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** encourages more Singapore PRs to take up citizenship
SINGAPORE: The Singapore ** is moving to encourage more Permanent Residents in the country to take up citizenship.
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said some PRs will be approached to become citizens and if they don't do so, their status will not be renewed. Immigration was one of many issues tackled during a dialogue session with over 200 residents from Marine Parade to gather feedback on the Prime Minister's National Day Rally.
SM Goh did not give details on getting PRs to take up citizenship.
"Moving forward, we are going to approach some of them to take up Singapore citizenship, if they don't then their PR will not be renewed. That's a better way.
"We now have quite a few PRs, 500,000 in Singapore, so hopefully maybe 50,000 can be selected to become Singapore citizens, the rest can be PRs, contributing to Singapore's economy," he said.
SM Goh was responding to a suggestion from a participant who said Employment Pass holders should take up citizenship which he believed will discourage foreign talents from working in Singapore.
Besides, SM Goh pointed out that Employment Pass holders serve as buffers where their numbers can be reduced during a downturn. |
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