On immigration, the issue is not one of justification, which most Singaporeans comprehend. It is how best to balance the inflow with the nation's capacity to cope and with the implied consent of citizens. It is inevitable, although the government has not said so, that some growth will have to be sacrificed in the accommodation.
Finally, the question of permanent residents remains an ambivalent one. Unlike PRs in Western countries who are long-term residents, almost citizens with settled lives, many PRs here are transients who will depart if their prospects dim in a downturn. Any population projection that treats PRs as a constant in measuring the size of the resident population should take account of this fact. Full story
