What does this paragraph say? its states the following:
1. Geylang is now turning into a Chinese Conclave.
2. Her using a rather derrogatory “THAT” to imply China
3. Opposing support for the using of mandarin signs to make the foreigners feel comfortable.

At least, that’s the way i read it.

I don’t think that is xenophobia or a result of it. It is basically a case of the letter writer suggesting that there should be integretion.

I also say there should be a relaxation of the second language policy. We can look to Germany and Finland for their second language policies in schools. or even US.

I have many overseas born chinese and korean friends who grew up not knowing their mother tongue. But their parents sent them for lessons so that they will keep hold of their heritage, and spoke it at home. The point here being – its up to parents to choose what they want for their child.

In university, seeing the need to have mandarin, studied it themselves.

So they come out of school having good spoken English, good cantonese/hakka (because thats what they speak at home), and Mandarin (thats what they studied in Uni, a choice of their own).

Also, a relaxation of the second language policy would also remove the great race divide. its the next step of building Singaporean nationalism. that we are singaporeans, not malays indians or chinese.

Would Malays and Tamils agree to their children not being forced to take a certain language? I know many Chinese will chafe at the idea of not forcing Chinese students to study Chinese.

Personally I’m for the relaxation or even elimination of the Mother Tongue policy. But the 2nd language choices should be limited to only Chinese, Malay and Tamil (our official languages), not French or Japanese, etc.

we need China to survive, and China will make its presence felt in our economies and lives and cultures, as much as British, American, European, Middle Eastern and Indian nations have over the centuries.

in my opinion, there should be some compromise. While we dont like it, we also need to be dynamic and face the facts – it is going to happen. Embrace it.

What Gerald has put out – the SAP schools is the one that i question. why is this solely for the Chinese? if its a language thingy, then why not empower good Malay and Indian students too? why just the best of the chinese students get SAP schools? is this not an elitist policy that borders on racial lines? Why cant we prepare Malay and Indian students to one day be business leaders dealing with China? Are the minorities any less equipped?

Such ‘enclaves’ are bolstered by similar circumstances in the rest of the country which precious few local chinese have been concerned about given that it does not affect their interests – i.e mother tongue policy, speak mandarin campaign, mandarin as a requirement for employment in many arenas, under-representation or misrepresentation of non-chinese in the media, equating the idea of ‘majority’ with ‘race’, etc.

If immigrants want to come in, the least they can do is speak our language. Not force us to speak theirs.