PAP gives 69 yr old jobless Ah Pek $150 a mth to survive

last SG · 2008-12-26T13:23:55+00:00

not gonna be a bitch in this forum but den again i can't seem to symphatize with this old man because he was offered a job but at the same time if he was sma...

yapmarcus SG

Watch the moving video interview here:

http://singaporeenquirer.sg/?p=723

Prologue:

69 year old Mr Chua used to work as a construction laborer in the past. He is still healthy and able to work, but nobody wants to employ him, citing age as a concern.

As he does not qualify for the Public Assistance scheme, he is only given a monthly allowance of $150 which he supplements by borrowing from his friends.

Excerpts of interview translated from Hokkien:

SG Enquirer: Do you go to look for work ?

Mr Chua: Yes, I cycled everywhere from Geylang to Whampoa, but they say I am too old and refuse to employ me…..I told my friends like this die already I have no job to do, no job no money. If this house has to be paid by me, then I really die.

SG Enquirer: How much did the government give you a month ?

Mr Chua (crying): S$150 only. They open a bank account for me and deposit the money into it every month.

SG Enquirer: Is it enough ?

Mr Chua: Not enough. The water bills is already a couple of dollars…..in 2, 3 or at most 4 days, the money is gone.

SG Enquirer: Are food prices high now ?

Mr Chua: Yes, very expensive ! When I go out to look for job, I dare not drink coffee at coffeeshop. I ordered hot water instead, no money what to eat ? Can only drink water.

SG Enquirer: Did you ask your MP to help you look for job.

Mr Chua: Yes, they gave me a job as a sweeper at ….don’t know where, offered me S$300 monthly, but the transport fares cost a hundred plus dollars already.

SG Enquirer: Did you ever go hungry ?

Mr Chua: When we are hungry, just take some roti (bread).

SG Enquirer: Do you still have CPF ?

Mr Chua: No.

SG Enquirer: Are you upset with your predicament ?

Mr Chua: Yes, but what to do ? When we run out of money, I have to go around to borrow from my friends and when the S$150 is deposited on every 3rd of the month, I will use it to repay them.

dragg SG

does not qualify for public assistance?

i wonder what criteria they have.

Arkansaw SG

does not qualify for public assistance?

i wonder what criteria they have.

ex-RC member/volunteer..

huzane89 SG

Watch the moving video interview here:

http://singaporeenquirer.sg/?p=723

Prologue:

69 year old Mr Chua used to work as a construction laborer in the past. He is still healthy and able to work, but nobody wants to employ him, citing age as a concern.

As he does not qualify for the Public Assistance scheme, he is only given a monthly allowance of $150 which he supplements by borrowing from his friends.

Excerpts of interview translated from Hokkien:

SG Enquirer: Do you go to look for work ?

SG Enquirer: How much did the government give you a month ?

Mr Chua (crying): S$150 only. They open a bank account for me and deposit the money into it every month.

SG Enquirer: Is it enough ?

Mr Chua: Not enough. The water bills is already a couple of dollars…..in 2, 3 or at most 4 days, the money is gone.

SG Enquirer: Are food prices high now ?

Mr Chua: Yes, very expensive ! When I go out to look for job, I dare not drink coffee at coffeeshop. I ordered hot water instead, no money what to eat ? Can only drink water.

SG Enquirer: Did you ask your MP to help you look for job.

Mr Chua: Yes, they gave me a job as a sweeper at ….don’t know where, offered me S$300 monthly, but the transport fares cost a hundred plus dollars already.

SG Enquirer: Did you ever go hungry ?

Mr Chua: When we are hungry, just take some roti (bread).

SG Enquirer: Do you still have CPF ?

Mr Chua: No.

SG Enquirer: Are you upset with your predicament ?

Mr Chua: Yes, but what to do ? When we run out of money, I have to go around to borrow from my friends and when the S$150 is deposited on every 3rd of the month, I will use it to repay them.

i have no sympathy for this old man. it's good enough that he received $150. Rather than nothing. It's his own fault that he didn't make plan for his old age. And now when he is in this predicament, he wants free stuff. People give him job, complain about bus fare, which is not that much since he can use his senior citizen card. All complains but no effort.

Hwaimeng SG

another spoil brat that feed well live well and eat well huh ???

dont think u ever experiance poor be4 thus u say such things

huzane89 SG

another spoil brat that feed well live well and eat well huh ???

dont think u ever experiance poor be4 thus u say such things

Oh please. that old man didnt even think of his future. And now, when he have nothing, he wants others to sympathize and give him 'free lunch'. He's just another bum who didnt make plans for his future. Why should i sympathize for such a man.

Hwaimeng SG

well like i say

feed well eat well and live well that Y u have such though.

didnt ask u to sympathize him but no need to pin-point or look down on him also

u never know how he try to live his past 40 years. how u know he never think of his future. some ppl have to struggle till they die. not all 100% that try to live better get wat they wan. every 1 successful man there 1000 that failure. so are u going to look down on those 1000 that fail ????

huzane89 SG

well like i say

feed well eat well and live well that Y u have such though.

didnt ask u to sympathize him but no need to pin-point or look down on him also

if ppl always think that live is a no.s game, then it shall be a no. s game to that person. In this case, you. People have options in life. There is no way that one live life without options. And if you choose the right options and work really hard. You wont be in such a sorry state.

