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SINGAPORE – Communications and Information Minister S. Iswaran and Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung discussed with unelected MP Leong Mun Wai in Parliament on Friday (September 4) over the comments in his inaugural address.
The Singapore Progress Party (PSP), NCMP, had said Tuesday that it was “deeply disappointed” that DBS Bank did not have its own CEO. 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 on Friday, Iswaran said he was concerned about 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 in his speech that building trust with Singapore’s international partners is a duty not only of the Government and the public service, but also of 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 opportunities 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.”
Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin then interrupted him 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 “.
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 regret that a Singaporean who occupies a certain position is not in some way local, 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? “
Mr. Iswaran 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 large number of Singaporeans at the higher 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?” the NCMP asked.
He added: “I don’t think the international community takes it very 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 am afraid they will make fun of us.”
NGO YE KUNG: DON’T LIMIT SINGAPORE TO BEING A BIG FISH IN A POND
Mr. Ong then got up to respond to Mr. Leong, reiterating a number of 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 must 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 that ultimately we make a A disservice to Singaporeans. “
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