Social Impact of Immigration in Singapore

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Singapore has to adapt to the changing world and start growing at a pace acceptable to Singaporeans. This is the statement made by the Singapore Prime Minister Mr. Lee Hsien Loong at a recent forum called FutureChina universal.

Address questions about the social impact of the influx of immigrants from China, PM Lee said that while Singapore would like to continue to reap the benefits of the influx of mainland China, it will not disregard the social impact that these immigrants could potentially have in Singapore.

PM Lee said that it was “completely understandable” that Singaporeans may feel uncomfortable with the recent influx of mainland Chinese immigrants, who may look the same as Singaporean Chinese, but sound and behave differently.

In this regard, he urged newcomers to play their part in adapting to life in a multi-racial and religious society with different societal values and cultural norms. Chinese immigrants have to make those adaptations which the Singaporean Chinese have adapted and learnt over several generations.

“Of course, we also have to manage the numbers and the flow and make sure we’re not overwhelmed. We have to make sure there is effort on both sides to make this a working, adapted and well-adjusted relationship,” he added.