying in Sydney and saw how articulate Aussies were when they tried to engage me in deep constructive conversation.
Even though some are merely blue collared workers, they could strike up a decent conversation with you and communicated their thoughts well. Some could be rather fiery in the way they presented their ideas.
People judge us by the way we speak and when I saw how some local Singaporeans spoke on TV interviews, it made me cringed.
When foreigners saw how we struggled in our first language – English they thought that this must be a joke!
Some could not even make out what we say and many retreated back to their own circle of expat friends. They also began to look down on us as we can’t even utter a decent mouthful of English.
PRC Chinese also despised our brand of spoken Mandarin as it is not polished enough and reminded them of how the Hong Kongers spoke when they communicated in Mandarin.
How we presented ourselves often cause the other party to either respect or look down on us.
Conclusion
Moving forward, it will be perilious if we allow the current local-foreign divide to continue.
Social integration programmes seem to have fail and unless the government decides to slow down immigration and relook how this can be better managed, things look rather pessimistic and opportunists may even seize the advantage to exploit the current mess – to the detriment of the whole country.
Written by Gilbert Goh
Hi Gilbert,
I agree with most of the points you’ve made, except #5. We have some great debaters/wayangs in parliments!
In additional I wish to highlight other aspects you may not have noticed, or have not given thought about.
It’s that even some of our “respectible” selves not respecting our own not as, so called successful, as themselves!
I believe in human decency, regardless of the societal status. Some basic respect must be due to any person, if for nothing, but the fact they are human beings.
Another case in point. Facts/Perceptions that our own local employers and government favours FTs over locals, some because of business costs, others because of NS obligations/ CPF contribution/ maternity leaves, etc opportunity costs (all meant to be good for the locals, but cut the other way in business reality). These practices destroy all claims by the government that we value ‘meritoracy’, ‘justice’ and ‘equality’!
Mind you, we have a stake in this country, and would gladly discharge our duties as loyal subjects. What stake do I, or my children, have in this country, if we’re being discriminated against in our so-call HOME?
When locals did these things against each other, no wonder the outsiders have absolutely NO respect for us.
It could have been a good article if it didn’t have so many inaccuracies. But I guess, if you gave the correct statistical data you wouldn’t have had too much to write about.
Truthfully Gilbert, what hit me was your caption. Please allow me to share my thoughts and give you 5 reasons as to why foreigners don’t respect Singaporeans.
1. Firstly, we Singaporeans were never respected by… Why? Take a look at all the changes after changes when come to policies concerning Singaporeans at large, just to name one; concerning CPF withdrawal age at 55, what has happen today?
2. We are not united as a nation. A nation comprises of the citizens, regardless of race, language or religion. We are a selfish lot now who have lost the identity as a Singaporean, thanks to…
3. We are a pathetic lot who are not concern about the political arena that effect us, with the exception of a few now, who are making their voices heard like yourself. Sad, a country where a few will defend and the rest will concede defeat.
4. How to be respected by foreigners, when we are a nation of always complaining about this and that to no end and not doing something about it when come to voting. Don’t blame the policies or others for all your sorrows.
5. Most of us, individual will sound their voices aloud and hit their chest hard for change. Then, when the time comes to “changing and fair-play”, they start packing, leaving their leaders standing alone to die. History can be rewritten…if only all fellow Singaporeans speak with one voice…if.
Will it happen…only time will tell? Till then, just lick your wound and don’t cry like a little baby!
Lastly, let me leave you with a quote by Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz urging those against the death penalty to stand up and fight for its abolishment. / Sunday Star 4th March 2012
There must be a mass movement and strong opposition from the people…Otherwise, nothing will change.
Hi Ali Baba
I agreed with most of your points especially the one on unity.
If our own people can’t band together and speak out as one voice then nobody else will.
Moreover, our individual rights are almost non-existent and people go about doing their own things by themselves.
This could be due to the competitive nature of our educational system and also the dog-eat-dog world of our corporate ladder climbing culture.
The fear factor is also so strong that speaking out against the establishment is seen as political and adversarial.
