Thoughts of a Migrant

There was an article on 26 March at The Age entitled "Victoria's population growth fastest in nation". Basically it reported that amongst all the state in Australia, Victioria has the highest absolute population growth (of 117,900) in the year to September, 70% of which is from overseas migration. What's more intesting are the comments that followed. Most compalined about the pressure on resources due to the population boom, like health care, transport and also on housing prices. However one fellow "Grumpy" wrote: "Cheer up! Melbourne is still on the list of the 'World's most liveable cities', although it's starting to feel like Singapore now." LOL.

I cannot help but feel a tad bit conscious that my family of four are probably one of those immigrants that has arrived and contributed to the "squeeze". Ironically, it was partly the "squeeze" back in Singapore that propelled us here. Just like how some Singaporeans see the foreign immigrants as taking away their ricebowls, school places, HBD flats etc, I perfectly understand how these Australians feel.

It's interesting to note the parallels between Australia and Singapore. Both nations were built with the help of immigrants. Most of the whites in Australia had their ancestors from Europe. In Singapore, our forefathers came to Nanyang from China. As the nation develops and the economy grows, more migrants are needed for the workforce. Whether we like it or not, excessive immigration change the geography of the society and put pressure on resources, especially if the government has not made proper plans for the population expansion.

You might ask, while Singapore is already busting at its seams, Australia is a much bigger land, so why the grumblings about too many immigrants? Well, though there is much land, most of it are not yet developed. With the housing developments, roads, railways and basic infrastructures also need to be built to keep up with demand. Unfortunately, many Australians are feeling that the roads are getting more congested, the trains are more and more crowded, the queues at the hospitals are getting longer and the prices of houses are getting too high. Fingers are naturally pointing to the government's relaxed immigration policies and poor planning.


It is perhaps easier to count our blessings. As least, both countries still has control over the kind of immigrants that comes, more or less. I'm thinking about Tibet and how they are also a society with an influx of Chinese immigrants, only they have no choice. With the Chinese occupation in 1950 and the invasion of all things Chinese since then, their culture, language and the Tibetan race itself are at a risk of severe dilution.

At least, Australia and Singapore are still considered attractive to immigrants. Don't want to have any foreigners in your country? Try being a citizen in Cambodia or North Korea.

We may be two generations apart but my migration is no different from that of my grandfather when he came to Singapore many years ago from China. We are all in search of a better life.