Rich Minister Vivian Balakrishnan pissed with homeless for making him look bad!

[Highfalutin]

DK
Feb 1, 2010 13:46
I quote Dr Vivian Balakrishnan’s speech in parliament, March 2007.

“That allows me to say with a clear conscience to both the PAP and the Opposition MPs that nobody in Singapore needs to starve, nobody needs to be deprived of healthcare, and nobody needs to be deprived of a roof over his or her head. If someone indeed is so destitute and is starving, we have other means and other safety nets for them. ”

http://siewkumhong.blogspot.com/2007/03/how-many-portions-of-help-sir.html

So Sir, is this the so call “safety net” you have?




Homeless, TOC Feature, Top Story - Written on Monday, February 1, 2010 7:43 - 96 Comments
The behaviour of little Lee Kuan Yews
Tags: homeless, mcys, poor, unemployed, vivian balakrishnan




Andrew Loh / Pictures by Joshua Chiang

After The Online Citizen broke the story of homeless people camping out at Sembawang Park, all hell seemed to have broken loose. The authorities which, with all their resources could have helped these homeless people, instead seem bent on making life more difficult for them.

This article is an account of what took place on the ground after The Online Citizen’s revelation of the Sembawang Park homeless on 16 January.

The Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), Dr Vivan Balakrishnan, was reported to have visited both Sembawang Park and Changi beach. We were told he did not speak to any of the homeless at Sembawang Park but he did take time to chat with those at Changi. Both times, he was accompanied by a posse of officials from Nparks and MCYS.

The homeless from Sembawang Park were told to dismantle their tents and were issued summons. They were also ordered to leave the area immediately. After TOC suggested that they be given more time, the officers from MCYS promised to give them a further three days to leave the park – this despite some of the campers having valid camping permits. (You can read a more detailed account of what happened here.)

The campers had, on that following Monday, gone to the MCYS office to discuss the matter of alternative accommodation with the officers, as previously arranged. After the discussion, they returned to Sembawang Park to pack up their belongings. They were greeted with the presence of workmen at the camping area who apparently were there to seal off the site. Indeed, Nparks seem eager to have the homeless leave the area as soon as possible, given how swiftly it had arranged for the workers to be there. The day after the campers left, the camping area at the park was cordoned off for “maintenance”.

Over at Changi beach, the homeless were treated just as badly. After the minister of MCYS’s visit, the campers were harassed for days, sometimes two or three times a day by Nparks officers, the campers told us. It is believed that these officers included those from other Nparks branches, such as East Coast, who were roped in to help rid Changi beach of the campers and the homeless, apparently.

The verbal threats by these officers were more blatant as well. “I do not want to see your face [here] anymore,” one lady was told by an Nparks officer. She was there to visit her friends who were fishing. She refused to oblige and has continued to visit Changi beach.

Stand by Bed!​

The “rules and regulations” and conditions as laid down by Nparks officers which the campers had to adhere to seem ridiculous at times. The campers were told that they had to be by their tents when Nparks officers come round to conduct their checks – at any time of the day. If they were not by their tents, the officers threatened that all their belongings would be confiscated, including clothings, tents, fishing equipment. If they wanted to retrieve their confiscated belongings, which would include children’s clothings as well, they would have to go to the Nparks office and pay S$300, the campers were told.
“How can we be by our tents all day waiting for them?” asked one of the men who was there to fish. “I told them to let us know what time they would come round to conduct their checks and we would be here to meet them,” he said. However, Nparks officers rejected this and insisted they did as they were told. “How can we go out and fish then?” the man asked. “We can’t even go to the toilet like that,” he added.

On one occasion, three Nparks officers demanded repeatedly that he packed up and leave immediately. “We told you to leave right now!” the officers kept shouting at him.

http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/02/the-behaviour-of-little-lee-kuan-yews/

 

[Highfalutin]

Yong
Feb 1, 2010 8:07
I read this with much disgust. These Nparks public servants are using taxpayers money to terrify and bully helpless SINGAPOREANS.

We should make the relevant ministers pay for this. GOod work Andrew.

Zefly (aka Joshua Chiang)
Feb 1, 2010 8:22
This, and not the sanitized version that Sunday Times reported is what’s actually happening on the ground.

Yong
Feb 1, 2010 8:33
Joahua.. u rr right, it was trying too hard to paint a “happy” picture. These ST journalists have no conscience at all. Sellout to the Devil.

andy
Feb 1, 2010 8:45
in the 70s and 80s, we dont see these much homeless… this is 20 century, unbelieveable in a country like singapore.

everything is about $$$, fullstop.

fpc
Feb 1, 2010 8:50
Let face the reality:

the turncoat BALA is a salary man of LKY/LHL.

There was a report of at least 6 cases online on people having difficulty making a living picking card boards etc and only one of these cases was found not to be valid.

Bala reported on that one.

Now, he came down to see these homeless people and didn’t report anything.

The conclusion: He doesn’t have the guts to address this homeless issue to his pay master.

Either that or he doesn’t care.

