SINGAPORE'S FOREIGN INFUSION: THE STATE, THE PEOPLE AND FOREIGN TALENT

Abstract

An immigrant is someone who leaves his homeland to settle in another for the promise of a better life and future. Singapore's immigrant roots occupy a prominent position in its historical heritage and thus the view that Singapore is "an immigrant society''. Since the l 950s however, immigration into Singapore has fallen off sharply and ceased to be the major source of population increase in Singapore. Singaporeans are increasingly likely to have been "born and bred" within this island nation that covers 622 square kilometres and which is still growing via reclamation to accommodate a growing population. Population growth has witnessed a prominent new source besides the reproductive abilities of Singaporeans. Immigration had taken on a renewed impetus since the liberalisation of immigration rules in 1989 in a bid to attract more Foreign Talent. What are the reactions of locals towards state immigration policy and immigrants a decade later? What are the concerns of Singaporeans towards Foreign Talent? How does the state's discourse on immigration and Foreign Talent compare with the lay discourse of the people of Singapore? All these issues will be investigated in this academic exercise using content analysis of newspaper articles and in-depth face-to-face interviews with Singaporeans. The aim is to shed more light on an area of Singaporean affairs in which there is a relative dearth of literature.