Comments on: Malay homelessness – who was the quicker finger-pointer?

By: Look who’s bashing Singaporeans | The Online Citizen

Look who’s bashing Singaporeans | The Online Citizen — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 08:10:51 +0000

[...] Straits Times, Mar 2010 [...]

By: objectivity

objectivity — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:09:34 +0000

but jack’s comments had been deleted!

By: yika

yika — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:57:51 +0000

hummm. pap is all about money. what the crap? no one wants to help? i wonder when LKY die.

By: singaporecitizen

singaporecitizen — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:47:06 +0000

i agree with jack..

By: A Tan

A Tan — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:14:51 +0000

“TOC, should conduct an interview with the NGOs, and ask them how hard the NGOs had to fight for the rights of the underclass and the destitutes with the govt organsations,” Incredulous.
Agree with him.

By: human being

human being — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:37:08 +0000

@Najib
I understand where you are coming from. I think you know as well as I do, some of the short comings of the community is to do with the ‘Malay’ mentality. It is a conundrum that has faced the community for quite a long time. To a point that it is easy to put the common Malay into a stereotyped mould. As for Indians in Singapore, I cannot really explain or conclude as I do not have all the facts but assumptions. Maybe their support groups like Sinda plays a better role than Mendaki? Could it be the steep cultural influence makes the community a closer knit group? That would result in the community looking after themselves better, and more inclusive.
I agree with you that we need to self reflect, but who do we see in ourselves and where do we sit in the society and big economic plan. Unlike Malaysia which has big companies run by their locals, what do we have that would make our contributions to the economy relevant and crucial to the country’s growth. Are we deprived of the opportunities or are we truly underachievers who are content to always be a backstage handlers rather than performers in the global arena?
All I am asking from the Ministers are solutions for the community, there are difficult topics that needs to be brought up, but they are not willing to discuss it or bring forth the issue. Some problems cant’s be solve by the people or help groups, rules needs to be changed and choices needed to be made. For that very reason the Malay community will always be held back.

By: Zefly (aka Joshua Chiang)

Zefly (aka Joshua Chiang) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:06:53 +0000

SocPol,
You can help :). Join this facebook group I’ve set up-
http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=243022663629&share_id=388929248464&comments=1#!/group.php?gid=243022663629&ref=ts
Apart from updating on news and articles, we some times also ask for donations, depending on the needs on the homeless individual. If you have anything to suggest, you can also write to me at nohappycampers@gmail.com
JoshC

By: SocPol

SocPol — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:16:05 +0000

What really saddens me is I learnt about all this at University & even experienced it first hand as a volunteer in a homeless shelter…… 10 years ago in London. When I came back to work in Singapore I never thought it would ever happen here. But guess what, it has. If anything, what many developed countries have learnt is that it never helps to point fingers at anyone (governments, institutions or individuals) but start ACTING on homelessness, whether it’s policy-making, supporting homeless people & families through the tough times, or enabling them to get back on their feet. If there is 1 thing I learnt, it’s the fact that although every homeless person has a different story to tell, not a single one of them actually *chooses* to be homeless.

By: Incredulous

Incredulous — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:49:42 +0000

For the ignorant posters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie9SzMSkq5k&feature=channel
1:35-2:35, how a single mum who was retrenched unable to get some leeway because of govt. red tape
4:20-5:45, the govt. policy supposedly to help us Singaporeans, but actually not helping at all.
6:00-6:25, another retrenched Singaporean, unable to get a job, because of our govt. policy to flood Singapore with cheap labour.
11:00-end, Tharman, extolling how they help Singaporeans with their pro-business policies, but yet no mention of policies to help Singaporeans directly.
I suggest the ignorant posters to try to get their news other than from the MSM, and do not fall for every MIW’s lies.

By: Incredulous

Incredulous — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:02:08 +0000

While it is true that some hard-luck stories are self-inflicted. But there are many other true hard-luck people who are in that position through no fault of their own.

