Song Hong
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From Mr Leong's understanding of his own motion, to accusations of race-baiting, Mr Shanmugan questioned Mr Leong repeatedly in the debate that lasted more than an hour.
Mr Leong had filed a motion for Tuesday’s Parliament sitting, which states: “That this Parliament calls upon the Government to take urgent and concrete action to address the widespread anxiety among Singaporeans on jobs and livelihoods caused by the foreign talent policy and the provisions on Movement of Natural Persons in some free trade agreements like the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement.”
A competing motion on jobs was filed by Finance Minister Lawrence Wong for the same sitting. In his speech, Mr Wong appealed to the PSP to refrain from “anti-foreigner” rhetoric as it can deepen fault lines between locals and foreigners, and those between Singaporeans of different races.
On the other hand, Mr Leong said in his speech that the Government has “opened the floodgates” for foreigners who have taken up jobs Singaporeans want to do, and there has been a “large displacement of Singaporean PMETs”.
ON CECA AND STATEMENTS “WITH RACIAL UNDERTONES”
Rising to speak after Mr Leong delivered his speech, Mr Shanmugam first sought clarifications on the NCMP’s stance on free trade agreements (FTAs), in particular, CECA.
Mr Leong had also repeatedly made “comments which carry clear racial undertones” on CECA since entering Parliament, the minister said.
In response, Mr Leong said that CECA was included in the motion because FTAs and CECA “are part of the equation when we talk about immigration”. He added that that PSP was “supportive of FTAs and even CECA in general” but the party needed more information about all the trade agreements before it was able to “wholeheartedly” support them.
Mr Shanmugam then asked why CECA was being specifically identified in the motion if the opposition was generally supportive of FTAs and CECA.
To which, Mr Leong repeated that there was no full disclosure on the provisions under the chapter titled “movement of natural persons” in CECA, as well as some other FTAs. These other trade pacts included those that Singapore had signed with Australia, China and the United States, Mr Leong later said when pressed by the minister to specify.
For example, Singapore’s FTA with Australia “also contains a clause allowing ICTs (intra-corporate transferees) to bring in dependents”, said the NCMP.
“So we would like to know more. Before we know more information about that, we cannot shut off discussion on FTAs and CECA, which the Government is trying to do,” said Mr Leong, adding that data provided in the Jul 6 ministerial statement was “not conclusive”.
Mr Shanmugam also asked Mr Leong for his take on how his previous comments on CECA had troubled his own party members who, according to media reports, interpreted the comments as targeting the Indian community and having a racial undertone.
“My question was, if his own party members can think like that, it’s entirely possible for other Singaporeans to take a similar view,” the minister said.
Mr Leong said that PSP is “an open party” and it allows its members to freely express their views. He later added that people would have different views on any topic put up for discussion and that the party was asking for more information on CECA as it was a “concern of many Singaporeans”.
He was interrupted by Mr Shanmugam who said he was not answering the question. To which, Mr Leong eventually said that “there will be some people who will think there is (a) racial undertone”.
ON PROVISIONS UNDER CECA
Mr Shanmugam also asked Mr Leong if he agreed that CECA does not allow a free flow of Indians into Singapore.
The minister noted that Mr Ong had explained in his ministerial statement in July that there is “nothing” in CECA that implies Singapore must let in PMEs from India unconditionally. Mr Ong had also debunked a claim made by PSP that a list of 127 categories of professionals under CECA allowed Indian nationals in these professions to come to work in Singapore freely for one year.
channelnewsasia.com/singapore/shanmugam-leong-mun-wai-debate-parliament-motion-singapore-foreign-talent-policy-2176281
Mr Leong had filed a motion for Tuesday’s Parliament sitting, which states: “That this Parliament calls upon the Government to take urgent and concrete action to address the widespread anxiety among Singaporeans on jobs and livelihoods caused by the foreign talent policy and the provisions on Movement of Natural Persons in some free trade agreements like the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement.”
A competing motion on jobs was filed by Finance Minister Lawrence Wong for the same sitting. In his speech, Mr Wong appealed to the PSP to refrain from “anti-foreigner” rhetoric as it can deepen fault lines between locals and foreigners, and those between Singaporeans of different races.
On the other hand, Mr Leong said in his speech that the Government has “opened the floodgates” for foreigners who have taken up jobs Singaporeans want to do, and there has been a “large displacement of Singaporean PMETs”.
ON CECA AND STATEMENTS “WITH RACIAL UNDERTONES”
Rising to speak after Mr Leong delivered his speech, Mr Shanmugam first sought clarifications on the NCMP’s stance on free trade agreements (FTAs), in particular, CECA.
Mr Leong had also repeatedly made “comments which carry clear racial undertones” on CECA since entering Parliament, the minister said.
In response, Mr Leong said that CECA was included in the motion because FTAs and CECA “are part of the equation when we talk about immigration”. He added that that PSP was “supportive of FTAs and even CECA in general” but the party needed more information about all the trade agreements before it was able to “wholeheartedly” support them.
Mr Shanmugam then asked why CECA was being specifically identified in the motion if the opposition was generally supportive of FTAs and CECA.
To which, Mr Leong repeated that there was no full disclosure on the provisions under the chapter titled “movement of natural persons” in CECA, as well as some other FTAs. These other trade pacts included those that Singapore had signed with Australia, China and the United States, Mr Leong later said when pressed by the minister to specify.
For example, Singapore’s FTA with Australia “also contains a clause allowing ICTs (intra-corporate transferees) to bring in dependents”, said the NCMP.
“So we would like to know more. Before we know more information about that, we cannot shut off discussion on FTAs and CECA, which the Government is trying to do,” said Mr Leong, adding that data provided in the Jul 6 ministerial statement was “not conclusive”.
Mr Shanmugam also asked Mr Leong for his take on how his previous comments on CECA had troubled his own party members who, according to media reports, interpreted the comments as targeting the Indian community and having a racial undertone.
“My question was, if his own party members can think like that, it’s entirely possible for other Singaporeans to take a similar view,” the minister said.
Mr Leong said that PSP is “an open party” and it allows its members to freely express their views. He later added that people would have different views on any topic put up for discussion and that the party was asking for more information on CECA as it was a “concern of many Singaporeans”.
He was interrupted by Mr Shanmugam who said he was not answering the question. To which, Mr Leong eventually said that “there will be some people who will think there is (a) racial undertone”.
ON PROVISIONS UNDER CECA
Mr Shanmugam also asked Mr Leong if he agreed that CECA does not allow a free flow of Indians into Singapore.
The minister noted that Mr Ong had explained in his ministerial statement in July that there is “nothing” in CECA that implies Singapore must let in PMEs from India unconditionally. Mr Ong had also debunked a claim made by PSP that a list of 127 categories of professionals under CECA allowed Indian nationals in these professions to come to work in Singapore freely for one year.
channelnewsasia.com/singapore/shanmugam-leong-mun-wai-debate-parliament-motion-singapore-foreign-talent-policy-2176281
