The following is an excerpt of an article that was first appeared in ScandAsia.com.
The hallway is dirty and there is a scent of moist coming from the walls. Inside the apartment it no longer looks dirty – it looks empty. The square room has no furniture. Unless the two mattresses lying on the floor in one corner can be considered as such. On the walls a few pictures are hung up but they are not family pictures, paintings or posters but various magazine cuttings.
“You see the breathtaking architecture and the fancy cars, therefore many people are surprised when told about people like the ones we support,” says Lis Heisselberg, the President of SWA.
“Most of these people have no resources others than the money they receive from us. There are so many who desperately need of help,” she adds.
For the full article, click here -
http://www.scandasia.com/viewNews.php?coun_code=no&news_id=7345
KUDOS TO THESE SCANDINAVIANS who could see what the MCYS could not or choose not to see.
guess like all miws,those at MCYS prefer the limelight like the bothced YOG?
They may be surprised but I am not, long have I been aware of these situations affecting large parts of Singapore because I bother to look around and investigate as opposed to the ‘approved’ STB mandates on our way of life.
The 3 misfits should be ashamed of themselves and should cover themselves with hugh masks to avoid being seen in public. Singapore has no place for them. They are only fit to manage countries liked North Korea and Russia. They have put Singaporeans to shame in the world scene. If they want to call themselves Singaporens, we should change the name of Singapore so as to dis-associate ourselves from them. Well done to the SMA. We are proud of them but not our own ministers.
$90 a month for 3 children……does this mean each child is expected to survive on less than $1 a day?
i think it costs more than $1 a day to feed the animals in our zoo.
with this kind of government, we singaporeans are definitely worse off than animals.
This is an embarrassment. More importantly, it shows a gross mis-managment of the country. Can TOC tie up with SWA and send a letter to UN requesting some funds for the poor to be given to our poor since no help is coming from the govt. We should tell the world about the ill-treatment that Singaporeans are getting from our so-called own govt. Our leaders should bury their heads in the sand. What a shameful lot.
SWA did not give a clear account of which families and estates were visited. Interesting. Is this article Fact or Fiction?
Zac,
maybe because if they did, some ‘people’ will show up and shanghai them away. Remember the episode about the homeless who pitched tents at the beaches? Next day, got people come and put them in what is virtually a jail.
As a Singaporean I am ashamed to read this.
Singapore Govt can blow away few hundred million dollars on useless YOG but can not help our own poor citizens?
In Singapore you die your business. You voted for this government with your eyes wide-open.
Have you guys forgotten what that vb said in parliament :- How much help do you want a meal in the hawker centre, food court or restaurant?
@Zak –
why question the sincerity of these kind scandinavians? They are helping our poor. Are you doubting and saying that we have no poor amongst us?? Those who are really very very poor??? Where do you live I wonder… Go swm in your private swimming pool and leave the poor to receive their help please.
if the govt had done their job, there wouldn’t be such people around.
It is just the tip of the ice berge.
It is a simple way for the govt to relie on the hardwork of others.
To Zac….Mr Zac, you shouldnt doubt the good work done by the women from the SWA..just because you do not see the poor and needy in your neighbourhood and the swanky orchard road belt doesn’t mean they do not exist. You should pay kind comments to SWA..it is shameful that we have citizens like you who pour scorns on the good work done by these good women from SWA…perhaps you should open your eyes a wee bit more, and really take a good look around, ya. Then maybe u would be surprised to find just how many needy and vulnerable citizens we have here. Getting the govt to help them is a very difficult, tedious and bureaucratic process. I myself havehelped a family in dire straits in the past, so I know they do exist. It is the educated elitist uncaring Singaporean like you that we are ashamed of, and it is the group of caring women from SWA who aren’t citizens of this nation but are helping our needy that we are proud of.
