Foreign workers in my backyard? Oh nono!

Dormitory decision upsets some Serangoon Gardens residents
By Pearl Forss, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 03 October 2008 2124 hr



SINGAPORE: Despite the various mitigating measures being proposed, some residents in Serangoon Gardens did not take too well to news that a foreign workers' dormitory is going to be set up in the area.

The dormitory will be at the former Serangoon Garden Technical School school site, just right across the road from the residents.

There is going to be additional fencing to keep workers in as well as planters to screen the site. But is this a satisfactory compromise for residents?

"I am fed up!" a woman screamed from her car.

"I am thinking of moving out," said a resident.

"We are living with people; they move around. If you fence them up, and say 'this is your area, this is my area', I don't think it is going to work," said Angela Yeo, a resident at Burghley Drive.

Although the dormitory is for manufacturing and services foreign workers, residents said it does not mean security is less of a concern.

Chen Sung Sheng, a resident at Burghley Drive, said: "I think it is the same, isn't it? It all boils down to the same.....foreign workers, regardless of what they are working as. Of course, we can't say that all foreign workers are bad. But majority of us are not very happy about it."

The other issue that irks residents - the way the decision was made.

"The whole consultation process, while it was useful, it kind of makes the residents feel 'what was the point?" said Lim Chia Joo, a resident at Burghley Drive.

But some felt the proposed measures allay their concerns.

Rose Tan, a Serangoon Gardens resident, said: "If, after that study, they think that it is feasible to go ahead with the project, I am sure they would have taken steps to address the many concerns that were raised by the residents."

Residents are asking the police to step up patrols in the area. They also want the police post, which operates from noon to 10pm, to extend its opening hours.

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What kind of people live in Serangoon Gardens? I know a few living around the area, and they're really nice folks. But judging from the report above, some of the residents there are well, fucked up innit?

What is it about foreign workers really? No no, really. Ask yourself. What? Is it their hairstyles? Oh gosh not the hairstyles! I be damned if i have over 500 people living around me with the same hairstyle!!!

Are they that bad? (the foreign workers, not the hairstyles). Are they a feral bunch of homesapiens? A sub-species of humans who do not deserve the same standard of living as Singaporeans because well...they don't earn as much as us? They don't talk the same language as us? They do stuff like wearing cheap shirts n bell-bottomed jeans, combined with -oh the horror- slippers? Such a wild bunch that additional fencing is needed because god forbids, what if they run lose??? -shudders at the thought-

With some residents screaming in horror at the verdict (a term i use loosely here) of having the dormitory in their backyard, others are even considering moving out. My my. Moving out? Yes, we are living with people. Not savages of an uncivilized society. They're not out to steal your children and eat them for breakfast folks. They're just making a living in our country. By taking up a job most Singaporeans won't do - construction.

But yet here we are, vilifying them, as if they don't deserve to even sniff the air that hovers in Serangoon Gardens. "Ehh cannot cannot, this is high class air! you high class or not??".

There was another piece of reporting which got me riled up.

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Foreign workers prefer to stay away from residential estates
By Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 11 September 2008 1854 hrs

SINGAPORE : The idea of a self-contained township for foreign workers has been given a thumbs-up by foreign workers themselves. But foreign worker advocates said more should be done to help these workers integrate with the wider community.

Singaporeans who do not want foreign workers living near them cite security concerns and even a downgrade in their property value as reasons.

But are these fears rational? Some foreign workers welfare groups said it is simply a fear of the unknown. That is why they are advocating that foreign workers be integrated with the wider community through a more structured orientation programme.

"I think community centres are a good start. If they are able to do social activities that can involve both migrant workers along with its local community, either through festivals or through sports activities or National Day Parade, it's a good opportunity to bring the two groups together," said Sha Najak, helpline manager at Transient Workers Count Too.

She added that current orientation roadshows may be a little too top-down in approach.

But some foreign workers said they are quite happy to live among themselves, away from housing estates.

"Wherever the dormitories, if it is away from the residents, it's better because when it's very near to the residents' area, the workers have to go to the same FairPrice supermarket, or ... canteen, they might misunderstand each other," said Keve Xavier, a foreign worker.

But others said they would like to get to know Singaporeans better to ease misunderstandings.

"Really, we feel shame too (when) the people go and disrupt everybody, and nobody likes to stay with those people," said Nathan Neduzcheliyan, also a foreign worker.

"We want to establish a good relationship between the Singaporeans and workers," said foreign worker Humayun Kabeer.

Responding to Channel NewsAsia, the People's Association said some grassroots organisations have engaged foreign workers through ad-hoc programmes aimed at helping them integrate into the community.

The government has said that more Singaporeans will find themselves living in the midst of foreign workers as Singapore expands.

While no solution has been reached yet for residents of Serangoon Gardens, the National Development Ministry is looking into the issue and is expected to respond soon. - CNA /ls

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Yes, this is a very long entry, but bear with me folks. And i congratulate you upon reaching this part. You shall be rewarded with pictures of naked ladies (or guys, whichever u prefer) later okay? Moving on. First off, the headline is fucking misleading. It gives the impression that foreign workers, or the majority of them, prefer to stay away from residential areas. Only some of them lah aiyo. Your headline is biased leh Imelda Saad. But that's not my main gripe. This is;

Singaporeans who do not want foreign workers living near them cite security concerns and even a downgrade in their property value as reasons.

Goodness. I don't mind their concerns on 'security' though i would like to know what those are exactly. But 'a downgrade in their property value'? They're human beings, not unsightly objects. If an area is notorious for being a red light district, property value will spiral downwards. It's the perception that sleaze...is in. So if the area is full of foreign workers, then how? It'll link back to the perception that the place will be unsafe which brings me to the point of, what exactly are these security concerns?

Around 1000 people signed the petition against the dormitory. I would like a petition to put those 1000 on a bloody island and let them have their own society there. Where no one will ever bother them and bring down their property value and also, put in 70 neighbourhood police post, and surround the island with the navy. You know, so they have ample safety.

Fucking ehy?