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Communications and Information Minister S. Iswaran and Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung discussed yesterday with non-electorate deputy Leong Mun Wai about the comments in his opening speech.
Singapore’s Progress Party, NCMP, had said Tuesday that it was “deeply disappointed” that DBS Bank did not have its own chief executive officer. The current CEO of the bank, Piyush Gupta, was born in India and became a Singaporean in 2009.
Joining the debate on the President’s speech yesterday, Mr. Iswaran told the House that he was concerned about Mr. Leong’s comment.
“Of course, let’s passionately defend the case to do more for Singaporeans,” he said in his speech. “But, as parliamentarians, let us also be careful what our words convey – in this case, the message we send to those who, to paraphrase Mr. S. Rajaratnam, have chosen by conviction to become citizens of Singapore.”
ISWARAN: WHAT MESSAGE IS BEING SENT?
Mr. Iswaran noted that building trust with Singapore’s international partners is a duty not only for the Government and the public service, but also for Parliament. “What we say, but also what we actively defend in this House, and ultimately what we do, are all very attentive,” he said.
“We have painstakingly built an open and inclusive economy that is capable of creating opportunity for Singaporeans by welcoming competitive companies and talents. It is a precious asset that we must not waste.”
Mr. Leong responded by saying that his party is committed to an open and inclusive society and economy, but differs from the Government on issues related to foreign workers and jobs. He said his party would like to see “a cap on foreigners, at least in the immediate future, and ensure there is transfer of skills.”
Spokesperson Tan Chuan-Jin then interrupted Mr. Leong and asked if he was looking for clarification or if he was making a new speech.
Mr Leong said: “I want to ask the minister if the debate that we are having in the last few days, when we are questioning certain issues, rebalancing certain issues that we are looking for, goes against the spirit that he is trying to explain to us now. same “.
In response, Iswaran said Singapore’s labor policy review and evolution process is a “work in progress”. “It is an evolutionary effort because it has to respond to the economic environment, to the needs and concerns of the population, and then we have to adapt and move on.”
The problem is not the process, Iswaran said, but the message Leong’s speech sends.
“The problem is that when we lament that a Singaporean occupying a certain position is not homegrown, then I think we really have to ask ourselves the question: as parliamentarians, as elected representatives, what is the message that we are sending to our citizens? “
The minister also asked what message Mr. Leong was sending to those who had chosen to become Singaporeans, their spouses and children.
“The question I would ask Mr Leong is, after this discussion and all the information that has been shared, do you still regret that DBS does not have its own CEO?
“And do you recognize that … a lot has been done in the organization and, in fact, there are a lot of Singaporeans at the top levels?”
Mr. Leong replied that “he will still hold on to (his) disappointment.”
“Why didn’t the government in the process put in place certain safeguards or certain other rules to ensure that we have skills transfer and … ensure that Singaporeans are prepared to take over the job?”
He added: “I don’t think the international community takes it too negatively. Singapore is open enough.”
“Foreigners know that we are very, very open. In fact, if we don’t do certain things to safeguard the interests of Singaporeans, I’m afraid they will laugh at us.”
NGO YE KUNG: DON’T LIMIT SINGAPORE TO BEING A BIG FISH IN A POND
Ong then got up to respond to Leong, reiterating several points from his own speech on Tuesday.
He noted that he had tracked Singapore’s journey of building its financial sector for the past 50 years, beginning with the addition of foreign experience and the growth of local talent to the current situation where “many of us rose to positions of responsibility. “.
Mr. Ong said that this approach is the best way to serve Singaporeans and cautioned that Singapore should not be limited to being a “big fish in a pond”.
“Opening up to the lagoon, opening up to the sea, having a much more exciting and diverse ecosystem, but investing in our own people, defending ourselves. That is what we have been doing for decades.
“(We) never get to a stage where we say the only way to achieve this is to set a quota, to set a rule: You have to be a CEO from Singapore, born here, before declaring success. wrong . “
Mr Iswaran reiterated that Parliament has to be a voice of reason.
“Don’t take it lightly because what we say cannot go unsaid. It’s there for the record, for the future, and everyone, Singaporeans, new citizens or born in Singapore, others here, everyone will be watching this.
“And I think that we in this House, as elected representatives, must hold ourselves to a higher standard. If we don’t, then I think we fail in our duties as Members of Parliament, and I think ultimately we do. a disservice to Singaporeans. “
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