This article would have been more realistic by indicating who that MP who knew or recommended Changi beach is.

This is another clear example of the incompetence of this govt and the pigs MP.

they are only interested to get problems to go away using their mouth/words.

the hardwork is left to mother nature.

They are very very lazy.

Curious
Feb 1, 2010 9:00
I had always wonder what are the oppostions parties doing to help this homeless?

If this is happening in HK or Malaysia, the oppositions parties or some NGOs are going to be involved in helping these homeless, but what is people like Sylvia Lim doing? she is a NCMP, isn’t it a good opportunity to show up and check with these people how she can help? and bring up any concern in the Parliament?

Zefly (aka Joshua Chiang)
Feb 1, 2010 9:07
Curious,

to be fair, there are some opp candidates who are helping out in their capacity as private citizens. As to whether it will be an issue they will raise it really is up to the parties’ leadership to decide.

seebeng
Feb 1, 2010 9:28
The entire opposition, except one, is in the pockets of the PAP, hoping to become either the “one or two” permanently elected MPs in a House of 84 or “eligible” to be allowed to enter Parliament, under the recently announced PAP fraud of more NCMPs.

People want change but the dictatorial PAP is using proxies to frustrate their aspirations and expectations.

smallfly
Feb 1, 2010 9:38
Thank you so much to TOC for a job well done, the state media or simply the “main-stream-media” will never publish these types of unglamorous, not elegant, shameful, abase, lowly treatments of Singaporeans by this bunch of despicable and contemptible wrenches of million-dollar miw.

Kowtow to freedom of speeches and expressions! Keep-up the good works!

Cheers to prosperities and progresses for whatever TOC strives for!

 

[Highfalutin]

Yamasam
Feb 1, 2010 9:54
This is most utterly disgusting. Civil servants abusing their authority to bully Singaporeans to serve the purpose of a political party because they have been embarrassed. This country is more like a tyranny now.

Curious
Feb 1, 2010 10:03
@Zefly,

TOC, is basically a media, it is good that you are doing investigatives journalism. If the govt is not willing to help. it’s the NGOs and perhaps, the oppositions MPs that are in a better positions to provide concrete assistance to these people. Imagine if Ms Lim were there to ask some questions, do you think these Npark people will tell her “we do not entertain”?

And since you said that some opposition candidates were there to help, why TOC’s not giving any coverage on that? isn’t that some good PR/exposure for these people? we know the MSMs are not going to do that.

Idiot
Feb 1, 2010 10:10
Appalling!

I am waiting for further spin from 154th to white wash the actions of these little “Lee Kuan Yews”.

do something
Feb 1, 2010 10:34
Andrew, is there anything we can do to push NParks to stop behaving like this now?
Of cos we need to vote PAP out since they are the root cause of the problem but that will be next GE.

Dumb and dumber
Feb 1, 2010 10:36
Do yourself a favor…. remember how you are treated by these MPs and these lackeys and do the right thing at the Ballot box. PERIOD.

Dumb and dumber
Feb 1, 2010 10:38
To “do something”,

Someone film them down and post it on youtube. Not sure if it’s illegal though… I only know that it’s illegal to capture the video of policeman in operation… not sure if it applies to NPark officers.

Mr. E
Feb 1, 2010 10:39
It’s been like this for years. Give a small man a cheap uniform, a badge and some rules to enforce and he’ll start thinking of the world and start forcing his own made-up rules by force of his own small authority and hopefully smoke/scare you into complying. I’ve learned long ago to demand the rules in print to be shown to me before ever bothering to even listen to them. Know your rights and actively protect yourself by knowing your legal options and then tiny opportunists will shrink away back into their cubicles.

useyourblain
Feb 1, 2010 11:04
Would these people have been better off if TOC had not reported on the issue?

Zefly (aka Joshua Chiang)
Feb 1, 2010 11:21
No. The Sembawang campers were relocated to a block of HDB flats in the Tiong Bahru area within days after the first story came out. And they were spared the inconvenience of having to stay in Angsana Home in the meantime.

There are more stories TOC is working on now that will shed more light on the homeless issue.

Watch this space.

http://www.facebook.com/joshuafly?ref=nf#/group.php?gid=243022663629&ref=ts

Toolang
Feb 1, 2010 11:25
Perhaps the so called genuine campers and fishing enthusiasts who had been issued with the unreasonable summons can refuse to pay the fine imposed and let the NP officers take them to court and fight for justice. I strongly support those who are unduly penalised for no rhyme or reason. The true story of any wrongdoings would come out during the court hearing and we can assess who is more reasonable. There are always 2-sides of the story. If we allow all the homeless and down and out Singaporeans and foreigners to camp and sleep wherever they want, including Singapore beaches will be littered with such campers. Where can I then bring my family members to enjoy the beach, swim and sun free of charge?

theforgottongeneration
Feb 1, 2010 11:29
In a true democratic society, people will be marching in the streets, shouting “Gestapo, Gestapo!” and the related minister will be shamed into resigned. But alas, our civil servants with very thick skin & face – after all, their appointments (and pay scale) is based on meritocracy, right?

