Dual citizen President Scholar Xiao Yifei- PSC replies

PSC secretariat replies through REACH


Dear Dr Huang,

Thank you for the feedback and the opportunity to clarify.

PSC scholarships are awarded to outstanding young Singaporeans with a passion to serve the nation through a career in the Public Service. If a Singapore Permanent Resident applicant is considered for a PSC scholarship, he must take up Singapore citizenship before the PSC confirms the award because PSC scholarships are awarded to Singaporeans only.

At 19 years old, Ms Xiao Yifei is a Singaporean.  She came to Singapore at the age of 4 with her parents who are now Singaporeans.  She took up Singapore citizenship in February 2005 under the sponsorship of her father, an engineer.  She has spent all her primary, secondary and JC schooling years in Singapore.  As required under the Singapore Constitution, she will have to renounce her foreign citizenship and take the Oath of Renunciation, Allegiance and Loyalty when she turns 21, to remain as a Singapore citizen.

While there may be a risk that a foreign-born national may not renounce his or her first nationality, our conditions are strict.  The scholarship will be terminated and like all other PSC scholarship holders who break their bonds, he or she will be required to pay the Singapore government liquidated damages.

There are no quotas for the number of PSC scholarships awarded each year.  All deserving candidates will be made an offer.  This ensures that no deserving candidate will be deprived of a scholarship.

Regards
Yeo Whee Jim
Director PSC Secretariat

President's Scholarship: The case of "dual citizen" Miss Xiao

Letter to Forum page Editor
Latest (18.8.11)(Letter not published but clarification by editor appended below)

14 August 2011

Dear Editor,

I read the media report (http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1146719/1/.html) about our latest batch of President’s Scholars with interest as it is likely that these scholars will be Singapore’s future leaders in politics and other fields. I like to congratulate these four outstanding young people.

Most Singaporeans agree with the ethos that to continue to punch above our weight in the world arena, infusion of our talent pool with immigrants is one of measures that are needed with the caveat that these new citizens must be willing and able to integrate and be one of us.

Many are still skeptical as we know of many immigrants who profess love and loyalty towards Singapore only to ultimately migrate to other countries after using us as a “stepping-stone”.

Hence the selection of 19-year-old Xiao Yifei (mentioned by the media as having “dual citizenship”) is very intriguing as it raises several questions as this information does not square with many known immigration policies and scholarship criteria that are generally known.

1. Issue of dual citizenship

It is generally known that Singapore does not recognize dual citizenship. Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA)’s website(link: http://www.ifaq.gov.sg/ica/apps/fcd_faqmain.aspx) is silent on dual citizenship although the website of US Embassy in Singapore (link: http://singapore.usembassy.gov/dual_nationality.html) states “Singapore does not recognize dual nationality beyond the age of 21.” implying that Singapore recognizes minors who are dual citizens until they have the opportunity to renounce one of the nationalities.   

China also does not recognize this entity and it is stated in certain websites that when a Chinese citizen takes a foreign citizenship, he will automatically lose his Chinese citizenship. (http://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/dual-nationality.htm)

2. Issue of scholarship criteria

In Singapore’s Public Service Commission’s (PSC) website, in the FAQ page on “What are the eligibility criteria for the Overseas Merit Scholarship, the Local-Overseas Merit Scholarship and the Singapore Government Scholarship (Open)?”

(http://www.ifaq.gov.sg/psc/apps/fcd_faqmain.aspx)

One of the answers was “Be a Singapore citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident who will take up Singapore citizenship before leaving for studies”.

I was unable to find the criteria for the President’s Scholarship but I assume that they are not too dissimilar as Singapore’s most prestigious scholarship is generally given in conjunction with the above scholarships or the SAF Scholarships.

Can the ICA or the PSC comment on the following?:

1.Is Miss Xiao a Singapore Permanent Resident or a Singapore citizen?

2.If she is indeed a citizen of both Singapore and China, has she had the opportunity to renounce her Chinese citizenship and why has she not done so?

3.Will she only leave for her studies after becoming a Singapore citizen (if she is not already one)?

I hope that the relevant authorities will clarify the situation quickly so that all doubts about the integrity of our publicly funded scholarships will be removed expeditiously so that Singaporeans can be assured that these are given only to properly vetted young people who will be an asset to all of us for the long term.  

Very sincerely yours,

Dr Huang Shoou Chyuan

18.8.11 (Latest-clarification by newspaper editor) 
Dear Dr Huang,

Further to my first email, I wanted to also respond to your contribution on this other topic.

You are right that dual citizenship is disallowed. That is why a minor who becomes a citizen by descent shall cease to be a citizen at the age of 22 unless, at the age of 21, he or she divests any foreign citizenship or nationality and takes the Oath of Renunciation, Allegiance and Loyalty.

I checked with our reporter who did the story and learned that the scholar’s parents are Singaporeans and that she is not 21 years old yet.

I hope that helps.

Regards,
XXX
YYYY
TODAY, MediaCorp Press
Tel ZZZ

Automatic pay cut for Rehired Teachers after 62: Is MOE ageist?

Letter to Forum Page:

Addendum (18.8.11): Letter not published but editor reply appended below

Dear Editor,

 I refer to the ongoing debate about the Ministry Of Education’s (MOE) pay policy for teachers rehired after the retirement age of 62.

MOE explains that previously, rehiring was offered only on a selective basis and other than those who relinquished managerial responsibilities ( eg head of department), the rest were paid the last drawn salaries as their duties remained essentially the same.

However, in order to align itself with a civil service-wide exercise where all retiring teachers would be offered re-employment from 2012, MOE says that the present pay arrangement is no longer feasible.

MOE even said that it “values” the experience of senior teachers and "is deeply appreciative" of their contributions.

Unfortunately, these words sound disingenuous and just like “lip service” to many interested observers like myself.

Admittedly, all of us are aware that there will be some who require flexible or lighter workloads to suit their work-life balance and it is understood that their remuneration would obviously be affected eg mother who needs to work part-time or workers with disease conditions necessitating lesser stress etc.

However for the rest, can MOE confirm that as a matter of policy:

1.On reaching 62, a teacher who is willing and able to perform all previous duties,  will automatically get a pay cut?

      2.On reaching 62, a teacher who is willing and able to perform managerial duties eg HOD, will be asked to relinquish these positions?

      3.Reduced pay for rehired retirees is a civil service wide policy and there can be no deviance from this, notwithstanding the crucial role of teachers in nation building?

It is sad that on one hand, we complain that our human capital is our only resource, but on the other hand, we adhere to “ageist” policies that we claim to detest.

Yours Sincerely,

Dr Huang Shoou Chyuan

Links:
1. http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_700275.html

2. http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110809-0000268/Teachers-re-hired-at-age-62--Pay-cut-varies,-says-ministry

3. http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/most-hired-retired-teachers-18-pay-cut-moe-095540201.html


Latest Response from Newspaper Editor (18.8.11):


Dear Dr Huang,

Thanks for your contribution to Voices.

We received a good, comprehensive letter on this topic, echoing similar sentiments as yours, and it was published on the day you emailed us. You can also find the letter in Voices online (www.todayonline.com/voices <http://www.todayonline.com/voices> ), where it has attracted a number of comments.

We were aware that the Education Ministry would be replying, and we published its letter today, along with a story on its latest update. Our letter writer has emailed me to say she was glad to see the outcome.

I appreciate that readers such as yourself were among the first to respond when the matter surfaced, and should you have more thoughtful views on news issues relevant to Singaporeans, please do continue to write to Voices.

Regards,
XXX
YYYY
TODAY, MediaCorp Press
Tel no. ZZZ