Tag Archives: Overseas Singaporeans

Ever since the government unveiled a plan to launch Medishield Life, a health insurance with universal coverage for all Singaporeans regardless of age and existing medical conditions, one group of Singaporeans living overseas have been up in arms over the government's threat to impose fines and imprisonment on those who fail to pay premiums.

The notion of a first class citizen is an interesting one. Let me explain this to you how it works. A first class citizen is neither a title nor a specific kind of treatment. It is a feeling. If you work as a cleaner in Singapore, the chances of you feeling like a first class citizen is zero.

SINGAPORE is making attempts to woo overseas Singaporeans back to contribute their talents and skills to our country ("Govt taps recruiters to lure overseas S'poreans home"; March 3). For the attempts to be successful, Singapore must be seen and felt as a place that is better than the citizens' current country of residence. First, we must treat those who return like any other Singaporean. These people are likely more well-educated and thus will be holding higher-paying jobs on their return. We must not consider them elites and be envious of them. This envy will inevitably cause resentment towards them, discouraging other overseas Singaporeans from coming home.