Singapore has been bringing in plenty of immigrants from China and India to counter the growth of its Malay population. This is presumably to keep our ethnic proportions in check. But what is the cost to our nation in the long run?
Singapore’s latest population census is out. According to figures from the Department of Statistics, the percentage of Malays in Singapore has declined to just 13.5% – down from 14% in 1990. This comes in despite the fact that Malays have the most superior fertility rates when compared against the Chinese and Indians.
It is a well known fact that Malay women are very productive – in the most literal sense. Marrying at a relatively earlier age, Malay women enjoy a longer fertility period when compared to other races.
On top of that, Malay family values are different. Children are seen as a blessing from God and have never been considered a burden or liability. If it is necessary to sacrifice a luxury or financial resource just to have that extra child, it will be done. This in part explains why it is pretty common to see Malay families with 5, 6 or even 7 children frolicking in our neighborhoods.
In 1990, there were 384,300 Malay citizens. By June 2007, the figure has ballooned to 495,400. This gives the Malays the nation’s highest fertility rate of 2.1. But on the other hand, the Chinese community continues to bemoan its paltry fertility figure of only 1.07.
What this basically means is that Singapore’s Chinese community is not producing enough babies to replace itself. If left to continue without intervention, the population make-up of Singapore could be drastically altered over the decades, with the scales tipping towards an increasing Malay majority.
So in come the immigrants from China and India.
Don’t get me wrong. The purpose of this writing is not to whine about the decreasing numbers of my people. I’m all for keeping the ethnic proportions to its status quo. Keeping Malays to below 15% may be best for the well being of the nation.
Given the fact that Malays have the tendency to be not as educated, they would usually score at the inferior end of the salary scale – amongst other social issues. A disproportionately large percentage of this ethnic group may have serious implications towards Singapore’s competitiveness in the global economy.
But what I am concerned with is the method in which Singapore has decided to impede the Malay deluge. To arrest declining birth rates of the Chinese and Indians, the nation has decided to take the easy way out by opening its flood gates to immigrants from China and India.
It seems that we have given up after several measures and 'baby bonuses' aimed at tackling our falling birth rates did not seem to work. Would not it be better to study WHY our Chinese and Indian brethren are not producing as much as they should, instead of implementing quick-fix solutions that might have adverse impact on our society in the long run?
Already signs of conflicts are emerging between the locals and the immigrants.
Not too long ago, there was an exchange of angry letters in the press between local Indians and immigrant Indians. This took place after an issue was highlighted in Parliament by MP Indranee Rajah. She claims that local Indians are not getting along with their foreign-born counterparts. Locals are claiming that the immigrants are too obnoxious while the foreign-born Indians are claiming that the locals are just jealous because they earned less.
Murmurs of discontent are even rifer amongst the Chinese. Local Chinese just can’t seem to get along with their mainland counterparts whom they claim are just too crude, rude and unhygienic. Anyone who has been pushed on the train by an obvious main lander will have little reason to disagree with this.
Today, figures show that 980,000 foreigners roam our streets – just shy of a million. This is not including the countless more that have been absorbed into the official figure for permanent residents.
Several questions to this quick-fix solution remain:
What if the newly brought in immigrants continue to give a low fertility rate when compared against the Malays? Do we then continue to bring in immigrants from India and China ad infinity till the nation becomes a highly fragmented jungle with almost no sense of identity?
What happens when a crisis strikes our beloved nation? Will these immigrants rough it up with the locals or conveniently leave for greener pastures just like how they originally abandoned their birth country? Remember, unlike our forefathers who toiled this land, these people came to enjoy it only after we are prosperous.
The day might just come when Singapore will have to deal with 5 major ethnic groups instead of 3 – Singapore Chinese, China Chinese, Singapore Indians, India Indians, and Malays. Racial harmony day might just need a serious re-design when this happens.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
Hi Ridzwan,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Kevin.
While I agree with your summation for the influx of immigrants from China and India one must not forget that this policy of opening the floodgates has wider ramifications.
One logical conclusion for this would be the dilution of the opposition centric voters with newly made instant citizens who would be avowedly pro-establishment and somewhat beholden to the establishment.
If you haven't already noticed, karang guni men are from PRC, Chinese food sellers too these people are displacing locals in every which way possible, all this as the govt continues to say that Sgeans are picky when it comes to jobs.
These immigrants are also replacing what older workers who generally become cleaners for various reasons.
IMHO, the policy of letting in all and sundry into Singapore is another calamitous mistake among the many others the PAP has already
made.
All I have to say is what ever has happened to "MORE GOOD YEARS"?
Best regards,
Kevin
The government has no choice but to open the floodgates for immigrants from China and India to come in. All the baby bonuses are just not producing enough concrete desired results. Generally, most Chinese, especially those in the late 20s and 30s, do not view children as blessings from God, unfortunately. Children are deemed as burdens and freedom-hindrances.
