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"They should reflect on our behavior and investigate why we have reacted in such a way," state TV quoted a driver it didn't name as saying. Government reaction was swift. Acting Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan Jin announced that the strike was illegal because it disrupted an essential public service. He said the government had "zero tolerance" for unlawful behavior and police were investigating the workers. "By taking matters into their own hands the drivers have clearly crossed the line. These workers have disrupted public transport services and Singapore's industrial harmony," Tan said. SMRT said the strike affected about 5 percent of its bus services. Singapore's ruling People's Action Party won 60 percent of the vote in May elections, its lowest share of the vote since 1965, as rising living costs and the influx of foreigners caused some of its support to ebb to the fragmented opposition. The government says it has been restricting growth in the number of immigrants through measures such as increasing its foreign worker levies. A government report released in June showed the number of foreign residents rose to 1.49 million from 1.39 million the year before. SMRT said the difference in pay between the Chinese and Malaysian bus drivers was due to the Malaysians being permanent employees.
[Associated
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