MANY ONGOING EFFORTS TO PROMOTE SOCIAL INTEGRATION

1. I refer to the letters, "Do more to integrate foreigners" by Mr Gilbert Goh

Keow Wah (myPaper, 24 Jul 09), and "Foreigners won't overrun Singapore", by
Mr Lionel De Souza (myPaper, 27 Jul 09).

2. The Government is aware of the need to promote integration between

locals and newcomers, and set up the National Integration Council (NIC) in April
2009. The NIC is chaired by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community
Development, Youth and Sports, and includes representatives from the people,
private and public (3P) sectors. The NIC has begun its work of catalysing 3P
initiatives in the schools, workplaces, the community, and the media, as these
are the key areas where people-to-people interaction takes place. The NIC is
looking at how to improve the frequency and depth of such interactions.

3. There are currently many integration programmes. The People's

Association (PA) runs the National Education Experience Programme for new
citizens, where they get to understand our history, culture and heritage better,
and meet with their grassroots organisations and leaders. PA has also gathered
a group of volunteers who are known as Integration and Naturalisation
Champions, who have been actively reaching out to new immigrants through
house visits and encouraging them to participate in grassroots activities and
community works. Since the beginning of this year, PA has piloted a host family
programme in 25 constituencies, where new immigrants are paired with local
families to help them to settle in. Citizenship ceremonies are organised at the
GRC-level for new Singapore citizens. Similarly, our national schools, institutions
of higher learning, employers, and social and community organisations organise
various events and programmes to help integrate locals and foreigners within
their domain.

4. There will be many more integration programmes and events in the

coming months, initiated by the people, private and public organisations.
Successful integration will require sustained support from both locals and new
immigrants. We welcome ideas and suggestions on how to promote greater
integration.

Ngiam Shih Chun

Director, Community Relations and Engagement Division
Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports
Do more to integrate foreigners

AS MANY as one million foreigners have come to Singapore's shores, with about
30,000 becoming new citizens each year.

However, nothing concrete is being done to help them integrate with the local
community, even though they make their presence felt through the size of their
numbers and economic contributions.

Furthermore, the foreigners bring with them their own religious and cultural
values, which may antagonise many Singaporeans.

I never managed to get to know a foreigner in Singapore due to the lack of

opportunities to interact with them. However, I could readily sense their presence
as they drove the buses that I travelled on and served the food that I ate daily.
But such contact was limited and superficial at best.

Here in Australia, where I have relocated, emigrants tend to congregate in certain

areas. There is not much integration and, in fact, many Chinese migrants still
cannot speak English despite having lived in Australia for many years.

The lack of integration here contributed to the recent outbreaks of violence

between Australians and Indians.

More can be done in Australia to help new migrants integrate with their adopted
community. Left to their own devices, migrants will feel as though they are
second-class citizens in a foreign country.

Moreover, new migrants always find it tough to get employment because of the
natural dislike of working with foreigners.

However, at a church that I attend here, white Australians and Asians mix
regularly and often go out for lunches after services.

Integration will naturally take place when we come together regularly to interact.
Such activities offer a tingling welcome message that would warm a new
migrant's heart.

Therefore, I urge for more programmes in Singapore to speed up the integration

process.

Even though we have not experienced ugly ethnic clashes like those in Xinjiang,
activities to promote social integration will surely help to prevent such violence
from taking place.

Mr Gilbert Goh Keow Wah