Why I am still a PR

Categories: Singapore, Wormie Says

With the recent talks on making Singapore more open to foreigners with the hope of some of them taking up citizenship, I would like to share my experience on why I stay a Permanent Resident.

I came to Singapore about 20 years ago to study in the Junior College after obtaining a scholaship. There was no bond attached but the natural progression was to continue my studies in National University of Singapore. Since my graduation, I had been working here full time and successfully applied for PR a year after graduation.

The reasons why I came here to study in Singapore was 2-fold. Firstly there was a fear that I may not make it into a local Malaysian university for the subject of my choice. Then there was still the quota system and hence the more popular subjects like medicine, law and engineering were more difficult to enrol. Secondly, I was lucky enough to get a scholarship to study my pre-university level here. Coming from a not-too-well-to-do family, studying overseas was not an option. Hence at the tender age of 17, I left my hometown.

Now in my middle-age, having spent more than half my life here, why am I still a permanent resident? The most obvious is that my family is in Malaysia. My parents, siblings, uncles and aunties are all in Malaysia. Having grew up with all these people, it is difficult just to cut ties and 'forget' about them. This should come as no surprise because even for the Singaporeans who came back here after a sting overseas, most of them give family ties as one of the primary reasons for returning here. Apart from family ties, the memories of growing up in Malaysia, the childhood days and the experiences that I had gone through back home is something that cannot be easily forgotten. Every time I went home, every little events, structures and people, will bring back fond memories of my growing up. I guess this is what is meant by our roots.

Then there are those factors that cannot be explained. Although there are a lot of dissatisfaction with the Malaysian government and its affirmative policies, somehow when these are put aside, Malaysia does bring some pride to my heart. For example, when Malaysia did well in the Commonwealth Games, I felt proud. This was especially so when all the medals were won by native-born Malaysians and not through imported talents. When the Petronas Twin Towers was named the tallest building in the world, I felt proud. When Malaysia beat Singapore in football, I felt proud. When I speak Bahasa Malaysia to Malays I feel proud. When other people say bad things about Malaysia especially when unjustified, I became angry. Again I think this is not much different from most Singaporeans.

So with my roots in Malaysia and the feelings I have for Malaysia, how can I just change my citizenship? If I renounced my Malaysian citizenship, would I be truthful to myself? Am I being fair to Singapore? No doubt, the situation in Singapore may be much better than Malaysia, but the truth is, with all the mess that she has, she still has some intangibles to offer; intangibles that cannot be explained. Maybe it is just the emotional ties that I have.

Sometimes I wonder why the Singapore government is so keen to make foreigners take up their citizenships. Is having the passport so important that it does not matter whether they have any feelings toward Singapore? I have a friend who is a medical specialist. He was born in Singapore but hold a Hong Kong citizenship, left for Hong Kong at the age of 3, studied his Medical degree in Australia and later worked there for about 10 years. He later came to Singapore to work. When he tried to apply for permanent residence here, he was told by the immigration department that because he was born in Singapore, he has no option to apply for PR; he's only options were work permit or citizenship. His query was how can one just take up citizenship just like that? My exact sentiments.

Recently in the forum page, a writer wrote that in times of war, how many of the 'imported' Singaporeans will stay and fight for the country. She wondered whether there is a way to test this. I think an indirect way to gauge is to see who the person supports when their ex-home country compete with Singapore in a sport event. If he does not support Singapore, then I think it is safe to say that having the Singapore passport is just another item in his possession.

I may sound like a sentimental freak. I may sound too idealistic. But I feel that I am just an average Joe, and hence my feeling should not be too different from the next average person. Call me what you like, for pride of citizenship is a matter of the heart. With matter of the heart there is no logic.

So, will I ever become a Singaporean? The answer is ..................