Politics
WP’s Jamus Lim slams Lim Tean’s criticism of non-Singaporean National Day banner as misguided
Workers’ Party MP Assoc Prof Jamus Lim weighed in on the controversy surrounding Lim Tean’s Facebook remarks about a non-Singaporean girl on a National Day banner. He argued that criticizing a child for wanting to be part of the nation is misguided. At the same time, Lim acknowledges local concerns about displacement and competition, advocating for levelling the playing field to address these issues.
SINGAPORE: Associate Professor Jamus Lim, Member of Parliament for Sengkang GRC from the Workers’ Party, has commented on the recent controversy involving opposition leader Lim Tean’s remarks about a non-Singaporean girl being featured on a National Day banner for Tanjong Pagar.
Assoc Prof Lim argued that it is misguided to criticize a child for wanting to be part of the nation’s fabric.
While he acknowledged that some locals feel marginalized—whether due to displacement by foreigners or local businesses struggling against large multinationals—he advocated for a more comprehensive approach. He proposed levelling the playing field to address these concerns effectively.
Lim Tean questions National Day banner featuring non-Singaporean girl
On 26 July, Lim Tean, the leader of the Peoples Voice (PV) shared a Facebook post of a girl with a picture of herself smiling and standing below the banner with the caption “Happy 59th Birthday Singapore”.
Lim Tean then commented, “The Girl In Your Roadside Poster Is Not A Singaporean. ”
While he welcomed the girl to Singapore and hoped she had a lovely time, he questioned why a non-Singaporean was featured in a National Day banner.
“Is it so difficult to find a Singaporean poster girl? My friends, we have to be very careful and not allow our Singaporean identity to be lost.”
“PV and I will never step away from fighting to preserve our Identity as Singaporeans.”
The girl has since deleted her post, allegedly following xenophobic remarks from some netizens.
Alvin Tan criticizes Lim Tean’s remark
Mr Lim’s post drew criticism from Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Alvin Tan, who responded in a LinkedIn post, describing the episode as “sad and discouraging.”
Mr Tan emphasized that such attitudes do not represent the true spirit of Singaporeans.
“We are a vibrant, cosmopolitan nation that welcomes friends from all over the world. They too make up our Singapore history, tapestry and precious social fabric,” said Mr Tan, who is also the Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), and for Trade and Industry.
Mr Tan noted that this is not the first time National Day banners from Tanjong Pagar GRC have been subjected to derogatory posts.
In 2021, a banner showing national athlete Thiruben Thana Rajan, then 20, and his family faced racist and xenophobic remarks from netizens.
When Mr Thiruben came forward and identified himself, a group of 41 residents from Tiong Bahru’s Seng Poh estate sent him and his family a letter, expressing their solidarity against racism, race-baiting, xenophobia, and ignorance.
Mr Tan said in his post: “How we rallied in support of Thiruben and his family in 2021 showed who we are as Singaporeans.”
He added that his team has been in contact with the girl and her family, who expressed their gratitude for the support and care they received, making them feel welcomed in Singapore.
Assoc Prof Lim advocating for fairness without discrimination
On Monday (5 August), Assoc Prof Lim addressed the controversy in a Facebook post, acknowledging the sentiment that a local child might have been featured in the National Day campaign instead of a foreigner.
However, he argued that this concern is misplaced.
He emphasized that there is nothing wrong with anyone, including foreigners, wishing Singapore a happy birthday.
“Indeed, one could even make the point that the citizens of our unlikely nation was born out of mostly immigrants, only one or two generations separated from their motherlands, and our National Day is a celebration of how we’ve managed to come together as one united people.”
Assoc Prof Lim recognized the challenges faced by Singaporeans, such as feeling marginalized and being pushed into gig jobs due to displacement by foreigners.
He also highlighted the struggles of local businesses competing with large multinationals that benefit from favourable tax treatment.
He advocated for levelling the playing field in a way that does not discriminate against foreign talent or firms.
“One possibility is to consider ways of diminishing the disparity in take-home wages for those on employment passes versus locals.”
“Another is to align the effective tax rates on MNCs with their statutory ones, since there’s no inherent reason to provide special treatment to foreign firms, given all the advantages of size, reach, and connectivity that they already enjoy.”
Assoc Prof Lim stressed the importance of integrating immigrants into Singaporean society by making them feel welcome and helping them embrace Singaporean culture. He believed this approach would help them become “even more Singaporean.”
“And in that spirit, slamming a kid for wanting to be a part of our nation’s fabric strikes me as fundamentally misguided. Our tent is wide enough.”
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JL, Leon Prereira having dinner with PSP….tsk tsk tsk
why does he step on oppostion toes? he dare not step on pappy toes? what do you think? might as well join PAP Mr JL? tsk tsk tsk
Yes, LT deserve a chance. lets see how he performs right? thank you
Martin Lee
Jamus Has every right to criticise his own political ally but the truth Jamus Can get elected cause he is more likeable then Lim Teah u can defend Lim Teah all u guys the fact he won’t get elected if he doesn’t change his tone.
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I don’t know the source of the analogy, but let’s be clear: He is a poor person’s vision of a what a ‘populist’ should be. I am shocked that the words “traitor” and “sodomite” don’t show up higher on the list. Yeah. ‘useful idiots’ find him “more likeable”
The fact is you can’t get elected by only talking about foreigners you need to rephrase by talking about jobs cause if you focus on race do you think u can win a Seat in SG
Now is more interesting with Jamus inside
Jamus Has every right to criticise his own political ally but the truth Jamus Can get elected cause he is more likeable then Lim Teah u can defend Lim Teah all u guys the fact he won’t get elected if he doesn’t change his tone
Jamus is right Lim Teah won’t get elected with his personality like this
There is nothing wrong with a foreigner celebrating our national day with us. What’s the problem?
