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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgF noWrap align=right width="1%">From: </TD><TD class=msgFname noWrap width="68%">NEWSALTSG <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate noWrap align=right width="30%">12:38 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT noWrap align=right width="1%" height=20>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname noWrap width="68%">ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 1) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft width="1%" rowSpan=4> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>19373.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>Elderly citizens bearing the brunt
INSIGHT: BY SEAH CHIANG NEE
As hardship increases and more people are retrenched, the number of help seekers has risen, and so has the level of the heartland despair.
IN THE middle of a recession that is hitting the aged and unskilled the hardest, a disgruntled elderly man has shocked this law-abiding city by setting fire to a legislator.
The bizarre public attack by a 70-year-old former cab driver on government MP Seng Han Thong has raised some hard questions about Singapore society.
In the presence of 150 citizens last Sunday, Ong Kah Chua lit a bottle of kerosene and threw it at the MP, setting him alight.
He suffered 15% burns on his face, chest and arms – and had to go through a skin graft operation. Days later, he was still unable to speak.
The real motive that prompted Ong – who has been charged and faces life imprisonment – to carry out such a horrendous assault is not clear.
Newspapers have described it as an isolated act committed by a man who has had mental treatment and is holding a grudge.
Others see it as a reflection of the despondency that has engulfed a portion of the population, especially the elderly, that is being aggravated by the economic crisis.
Actually for some time now, poorly educated Singaporeans – like the attacker – had been struggling at the bottom level of this wealthy city state.
As the economy moved into an expensive, high-tech structure, these people were left behind, many of them unable to cope or find a meaningful job.
Neither are they society’s most cared-for group. Many clean tables or collect old newspapers to eke out a living.
The government has done the best thing next to giving out the dole, by providing a skill-upgrading scheme to improve their earnings.
Singaporeans – including some government critics – have condemned the heinous assault, saying such violence has no place in society, and wished the MP quick recovery.
Some anti-government writers gloated. Overall, there is a large tinge of sympathy for the attacker. “I hope the judge will not be too harsh on him” is their appeal.
This is the second such attack on this Member of Parliament. More than two years ago, Seng was punched by a constituent during a meet-the-people session.
That assailant, Koo Tong Huat, 74, was also a cab driver. He was upset because he “believed the MP was not helping him get his revoked taxi licence reinstated”.
These weekly sessions, in which needy Singaporeans approach their representatives for help, are usually quiet affairs when times are good.
These days, however, as hardship increases and more people are retrenched, the number of help seekers has risen, and so has the level of the heartland despair.
Last May, another MP of the ruling People’s Action Party, Michael Palmer, was allegedly threatened by an unemployed man, who wanted to borrow S$20,000 (RM48,058) to pay off debts. When turned down for the 10th time, he raised his voice at Palmer.
With the economic storm worsening, the suffering poor could become a potential source of social unrest even for this orderly society despite the draconian control.
Singapore has strict laws and punishment to stop random public protests that are staged without approval (very few are given), except at the designated Speakers Corner. An unlawful assembly of more than five persons carries a two-year jail term.
After MP Seng was punched in the face in 2006, the Government passed a law that provides for a 20-year term (up from two years) for assaulting a Member of Parliament.
“Yet there are still people desperate enough to do it,” wrote a blogger. “This shows how deep seated their anger is.”
Hardship appears to be spreading as unemployment and drastic pay cuts increase this year, with the economy likely to erode further.
On Jan 22, the Government will announce a budget “rescue package” to provide relief for needy individuals and small companies.
However, with the nation’s US$300bil (RM1.07bil) reserves largely tied up in investments whose values have plunged, this ability to help may be somewhat limited.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong recently warned the people not to over-rely on the Government.
Some analysts believe that some post-recession reforms could be ahead to change the way Singapore will invest, save, and use the people’s savings in future.
The top priority is for some structured financial welfare to take care of the poor, less-skilled elderly citizens, not just drips here and there.
This generation of Singaporeans had worked hard to contribute to Singapore’s present wealth, many of whose own earnings in the past – if at all – had been run down by inflation.
Singapore’s pension is provided by the Central Provident Fund. There is an explanation for the poorer showing – much of it is tied up in property. Having insufficient retirement cash is probably the main cause for this reservoir of unhappy elderly citizens.
