No. of new citizens ‘carefully calibrated’
I refer to the article “Number of new citizens in Singapore will be ‘carefully calibrated’: NPTD” (Channel NewsAsia, Jan 20).
It states that “While the Republic must maintain a “carefully calibrated” number of new citizens to augment the ageing population, the right balance must be struck to ensure Singaporeans “do not feel crowded out””.
20,348 new citizens granted in 2014
According to the National Population Talent Division’s (NPTD) web site – the number of new citizens granted for 2014 was 20,348.
The number granted from 2011 to 2013 was 15,777, 20,693 and 20,572. respectively.
29% increase in new citizens granted?
Comparing 2014 to 2011 – the increase in the number of new citizens granted is 29 per cent.
Do the above statistics look like the “number of new citizens will be ‘çarefully calibrated'”?
Citizens’ growth 1.6 0r 0.4%?
The growth in citizens from 2014 to 2015 was 1.6 per cent.
However, if we adjust for the 20,348 new citizens granted – does it mean that the growth for true-blue citizens was only about 0.4 per cent?
Foreigners’ growth 2.1%?
Against this, the growth of foreigners was 2.1 per cent, from 1,599,000 to 1,632,300.
39% of population non-S’porean?
The percentage of non-Singaporeans (foreigners and permanent residents (PRs)) in the total population is 39 per cent.
42% of population non-true-blue S’porean?
If we make an adjustment for the 153,351 new citizens granted from 2007 to 2014 – does it mean that true-blue Singaporeans may be about 58 per cent?
Also, 348,785 new PRs were granted from 2007 to 2014.
“Careful balance in the foreign workforce”?
As to “will aim for “a careful balance in the foreign workforce, so that Singaporeans do not feel crowded out”” – the percentage of foreign workers and non-Singaporean workers (foreigners and PRs) is estimated to have reached an all-time high of about 38.9 and 47.1 per cent respectively.
True-blue S’poreans less than 50% of workforce?
If we make an adjustment for the 153,351 new citizens granted from 2007 to 2014 – does it mean that the true-blue Singaporeans in the workforce may already be less than half the workforce?
390,200 local jobs, 502,900 foreign jobs, 502,136 new citizens/PRs?
Also, the increase in jobs of 390,200 local jobs from 2007 to 2014, was against an increase in 502,900 foreign jobs. So, how many of the 390,200 local jobs went to Singaporeans, against the 502,136 new citizens and new PRs granted?
Since the people have given their trust and mandate – shouldn’t we reciprocate by being more transparent?
Leong Sze Hian
