Anyone who read my blog before know how I feel about Singapore giving out citizenships to rich foreigners who then disappear from the island to live in another country. So it is extraordinary to me that Ogawa Ryuju is having such a hard time getting his Singapore citizenship.
Ogawa Ryuju is a half-Japanese, half-Singaporean who have been living in Singapore with his mother since he was 10. He did his ‘N’ Levels education, did his National Service, got his Pink NRIC from a Member of Parliament (MP), even renounced his Japanese citizenship at the age of 21, all so that he can be a full Singapore citizen. Then when he went to renew his passport, he found out that he wasn’t a Singaporean. All because he did not take a formal Oath; a technicality!
Now I always thought there’s something wrong with our citizenship system and this proves it! Here we have a young man who gave up his Japanese citizenship to be a Singaporean and he is denied this, even after doing his NS, because he didn’t take a formal pledge?
I don’t get this at all. Ogawa Ryuju did his NS and already had his Pink NRIC. So why isn’t he considered a Singaporean? Permanent Residents (PRs) get the blue NRIC, while Singaporeans have the Pink NRIC. That has always been the case right? He already got his Pink NRIC but is still NOT a citizen of Singapore? And all because he did take a formal pledge; a pledge he has been taking in school since he was 10?
That makes no sense. Most Singaporeans thinks so and at least 2 MPs, Mr. Lee Boon Yang and Mr. Heng Chee How, are helping Ogawa Ryuju on his case. Here’s hoping there’ll good news for him. He went to school here, did his NS and renounced his Japanese citizenship; Ogawa Ryuju deserve Singapore citizenship a hell lot more than some movie stars I could name.
10 comments:
To each its own huh
It truly is disappointing to see that native Singaporeans speaking out against foreign talents forgetting our own heritage that we are ALL foreign to begin with, and to compare such a passionate individual to a prostitute is truly ludicrous, the oxford definition of a prostitute is that it is a verb use to define a person who misuses their talents or who sacrifices their self-respect for the sake of personal or financial gain, isn't that everyone? I have no love nor hate to our foreign counterparts good or bad, i'm neutral, but what truly is amazing is that someone, not for unduly reasons, wishes to be a part of a nation which wishes for his extradition as if a simple miscommunication can be indited as criminal, to all you Neanderthals who don't have a sense of belonging or at least a sense of empathy, keep your subjective point of view to yourself, the saying goes that if you have nothing nice to say, then stfu, your simplistic ideals of how to judge a person should have been left frozen back in the ice age, and i agree with the previous post of the governing bodies "No Provision" statement, a provision or the lack of in any legal term warrants a detailed explanation to the person it concerns, not as an excuse to neglect accountability. it truly is sad when the youth of our nation is so engrossed by their identity crisis issue and voicing their subjective point of view irregardless the consequences, a "Foreign Talent" schooled all of us just what it truly means to be not only a proud Citizen, but how to be human as well, i would really like to see just how our supposed Leaders will look into not only the issue of this young mans allegiance, but the blatant ignorance and the shameful behavior of its officers who is supposed to represent our moral values and its governing policies, now if you girls don't mind, i shall stand in my corner now "Prostituting" myself
Regards
Morally and ethically Subjective Hooker
This rant is not directed towards you but to those who has been attacking this young fella! google his name and see
Huh...i thought someone said our Pledge is only an aspiration
Why is Ogawa Ryuju a "Foreign Talent?" The guy has a Singaporean mother, did his NS, and renounced his Japanese citizenship. He is a Singaporean, pure and simple.
I half suspect the reason ICA did not respond favourably to the appeals is due to his educational qualifications, which would not be right anyway. This is where ICA really shoot themselves in the foot. I truly empathise with Ogawa Ryuju. Unlike many many PRs and even half hearted first generation citizens, this poor guy has done his NS and renounced his Jap citizenship which spoke volumes. I even know of so-called citizens who retained their previous citizenship with our countries. Maybe they did not declare this to ICA so ICA genuinely did not know. But it does make other people like Ogawa and even other second or third generation Singapore citizens feel like they have been mucked around.
Ogawa has been mucked around. Really, what's the use of him doing his NS if his citizenship can be taken away due to a thing like forgetting to do a formal pledge? NS takes 2 years, a formal pledge takes less than a minute.
I also think that ICA officer should call him and confirm that this boy if he wants to give up his citizenship before any dicision was made, it is ridiculous for one lost his citizenship without knowing .
I wonder if the SAF called him up for reservist yet. That’ll be funny.
SAF did call him for reservice.
Seems that both parties have contributed to the situation.
If Ogawa had bothered to spend a bit of time to take the oath... he wld not have landed himself in this situation. It is this type of ambivalent attitude (if a matter does not affect one directly yet) that will put Singapore's future at risk... Time for us & Ogawa to reflect on our own actions & attitude.
ICA could also learn fr this incident to improve their processes to avoid another similar occurance.
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