NEW citizens bring with them something extra that is vital to Singapore, enriching its society and invigorating its economy, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
“New arrivals bring fresh experiences, diverse perspectives and global connections. You help us to plug into the world, and thrive as a regional hub and a global node,” said Lee.
This was how cities like London, New York and Shanghai became great centres of culture and prosperity – by attracting talent from all over the world and creating an environment of constant innovation and enterprise, he added.
This dynamism spurs growth and reinforces the success of these cities, and attracts even more talent, said Lee, who was speaking at the Teck Ghee Citizenship Ceremony held at Nanyang Polytechnic yesterday.
“Singapore, too, must always be open to ideas and talent from around the world,” he told about 200 new citizens.
“This is how we became a shining red dot.”
He pointed out that immigration is essential – even existential – for Singapore’s survival.
While larger nations may have the population, resources and hinterland to fall back on, Singapore does not. Singaporeans are not having enough children of their own, and the resident workforce is already at full employment, and ageing, he said.
Singapore needs new citizens to top up its numbers and to keep its economy growing, though immigration will bring more competition and put pressure on Singaporeans to work harder and meet higher standards, he said.
This will create a more vibrant economy and generate better opportunities and brighter prospects for future generations.
“If Singapore closes ourselves up, opportunities will pass us by. We will fall behind, and become just like any other city in the region, and our descendants will be the worse off for it,” said Lee.
Every year, the Republic has about 30,000 citizen babies born and takes in about 22,000 new citizens.
But given that the inflows are not small, the government is keenly aware of the need to handle immigration and integration sensitively, said Lee.
He noted that immigration is a sensitive issue in every country, and there is always some tension between newcomers and those who are already here.
Governments play a big part in managing these tensions to make immigration a net plus for societies, Lee said.
Unfortunately, this does not always happen, he noted.
In many European countries, the immigration inflows have triggered a strong nativist pushback. And when an immigrant commits a violent crime, that further turns the mood against them, and deepens divisions in society.
It is therefore crucial that Singapore manages its immigration inflow carefully: keeping it measured and balanced, paying close attention to relations and harmony between different ethnic groups and people who are here, and taking in people who can fit in and add to Singapore’s society, Lee said. — The Straits Times/ANN