ReplyDeletePerhaps Chinese would be more productive in making babies if our lives are simpler like that of our parents in the 50s and 60s. Back then, each couple having 10 kids is pretty common.
Back in the 70s, the population explosion was considered a problem. So much so the government had to implement a campaign telling the people to stop at just 2 kids.
Times have certainly changed. For better or for worse, the influx of immigrants from China and India will not let up any time soon. Racial harmony among the 5 ethnic groups you mentioned could well become much more delicate in time to come.
Hi Ridwan,
ReplyDeleteLet's not just look at this issue along racial lines.
Firstly ask yourself this question, did the Government ever stop Malaysian or Indonesian Malays FTs from migrating to Singapore? If the Malay choose not to migrate to Singapore, should the Government stop all the PRCs and Indians from migrating to Singapore just because the Malays are not coming?
This region now is "back to the future", similar to 1800s adn earliy 1900s, whereby India and China are flourishing again. Singapore like in 1800s, was/is in the middle of India and China. Trade, business, commence with these 2 countries are again is flourishing. Migration from these 2 growing countries (like in 1800s) are also growing again! That's the cycle of trade, business, economy and immigration!
Also is Singapore the only country in the world that are taking in PRCs and Indians? Look at the PRCs and Indians around the world (esp PRCs)! They are everywhere, US, Europe, Africa, NZ, Aussieland, Japan, just name the place. So, is it fair to attack Singapore Government? Are the Malay emigrating?
Should all PRCs and Indians stop migrating unless the Malays are doing so?
I know that the new Immigrants have problem settling in Singapore and we also have problems accepting them into the society. But isn't this a normal problem with immigration? It was like that since history and the whole world is like that. In some big countries, inter-state migrants also faced similar problems. When out ancestors first came in 1800s, you think the locals liked them or they feel super at home? Well, it would take years if not a generation or two for them to integrate into this society.
Your arguement that we keep taking in Chinese and Indians is based on your own assumption that Singapore take in these immigrants to balance the ethnic ratio. But it isn't even so in the first place! If the Malaysia Malay FTs choose to come and settle in Singapore, they are welcome too!
Seriously, it is not that the Government that is afraid of ethnic inproportion, but rather you are! Don't think along racial lines, think Singaporean. We are all Singaporeans. Singaporeans Singapore!!!
Your point being to severly restrict immigration. That wont work.
ReplyDelete1) If we need the people, we need to import
2) They have to find a way to dissolve the differences
Your points about children. perhaps it precisely because we tend to love our kids too much that we have fewer of them and a higher quality of life.
ReplyDeleteChildren are a boon from God? But having 7 or 8 kids on a paltry income is asking for serious trouble.
The real problem is that Islam prohibits family planning-just like Irish Catholiscism-and they too were poor until they changed their ways.
a few points on the comments
ReplyDelete- though abortion is forbidden, Islam does not prohibit family planning
- there's too many anecdotal evidence of malay malaysian/indonesian skilled workers having their PR applications rejected for reasons which do not extend to unskilled chinamen/women.
It has been a mistake right from the start made by the Sultan of Singapore with the British. There was no control in the influx of Chinese into Singapore by the thousands then. Which now the 'Government' call it Boat People, Illegal Immigrant etc. Its an effective strategy. The Chinese has now reach an effective 76% and more. Capitalist is the way to go so as to control the Media, Educational Institutions, Land and Properties etc etc. The Indigenous (Malay, Javanese) of South-East Asia Nation, once own a huge plot of land in Singapore has now been reduce to very few. The once thriving creative Malay film industry has also been reduce to none in Singapore. The Chinese escaping the Communist China has make it big and running over the Indigenous of SEAN with Capitalist formula in Singapore. The Chinese will get away with everything with money by bribing poor Indonesian. Do you have a choice now? Just live with it. You are now the MINORITY and are not respected of your Indigenous status. Now it seems Singapore, like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau is part of China to the tourist. Every aspect of your daily life is controlled by the Chinese including this Blog. So just forget about argueing with them and forget about Singapura. Unlike the Indians, the Chinese is not going back to China. Well done China Man! They made a home in your heart and mind!
ReplyDeleteThe problem with Malays is that they call themselve Malays instead of a propernoun for a community indigenous to South-East Asia Region. The Chinese originating from North-East Asia dont call themselve Hokkien, Teochew etc but Chinese. The Malays are isolated to a small part of Indonesia. Unofficially, the Javanese in Singapore are also called Malays. In Indonesia, the Malays are the minorities. The Javanese civilisation started much earlier than the Malay. They have their own writing characters called Jawi which the malays mistaken it to be the Arabic Script and call it Jawi too. Jawi is related to Jawa but not Arabic! Javanese language is eloquent. It has a name for every type of hair on our body. They have names of the Stars etc. Not every part of China is civilised but with unity and force, 'China' are under one Emperor. Its seems that the Coastal areas are not controlled by the Emperor namely Macau, Hongkong, Japan and Koreas. If not for the strong Japanese Emperor, Japanese would have been called Chinese too.
