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The Poor
Sunny passes away – from political party member to homelessness
Jul. 28 | TOC just got news that Sunny passed away yesterday. Since this story was published, Sunny had found shelter in a Home for the Aged. His family cannot be traced to claim his body. TOC is enquiring how we may claim the body and give him a proper funeral....
ComCare cartoonised for the simple-minded
Apr. 15 | MCYS cartoonises the Community Care Endowment Fund (ComCare) supposedly for the simple of mind.
Many helping hands – how can hands best help?
Feb. 22 | By Lisa Lee In March 1995, Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, then-Acting Minister for Community Development, introduced Singapore’s “Many Helping Hands Approach” at the World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen, Denmark. He explained Singapore’s...
Stories of elderly and poor Singaporeans – told by bloggers
Mar. 19 | Below is a collection of stories written by bloggers about poor, elderly Singaporeans. They are personal accounts of how some of our senior citizens and the poor live. A Stranger, My Friend by Zyberzitizen: A cat nearby keeps him company, sometimes...
Analysis of PTC’s news release on fare increase
Sep. 12 | By Leong Sze Hian I refer to the Public Transport Council’s (PTC) News release on 11 September, on the increase in bus fares from 1 October. I would like to comment on the following:- “PTC considered Singapore‘s economic outlook...
3rd World Savings, 1st World Cost of Living
Sep. 4 | This is a letter from Jason, one of our readers. It has been argued strongly that elderly Singaporeans are not saving enough, despite the CPF scheme. This is hardly surprising. The CPF was introduced in 1955 when Singapore was a Third World colony. Our...
Extravagant help for the needy?
Aug. 31 | By Leong Sze Hian The ChannelNewsAsia report “50 needy households receive free electrical appliances” (29 August) (link) said that: “Needy residents in the South West District received various free electrical appliances on Wednesday...
Unanswered questions about CPF changes
Aug. 24 | By Leong Sze Hian This is in reference to media reports that the CPF Special, Retirement and Medisave accounts’ rates will be modified next year. The question that may be in every Singaporean’s mind is whether the peg to “an appropriate...
$150 per month for severely disabled elderly – extended by only one year?
Aug. 16 | By Leong Sze Hian Media reports in July said that Singapore is in a “golden period” that can stretch out over many years. There were two other media reports in that same week about the payout period for disabled seniors under The Interim...
Nation Builders
Aug. 9 | As we celebrate National Day, lets not forget the ones who are struggling and who continue to struggle on a daily basis. Many thanks to Martyn See for taking the time and effort to lend a voice to the less-abled and needy – especially the elderly....
More than just money needed to help poor
Jul. 15 | This is TOC writer Leong Sze Hian’s letter to The New Paper which was published on the 14th of July, 2007. I refer to the article ‘Would you work 2 shifts over 14 hours for $4.90 an hour?’ (The New Paper, 6 Jul) and the recent launch of...
CPF – F1 or F9 : Poor get less % than the rich?
Jul. 2 | By Leong Sze Hian I REFER to NTUC’s proposal to reduce the CPF contribution for lower-income workers and put 40 per cent of the Workfare bonus to CPF. On the one hand, we are putting more of the Workfare Bonus cash payout to worker’s CPF,...
CPF – F1 or F9 – Do you know who gets your CPF when you die?
Jun. 28 | By Leong Sze Hian CPF announced the amendment of the treatment of Special Account savings invested in fixed deposits, and media reports that the CPF Board has reminded three non-bank investment administrators (IAs) that members’ CPF Investment Scheme...
CPF – F1 or F9? Half also cannot withdraw anymore
Jun. 25 | By Leong Sze Hian On Jan 22, 2007, the manpower minister, Dr Ng Eng Hen, was quoted by the media thus: ‘To a question if the minimum CPF sum of $90,000 would be enough for retirement, Mr Ng said changes are being made so Singaporeans can have more...
Land of milk and money – and the politics of envy
Jun. 21 | Singapore has changed. And I am not talking about physical changes such as the new MRT Circle Line or the new shopping malls or even the upcoming Integrated Resorts. One can almost feel the fundamental changes that are taking place – in the hearts and...
$200 GST offset, but so much more to pay ad infinitum
Jun. 14 | This is a letter by TOC writer Leong Sze Hian to the Straits Times I REFER to StarHub’s announcement that it will increase cable TV subscriptions by between $4 for basic groups and $10 for sports content. This is an increase of 17 to 67 per cent....
“895 HDB flats repossessed since 2003″
Mar. 29 | By Leong Sze Hian I refer to the article “895 HDB flats repossessed since 2003” (TODAY, Feb 28). It states that “seven per cent of those who took HDB mortgage loans were in arrears of at least 3 months”. As at the end of last year,...
Public assistance for the elderly – where the ethics lie.
Mar. 19 | “There will always be arguments on whether a sum we’ve decided is enough or not and as I’ve said yesterday, frankly one limiting factor must be the sum that we give through public assistance cannot be so generous as to erode the work...
The poorest in our society
Feb. 2 | With the increasingly fast pace of life in Singapore, there perhaps is a tendency for us to forget those who are left behind, those who can’t run as fast as the rest of us – even if they want to. The government, to its credit, has set up various help...
Sir, may I have the can please?
Jan. 17 | This excerpt is taken from Yawning Bread’s website. I was having a late lunch at a hawker centre — just some fried noodles and a canned drink. In Singapore, one usually gets a cup of ice along with the drink, and the first thing...
The heart of society
Jan. 13 | I’ve been hearing this question lately. From my mom, my friends, colleagues and even strangers whom I happen to meet. “What exactly are we striving for, working so hard for?” “Everything that we do or earn is just to pay our bills”, my mom said....
My neighbourhood… after dark.
Jan. 5 | By zyberzitizen In the heartlands of Singapore – and away from the glamour and glossy pictures we see on promotional brochures, advertisements and postcards – lies a question. A question which will be asked at the end of this essay. I took...
