Roughly Only 2 Out of 3 People are Singapore Citizens in Year 2009

Singapore is a multiracial society where people live harmoniously and interaction among different races are commonly seen. The pattern of Singapore stems from the inherent cultural diversity among Malay, Chinese, Indian, and European. In the past, the immigrants intermingled to a certain extent as they interacted one another and this created a unique culture of Singapore.

In the recent year (as reported in the previous article), the influx of new immigrants to Singapore is on the increase. They are not only of the four existing races. They come from countries, such as Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Philippine, Thailand, Australia, European Countries and make their way to Singapore to find a better opportunity.

Therefore, it will not be a surprise when we go around walking and sight-seeing in town, we often hear unfamiliar languages spoken among the crowds. This indeed shows that the composition of Singapore society has changed.

It is also highlighted in the article "Singapore Population Growth in Four Decades" that the population growth in Singapore is mainly contributed by non-resident. In the last twenty years, Singapore citizen population is only increased by 0.58 million people whereas the non-citizen population by 1.36 million.


From the graph above, we can see that only 1 to 1.5 out of 10 people living in Singapore are foreigners in year 1970-1990. However, in year 2000-2004, the number of foreigners in Singapore rises to 2.5 out of 10 people (or 1 out of 4 is of foreign nationality). Moreover, this trend is on the rising side as seen in the graph. Today, this number statistically stands at 3.6 out of 10 people which means roughly 1 out of 3 people walking on any streets in Singapore is not a Singaporean. This number definitely does not apply to Orchard Road, where it is believed that there are many more foreigners than Singaporeans on this shopping street.

Read more articles on Singapore Citizen and Permanent Resident Topics
  Singapore Population in Year 2009
  Singapore Population Growth in Four Decades
  The Benefits of Converting to Singapore Citizen
  TAX Benefits & Incentives for Singapore Citizens & PRs

Read full article...

Free Shuttle Bus from Changi Airport Terminal 2 to Budget Terminal

Enjoy the complimentary 24-hour shuttle services available at Changi Airport Terminal 2, looping between Terminal 2 and Budget Terminal. When you are in Terminal 1 or Terminal 3, you need to hop onto the free Skytrain service to Terminal 2 first to enjoy the free Budget Terminal shuttle bus service.

Where to take

• At Terminal 2: next to SBSTransit Bus 36 Berth at the basement bus bay
• At Budget Terminal: at the Shuttle Service bus stop between the Departure Hall and the Arrival Hall

When available

• 24-hour daily
• 10 mins interval (5.00am - 1.59am) or 30 mins interval (2.00am - 4.59am)
• The bus ride between Terminal 2 to Budget Terminal will take approximately 5-10 minutes.

Who can benefit

• Passengers of airlines at Budget Terminals: Tiger Airways, Cebu Pacific, and Firefly Airlines.
• Travellers who need to take connecting flights at Terminal 1, 2, and 3.
• Visitors or tourists who want to go to the city by MRT and Public Bus. The Airport MRT station and Bus bay are located at Terminal 2.

Related articles
  Free SMRT Shuttle Bus From Dhoby Ghaut to Little India & China Town
  Free Shuttle Bus from Plaza Singapura to Tiong Bahru MRT

Read full article...

What a Job to Do in Zoo

This guy needs a job and decides to apply at the zoo. As it happened, their star attraction, a gorilla, had passed away the night before and they had carefully preserved his hide. They tell this guy that they'll pay him well if he would dress up in the gorillas skin and pretend to be the gorilla so people will keep coming to the zoo.

Well, the guy has his doubts, but Hey! He needs the money, so he puts on the skin and goes out into the cage. The people all cheer to see him. He plays up to the audience and they just eat it up. This isn't so bad, he thinks, and he starts really putting on a show, jumping around, beating his chest and roaring, swinging around.

During one acrobatic attempt, though, he loses his balance and crashes through some safety netting, landing square in the middle of the lion cage! As he lies there stunned, the lion roars.

He's terrified and starts screaming, "Help, Help, Help!" The lion races over to him, places his paws on his chest and hisses, "Shut up or we'll BOTH lose our jobs!

Read full article...

What to Remember in Making a Tough Decision

A group of children were playing near two railway tracks, one was still in use while the other disused. Only one child played on the disused track whereas the rest on the operational track.

The train was coming and you were just beside the track junction. You could make the train change its course to the disused track and save most of the kids. However, that would also mean that the lone child playing at the disused track would be sacrificed. On the other hand, would you rather let the train go as it was?

Let's take a pause to think what kind of decision we could make.........

Choose the track whether you want to divert it or let it be.........

If you choose let it be>>>

Most people might choose to divert the course of the train, and sacrifice only one child. You might think the same way. Exactly, to save most of the children at the expense of only one child was the rational decision that most people would make morally and emotionally. But, have you ever thought that the child who chose to play on the disused track had in fact made the right decision to play at a safe place?

What is wrong with this choice?>>>

Nevertheless, he had to be sacrificed because of his ignorant friends who chose to play where the danger was.

This kind of dilemma happens around us everyday. In the office, community, politics and society, the minority is often sacrificed for the interest of the majority, no matter how foolish or ignorant the majority is, and how farsighted and knowledgeable the minority is. The child who chose not to play with the rest on the operational track was sidelined. However, in this case he was sacrificed.

What will Leo Velski Julian choose?>>>

The great critic Leo Velski Julian who told the story said he would not try to change the course of the train because he believed that the kids playing on the operational track should have known very well that track was still in use, and that they should have run away if they heard the train's sirens. If the train was diverted, that lone child would definitely die because he never thought that the train could come over to that disused track! Moreover, that track was not in use probably because it was not safe. If the train was diverted to the track, we could put the lives of all passengers on board at stake! And in your attempt to save a few kids by sacrificing one child, you might end up sacrificing hundreds of people to save these few kids.

While we are all aware that life is full of tough decisions that need to be made, we may not realize that hasty decisions may not always be the right one.

'Remember that what is right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right.'
Everybody ever makes mistakes; that's why they put erasers on pencils.

Read more other interesting articles
  USED vs LOVED
  The Donkey Attitude
  How to Stay Young
  The Story of a Boy & a Tree

Read full article...

Annual Singapore Population Growth

source: http://www.singstat.gov.sg

The above Annual Population Growth graph shows that foreigners population growth in Singapore is closely related to economy. As examples, in year 2004 and 2009, there were dips for non-resident influx to Singapore. These were caused by economy crisis and economy recession respectively. Companies reduced their expenses and tightened their expansion, resulted in lower number of jobs created and more competitive job market. However in year 2009, the number of PRs shows the other way round.

Foreigners applied and being granted the PR status is increased to a double digit growth. This is inline with government policy to attract more people to take up PR status and eventually citizenship so as to support Singapore population number and economy in the long run.

Permanent resident can enjoy privileges which are not accessible to non-resident, such as cheaper education fee and medical care, employer CPF contribution, right to buy public housing, and so on. Incentives and benefits, such as housing, healthcare, education, childcare, etc are also differentiated between citizen and permanent resident, as mentioned in previous article.

Social activities, introducing Singapore unique culture, are organized to bring non-residents, permanent residents, and citizens closer. At the same time, it is meant to make foreigners feel home on this "land of opportunities" and assimilate them into society.

Read more articles on Singapore Citizen and Permanent Resident Topics
  Singapore Population in Year 2009
  Singapore Population Growth in Four Decades
  CPF Privileges & Obligations for Citizens and PRs
  TAX Benefits & Incentives for Singapore Citizens & PRs

Read full article...