Is the Singaporean Core by birth or choice?

ON FACEBOOK
FROM TAN HOCK

Be part of this vibrant nation whether you are rich or poor ... whether you were born here, grew up here or newly committed to make this nation home.

Our “local” and core characteristics will always be dynamic and everchanging. However, whether you identify with or grow to be more attached to these core characteristics would be the crux of being (part of the) Singaporean Core.

FROM AZEEZA JALALUDEEN

The Singaporean Core is that passion and drive that made Singapore into a developed country. That tremendous effort, innovation and creativity, as well as the openness to collaborate, complement and receive foreign talent to call (Singapore) home.
FROM YOONG YOONG

It is hard to define what the Singaporean Core is, considering that Singapore is such a transient society … but, where possible, the public and private sector should practise “Singaporean First”, meaning that if a Singaporean can handle a job and although he may cost more, the employer should give the job to him rather than a foreigner.
LETTERS
FROM LEE CHIN WAI

Who makes the Singaporean Core? We already defined it more than 25 years ago. Reproduced below are the lyrics from “We are Singapore”, the national song: “This is my country/This is my flag/This is my future, this is my life/This is my family, these are my friends/We are Singapore, Singaporeans”.
FROM YONG KUI SEN

Is there a way to define the Singaporean Core? I was born in Singapore and have relatives in Malaysia and China. I studied and worked overseas for a few years. As I grew older, I saw the importance of racial harmony in a multi-racial society. I did my National Service (NS) some 30 years ago, and am proud of doing so.

Am I considered as part of the Singaporean Core? I think I am, but how can we really define it?

It is easy for countries like Japan, China, India, Thailand and Indonesia to define what their core is.

In Singapore, with a mix of people from difficult cultures, would one generation or two define someone as being part of the core? Is it about living here since birth, or working here, or serving NS?

Was defining the Singaporean Core part of the plan for our development? Did the White Paper on Population define what is the Singaporean Core?