Over the last few years or so, a storm has been brewing and its name is CECA.
For those who don’t know, CECA stands for the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, a free trade agreement (FTA) between India and Singapore.
Signed by the two countries in 2005, it aimed to strengthen bilateral trade between Singapore and India.
However, some citizens have taken issue with the FTA, claiming it grants Indian nationals special immigration privileges and allows them to easily become Singapore citizens and permanent resident.
Yesterday, Health Minister and Hawaii Five-0 actor Ong Ye Kung debunked these claims in a parliamentary speech, explaining that FTAs like CECA are necessary and beneficial for locals as Singapore needs to tap into global markets to survive.
Now, our Prime Minister has weighed in on the issue.
PM Lee Also Weighed in On CECA Debate on FB, Saying ‘Misrepresentations’ Have Caused ‘Unnecessary Public Concern’
The misrepresentation of the effects of CECA with India has caused much unnecessary public concern, PM Lee said.
PM Lee penned his thoughts on the hot button topic in a Facebook post yesterday (6 July).
In his post, PM Lee agreed with Mr Ong on Singapore’s need to access global markets to “earn a living”, adding that FTAs “play a crucial role in letting us do so”.
“Our network of FTAs has benefited us enormously,” PM Lee wrote.
“They create investments and opportunities for our businesses, and jobs for our people. They have helped make us a leading global hub.”
PM Lee added that although misrepresentations of the effects of CECA have caused unnecessary concern, Mr Ong and Manpower Minister Tan See Leng managed to put the debate on a “sound factual basis” yesterday in parliament.
Both ministers explained how FTAs can actually create more jobs for locals, and pointed out, for example, that CECA is good for small and medium enterprises.
This is because it frees these businesses from being constrained by Singapore’s small domestic market and gives them access to customers abroad.
Concerns are Valid, But Blame Should Not Be Placed on CECA
PM Lee acknowledged that Singaporeans are anxious about jobs, foreign competition, and the number of foreigners working and living here.
“These are valid concerns which we will address,” PM Lee wrote.
“But if we put the blame on CECA, that will not solve our problem but instead make it worse.”
FTAs & CECA Made “Political Scapegoats”
In his parliamentary speech yesterday, Mr Ong argued that FTAs, especially CECA, have been made “political scapegoats” in order to discredit the government.
He added that these unfounded criticisms – that CECA allows the unfettered inflow of Indian professionals – have fueled disturbing xenophobic sentiments, and escalated to verbal and physical assaults on Indians, including Singapore citizens.
He encouraged Singaporeans to welcome talent from abroad and invite them to fit into society, just as we would hope to be treated when overseas.
“When Singaporeans go overseas to live and work – about 200,000 of us do – we expect the same of ourselves, and hope that we receive hospitable welcomes from our foreign hosts too,” he said.
You can read more about the CECA issue which was discussed in parliament here.
Featured Image: Facebook (Lee Hsien Loong)
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