To vivek….I totally agree with you..so much money spent on F1 races and so much wasted on the YOG..I wonder who really benefits from all these events? Certainly not our ordinary citizens, especially the needy and vulnerable ones. It is sad that the gap between the rich and the poor is so wide. Our govt should lead by example, the ministers should donate a portion of their (omg, i can’t believe just how much some of our ministers are paid!) on a monthly basis (not just a one-off to garner votes) to needy and poor in our society. The govt should serve the citizens, not the other way round.
I can well understand the desires of the younger generations to migrate. Like one of them who said to me recently ‘ no point staying in singapore to help the ministers get richer’..I think this brain drain of our young talents to overseas destinations isn’t being looked into seriously enough because there is a big pool of immigrants-turned-citizens the govt can count on to vote for them. Really sad that our own citizens’ needs are not being properly looked after. There are no laws in placed to protect the minimum waged worker. It is shameful to see old ladies and gentlemen who should be taking it easy in their 60s clearing the tables in foodcourts and earning meagre wages just to get by. I told my children should I get to that desperate stage, just take me out to the void deck and shoot me! Our elders should be able to retire in dignity. I have heard comments from overseas visitors having their meals in the foodcourt in my estate that it was sad to see the old stooped lady clearing tables. I was glad they cleared their plates themselves…so did I. It would not be right to ask the old lady to clear my plates..I m in my fifties, and I respect her. There was another old lady with a leg problem working in a fast food joint in one of the malls, I got to talking to her, and she was complaining of the long hours and low pay…and that she had no choice but to work because her own children couldn’t help out much. She tried to ask for a pay rise but the management turned her down. Where is the justice in this? I just don’t understand the way this nation is heading towards..there is just no compassion anymore…the govt is so into making this nation rich rich rich but lacking compassion for her own poor people. Ministers are so well paid, but our own citizens are languishing in poverty. Sigh!
Hello there, in India it was reported that there is absolute poverty in areas of Singapore, so a Gandhian is feeding them rice and wheat. But I was told by another person that it is a false report because Singaporeans of all races prefer rice and do not consume wheat. Which is true ?
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/QA-Expatriate-Indians-prefer-Indian-education/articleshow/3483048.cms
“the govt is so into making this nation rich rich rich”
Wrong! The Govt people are so into making THEMSELVES rich rich rich!
Curse be the PAP politicians and their leadership.
Curse on the old fart and his descendants for causing many families to suffer.
Curse on all those PAP government officials responsible for the suffering of the people
Scandinavians are helping our people where even our own government will not. Shame on you Vivian
Not to worry Concerned Citizen. This minimum wage issue has taken center stage with a mysterious group in the Internet, beginning with the alphabet B. They are working hard, very hard to lobby to get this idea through. They will come through. You just mark my words. They always do.
To @concerned citizen
This is really sad. We are all responsible for this. Can’t believe our society has become so numb and insensitive to our own fellow human beings.
Zac Tan 29 September 2010
SWA did not give a clear account of which families and estates were visited. Interesting. Is this article Fact or Fiction?
….
as usual zac the lacky would echoed the same tune…
there are no BEGGARS/poor in singapore
it just a figment of imagination..
right zac?
Shame on the PAP government. Your aid package is below the minimum and only for show to the world that you are doing something for the poor. The PAP knows their aid is not enough as their intention is to starve the poor to death as part of their genocidal policy. So are the retirees where their retirement fund are held back for their enjoyment but used instead in Temasek failed business ventures.
sadly, religious organisations are not what they used to be, many are more concern about growing their membership…
Whack…..Whack…..Whack…..
@Zac
Whack…..Whack…..Whack…..
@Zac
Whack…..Whack…..Whack…..
That’s what you deserve.
Thanks TOC for reminding us that the PAP IB is upping their ante. Im suprised you were not moderated for casting aspersions on this article.Well there is only one of you so I guess it’s OK.
I am so ashamed of our highest-paid-in-the world leaders! I hope the good work of the SWA will stick some spurs into the hides of these leaders such that they get off their butts and do something for our poor even if it is only to make themselves look good to the world.
Vivian, what do you have to say to this? Oh its false? Or we should take things in perspective? Or the favourite, “their system, their government, never produced the transformation like ours did.”
