They build our homes, but we want to deprive them of housing?

Source : Straits Times - 15 Sep 2008

SERANGOON Gardens residents should try to welcome these foreign workers to their neighbourhood and co-exist with them for a time before jumping to the uncalled-for conclusion that their behaviour is wrought with vice.

If things turn nasty among pockets of foreign workers, there are always measures available to root out these bad eggs and then educate and counsel them. For these so-called educated middle-class residents to generalise about foreign workers as dangerous ragamuffins is immature and speaks only of ignorance. Are they not human, like us? Class segmentation and racial segregation have plagued world history during evil and cruel times. Surely we do not want a repeat of the past today, so why can’t Serangoon Gardens residents up their level of tolerance and behave like caring and educated people?

I urge residents to put themselves in the shoes of these working-class immigrants or backtrack many years ago when their ancestors came from villages overseas and brought their supposed ‘bad habits and uncouth behaviour’ to Singapore. We must reflect on the tolerance the original occupants of Singapore had to these migrants because it is the reason we stand here today as a successful society.

In addition, I would like to highlight that most Singaporeans are shocked by the extreme and adamant reactions of Serangoon Gardens residents. These foreign workers provide us with modern, state-of-the-art accommodation through their toil. Are we to deny them even the most basic accommodation?

I have family and friends in Yio Chu Kang, Yishun and Sengkang who co-exist peacefully on the most part with foreign workers who stay in lodgings just a stone’s throw from their flats, condominiums and landed properties. Living in such close proximity also allows healthy cultural exchanges. I urge residents to view the matter objectively.

This fiasco is of great embarrassment to Singapore. We claim we are a cosmopolitan city but the way we treat the very people who have played a major part in shaping of city is just plain ungrateful.

Melody Zaccheus (Ms)