Majority of Singaporeans Agree That Some are Homeless By
Choice
Posted on Sunday, January 28, 2007
Topic: Local News
by Nyonya Kway
A majority of Singaporeans agreed with Parliamentary Secretary
Maliki Osmans remark that some people are 'homeless by choice'
specifically, the same kind of choice that puts most of our MPs in
Parliament.
Mr. Malikis remark came after Marine Parade GRC MP Muhammad
Faishal Ibrahim brought up the issue of the homeless in Singapore
and asked what the Housing Development Board (HDB) is doing to
help.
Mr. Maliki said there were many housing options available,
including subsidised rental flats, open-market rental flats, or
living with relatives, and so homelessness in Singapore had to be
an act of volition. In simpur Engrish, get out of my elite,
uncaring flat.
But I think Maliki is absolutely right, said grassroots volunteer
and investment banker Mr. Hobson Choo. Theres always a choice in
Singapore. We chose our MPs, after all. Every single one of them,
even in the super GRCs, and even when theres a walkover in our
constituencies. Its also the kind of choice we have about who gets
to run our state enterprises. It may not be the kind of choice that
other countries have, but you know, Singapore is a special
case.
Some members of the homeless community agreed too. Said Mdm Takada
binte Rumah, Yah betul, I definitely chose to stay here under this
overpass along the PIE. My husband died, my kids are still young,
no one wants to give me a job, I cant ask my relatives for help
because they are all also facing money problems because theyre not
members of the, apa tu? Elite. So I looked at all my options,
which included suicide and prostitution, and CHOSE to live along
the expressway. OK lah, so maybe here cannot get cable TV, but here
also got entertainment options. Late at night, here is like
watching Formula One. For free, some more.
But help may be on the way for Mdm Takada and others like her. The
Tissue Paper Retailers Association says it has job openings
available immediately in branches nationwide.
In other news, the Gahmen is asking for Singaporeans to come
forward and create the next YouTube or Skype, according to a report
by Unoriginality Magazine.
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