SDP 3rd Rally - Dr Chee's speech in Mandarin & Hokkien
SDP 3rd Rally - Dr Chee's speech in English
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/chee-highlights-plight-of/2754044.html
Chee highlights plight of elderly, CPF issues
The Singapore Democratic Party chief asks if the Government is withholding CPF money because it “doesn’t have enough funds to pay us all back”.
Posted 04 May 2016 06:53
SINGAPORE: The plight of the elderly and Singaporeans’ Central Provident Fund (CPF) monies were two issues that candidate Dr Chee Soon Juan focused on, in his third rally of the Bukit Batok by-election.
On Tuesday night (May 3), the chief of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) broached the issue of elderly suicides, citing the statistical increase – from 79 cases in 2000, to 120 in 2014.
“In other words, one elderly person commits suicide every three days in Singapore,” said Dr Chee.
Referring to a report in The Straits Times that the elderly were increasingly afraid of dying alone, he said: “Many of these problems are created by PAP (People’s Action Party) policies.”
Some old folks are “forced to downgrade their flats” to get income, he said, which means having to uproot to a new neighbourhood. Such displacement from family and friends is “traumatic” for the elderly, said Dr Chee.
“Does this Government really understand the plight of the elderly?” he asked. “When you become old, your Government can't just put you to one side. PAP can't treat you like tissue paper, use you then throw you away.”
As part of its Hearts for Bukit Batok initiative, the SDP would get the help of volunteers to organise activities such as “bingo nights, mahjong mornings, gardening” to give elderly residents “something to wake up to” every day, Dr Chee said.
He also pledged, if elected, to keep raising the issue in Parliament until the Government increased the budget for assistance to the elderly.
“You need to lead more independent lives instead of having to rely on your children for support. The Government must do its part,” he said.
‘WHY DON’T WE HAVE ENOUGH TO RETIRE ON?’
Turning to the issue of CPF and the minimum sum scheme, Dr Chee asked "whether the Government is withholding our CPF money because it doesn’t have enough funds to pay us all back because of its failed investments”.
He then cited a study released by HSBC in March, which found that the cost of living made Singapore “one of the toughest countries to retire in”, with nearly half of pre-retirees here stating that they would not be able to retire in the next five years. The global average is only 38 per cent, Dr Chee noted.
He also noted that 30 per cent said they would never be able to fully retire, compared with 18 per cent globally.
“And yet, because of the CPF scheme, we are the biggest savers in the world in terms of our retirement. How is it that despite this, we still don't have enough to retire on?” asked Dr Chee.
He put it down to Singaporeans having to use their CPF monies to buy HDB flats, which has left them with “little disposable income for retirement”.
SDP 3rd Rally - Dr Chee's speech in English
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/chee-highlights-plight-of/2754044.html
Chee highlights plight of elderly, CPF issues
The Singapore Democratic Party chief asks if the Government is withholding CPF money because it “doesn’t have enough funds to pay us all back”.
Posted 04 May 2016 06:53
SINGAPORE: The plight of the elderly and Singaporeans’ Central Provident Fund (CPF) monies were two issues that candidate Dr Chee Soon Juan focused on, in his third rally of the Bukit Batok by-election.
On Tuesday night (May 3), the chief of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) broached the issue of elderly suicides, citing the statistical increase – from 79 cases in 2000, to 120 in 2014.
“In other words, one elderly person commits suicide every three days in Singapore,” said Dr Chee.
Referring to a report in The Straits Times that the elderly were increasingly afraid of dying alone, he said: “Many of these problems are created by PAP (People’s Action Party) policies.”
Some old folks are “forced to downgrade their flats” to get income, he said, which means having to uproot to a new neighbourhood. Such displacement from family and friends is “traumatic” for the elderly, said Dr Chee.
“Does this Government really understand the plight of the elderly?” he asked. “When you become old, your Government can't just put you to one side. PAP can't treat you like tissue paper, use you then throw you away.”
As part of its Hearts for Bukit Batok initiative, the SDP would get the help of volunteers to organise activities such as “bingo nights, mahjong mornings, gardening” to give elderly residents “something to wake up to” every day, Dr Chee said.
He also pledged, if elected, to keep raising the issue in Parliament until the Government increased the budget for assistance to the elderly.
“You need to lead more independent lives instead of having to rely on your children for support. The Government must do its part,” he said.
‘WHY DON’T WE HAVE ENOUGH TO RETIRE ON?’
Turning to the issue of CPF and the minimum sum scheme, Dr Chee asked "whether the Government is withholding our CPF money because it doesn’t have enough funds to pay us all back because of its failed investments”.
He then cited a study released by HSBC in March, which found that the cost of living made Singapore “one of the toughest countries to retire in”, with nearly half of pre-retirees here stating that they would not be able to retire in the next five years. The global average is only 38 per cent, Dr Chee noted.
He also noted that 30 per cent said they would never be able to fully retire, compared with 18 per cent globally.
“And yet, because of the CPF scheme, we are the biggest savers in the world in terms of our retirement. How is it that despite this, we still don't have enough to retire on?” asked Dr Chee.
He put it down to Singaporeans having to use their CPF monies to buy HDB flats, which has left them with “little disposable income for retirement”.
