COSMPOLITANS AND HEARTLANDERS (Socio-economic disparity)

Mr Tay Beng Chuan asked the Minister for Community Development (a) what is the assessment of his Ministry on the socio-economic disparity between the cosmopolitans and heartlanders of our population; (b) whether this socio-economic disparity is fast growing as a result of our globalisation and injection of foreign talent into our society; and (c) what strategic measures are being taken by his Ministry to counter this disintegrating factor of our multi-racial society.

The Minister for Community Development (Mr Abdullah Tarmugi): Mr Speaker, Sir, when the Prime Minister used the terms "cosmopolitans" and "heartlanders" of our population, he was referring to the outlook of two broad categories of people and reiterated that both were important to Singapore's well being. Each has its own distinct contribution to our society. For example, the heartlanders play a major role in maintaining the core values and our social stability and give us our Singapore brand name. Cosmopolitans, on the other hand, extend our economic reach and help Singapore to run as an efficient, high performance society. We should not look at cosmopolitans and heartlanders in terms of socio-economic status as this is not an issue.

What is more important is that we must pay attention to community bonding and help all Singaporeans to understand each other and their contributions. The promotion of social harmony must be the concern of all sectors of Singapore society and not just the Government. We want all Singaporeans of all income groups, races or religions to be one people and have common shared values. Some of the ways that are in place to promote integration in our society already exist such as volunteerism and mutual help.

My Ministry, CDCs, grassroots and self help organisations and voluntary welfare organsations have various programmes that bring our people together to care and share with one another, their time, resources and expertise, and in the process foster and strengthen ties. Our National Education Programme will also develop better understanding and instinctive bonding across races starting from the young. All these will work towards strengthening community bonding.

Mr Low Thia Khiang (Hougang): Is the Minister aware that by the way the heartlanders and cosmopolitans are being portrayed and reported in the mass media, it has given rise to the perception or impression that cosmopolitans and heartlanders are two different classes of Singapore citizens in our society?

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi: Sir, as the Member states, the media portrays them as such, not the Government.

Dr Wang Kai Yuen (Bukit Timah): Would the Minister disclose, by the Government's definition, how many percent of Singaporeans fall in the class of heartlanders; and how many percent consider themselves cosmopolitans?

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi: Sir, I am sure when the Prime Minister made that statement, he was not referring to any proportion of the Singapore society which falls under either category.

Dr Wang Kai Yuen: Sir, is the Minister aware that there is a recent survey, a gallup poll survey, that 65% of the respondents considered themselves heartlanders and, interestingly enough, 35% considered themselves cosmopolitans. Would he comment on this?

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi: Sir, I am not too familiar with that survey. But if 65% call themselves heartlanders and 35% call themselves cosmopolitans, so?