BENEFITS FOR CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS

BENEFITS FOR CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS: 1.

Assoc. Prof. Paulin Tay Straughan asked the Prime Minister if he has received feedback from Permanent Residents (PRs) on their reactions to the measures taken to widen the gap between Singapore citizens and PRs.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Wong Kan Seng) (for the Prime Minister): Sir, the

Column: 189

Government has received feedback from a small number of Permanent Residents (PRs) relating to the difference in benefits between Singapore citizens and PRs in the areas of education, healthcare, housing and marriage and parenthood package. Most of these PRs wanted to know why they were not given the same benefits as Singaporeans given that they also contributed to Singapore.

The Government recognises that PRs contribute to Singapore in many ways. Children of PRs are eligible for some subsidies for education and enjoy quality education at very competitive fees. Healthcare costs are also affordable for PRs, as they still enjoy some subsidies and can make use of their Medisave to defray some healthcare expenses. PRs may also purchase HDB flats in the resale market.

In order to reflect the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship, and to acknowledge citizens' commitment to Singapore, Singaporeans will always enjoy greater subsidies and benefits than PRs. Some benefits such as the Government-paid maternity leave and the Baby Bonus are thus given only to citizens. Our approach is to strike a balance between giving citizens priority and ensuring that Singapore remains attractive to PRs and foreigners so that we can sustain our competitive edge and ensure Singapore's growth and vibrancy for the long term.

Assoc. Prof.:

Paulin Tay Straughan (Nominated Member): Sir, I have three supplementary questions for the Minister. The first relates to the intent of the policies. I assume that one of the reasons we differentiate more is because we want to draw some of the marginal PRs to convert to citizens. In that regard, may I ask the Minister what efforts are being carried out to actively pursue these PRs to

Column: 190

make a greater stance and commitment towards Singapore?

My second question concerns the other group of PRs, people who have been here a long time and who probably will never take up citizenship because of loyalty to home country: how will we ensure that they feel appreciated and welcomed because they continue to be an important part of Singapore society?

My final supplementary question has to do with our plans in the immediate future. We have a big portion of foreigners who are in Singapore now. Are we actively pursuing the aim to help some of them make the decision to become permanent residents because I think being a PR is one step closer to having them here lodge with us for the long term, compared to if we just invite them to be in Singapore on their foreign status? I suppose I should also say that my husband is a PR so I have vested interest in this question.

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Sir, the questions are all related. Surely, the intent of the policy is to make sure that there are distinctions in benefits and privileges given to PRs and citizens. After all, citizens do have some basic rights in Singapore which PRs do not have. A simple one is that of voting. Others are the kind of support, financial assistance, top-up schemes that the Government gives from time to time to citizens and not to PRs. As to whether this differentiation is to persuade them to be citizens or not, I think the decision is very much left to the PRs, who will then have to decide whether they want to remain here as long-term PRs because of their loyalty to their own country or because of some other personal reason that they do not want to be citizens, then whether they want to be citizens or not is a calculation they have to make.

But I have heard some anecdotal feedback from some PRs to say that with

Column: 191

differentiations like these, some are thinking about becoming citizens. So I encourage them, and say that if they want to become citizens, then by all means do so, and if they do not want to be, then by all means remain a PR but the differentiation will remain. For the larger pool of foreigners who are here, while our schemes are transparent, they know that they can apply to be PRs and those who are eligible will be considered and eventually, if they qualify, they will be approved and will remain as PRs. After some time, some of them may decide to become citizens. The decision is left entirely to PRs and foreigners whether they want to convert to become citizens or to apply to be PRs.

We have to decide on the kind of society we want and we know that we have a shortage of babies – the TFR (Total Fertility Rate) is very low; Singaporeans are marrying late; they do not have enough children or have too few children. We do face a problem in our demographics. Our people are getting older and, yet, we do not have enough babies to replace them. The alternative must be to ensure that our doors are open for the talented and for those who are skilled enough to find a job here and to remain here and to become our citizens. They will top up our population. That is the whole intent of this policy. The idea is not to force anyone to be a PR or to be a citizen.