Why I Use “Singaporean” for Citizens and PRs
People love to argue about this. But honestly, the explanation is not rocket science.
1. It’s literally how the word works
Around the world, you don’t call someone living in New York a “New York citizen.” You just call them a New Yorker.
Same for London. Or Tokyo. Or Seoul.
Singapore is the odd one out because it’s both a city and a country. So yes, by law, “Singaporean” means a citizen. But by dictionary definition, it also refers to people who live in Singapore. That’s how English works. Not my fault.
2. Global city data works the same way
When you read stats about London’s salary levels, do they break it down by citizenship? Nope.
New York crime rate by passport colour? Also nope.
Worldwide, when a city reports averages, they mean everyone who lives there. Not just the people who can vote. So if Singapore wants to be compared fairly, then we follow the same logic.
Otherwise, the whole comparison becomes like comparing cai png to Michelin omakase — totally different things.
3. The outrage is really unnecessary
Every few weeks, someone pops up to say,
“PRs not Singaporean lah!”
But let’s be real:
PRs live here.
PRs work here.
PRs build families here.
PR children serve NS here.
Some were even born here.
They queue at NTUC with you. They sweat in the same humidity. They also kena MRT delays.
What exactly makes them so drastically different from citizens, other than a passport and a ballot slip?
Some PRs choose not to take up citizenship because they still have family or responsibilities back home. But their everyday life? Entirely Singapore-based. Same traffic jams. Same cost of living. Same “chope” culture.
And here’s the bigger plot twist:
Almost everyone in Singapore is a recent migrant.
Your grandparents or great-grandparents were not here that long ago. Some were PRs too before they became citizens. So the “we are original” argument? Sorry lah… not very strong.
Why I Still Use “Singaporean” in Headlines
Simple reason:
Headlines don’t have space.
“Singaporean” is shorter than “Singapore resident,” and social media cuts things off like it’s snipping rambutans off a tree. Shorter headlines get more clicks. More clicks mean more people actually read the article.
And honestly, if someone only reads the headline and still wants to argue?
Aiyo… maybe they can sit out this discussion first.
Both Meanings Can Be Correct
The word has two meanings. One is legal. One is contextual. Both are valid. And I always explain which one I’m using in the article, so nobody needs to summon their inner keyboard warrior unnecessarily.
If we keep insisting only citizens can be called “Singaporeans,” then we’re just limiting ourselves for no good reason. We’re a global city. A thriving hub. A place where people come to build lives, families, and futures.
Pretending PRs are something entirely separate feels like we’re gatekeeping a hawker centre table that’s obviously meant to be shared.
To me, anyone who wakes up here, works here, raises children here, pays bills here, suffers the heat here, and complains about the same things we complain about — you are part of the Singapore ecosystem. Period.
And if our identity is so fragile that a PR being called “Singaporean” will break it… then maybe the issue isn’t the word. Maybe the issue is our insecurity about what being Singaporean even means.
But that’s just me lah.
