PRs debate price of citizenship
A day after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made it clear that they would no longer be entitled to the same subsidies as Singaporeans, the permanent residents here are not exactly smiling.
But here is the twist: This move could actually nudge some of them into taking up Singapore citizenship.
Experts that this newspaper spoke to said that Mr Lee's message was aimed mainly at reassuring Singaporeans that citizenship matters and was certainly not intended to make PRs feel any less welcome.
But if they saw education and healthcare becoming more expensive, some foreign passport-holders who have lived here for years could suddenly be jolted into thinking of their future.
Would this "talent" now find Singapore less attractive and look at other options?
Almost everyone — local or foreigner — that TODAY spoke to, thought this was unlikely.
"People who come here on permanent residence are not the kind looking for handouts and subsidies," said Prof Chua Beng Huat from the National University of Singapore.
But while the "push" factor would not be strong enough, some felt that the Singapore passport might become more attractive to those who plan to be here for the long haul.
Till now, many of them had not even considered changing citizenship because apart from subsidised HDB flats — they can buy only resale flats from the open market — and payouts such as workfare and baby bonus, PRs enjoyed exactly the same benefits as Singaporeans.
Now, they will have to pay more for education and healthcare than Singaporeans, but less than other foreigners — though the Government has not specified how much.
"I think this latest move by the Government has really gotten many PRs here thinking: Do I want to go back to my own country, or stay here and become a citizen? It's a bit early for me to say now, but I will think carefully about citizenship so that I can enjoy the same amount of benefits as everyone else," said Ms Ong Ling Hui, 26, a banker from Malaysia who has lived here since 1998.
To others, the decision has become more pressing. Quality assurance manager Ronny Albeus, 43, has four school-going children and is now considering applying for citizenship next year.
"I would like my children to continue enjoying the educational benefits," said the president of the Filipino Association of Singapore.
But making it clear that the move would be based largely on practical considerations, he added: "Even if I were to acquire Singapore nationality, at heart I will always remain a Filipino."
Several other PRs told TODAY that they would wait to see exactly how much more they will have to pay for education and healthcare before taking a decision.
Some, like Mr Anirudh Sharma, 36, a PR from India said it was only fair that citizens should enjoy more benefits than foreigners.
Others, such as Mr Arief Sundjaja, a 35-year-old Indonesian who has been a PR for 10 years, were not so pleased.
"If I'm told to pay more, of course, I'm not happy. To be here for so long and then to be discriminated against, is not so nice."
He said that if healthcare became more expensive many PRs might consider retiring in their own countries.
But he himself might opt to switch passports.
"I think they're trying to make PRs become citizens and for Singaporeans not to feel any jealousy," he said. "So, what can we do? If this goes on, I don't mind being a citizen."
Ms Jeanne Conceicao, research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies at the Institute of Policy studies, said that Singapore's "welcoming" immigration policies would continue to attract people here. But getting them to become citizens was another matter.
"It takes quite a bit for people to say 'yes'. Money is just one part of it. I'm not sure that a country can calibrate things so well as to push you over the line (into citizenship)."
Indeed, many PRs said that dual citizenship would be a greater lure than the latest move and in many cases they were reluctant to make the jump because of estate planning complications.
Also, different PRs had different circumstances.
"Some families may have no choice," said Mr Pierre M, a 36-year-old Frenchman.
"They have invested in Singapore, they have kids and with the GST going up, it may not be easy. PRs in a better financial situation will be able to afford the new costs. For me, the main issue is that I may lose my nationality and I don't want that." — With additional reporting By Lee U-Wen, TODAY/rose
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stori...245335/1/.html 
PRs debate price of citizenship 
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