Source : Straits Times - 27 Aug 2008
I REFER to Ms Lydia Rahman’s letter ‘Expats score at expense of others’ on Monday. I think Ms Rahman has generalised everything according to her interpretation and expectations.
First, not all expats own cars: they take the MRT, buses and taxis, just as ordinary Singaporeans like you and I do. The ones who own cars are more likely to be families with children, as the wives normally ferry the children around, like some of us do.
Not every expat has perks like interest-free car loans, housing allowance, hardship allowance and relocation allowance (probably a one-off when they arrive), as Ms Rahman pointed out. Some are paid the same or lower than locals.
Most expats do not have their children’s school fees paid for - yes, they actually pay out of their own pocket. Some opt for local schools where possible, but others have no choice but to pay the hefty fees of international schools.
Most expats, if not all, do not have their families with them in Singapore to save on housing costs. They definitely cannot apply for HDB flats.
All those expats with big, fat pay cheques are either at the level of chief executive officers or own their own businesses. They make up only a small percentage of expats here and are a different kettle of fish.
Young Singaporeans are not displaced in Singapore - they are venturing out to see the world and gaining new experiences. People leave for different reasons - the influx of expats is definitely not one of them.
A lot of Singaporeans have been quoted as saying that the lifestyle in Singapore is too hectic for them. It is not an option to change the pace of business here as we would fall behind the rest of the world. It is up to the individual to adapt. The Government is already doing its best by providing more parks and greenery for people to relax in.
A lot of expats appreciate Singapore more than most Singaporeans do. Some Singaporeans complain about minor things and forget what a great place this is. Be thankful that we live here.
The term ‘expat’ has been too widely associated with ‘foreigners with big pay cheques, who are here to take over our country’. In fact, they are ‘foreigners living outside their own countries, who are here to make a living - like you and me’ - without family support and sometimes with discrimination from some locals even though they are already paying higher prices for certain things.
Lastly, what Ms Rahman proposed on separate car and fuel prices is just not practical. Just learn from some expats - buy a really old second hand car at a cheaper price or just take public transportation. I prefer the latter because I think we have a world-class public transport system - so do some of my foreigner friends.
Jennifer Young (Ms)
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