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| July 15, 2008 |
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'Be a Singapore citizen if she wishes to have the same privileges.'
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MR EDMUND LIN: 'I refer to last Wednesday's letter by Ms Elaine Yong, 'Give PRs a fair chance during P1 registration'. I support the suggestion to put Singaporeans in front of PRs in the queue for the Primary 1 admission exercise. Citizens must do National Service. PRs have more options. They can do their primary to secondary studies even up to junior college and renounce their rights to became Singapore citizens just before the age of 18, thus avoiding NS. Foreign talent and PRs need not worry. There are enough primary schools and there are minimum standards. Many Singaporean parents feel the need to voice their concern because they are unable to get into their desired schools for their children. Ms Elaine Yong may like to consider her application to be a Singapore citizen if she wishes to have the same privileges as others.'
'Look after the needs of citizens first.'
MS JOYCE NEO: 'I see more and more foreigners working, studying and living here. I am overwhelmed by their presence. The Government should and must continue to give priority to citizens first especially in education for our young. I disagree that the Government should give equal chances to PRs simply because we want their talent here. It is the duty of a government to look after the needs of its citizens first. Immigrants should be prepared to accept this as the normal practice here. If Ms Elaine Yong feels that other countries will give her children the same priority in her choice of schools, so be it. I am confident that our country will continue to attract new talent here. Similarly, I will not migrate to another country because I cannot be assured of equal treatment accorded to me as an immigrant there.'
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