ReplyDeleteIf the Indigenous of SEA Region (ISEAn) unite, they can make their presence felt in the world and recognise as one. The ISEAN are just as creative. China have Peking Man, Isean have Java Man. China have Chinatown, Isean have Kotaraja. We are not lack of creativity. We just need more heads.
Bringing up a child in today's Singapore is not cheap. What is the point of having billions and billions in reserves but no indigenous population growth.
ReplyDeleteI estimate that in the next twenty years or so, a vast proportion of "original" Singaporeans, ie those who were born and grew up here will have emigrated, disillusioned and let down. The "new" Singaporeans will be the quick fix PRCs and the Indians. The "original" Malays would probably still be around maintaining their share of 15% of the population.
Sad.
Thanks for the memories.
Interesting article and something which I have observed for quite awhile already. In fact when I attended a dialogue session conducted by some Malay MPs for malay youths at a polytechnic a few years back tackling the topic of malay youth, their problems and leadership in general, the MPs did mention that malay youths make up a growing percentage of total youths in Singapore. I asked if this will eventually lead to a higher Malay percentage number with regards to the total population and the reply from one of the MPs was - "No". One has to wonder why this is so if nature was allowed to take its course though unfortunately I did not press further. It wasn't the time or place to ask anyway. I also recall an even longer while back that a high level minister here was quoted as saying that the population of Chinese in Singapore will be maintained consistent at the 70+% or so. It was mentioned in a newspaper article or something if I recall correctly, but since I don't have the article with me or tried to search for it either online or in the archives, let's just treat it as a baseless rumour. To me, these issues do raise a question about social engineering.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Singaporean, thought i wish comment not on my race. I guess your article captures what I feel very accurately.
ReplyDeleteIf you read Sunday times today, there is this indian expat who wish to see fireworks in Singapore on DEEPAVALI.
This in a nutshell summarises the attitude of these BLOODY EXPATS in Singapore.
I mean come on, our Singaporean indians have been living with us all the way and they have never demanded fireworks on deepavali!
stinks man.
Singapore govt gives too much face to these morons who will never dare to demand such things in other countries.
How could the Malay live if it was set by itself to stand alone in a country?
ReplyDeleteI find it hard to understand cause, I have seen even the catering services for airlines are also PRC. And when to speak to them, they don't understand me and I don't understand them. In the end, I have to seek my chinese colleague to translate it for me. This is what I call, language barier. Isn't ENGLISH our first language? I wonder have Singapore become more like China? Or is it still multi racial as it is before?
By reading the papers, most of the jobs are demanding for chinese/mandaring speaking candidates. What happen to ENGLISH?
FOR EXAMPLE 1:
Recently, I was calling a company to ask for some enquiries. The receptionist couldn't even speak PROPER ENGLISH for me to understand her. In the end, I put down the phone.
FOR EXAMPLE 2:
I entered a clothing store and there was two ladies. I told them I wanted to try on the items I was holding and they look at me blankly and speak to me in an chinese-english manner.
All the example are base on my experience. I just have a hard time to understand certain people. I am not an expat I am a local who wishes Singapore to be more International with Good standard of English.
Singlish is something that we shouldn't be proud of.
The government promote Speak Proper English every now and then, but what have it done so far?
No point discussing here. This is already a chinese country and they know they are on the upper hand. Therefore they will do what is best for themselve. Just imagine if Singapore and Malaysia was Bombarded by Communist Sukarno, All chinese would have been dead by now. Why do you think they press on democracy? Simply because they are the majority.
ReplyDeleteTo all those who disagreed with Ridzwan...
ReplyDelete1)Why do we celebrate National Day? What makes you so proud of being a Singaporean.
2)Why do we locals serve National Service? You can import soldiers from other country to protect Singapore
3)Why do our children go to school when you know that their future jobs will be taken up by foreigners?
4)Those s'porean who migrated are those who realised that the govt are doing the same to them now
5)Why do we have to pretend we are ok?
Basically, the govt is doing everything for the sake of the country, not for the Singapore Citizens. It's like loving ur foster child more than your birth child.
ridzwan may i say that i hv to agree and disagree with some of your comments but as a malay myself i would like to congratulate u for havin the guts to be upfront on this delicate issue,syabas!
ReplyDeleteI think immigration is good for Singapore, not least is that it helps to rejuvenate a society.
ReplyDeleteIt comes at a cost of course, like less social cohesion and more social problems. But are the problems so intractable?
Take myself for example. I am a second generation of an immigration family. Both my parents came from China. I went through the local Singapore education system. So you can say I've been brainwashed (or re-educated, if you prefer) to think like a Singaporean, behave and act like a Singaporean. My political outlook is that of a Singaporean. I've no desire to visit China (none so far, and I am already in my 50s) nor pine for things Chinese. I do read the Chinese newspapers, however.
So it's no so bad for Singapore after all. She has gained a true-blue Singaporean - me. Right?