Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Get Real

Now people know I’m no fan of Singapore’s immigration policy and yesterday on an episode of Get Real, it showed us a prime reason of why. Now with foreign workers and PRs flooding Singapore, this may come as a shock to some people but there are some foreigners who are unable to get PR status.

The episode of Get Real showed 3 cases of foreign brides of Singaporeans who were unable to get PR status despite numerous applications and appeals from their husbands. The most heartbreaking case is an old woman who had been married to a Singaporean for 30 years but still unable to get PR status. Worse is that her husband died last year and as the old woman does not have PR, she is going to be deported back to Malaysia.

Now Get Real hinted around the reason why PR was not given to the women but everyone in Singapore knows the reason. The women and their husbands are not rich! It’s that simple. A simple case of the rich-poor divide in Singapore.

Now we have all heard stories of rich foreigners who buy a house in Singapore, get PR, and then disappear from our island for months. Here we have a woman who had stayed in Singapore for 30 years but still unable to get PR status. Why is that the case if not for money?

There was a law professor who came on the show and defended Singapore’s immigration policy, saying that some cases may be due to the Singapore government tightening the immigration policy as in the past 1-2 years ordinary Singaporeans had been against the number of foreigners in Singapore. What total nonsense!

Take the case of the old woman in point. She had been in Singapore for 30 years; the government has tighten policy for the past what…6-9 months? What happened to the rest of the time, a period of over 29 years?

Answer: She was never rich. In Singapore, that’s the most important thing. Far more important than a 30 residency in Singapore, doing National Service for the country, or having Singaporean husbands and children. In Singapore, money talks.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

You are quite right. I know of at least one other similar case of a Malaysian wife being consistently rejected by immigration without a clear cut reason given.

My advice to the writer is to stop watching those programmes on MediaCorp - Get Real, Talking Point, Singapore Talking (the new series), Blog TV and what have you. These are all shallow propaganda stuffs serving only the interest of the govt's ulterior agenda.

It is a great SHAME that all these programmes actually started of on the correct footing with their original host/presenter BUT along the way the govt INTERVENED and INTERFERED when they systematically and dutifully expose the UGLY truths about the way Singaporeans are governed.

I still remember the original Talking Point series hosted by Aida Bachtier (roughly that spelling) whose programme told it like it was. She subsequently left the TV station to work in her own media related company. I have no doubt that she must have been under pressure from the govt for revealing all those uncomplimentary expose about its action and policies. Same goes for Singapore talking, the original host, Araf, I believed had a hard time even while doing his show for all those revelations.

The present crop of hosts can be accurately described as govt agents in disguise. The FD of Blog TV may soon also disappear unless he learns to be pliants. That will tell the difference between a careerists and someone who believe in and have his own principles more than merely 'chari makan'.

Anonymous said...

You are quite right. I know of at least one other similar case of a Malaysian wife being consistently rejected by immigration without a clear cut reason given.

My advice to the writer is to stop watching those programmes on MediaCorp - Get Real, Talking Point, Singapore Talking (the new series), Blog TV and what have you. These are all shallow propaganda stuffs serving only the interest of the govt's ulterior agenda.

It is a great SHAME that all these programmes actually started of on the correct footing with their original host/presenter BUT along the way the govt INTERVENED and INTERFERED when they systematically and dutifully expose the UGLY truths about the way Singaporeans are governed.

I still remember the original Talking Point series hosted by Aida Bachtier (roughly that spelling) whose programme told it like it was. She subsequently left the TV station to work in her own media related company. I have no doubt that she must have been under pressure from the govt for revealing all those uncomplimentary expose about its action and policies. Same goes for Singapore talking, the original host, Araf, I believed had a hard time even while doing his show for all those revelations.

The present crop of hosts can be accurately described as govt agents in disguise. The FD of Blog TV may soon also disappear unless he learns to be pliants. That will tell the difference between a careerists and someone who believe in and have his own principles more than merely 'chari makan'.

Ghost said...

I think you are too harsh on these programmes. Get Real focus on social issues, while Blog TV (which I'm not a fan of) is very popular. Singapore need more shows like these and they need support. Brushing all these shows as "propaganda" is self-defeating.

Anonymous said...

Me participated in Talking Point soon after they started the Programme. It was surprising to me to be invited, they asked if I was interested, no condition was set except that I be available at airtime. They had received many letters from me which were highly critical of the policies.
Little time was available for in-depth and meaningful discussions. To me, the panelists were always comprised of 'very careful' and 'play safe' professionals and specialists. They tended to be evasive and non-committing.
I must say that call-in participants in those 'live casts' were not guided on what to talk and how to talk, however, could be cut off instantly with reason that others are on cue.
I did follow up with letters after the Programme, but received no response.

patriot

Ghost said...

"Evasive and non-committing?" Sounds like most Singaporeans I know. Despite any misgivings anyone has, it doesn't change the fact that Singapore need more of these programmes.

Anonymous said...

Ghost:
me certainly agrees with You.
No matter what, such programmes do get Singaporeans to air their views and concerns.
And I like it that the organizers did not 'guide' or restrict participants in the subject matters.
Do wish that our medias have more such programmes, though me had been very disappointed with the Forums in printed media.

patriot

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