The most pathetic part is him trying to get more money from the govt. My grandmother is 79, have half of her children asking money from her. Yet she still manage to survive. She may not live well, but she is able to at least sustain herself. And it's because she works hard and make good choices. Not like that old bum who wants 'free lunch'.

That 1000 that fails. Do you have facts to back up with your claim? Of course many people go through hardship in life, in this case, being monetarily poor. Yet I don't see them doing the same thing like that old bum. Seeking free lunch and sympathy from ppl.

dcx SG

$150/30days = $5/day

tell me what u can do for $5/day? (Inclusive of transport + 3 meals) Enough?

I'm not rich, but $5 is just almost enough for my one meal.....

mistyblue SG

Some people lived from hand to mouth daily for all their lives cause they were not priviledge to get an education and started work as soon as they can walk. The work that's available to them is also hard labour that pays little and they struggle eberyday. So they end up having nothing in their old age. There's quite a lot of these category of old age people around. I thought usually the religious groups will try to help out. Some old people go to temples for free food cause they cannot afford anything outside.

charlize SG

I thought public assistance was about $300 plus?

How come now even less than what was discussed in parliament?

Hwaimeng SG

$150/30days = $5/day

tell me what u can do for $5/day? (Inclusive of transport + 3 meals) Enough?

I'm not rich, but $5 is just almost enough for my one meal.....

wrong calcuation bro

u forget to include

electrical / water bills

transport bill

wasing powders / toothpaste daily items bills

can food ect ect

there tons of other items to consider other than yr $5 food alone.......

i use to live along in rental rooms. thus i know when 1 lives along he need to consider many many other items as well.

Arkansaw SG

the poor and destitute where got use washing powder and toothpaste one

mistyblue SG

$150/30days = $5/day

tell me what u can do for $5/day? (Inclusive of transport + 3 meals) Enough?

I'm not rich, but $5 is just almost enough for my one meal.....

The day that Bill Gates child was afflicted with some illness, it was also the day that he gained an insight to the world of suffering and hence gates setup a fund for only that illness.

The day one those who are well fed, well paid had to live with only $5/day for utilities, housing, food, transport, medical cost and other misc costs. Then it will be a day of realization the kind of suffering they had put people through with the choice of policies.

mistyblue SG

the poor and destitute where got use washing powder and toothpaste one

I remember when my faily was quite poor. We use the ashes of charcoal to brush our teeth. Washing clothes was a chin cai affair cause wash too hard, the clothes tear then no more proper clothes to wear.

Hwaimeng SG

if ppl always think that live is a no.s game, then it shall be a no. s game to that person. In this case, you. People have options in life. There is no way that one live life without options. And if you choose the right options and work really hard. You wont be in such a sorry state.

People have options in life <--- live well feed well eat well ??????

wow u must be a really spoil brat ...

go hide in yr mummy or yr grandma arms darling. pray that u dont end up in the same suitation and then try to remember wat u have say in the form be4.

have a good life . yr option in life

purpledragon84 SG

not everybody earns 4, 5k a month can? we do not know enough about this person to start saying that "oh he is stupid enuf not to plan for old age.."

all it takes is ur spouse/children to get a brain tumor or lung cancer out of the blue and ur life savings will be GONE.. pls dun be naive enough to tink dat ppl are poor simply because they do not plan for their old age..

while im not saying that he deserves a couple of k a month, at least i dun start by writing him off..

mistyblue SG

In Singapore, it still stand that its better to die than live with illness or into old age.

93'guy SG

not everybody earns 4, 5k a month can? we do not know enough about this person to start saying that "oh he is stupid enuf not to plan for old age.."

while im not saying that he deserves a couple of k a month, at least i dun start by writing him off..

i agree with you . rather than huzane89

xtreyier SG

In order to make an informed judgement, we need to ascertain the facts.

Fact is, he is old, he 'claims' no one wants to hire him, and despite being offered employment opportunities by our civilised society based on his skills or the lack of it, he rejected them with excuses.

It is true that as we age, employment opportunities diminishes, an evil our society is trying hard to correct by offering upgrading courses as quick as we can to stay relevant. There will be undeniable fact that some chosed not to upgrade, but that is a freedom of choice, which comes at a price.

Having no relevant skills, one cannot afford to be choosy in the matter of survival. The job may sucks, but it is still money, vital in these drastic times. Should one then be a beggar instead and blame society, when society is grappling with itself to come to terms with recession and retrenchments?

In order to help him,if transport costs is an issue, perhaps CDCs can help him find a cleaning job nearer to his home? Asses his financial situation on how best to get mileage on the dollar for his utility bills? Food vouchers of 2-in-1 coffee satchels? Many Relationship Managers are out of jobs now, perhaps they can join CDC and help the poor manage their finances, a springboard of experience when good times return?

We cannot afford pity. Give the man a fish, and it will feed him a day. Teach him to fish, and you would help him for life. There are plenty more destitutes to help in our society. Teaching, changing mindsets will extend the dollar of our hardearn money to help the poor.