In the 70s, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew had proposed to grant two votes to each older voter believing that he was more mature than the young man in casting his vote.
He was persuaded not to proceed with it – luckily for his party successors these days.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
INSIGHT: BY SEAH CHIANG NEE
As hardship increases and more people are retrenched, the number of help seekers has risen, and so has the level of the heartland despair.
IN THE middle of a recession that is hitting the aged and unskilled the hardest, a disgruntled elderly man has shocked this law-abiding city by setting fire to a legislator.
The bizarre public attack by a 70-year-old former cab driver on government MP Seng Han Thong has raised some hard questions about Singapore society.
In the presence of 150 citizens last Sunday, Ong Kah Chua lit a bottle of kerosene and threw it at the MP, setting him alight.
He suffered 15% burns on his face, chest and arms – and had to go through a skin graft operation. Days later, he was still unable to speak.
The real motive that prompted Ong – who has been charged and faces life imprisonment – to carry out such a horrendous assault is not clear.
Newspapers have described it as an isolated act committed by a man who has had mental treatment and is holding a grudge.
Others see it as a reflection of the despondency that has engulfed a portion of the population, especially the elderly, that is being aggravated by the economic crisis.
Actually for some time now, poorly educated Singaporeans – like the attacker – had been struggling at the bottom level of this wealthy city state.
As the economy moved into an expensive, high-tech structure, these people were left behind, many of them unable to cope or find a meaningful job.
Neither are they society’s most cared-for group. Many clean tables or collect old newspapers to eke out a living.
The government has done the best thing next to giving out the dole, by providing a skill-upgrading scheme to improve their earnings.
Singaporeans – including some government critics – have condemned the heinous assault, saying such violence has no place in society, and wished the MP quick recovery.
Some anti-government writers gloated. Overall, there is a large tinge of sympathy for the attacker. “I hope the judge will not be too harsh on him” is their appeal.
This is the second such attack on this Member of Parliament. More than two years ago, Seng was punched by a constituent during a meet-the-people session.
That assailant, Koo Tong Huat, 74, was also a cab driver. He was upset because he “believed the MP was not helping him get his revoked taxi licence reinstated”.
These weekly sessions, in which needy Singaporeans approach their representatives for help, are usually quiet affairs when times are good.
These days, however, as hardship increases and more people are retrenched, the number of help seekers has risen, and so has the level of the heartland despair.
Last May, another MP of the ruling People’s Action Party, Michael Palmer, was allegedly threatened by an unemployed man, who wanted to borrow S$20,000 (RM48,058) to pay off debts. When turned down for the 10th time, he raised his voice at Palmer.
With the economic storm worsening, the suffering poor could become a potential source of social unrest even for this orderly society despite the draconian control.
Singapore has strict laws and punishment to stop random public protests that are staged without approval (very few are given), except at the designated Speakers Corner. An unlawful assembly of more than five persons carries a two-year jail term.
After MP Seng was punched in the face in 2006, the Government passed a law that provides for a 20-year term (up from two years) for assaulting a Member of Parliament.
“Yet there are still people desperate enough to do it,” wrote a blogger. “This shows how deep seated their anger is.”
Hardship appears to be spreading as unemployment and drastic pay cuts increase this year, with the economy likely to erode further.
On Jan 22, the Government will announce a budget “rescue package” to provide relief for needy individuals and small companies.
However, with the nation’s US$300bil (RM1.07bil) reserves largely tied up in investments whose values have plunged, this ability to help may be somewhat limited.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong recently warned the people not to over-rely on the Government.
Some analysts believe that some post-recession reforms could be ahead to change the way Singapore will invest, save, and use the people’s savings in future.
The top priority is for some structured financial welfare to take care of the poor, less-skilled elderly citizens, not just drips here and there.
This generation of Singaporeans had worked hard to contribute to Singapore’s present wealth, many of whose own earnings in the past – if at all – had been run down by inflation.
Singapore’s pension is provided by the Central Provident Fund. There is an explanation for the poorer showing – much of it is tied up in property. Having insufficient retirement cash is probably the main cause for this reservoir of unhappy elderly citizens.
In the 70s, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew had proposed to grant two votes to each older voter believing that he was more mature than the young man in casting his vote.
He was persuaded not to proceed with it – luckily for his party successors these days.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