We will never know the true numbers of such people, as majority are turned away or the red tape imposed by the MIW is too confusing for such people to go through. My own cousin, a divorcee fell into hard times, when he husband left for greener pastures. Unable to pay the housing loans, her home was reposessed and she and her 3 school-going children had to stay with relatives. She asked for help, but ended up filling up countless forms and in queue for aid. But no aid was forthcoming, instead she was directed to get help from the NGOs.

The only organisations that helped her at that time was the non-profit NGOs. After close to 5 years, she finally was able allowed to rent a home, only after many interventions from the NGOs pleading on her behalf to the HDB.

Is has always been the MIW’s tactics to tell a one-sided story to prove their policies work, and Singaporeans largely are to blame if they are unable to take advantage of the MIW’s policies. But they have never provided any data, on how many actually did not benefit from their polices because of their indifference and red tape. Unfortunately, it saddens me to read from the posters comments, that there are people who actually believed the MIW.

Such posters’ ignorance or feign ignorance will ensure the MIW will continue to be in power.

TOC, should conduct an interview with the NGOs, and ask them how hard the NGOs had to fight for the rights of the underclass and the destitutes with the govt organsations. To enlighten the ignorant posters how soulles and out of touch the MIW really are.

By: FaceTheFact

FaceTheFact — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:10:44 +0000

Hi Lobo, you are right that most (not average) Singaporeans are not entrepreneur because in this small island, there is not social welfare for you to fall back when your business fail. If you are fully aware of the situation right now in Singapore, you can easily be jobless and difficult to get a job regardless of qualifications, be it under qualify or over qualify, that’s why many PMETs are driving TAXI. Perhaps your are a rare Singaporean who will take business risk even at the expense of making all your kids lost a home. Well you can LOBO around if business fail but can your kids?

By: lobo76

lobo76 — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:29:57 +0000

FaceTheFact : IMO, Imran, an ex-policeman, should buy another flat from the open market with his new wife instead of making a risky and bold move to setup his western food business.
And we wonder why the average Singaporean is not entrepreneurial. When they failed, other only like to comment about how ‘risky’ it is on hindsight.
FaceTheFact, you forgot to face-your-assumptions. He was an ex policeman, and I have no idea of his qualifications. Do I think he would have difficulty is finding a new job? yes, I do think so… since, even putting his qualifications aside, many job ads want foreigners or ‘chinese-speaking’ ones.

meesk: This is a question of poor financial sense.
Frankly, I don’t see how going into business equates poor financial sense.

By: tatau

tatau — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:12:35 +0000

To those who “don’t understand the paradox” but has a lot of “sense of personal responsibility”: I say you lack empathy.
From my personal observations of the underclass in other countries: they are permitted to live in their despair. In Tokyo, the poor make portable cardboard homes to sleep in. No policemen chase them away; it is left to the municipal social welfare officers to sort it out. In Hong Kong, there is only few public housing but every resident make do in ’pigeon-hole’ home spaces.
But a government that boasts of providing 80% of housing for its population should not have the temerity to say housing cannot be provided because the homeless could not afford to pay their prices. Why is there nonchalance to and disdain of the problem of the homeless? If the government sees itself fit to solve the housing problem of 80% of its population from free-market forces. Why must the “charity” be only for those who can afford to pay the subsidised prices? It is very easy to decide who should not benefit if one is a monopoly supplier. Does this mean that the government is now the de facto monopolist seller, with no need to be an ’elected national ruler’ with the attendant responsibility of supplying to the ‘free-riders’ comprising the poor?

By: Melbourne

Melbourne — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:05:49 +0000

@critical thinking Mar 6, 2010 15:33
I believe you have to return whatever instalments you already paid back to your CPF.
After paying back to their CPF, they are left with 40K which represents only the capital growth in their flat. The figures make sense.