Moving forward, Singaporeans need to be less selfish and think of others who are less well off and unfortunate and learn to speak out for this group of voiceless people.
If not, the whole country will sink into oblivion allowing the foreigners to rule over us…
Gilbert Goh
Welcome to SINgapoor!!! Our governance and education system have made many Singaporeans of at least 2 generation to be so compliance to an extend of complacent for whatever they get or actually do not get. First we need to educate our younger generation to speak up for their rights before doing it right. However is our law IMPARTIAL? Are we treated the same as foreigners or vice versa? We dont need protection but we cannot accept double standard in work and in life. The authority can set any rules but when they close one eye or even both eyes on foreign establishment, then our plight will remains the same.
Already many born and bred Singaporeans are living in a place where we no longer feel the snese of belonging.. Lose faith…that’s the hard truths.
According to a trainer at the Civil Service College he finds the quality of written and spoken English amongst our senior public servants appalling. He blames the superiors ( current perm sec’s and directors) for not correcting and checking their subordinates on the quality of their submissions.
According to the trainer a retired civil servant, LKY when he was PM and likes of J Y Pillai used to maintain extremely high standards. Ministers were ticked off for poor command of the language. Officers double checked their work to ensure it met a high standard.
If you strip away the relative wealth of Singaporeans, there is really nothing much to be proud of. Singaporeans are undriven, uninnovative, penny wise pound foolish, uncultured, unhygienic, superstituous, uncaring, insecure, uncooperative, poor in languages, low standards, boorish, timid, i could go on and on…
The foreigners are richer than us now and their economies are on the rise. So there is really NOTHING they can admire us for. Notwithstanding, they still respect our government and elites. It is the average Singaporean they dont give a hoot about.
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I tell you what foreigners respect, they respect
the Sg PR and passport especially. Being a Sg PR
or Sg citizen (allowing SG passport) makes it
Easier for foreigners to migrate to western countries
Which they want!
It is not true what you say about the standard of English,
Are you saying the chinese who entered our Universities
Suddenly have better Spoken and written English
Without even passing GCE English. What a bloody
Bullshit!
And many FT filipinos who only knows that preposition has only
the word “to” , they can be using “to” for words “from”, which
Is the reverse meaning or any other prepositions, like “at, on,
By, under, over, ….” and tenses, singular, plural, use of wrong
Participles.
Anyway, I do not know what you are comparing
Foreigners were given the pride by the companies that
employ them for all sorts of reasons, foreigners say
we are not as hardworking as them when we have
to take care of our family but their families are overseas
A whole lot of bullshit, anyway I need to respect your
own worth. BTW, I never graduated from the local U.
They din
Nice article.
In general, I think the key reason why others do not give Singaporeans repsect is because most Singaporeans do not respect themselves. Most Singaporeans do not know and have given up their own rights to almost everything in life. THere is very little passion in life beyond the pursue of materialistic gains. The soul and passion in life is lacking among many Singaporeans. Living like a zombie do not command respect from others. Sad to say that Singaporeans deserve the way they are treated by foreigners. But it is also important to realise this and change it if you do not like it to remain this way. I see some hope in this now, but the road to gaining back respect will be messy and bloody given the current political and social systems we have in Singapore.
Hi Respect.
I think our tame passive nature coupled with a non-confrontational attitude may have give our foreign friends the notion that we are easy to be bullied.
We are also rather individualistic and seldom gang up at the work places even if our rights are being violated.
You can see how the PRC Chinese demonstrated in front of the MOM building when their salaries are inappropirate.
Unity is strength and this is really lacking among Singaporeans.
Gilbert Goh
I may get flamed for being a foreigner here, but i believe that your point of foreigners getting special treatment as slightly misleading. They are after all bound by the same rules, but whether it is enforced properly is the question. After all, more than enough international spats started from one country wanting to punish a citizen of another country with local laws while the other country tries to defend their citizen in what is basically matter of showing off their dick, or more often known as national pride.
And by the way, foreigners are often sidelined in terms of education as for example, foreigners are required to obtain higher criteria than their Singaporeans peers in order to join a tertiary institution despite having to take the same examination, and we pay about 20 times Singaporean’s school fees.
