This is common stuff in many countries but not in squeaky-harsh Singapore where painting public graffiti could gain the artist a caned bottom, so it’s not done lightly.

The act underlies the degree of resentment some locals feel towards foreigners they see as threatening their jobs or reducing wages.

In a televised National Day rally speech last week, PM Lee Hsien Loong bit the bullet and took immigration in Singapore to a new historical proportion. He announced a sharp increase in the number of citizenships granted to foreigners to make up for its low birth rate. Since Sir Stamford Raffles found this city in 1819, it has seen several waves of immigrants arriving at various stages of history.

Like their predecessors, the 21st century migrants also come in search of a better life. But the big difference is that most come with full stomachs and better skills and education, unlike their forefathers who were illiterates fleeing from war and famine.

PM Lee announced that a special Citizenship and Population Unit would be set up under his Office to promote immigration into Singapore and all kinds of talent would be sought, not just graduates and professionals.

Singapore will market itself overseas as a good migration place. Entry rules will be eased for suitable candidates. This will run parallel to other measures to promote procreation and to help overseas Singaporeans who are ready to return home.

Today’s targets are not just neurosurgeons, CEOs and other high fliers but ordinary people with special abilities ranging from fashion designers, sportsmen, to small businessmen, etc.

Opening the doors wider to foreigners is not a very popular idea among citizens anywhere, but Lee sees no other option for tiny Singapore. His government is moving fast.

It offered citizenship to 12,900 foreigners last year, twice the recent average of 6000 to 7000, and says there will be more in future.

In the first half of this year, another 6800 foreigners were sworn in as citizens – as many as the whole of 2004.

Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said, “We must continue to explore ways to make Singapore an attractive choice for those seeking to eventually relocate their homes.

“If we can keep up with that – 13,000, 14,000, 15,000, 16,000 (a year) and over time slowly increase it, I think that will be good for us.”

Declining births for the past 30 years are threatening Singapore’s long-term survival as a nation. Last year 36,000 babies were delivered, far short of the 60,000 needed to replace the population.

Economists fear that at this rate Singapore could – like Japan – one day become extinct. To make matters worse, Singaporeans are ageing rapidly, which would require more young people to support retirees, and that, of course, is not happening. At the same time, many of its own citizens are migrating to the West for a better life.

Lee’s policy change is politically risky for his People’s Action Party, which suffered a 9% fall in popular support in the May general election.

While some say the inflow will contribute to Singapore’s vibrancy and stimulate the economy, many Singaporeans are fearful about the competition they will bring.

They resent foreigners for “taking over” their jobs and lowering salaries, and complain that PRs are better treated than citizens themselves.

For one thing, they do not have to serve the two-year national service and, although their children will have to, the number of them actually doing it is extremely small.

For years, immigrants have been making their presence felt, with the number of permanent residents growing at a faster rate than the citizen population. In another 25 years, it will change Singapore’s demography with the “foreign” content overwhelming the “local” population.

Some critics see a political motive. Permanent residents cannot vote in a general election, but citizens can. The enlargement of the electoral list will have an impact in the next election in 2011.

That the new citizens are possibly beholden enough to the government (at least initially) is not lost to the PAP.

One cynic exclaimed, “It seems the PAP is not satisfied with the 66.6% support, and thinks it can get more from this exercise.”

Not everyone agrees with this.

Most immigrants come from China, Malaysia and India and they may not readily support the PAP’s one-party democracy concept. Their voting and social behaviour will likely blend – eventually – into that of the general population.

The government has reassured Singaporeans that the measures would be implemented with sensitivity, which could mean that the rate of inflow may depend on the job market.

If it’s strong as it is now, the number will go up but in a tight situation, fewer may be taken in.

More important is the assurance given to the Singaporean Malays that their 14% ratio of the population will not be diluted. The Malay birth rate is higher than others, but even they are not reproducing enough to replace themselves.

Since fewer ethnic Malay or Indonesian talents are seeking citizenship here, the authorities will probably go out of their way to recruit capable ones.

o Seah Chiang Nee is a veteran journalist and editor of the information website littlespeck.com

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