Heh. Looks like Vikings are more kindhearted than our civil servants.
It will do good if this news is exposed and goes to Europe.
@Zac: Tan 29 September 2010
//SWA did not give a clear account of which families and estates were visited. Interesting. Is this article Fact or Fiction ? //
*
If you must know where the location is, you must first know that the type of HDB flats that were visited were One-Room units.
How many location can there be in Singapore that has One-Room HDB units ?
Mr. Vivian is right when he say EVERY person in Singapore will have a shelter and if no food, people will brought for them.
If you are homeless, and you sleep in garden. Police will throw you into prison (a shelter) and feed you (food).
See… Our government is so caring.
Shame on VB and his gang. The govt attitude towards helping the needy is so negative that all the policies are never meant to really help them. They are just there to show that they are doing something.
I used to volunteer with my church to deliver meals and do clean up services for the 1 room flat people in Singapore and i can testify that what the scandinavians said is true. If there are any doubters, i can tell them where to find the poor. Bendemeer, Kallang and Kim Kiat area. we used to clean the flats and deliver food to them in these 3 areas and heard alot of heart breaking stories of abandoned old folks, crippled people, and mentally illed people who really need help. I remember one case where the old lady was abandoned by her singaporean kids and lived alone. her home stank because her legs got problem and she could not clean the place. She has a god-son from thailand and he visits her once a month. we went down and cleaned up the place and re-painted it, then to our sorrow, a few months later, she died alone and undiscovered.
Others told us that the aid the govt gave them is only enough to pay for 1 meal a day after HDB rental and utilities. Yes – HDB charged rental and utilities to the sick, old and crippled. without our meal delivery, they have to eat kong guan biscuits n maggi mee, also given by religious and welfare organisations. i once had an exchange with a p65 MP who insisted that the welfare policy of PAP is adequate, so i asked him whether he, as a medical doctor, would recommend eating kong guan buscuits daily to his grandparents as adequate nutrition? if yes, then the poor and aged should shut up and stop complaining but if no, then why should our poor and aged be reduced to the state of eating kong guan biscuits daily? he had nothing to say after that.
So when VB can say in parliament that the poor get meals delivered to them, it is true but it has absolutely nothing to do with the PAP govt and the MCYS. it has everything to do with the religious and welfare organisations.
to lefleche..good on you for having the courage to speak up and put a p65 MP in his place! I had donated food parcels before to some of these poor folks, mostly in bukit ho swee estate in the past, and i must honestly say without the food donations from some of the public members, many of these old folks would have starved..it is very pitiful. to minister vivan, you should walk the talk, get your people to look into the needs of these elderly folks living alone, and you and your staff should donate a portion of your salaries to these needy folks…i was unemployed back then(still am, over fifty years old and considered past the pasture by some firms, and with two children to support) and i could still find the odd dollars at the end of each month to buy some basic food items (milo, bread, jam spread, eggs, packs of sugar) to help these needy…i really feel it is the ordinary joes and janes who aren’t well-off that are helping our needy, not the ministers or the rich in our society. i once asked someone living in my estate who drives a flashy car and changes her branded bags so often i have lost count whether she had considered donating some of the money she spent on branded goods to the needy in our society..her reply was she didn’t care about the poor, that it wasn’t her duty to care for the poor..this is someone who had just gotten her pr status…this is the kind of uncaring immigrants who are invading our country in droves. very worrying for me as a parent.
Really wonder how our ministers can sleep at night, cashing in on ridiculous high salary and spinning tales that every Singaporean counts, citizens come First, they are “aware” of the situation, etc… With $389m spent on a 13-day affair like YOG without blinking an eye, MCYS is bound to have many cracks in the so-called social service net for the truly needy.
@lefleche
“….So when VB can say in parliament that the poor get meals delivered to them, it is true but it has absolutely nothing to do with the PAP govt and the MCYS. it has everything to do with the religious and welfare organisations….”