What a load of bullcrap!
Singaporeans must stand up for themself and the best way to do it is 2 ways, one, To get rich!, second, Be ready for confrontation.
I had a rather fun incident with a half baked ang mo recently in the Paragon carpark. The donkey was trying to overtake me by driving in the opposite direction to get to the valet faster and guess what, i sped up and he jammed brake. the guy came down and before he could open his mouth, i shouted in front of all the bystander, “get your cheap car out of the way, you half baked executive”. and before he could reply there was appaluse in the carpark much to my amazement!
Just for background info, the angmo was in a Merc C200, hardly a car for real talent!
whaat to do? we dont have the guts to march down the street, only can complain behind a computer and smile to the foreign bosses when we are screwed.
we dont have the guts to make a difference for ourselves but expect others to fight our cause.
what can i say, we are borned with chicken heart.
now, go ahead and take your frustration out on your wife and children. the sayings goes; inside the home, you are a dragon, outside the home, you are a worm.
Reason why foreigners don’t respect s’poreans is coz the govt don’t even bother to respect the citizens. In fact the govt bend over backwards (or is it simply just bend over) to give foreigners so much perks and leeways that will cause nation-wide demonstrations and replacement of ministers in other developed countries.
If I were a foreigner on EP pass here, I will also look on citizens as a big joke. I will just hang out with my fellow expat friends in expat-enclave condos, and go to “ang-moh” pubs.
Oh and btw, the percentage reserved for foreigners in polytechnics and universities is 20%, not 10%. MOE minister has recently said that they will maintain this 20% quota, as if this is doing a favour to local s’poreans! This means that before the GE, MOE must have been thinking of allowing even more than 20% foreigners in our polys and unis.
@Anon:
“Yes, here is my take as a Singapore [Permanent Resident (PR)] from a WESTERN country.
If they made Singapore citizenship more attractive, i.e. allow dual citizenship [i.e. FLEXIBILITY OR ROOM FOR ABUSE], I would [gladly] take it up [I.E. EXPLOIT IT].
If they force me to give up my existing citizenship, I would SIMPLY LEAVE [I.E. DISPOSE IT(stinkapore) LIKE USED GARBAGE] and go off to one of the many other countries of the world that welcome English speaking highly paid professionals.
Why wouldn’t I give up my existing citizenship? Well most importantly there are the emotional reasons of loyalty to my country and my ancestors who fought for it.
AND THERE ARE OF COURSE THE PRAGMATIC REASONS. THE PIECE OF PAPER CALLED A WESTERN PASSPORT IS NOT JUST A TRAVEL DOCUMENT THAT OPENS DOORS AROUND THE WORLD BUT IS ALSO A MEDICAL INSURANCE POLICY, GIVING ME FREE HEALTH CARE IN MY HOMELAND IF I CHOOSE TO TAKE IT, A SOCIAL WELFARE CARD GIVING ME ACCESS TO VARIOUS SOCIAL WELFARE BENEFITS, A PENSION PLAN FOR WHEN I AM OLD, AND AN EDUCATION SUBSIDY FOR MY CHILDREN GIVING THEM THE RIGHT TO STUDY IN UNIVERSITIES BACK HOME (AND IN OUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBOUR) AT A HIGHLY SUBSIDISED RATE.
If Singapore Inc. thinks that any rational human being [with all these PRIVILEGES that FEW people on the planet possess] would give all that up for a Singapore passport [i.e. be CONFINED or TRAPPED in one of TINIEST countries in the world [17th from the BOTTOM] that is STUCK in one of the most VOLATILE regions on the Earth that has to CATER and TART itself to the taste of ASININE and ARROGANT (mainly ANGLOPHONE) WESTERNERS like US, no matter how PRETTY and PEACEFUL it has to MAINTAIN itself], THEY NEED TO TWEAK THEIR GRIP ON REALITY VERY FAST.”
[ expatsingapore . com / forum / index . php? topic= 64363.15 ]
Excellent article. Yes we may speak many languages and dialects but master of none! The Hong Kongers are mostly mono lingual in Cantonese but theirs is very polished and refined compared to our local Cantonese. Same with English and Madarin also. In fact we half past six in all. That’s a fact.
