how many of their children actually serve NS?

It¡¯s a known fact that many foreign workers (from work permit holders to employment pass holders to PR holders) make use of Singapore only as a stepping stone to better pastures elsewhere. The sad truth is that Singapore is only a transit point for them ¨C to build up their credible work experience and their financial resources. Once they have done that, they will move on to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, UK. The Filipinos are not the only ones doing that. This practice is also prevalent among the Indians and Chinese who are being welcomed here in droves by the Government. Many of the FTs who are Singapore PRs also want to leave Singapore asap so that their sons don¡¯t get caught in the NS trap. Perhaps the Government can tell us how many FT PRs (or their children) actually serve NS when it¡¯s call-up time.

Several years ago, one Indian IT chap came to see me to get his documents certified as true copies. He was applying for New Zealand PR. When I saw his passport, I noticed that it was a Singapore passport which had just been issued to him a few days previously. I was shocked that he was applying for NZ PR so soon after getting his Singapore passport. He told me that many Indians believe that it¡¯s easier for them to apply for western PRs if they are Singapore passport holders rather than Indian passport holders ¨C and that¡¯s probably true. I believe that the PRC Chinese also think likewise.

So, it seems that Singaporeans are getting short-changed once again. Our wonderful Government liberally hands out PRs and even citizenships to FTs, and then mistakenly think that those ¡°grateful¡± FTs will stay here in Singapore for life and even give up their lives for Singapore if Singapore is militarily threatened. What utter stupidity and naivety!!! In the immortalised words of LKY: They must be daft!!!

It¡¯s time that the decision-makers in Government wake up and realise that many FTs are simply making use of Singapore and Singaporeans. Even the super-rich FTs who get Singapore PR under the million-dollar investor schemes are simply making use of Singapore ¨C to get a globally-respected red passport and to profit from property investments here. Many of those super-rich FTs don¡¯t even live here. As 1st generation Singapore PRs under the million dollar investor scheme, they are exempted from serving NS. But, again, how many of their children actually serve NS?

Many FTs have absolutely no sentimental attachment to Singapore. It¡¯s the Singaporeans who are born and bred here that love Singapore and who will die for the country in the event of war. Many of these locally-born and bred Singaporeans do not have the option to migrate elsewhere. Yet, many of these true Singaporeans are being left in the lurch by the Government that they keep voting into power every 5 years. Unfortunately, the same Government prefers to spend its time, effort and money on pandering to the FTs. What a sad irony.
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