Lee Hsien Loong: We won’t bring in too many foreigners too fast

With the election around the corner, PAP candidate for Ang Mo Kio GRC Lee Hsien is making all sorts of empty promises to placate disgruntled Singaporeans.

The sensitive issue of foreigners cropped up again during a webchat with Mr Lee on the PAP Facebook today when he was bombarded by netizens on the relentless influx of foreign workers which has changed Singapore’s demographics beyond recognition in the PAP’s mad pursuit for GDP growth.

Due to the PAP’s pro-foreigner and ultra-liberal immigration policies, foreigners now make up 43 percent of Singapore’s population, up from 14 percent in 1990. Of the remaining 57 percent who are citizens, an increasing number are born overseas.

When asked by a netizen Angela Xu on the PAP’s plans to address the tensions between foreign manpower needs and building a Singaporeans identity, Mr Lee replied:

“We won’t bring in too many foreigners too fast. We’ll work hard to integrate them with our people. We are not planning to make a 6+ million population. Not trying to get there. Dont worry.”

Mr Lee’s comment appeared to have contradicted his original stance on the matter in which he urged Singaporeans repeatedly to welcome more foreigners.

During a National Day rally speech last year, Mr Lee said:

‘Let us welcome them (immigrants) with an open heart, help them to fit in and encourage those who will become citizens to strike roots here. If we do this well, by the next generation, their children will be native Singaporeans.” (read here)

The sudden U-turn by Mr Lee does not change that fact that the PAP has planned all along to bring in more foreigners with PAP candidate for Tampines GRC Mah Bow Tan saying way back in 2007 that Singapore needs 6.5 million people. (read here)

More importantly, PAP de facto leader Lee Kuan Yew proclaimed only last week that the PAP will still be bringing in more foreigners:

“Please remember: We still need 900,000 foreign workers on work permits.”

Singaporeans should not be hoodwinked by Mr Lee’s last-minute sweet talk for a desperate man will make all kinds of promises that he will not be able to fulfil.

90,000 grateful new citizens will be voting on 7 May after which 900,000 may be voting five years later. This is the last opportunity for Singaporeans to reclaim ownership of their nation.