"I think it's fair enough to
express concern, or to disagree with our immigration trends, or to oppose our
immigration policies," Mr. Lee said in his annual National Day Rally
speech, acknowledging that the influx of foreigners in recent years has
exacerbated socioeconomic problems in the tiny Southeast Asian island.
"But I am worried by some of
the nasty views which are expressed, especially online, and especially
anonymously," Mr. Lee said. Such outbursts by citizens against foreigners,
on the Internet and in public, "reflect badly on us [and] damage our
international reputation—people think that Singapore is antiforeigner [and]
xenophobic."
The prime minister's comments
come after Singapore's government in July announced new measures to control the
inflow of foreigners. Policy makers are trying to strike a balance in keeping
the city-state a top destination for foreign workers and new immigrants—seen as
a way to offset Singapore's low birthrates—while containing antiforeigner
sentiment here.
Resentment against foreigners
isn't new in Singapore, where large numbers of wealthy expatriates live. In
2011, nearly 40% of Singapore's population of 5.2 million people were
foreign-born permanent residents or temporary residents, government data show.
Singapore citizens had made up 74% of the population in 2000, and 91% in 1980.
Many native Singaporeans say
foreign-born residents take jobs, push up property prices and add new strains
on the city-state's infrastructure, especially its crowded subways.
Such sentiment has undercut
support for the ruling People's Action Party, which won last year's general
election by its slimmest margin ever. A survey by the Singapore-based Institute
of Policy Studies showed that 52% of voters said immigration was an important
issue to them in that election.
Criticism of foreigners has taken
an increasingly xenophobic tone over the past year, analysts say, with more
Singaporeans turning to social media to broadcast their views. Tensions have
also heightened amid recent incidents including a deadly car crash in May
caused by a Chinese national in a speeding Ferrari and an assault on a local
taxi driver by three expatriates in 2010.
"Singaporeans must show a
generosity of spirit to one another, including new arrivals," Mr. Lee said
in his speech Sunday. "New arrivals must also embrace our values, commit
themselves to Singapore and integrate into our community."
Government leaders have said that
immigration helps Singapore sustain its economic growth and mitigate the impact
of a low birthrate. Singapore's birthrate is among the lowest world-wide, at
7.72 births per 1,000 people, according to 2011 estimates from the CIA World
Factbook.
Nonetheless, authorities have
taken more steps in recent months to address immigration concerns, including
raising financial barriers for foreign workers seeking entry and handing
citizens more benefits than go to foreign-born residents in areas like
education and health care.
Among the measures announced in
July, the government is raising the minimum income levels that would qualify
foreign workers to sponsor their spouses and children to accompany them while
they live and work in Singapore. Certain foreign workers also will no longer be
allowed to bring parents and in-laws into Singapore on long-term-visit passes.
Singapore's Parliament is also
mulling changes to toughen its immigration law, the first major amendment since
2004. If passed, it would make marriages of convenience--entered into to obtain
immigration privileges--a criminal offense, among other steps.
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