Man from Iran among 3 000 new Singapore citizens

Post on: 2011-09-05 By: admin

A businessman from Iran who has lived here for 24 years became a Singapore citizen yesterday.
Mr Mojtaba Shahhosseini, 43, was among nearly 3,000 people who received their Singapore citizenship certificates and identity cards over the weekend.
Mr Shahhosseini, who runs his own cosmetics business, said: "I love this country so much. It's safe and has a high standard of living.
"From day one, I felt this is a place where I can live and start a family."
He lives with his Singaporean wife and their two children in a five-room flat in Boon Keng. He received his certificate at the annual National Citizenship Ceremony (NCC) held in Toa Payoh HDB Hub where Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Yaacob Ibrahim presented certificates and ICs to 133 recipients.
The new citizens then recited the Pledge and sang the National Anthem.
In his speech, Dr Yaacob noted that even as Singapore continues to welcome new citizens, they should uphold its values of multiracialism and meritocracy.
Said Dr Yaacob, who is also Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs: "We must continue to bond as a community that believes in opportunities for all, regardless of race, language or religion, and build a shared future together.
"I am confident our new Singaporeans will embrace these values that define us and help enlarge the common spaces that help bind us as one people even as we celebrate our unique diversity," he added.
The first NCC was held in 2007 to highlight the significance of adopting Singapore citizenship.
Dr Yaacob urged the new citizens to play a part in contributing to the nation through active community involvement.
He said: "Let us work together, as Singaporeans, for a better future for ourselves and our future generations and to make Singapore our best home."
One new citizen who has actively volunteered in his community is Mr Dai Shao Wei, who came to Singapore to work from Hubei, China in 1999.
He has been involved in residents' committee events at Nanyang Community Club for two years where he helps to organise block parties, arrange house visits for MPs and conduct night patrols.
Said the 37-year-old IT engineer, who married in China and has two children: "I wanted to know my neighbourhood better and contribute to society here."
Malaysia-born Chan Choon On, 32, said obtaining citizenship would help him cope with the high cost of education for his children. Two of his three children are currently schooling.
Apart from the HDB Hub event, other ceremonies were held in community centres islandwide over the weekend.
Some 18,758 people were granted citizenship last year. Singapore's population stood at nearly 5.1 million last year, according to the population census.
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