Thank you for saying that. The garhem just soaks any credit. VB thinks every charitable act in Singapore is a result of his pretty face. Of course, he is also always clear that he is not accountable for any mistake by MCYS. (Well, they never, ever make mistakes, right?)
Many of these poor are supported by private NGOs like Befrienders who provide provisions, meals, money and transport for medical appointments.
What is our Govt doing other than giving out a paltry $380 social allowance?
And Ministers have the cheek to debate a small rise in such payout in parliament.
Someone should petition UN for funds to help our marginalised poor. This stingy Nanny Govt won’t give a cent more.
Could copy China, who have the largest national reserves in the world, but have to receive outside funds to help their poor.
Singapore, first world country is a joke.
To @theforgottongeneration
PAP ministers / MP can sleep well at night because they have no conscious left.
Not only PAP mandarins but Singapore society at large has become insensitive to needs of poor.
How can children abandon their parents? Wonder what kind of values has been taught in family and at schools?
“Wonder what kind of values has been taught in family and at schools?”
How do good values survive if Govt practices are:
- Greed is Good
- Push others down to get to the top
- Live for money & nothing else matters
- Fight for Elitism, not Equality
- Care about yourself & no one else
- Success = materials, title & power
Don’t believe me, look at the people getting rewarded.
It affects the whole society & people.
Stop the rot from spreading. You can each individually do your part by standing your ground. As the famous saying goes “Its better to lose fighting for the right things than win fighting the wrong things”.
Just let KARMA work its justice. What man cannot stop, God will preside.
Suddenly foreigners not so bad anymore…
FT 1 October 2010
Suddenly foreigners not so bad anymore…
………..
when the myamers troops were killin unARMED monks…
who hold a candleights virgil outside the istana gates?
its the angmor housewives…
and who was MARKED/detained/deported?
the brownshirts foreign residents of the myamese community
This is modern day tyranny happening in sinkapor.
The ministers ,with their high over paid salary- if they really show concern for the people and care about the welfare of the people, it is not difficult for them to track down these poor people and give them some money.
Its only whether they have the heart or not.
This is a sickening sinkapor.
Obviously they have not.
(The hipocrisy of the ministers can be seen in VB)
everything has to come to an end. maybe one day sg will be invaded by terrorism and no longer a stable and safe city. guess the papayas will be the first to flee this animal farm.
Zac, if you don’t wish to help people so be it. Don’t stir shit and get those who needed help into trouble. The society is a lot better without ppl like you. I hope you think before you comment.
When you look back, many of you will realise that many of these marginalised poor and abandoned (by the gov) were the every citizens who had given their vote of support to that sobbing crocodile on national TV, who had assured them of a better furture. Just like the Wooden in the 90s who aimed to give us Swiss standard of living. Look at where those old, poor and sick pioneer Singaporeans now. Look at where most of us who are born in Singapore now.
It just sends shivers down my spine to think of what lies in store for us if we continue to believe in the lies that they are still perpetuating for 40 years.
The only ones who have benefitted from our economic sacrifice are the ones denying us the fruits of success. Indeed we are the true victims of Singapore success.
Do we still want to deceive ourselves further that they will do good?
@ZAC TAN
Re your post,
I am very sad about what you have said.
You can be forgiven if you later repent when you realise that this is NOT fiction by any stretch of imagination.
But sadly, the greatest hurt has been done.
Shame on Singapore with billions cannot help it own citizen but can sponsor thousand of dollars to FT to study in nus, NTU, polytechnics!!! EVen heard my friend a new PR quickly converted to Singaporean to get 50000 sponsorship to study MBAat NTU!!!
My god those fools up there that earning millions just know to throw away our money. They don’t even check and just give the sponsoeship for what?? Don’t you the true blue born in SIngaporean are more deserving than that. My friends were applying for partime NUS and NTU degree course without success but yet many of these places to foreigners to enlist them becoem PRs !!!it is a sad SIngapore that had give too much power to these pigs
Guys, Check out this one room flat in Singapore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IChpMGQwX6c