Here we go again, with PAP playing the xenophobia card. If that’s the case, then let’s allow all foreigners to reside in Singapore and work as they please, without the need for Work Permits, EPs and S Passes. Meanwhile, we should also allow them to vote and hold Singapore passports.
Otherwise, PAP is being xenophobic by not allowing them to “make up our Singapore history, tapestry and precious social fabric”.
Alvin Tan’s illogical argument only works when it’s in his favour.
National day should be how Singaporeans feel about SG and our future, not how it is represented by some monkeys’ posters and kaki kong kaki hol this and that. 1) How Singaporeans feel – just look out how many are proudly displaying the national flag. 2) How we feel about our future – just look at our TFR, does that say Singaporeans think our next generations will prosper? Our leaders also obviously fuxk-care already as long as they can import population to keep them in power. Trust what your eyes tell you, not some kelong and wayang shows put up… Read more »
The ex PM aka The Kayu Son , once said our “SG is for everyone”..
Easy for him to say..
Hes not on ground level suffering the effects of competition from aliens of all kinds , brot in by him & his gov , and theyre still at it!
PSP and SDP !!! huat arh
Real joke !!! National Day, National Day. What is National Day ? tsk tsk tsk
I dont mind to have JL as a poster boy. LOL
Yes Trump pro own citizens. !!! well done Trump
Have to wait for the new and future parties to come……
What have they really done for Singapooreans? Results counts, not speeches. Yet we still see 2023 jobs going to foreigners? faint ! LoL
Lets hope Dr Chee and TCB do something this time. What do you think?
If Jamus Lim wanna talk about fairness … Maybe he should go Ang Mo Kio to serve in his constituency there under Mr Lee …No?!?
Go listen to DTrump lambasting the previous US administration re immigration..mostly illegal immigration..
He too is really fighting for his country against being over run by liberal immigration policies.
This SGov wants to please all these immigrants …cuz PAPs are too lazy or oredy lost the plot to grow our sg economy and guard our own trublu SGs..
This self-proclaimed priest of same-sex marriage is saying the CB has no more exclusive right than the ass-hole to the LJ.
Singaporean, you get it? hahaha….
Jamus’s concern is really misplaced.Though it is absolutely fine for PR or for that matter foreign talents wishing our once beloved nation happy birthday if and only if that were done in their respective private capacities.It is clearly not right for their intention to be put in print on official banners and sanctioned by PA and the authorities.We the citizens of Singapore shall continue to celebrate our nation’s birthday in all forms including banners showing Singaporean smiling and happy faces .Foreigns and PRs in their individual capacities are welcomed to express their best wishes and have fun.
Increase GST but keep spending like there is no tomorrow. Do we need to spend on actual banners when our food costs is on the rise. Cutting costs is serving national interests. LW should ask the MNCs to contribute to the expenditure of the National Day celebrations as sponsors. Nationalism cannot be achieved by spending millions for a day of celebrations. How many of those “celebrating,” are true blue Singaporeans? More than 500,000 will be running out of the State for a short holiday.
Look at Britain today with many protests and riots against their open and massive liberal immigration policy.
Look at Bangladesh today with widespread protests and riots against their govt job discrimination favoring the elites.
Don’t wait for this to happen here.
Jamus Lim wake up ! You are in slumberland.
Wah…..election MUST BE VERY NEAR…
Now elected oppo ,FUCK NO HOPE OF GETTTING ELECTED OPPO!😆😆😆🤣🤣🤣😆😆🤣🤣
vote this WP guy out. LOL
Jamus= What has you done so far for poor Singaporeans, the jobless, the elderly, etc? Name some great things? Thank you
Jamus, why not you join PAP? tsk tsk tsk
What do you think?
Why is LT wrong? Isn’t National Day is all bout Singapore and Singaporeans?
Sorry I wont vote for you WP !!!
If a person tries too hard to be even minded to please everyone, he/she will end up pleasing nobody!
Nothing wrong with LT post.
No xenophobia sentiment at all. In fact it may be even consider patriotic.
Just don’t listen to the elites’ smear without thinking the post through.
They are good at twisting and spinning to slam opposition politicians.
Nobody cares about the identity of the young girl pictured in the banner. The problem comes as to why taxpayer money was spent to take a photograph (or perhaps it is a self-taken photo either way, manpower is involved), edit the photo into a banner, print the banner and display the banner (likely placed up in location by migrant workers) to “celebrate” Singapore’s “National” day. The crux of the issue lies with the banner. If this was a private company, using private funds. Sure, they can put whatever they want. But this taxpayer money. If the ruling government has so… Read more »
Jamus has been in one parliamentary meeting too many and is beginning to sound like pee air pee.
Lim had already made it cleared that his angle came from concerns about displacement and unfair competition. One example is foreign companies hiring their own countrymen through MOM blessing. He is just advocating for levelling of the playing field.
Anyway, pee air pee shot themselves in the foot with ridiculously high rental and operation cost. Recently, it is reported that channai business park has many businesses has relocated elsewhere?
Get the PV party in parliament..
We’d get to watch real lively parliament debates..with LT.
Right now its sooo boring ..
What was discussed or agreed BEHIND CLOSED DOORS between pxp and WP?
Inclusive
Not yet shitgaporean how to be inclusive
But , good lah , they steal Shitgaporean job
Everyone is entitled to their views and opinions..
Prof.Jamus , thank you for our concerns but plse dont be like the Party Against People kind of attitude…
Im sure Mr LT didnt have any ill feelings either…
SGs have a good sense of whats going on around us..well ,most of us at least.