70% of utility vouchers for needy
unused
Few among the poor aware of one-off gift from SingPower to help pay
power bill. MPs also wary of encouraging welfarism
By Alexis Hooi
JOBLESS for almost six months, former air-con mechanic Jamil Aumany
became desperate as the bills piled up.
Relieved to receive some help, Mr jamil Aumany, 41, father of
three, makes less than $600 a month. -- MUGILAN RAJASEGARAN
The father of three turned to his Member of Parliament last
December for help. And Dr Ong Chit Chung (Jurong GRC) gave him
three utility vouchers, each worth $30.
Said Mr Jamil, 41: 'I didn't know there were such vouchers at that
time. It was my wife's sister-in-law who told me about it. The
amount wasn't much, but at least it made me worry less.'
Like him, few of the needy seem aware of these vouchers, set to
expire on Thursday.
But Singapore Power is extending their validity to March next year,
said its spokesman yesterday. As of last month, about 11,240
vouchers, worth $337,200, have still not been given away.
They represent about 70 per cent of the 16,800 first made available
for the needy by SingPower last July. The vouchers, worth $504,000
in total, are a one-off gift for families suffering from the
economic downturn and Sars outbreak last year.
Their distribution is left to the discretion of MPs or the areas'
grassroots advisers.
Each of the 84 constituencies here received 200.
Dr Ong has given out all. As for the big pile left unused, he said
there was a problem with overpublicising the scheme, because it
'encourages welfarism in a way'.
'People who get the vouchers are those who are seriously in
financial problem,' he said.
Dr Chong Weng Chiew (Tanjong Pagar GRC) had given out over 80 per
cent. He too warned against encouraging a crutch mentality.
He said: 'We shouldn't be waving a red flag for this, telling
everyone that there's this help available. It's quite a process to
go through to get the vouchers. A person with dignity won't do it
unless he's in genuine trouble.'
Madam Cynthia Phua (Aljunied GRC) said she had given out more than
half.
In most cases, the families sought help only after their power was
cut and their grassroots organisations recommended that they seek
aid.
Madam Phua said: 'It's important to realise that this is a favour
from SingPower and there are more than enough vouchers to go
around.' She added that not all who had their power cut were in
deep financial trouble. Some chose to pay off other expenses
first.
The SingPower spokesman said on average, about 3,000 homes every
month are without power because of arrears.
'However, if the customer appeals for assistance because of
hardship, we would offer instalment payment plans, thus avoiding
disconnection action. It is only when the customer defaults on the
instalment plans that disconnection action is taken,' she
added.
She also said most of the homes could make some payment and had
power restored.
When asked if SingPower would consider inserting flyers with the
bills for homes in arrears - informing them of such vouchers - its
spokesman said it would 'explore further on how we can reach out to
the hardship cases'.
Meanwhile, Mr Jamil said he would seek more of the vouchers now
that he knows so many are still available.
He makes less than $600 a month from part-time work. And he worries
that the lights in his three-room Housing Board flat in Bukit Batok
may go out. Said the father of three aged 15, 11 and six: 'No
steady job and no money to pay for expenses, what else can I
do?'
