https://mothership.sg/2024/05/hazel-poa-used-phone-donation-appeal/
PSP NCMP Hazel Poa calls for used phone donation to help Jurong West resident find work
The resident cannot afford a new phone without a job, but he is having trouble finding a job without first having a phone.
Matthias Ang
[Editor's note on May 20: This article initially stated that the resident is from Hong Kah North. It has since been amended to state that the resident lives in Jurong West, in the Nanyang ward of West Coast GRC.]
Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Hazel Poa, from the Progress Singapore Party, has put out an appeal for the donation of a used phone to help a resident in Jurong West obtain a job.
Poa posted the appeal on her Facebook page on May 19.
The resident is unable to take calls on his current phone, which is faulty, and this has hindered his job search, she said.
Resident has been out of work for three months
According to Poa, she encountered the resident, surnamed Soh, while on a walkabout with other PSP members at Jurong West.She wrote that Soh had been out of work for three months and asked the PSP members if they could help him to find a job.
The man, who appeared to be in his 50s to 60s, also said that he has a child still in secondary school as he married late.
Handphone unable to retrieve calls, unable to afford new one
Poa added that the man was looking for a job in an unspecified industry where she happens to have two friends looking for additional manpower.Both of her friends then asked for Soh's contact number when she contacted them about the matter.
However, Soh then showed them his handphone, which he said was "out of order".
"I called his number, the phone rang, but he was unable to take the call," Poa said.
She also noted that Soh does not have a fixed line at home.
Poa wrote:
Despite his difficulties however, Poa added that Soh continued to speak with the PSP team "pleasantly" and even indicated that his Malay neighbour had helped him by buying him a packet of food.
PSP member who lives nearby has volunteered to be the liaison between Soh and prospective employers
Poa then highlighted that she was trying to find Soh a used phone while he looks for a job."If you have a working phone lying around in your drawer that you no longer need, please consider donating it to him," she wrote.
Such a donation can be made to the PSP's headquarters at 170 Upper Bukit Timah Road, #14-04, or donors can directly message Poa to arrange for collection.
In the meantime, a PSP member who lives nearby has volunteered to be the liaison between Soh and prospective employers.
The member will visit Soh at his home when needed, said Poa.
At least three commenters have offered their phones in response to Poa's post.
Mothership has reached out to PSP for updates on the situation.
Top photo via Hazel Poa/Facebook