By: human being

human being — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:58:45 +0000

@ludwig
How do you suppose the malay MPs convince them if not by seeing and talking them in-person. You’ll not going to find them in mosques and schools. They are by the beaches, under HDB blocks, in rental houses and on the streets. I’m not talking only of the MPs but influential people, the MPs need to rope them in. Someone who they can connect with, or an MP that can lower themselves to their level, a famous Caliph once disguised himself as a peasant to find out the real truth about life under his rule. If he had not done that, he would not know what is really happening on the ground, because to the peasants, he is unreachable because of his stature. That is what is happening now, you need to make appointments, go to certain functions just to talk to the MPs. So what is wrong with knocking on doors, not just during festive seasons but on normal days. That is his duty anyways. Do we have to wait till it hit the headlines than react. More pro-active rather than reactive MPs is what we need. To convince someone to take a better route, you need to show them an alternative, at the moment there isn’t.

By: Najib

Najib — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:34:35 +0000

@Human Being
So presented with the same environment and circumstances, why is it that the majority can go on just fine? If it is because of us being the minority then why don’t we see similar statistics for Indians?
Are the Indian MPs doing something special to actually help the Indians? Or are the Indians themselves self-sufficient.
How can this not be a mentality issue? You seem to concede that it might be one and if so, how do you address a mentality issue? Shouldn’t we not give it any reason to perpetuate and point it out?
Putting in avenues of help will just perpetuate this mindset. What the ministers are saying might be over the top but it tells us that we need to self reflect. It is harsh but yes, it is true. We have to start letting go of this simple life mindset that has ingrained in us.
Look at Imran’s example, it shows a very simplistic mindset. Not wrong but just simplistic. If he had thought of all the “what-ifs” he might have chosen a different route.
Something inhibits most Malays from being meticulous and analytical. We don’t think too far, we focus on short term and sometimes pay the price for it. I have an idea of what that is but I shan’t bring it up because it will touch a very raw nerve.
I will just conclude by saying that Malays are not lazy or unimaginative. We just lack the analytical mindst which is critical in today’s cutthroat societies.

By: andrew leung

andrew leung — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:39:49 +0000

Not able to solve the problem means PAP incapable or unwilling.
PAP can help but don’t want to help, don’t say people irresponsible lah. Some banks irresponsible they also want to help until lost billions. PAP poor financial sense and irresponsible with money too. PAP favoritism to foreigner, tidak apa singaporean.

By: human being

human being — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 01:59:48 +0000

@Telly,
In Malaysia the majority are Malays, if they are not trying to help themselves that’s the reality of it. Please see it in context, Malays here are the minority and we still have these problems. Is it the Malay mentality? I don’t know, I accept the Malay community have been the underachievers all these years in Singapore, that is why the Malay Ministers need to work harder and double the effort to make sure the community excels. By pointing fingers who is wrong will not help. They need to ask the community why they are where they are now. Most probably they don’t have the answers or solutions because they never knew how it is on ground level. They focused too much on the most enterprising Malays or Malays that have potential to excel as the flag bearers of the community and totally forgot the rest who are in need of attention and direction. Why should I kick Mahathir ass, he’s not the leader of my community here in Singapore is he?

By: Carter

Carter — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 01:25:46 +0000

In MALAYSIA the shortterm(?) solution lies in state favoritism and subsidies for the majority voters i.e. malays to continue with their tidak apa lifestyle.

how to implement this in a resourceless tiny dot like singapore when the majority (taxpayers) are not malays. political suicide right?
some or limited help is ok but not longterm and a balloning situation. disaster for any nation. others will follow suit and ask for same treatment.

By: andrew leung

andrew leung — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 09:07:53 +0000

Telly Mar 7, 2010 16:04
I think the PAP are holding the taxpayers hostage. Malaysia and Indonesia can solve their own problems if they wanted to. Mahathir would rather build a crooked bridge and Mrs Marcos would rather invest in shoes.
PAP would rather spend $10 Mil on parties and english lessons for foreigners, than give $30 to poor singaporeans. Imran and his wife will be sentenced to prison for the homeless and his 3 children will be assertively taken away by an Indian minister.
Soon the population will double and the PAP will also be asking for double pay. God bless those who bless others.