You really make it seem so easy with your presentation however I in finding this matter to be actually one thing that I feel I would by no means understand. It kind of feels too complicated and very broad for me. I am looking forward to your subsequent post, I will try to get the hang of it!
The example about the Australian woman being let off with only a warning for carrying bullets into Changi airport is an invalid example. Let me explain.
Firstly, it may be an unintentional mistake by the woman, and secondly how did that woman get past security checks at the airport where she took a plane from, in Australia?
I had 2 Singaporean colleagues having to work at our head office in Paris, and most of them time, my French colleagues would tell me “we can’t understand what they are saying. They speak with such a strong accent!”. Gosh, there goes our “English as 1st language” education system. Ironically, when a new Singaporean (PRC) later came over, there was no more “feedback” from my French colleagues!
@Mark:
Le français est la plus belle langue car c’est celle des amoureux.
J’ai été ravi(e) de vous connaître. À bientôt !
Former banker olivier desbarres @ Wimborne Road, Katong
P.S. By the way, you may like to check this out:
[ youtube . com / watch?v=ukvsn5QBGXk ] – you may like to pay attention to the conversation between 5:42-6:33.
Hi Gilbert,
Could you please provide your source as to how you came to the conclusion that majority of foreign expats in Singapore make more than $150k?
And the fact that majority of these foreign expats have Singaporean GFs/Partners?
“In fact, Singapore foreign expats enjoyed the second best salary package in the world with the majority making more than $150,000 a year. It is no wonder they dine at the finest restaurants and stay in swanky condos here with our local gals bidding by their side.”
Irene I don’t think facts matter when someone is making an emotional case and hate-mongering. What matters aren’t facts but the effect that distortions have on others. The mindset is, get people angry, it really doesn’t matter how or with what.
Hi Irene,
This response is not make by me – someone impersonated me in responding to you.
Please ignore this remark but I will leave it here as it is.
Gilbert Goh
President
Transitioning – unemployment support services
Ridiculous over generalization and xenophobic hate mongering. To make such sweeping generalizations about “foreigners” as if they are of one single mindset is profoundly ignorant and short-sighted. It’s always so easy to blame everything on “foreigners”; that’s just evading taking responsibility for our own failures and shortcomings. Can’t get a good job? Must be that a foreigner stole it. Didn’t do well in school? Because of the damn foreign students studying harder. Didn’t get promoted yet? Must be cos the boss likes foreigners instead of you. Can’t get a girl? She must be dating a foreigner instead. Yeah it’s always someone else’s fault, damnit!
Basically what the writer and others like him want is to be protected from the world and to have the government act like a pampering parent, shielding darling boy-boy and girl-girl from the other kids in the playground. Get real people. Instead of self-pity how about some self-reliance and self-respect. The world is a tough and competitive place and this country won’t get ahead if we’re all going to be mountain tortoises.
Hi
This remark is not made by me but another Gilbert.
I will leave the remark as it is though.
Gilbert Goh
President
Transitioning – unemployment support services
Hi Gilbert,
You still haven’t reply to my question. Please provide your source as to how you came to the conclusion that majority of foreign expats in Singapore make more than $150k. And the fact that majority of these foreign expats have Singaporean GFs/Partners.
Thanks
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Hi Gilbert Goh..just saw ur site..am a foreinger,been here 15 years..i agree with what the other Gilbert said..when i started schooling in singapore (primary 3) my English was terrible and my classmates made fun of me..i vowed to work hard at it and by the end of my PSLE i was the top English student in the entire school..and you’d think some respect would come from the local students but no,they started to badmouth me..and started making fun of my race and lineage..on to secondary school..SSDD (same shit different day)some ah bengs in school even wanted to beat me up just becuz i was “different”..the main point is..they made fun of me for being less skilled then them so i worked hard..got the results..but still got made fun of another way for being a minority..think abt it..if they wanted to be better then me,then like me they should have worked hard..but they didnt..i rest my case..