Terence Goh
Feb 1, 2010 11:35
This has become typical of civil servants. They are more interested in covering their ass than in solving problems.

I once complained to AVA animal welfare about my neighbour abandoning their cat, the response from AVA was that they have to cull this cat now that it has become a stray. It is easier to get rid of the “evidence” than to go after my neighbour for pet abandonment. We have many laws but nobody is interested in the enforcement.

 

[Highfalutin]

Bonzi
Feb 1, 2010 11:37
This is uncalled for ! To these civil servents, I have these to say to you: To hell with you with all that farking acts of forcing them to leave the palce with immediate effect that in fact, they have no where to go to! get it ?!!, it is just disgrace that our Spore have idiots like you who are just wasting country resorces just paying that farking pay to people like you with farking brain like peanuts size. PUT your farking ass into the shoes to these people, if you have any FOR one seconds and give them a little help if your farking brain can tell you, cut the farking crap of acting like a farking law and order enforcer, because you just do not fit that bill! Arssseholes !!

Zefly (aka Joshua Chiang)
Feb 1, 2010 11:38
“If we allow all the homeless and down and out Singaporeans and foreigners to camp and sleep wherever they want, including Singapore beaches will be littered with such campers. Where can I then bring my family members to enjoy the beach, swim and sun free of charge?”

First of, no one should be homeless. Why are there homeless people. It’s a very complex issue, no doubt. But one area to look into, is to see if the policies we have are helping to create more homeless.

Second, it appears that there isn’t much in place to deal with the homeless issue. One of the VWO shelter for the homeless has a waiting list of close to 200 people (!)

The homeless are called homeless because they have nowhere to go. The beaches are the best of the worst places they can go to. On that the note, the homeless migrant workers do not even have tents. They sleep in streets, temples mosques where have you not.

And I do believe as long as they have permits, they should be allowed to camp until the deadline expires.

Would you have preferred that they be sleeping out of sight and hence out of mind for the enjoyment of your family? Last I checked, they looked exactly like you and me.

wakemeupearly
Feb 1, 2010 11:48
If Malay kampungs still existed, would this homeless situation have evolved?

With HDB prices soaring thru the roof & the relentless influx of foreigners into Spore, the demand for HDB flats has outsripped supply dramatically within the space of 2 years. At the same time, wages have gone lower & lower for the group of Spore citizens who rely on laborious tasks to eke out a living till they are pushed out altogether by the foreign workers from China.

The minority races in Spore face the harshest reality. Just a few days ago, the HR of DFS responded to ST Forum that yes indeed they only employ those who can speak Mandarin fluently due to the influx of China tourists patronising their DFS stores. His letter was in response to an Indian Sporean who lamented that she was rejected by DFS at Changi Airport for a retail job. Now you wonder why there are no Spore citizens employed there from the Malay & Indian races?

I thought it was in very poor taste that DFS issued that letter in the main media and there was silence from the Tripartite Group that aims to promote fair practices at workplaces. Definitely make a mockery of the MOM & Tripartite institutions indeed. Are all 3 terminals at Changi Airport so jam packed with China nationals, not that I can see with my eyes.

But both you and I know that the majority of Sporeans will still continue to vote in the PAP next GE & the next & the next. It is so hopeless that Spore as a country is headed towards a gradual if not swift downfall when you see what is happening in Spore. Yet the govt continues to berate us the Spore citizens that their policy is fail safe & their every explanation of their policy is couched in superfluous terms that the reality cannot be discerned by the general public. Unfortunately, no matter how highly educated the Spore citizens are, they just buy what the govt says. What can we do?

 

[Highfalutin]

cf
Feb 1, 2010 12:08
Its Vivan AGAIN.

gemami
Feb 1, 2010 12:09
Mr. E has a point. It is time we know our rights. It is most unfortunate that the ones most abused are the ones most ignorant of their rights as citizens. In this case, the genuine campers were also regarded as illegal campers, and the worse thing is that they allow themselves to be treated that way – all because they dare not stand up for themselves. Even though they may be ignorant of the details in the camping rules and regulations, it is no excuse that they fail to exercise their right as citizens and stand firm.

It’s the way things are in Singapore. If the government is not careful, these little LKYs are going to bring its already tainted reputation down a few more steps; and; if anyone from the PAP camp is listening or reading this, then it ought to do something about it and make sure they are not mis-represented by mini-LKYs.

All said, it is a good thing that such news do not go unreported even though these homeless citizens may have to be inconvenienced further. Some things just cannot be avoided if we want to effect change. This is their consolation.

Only then will we see the day where we do not have homeless people. Only then can we say aloud that the government is doing its job caring for its people.

Some have called upon the opposition members to do something about it but truth is, before we call on them, we should call upon those whom the majority has voted to look after their welfare. It is only fair.

It may seem I am always blaming the government but really, who should we ask for accountability if not the ones who are meant to represent us? The day we fail to ask anything is the day we give up our rights as citizens. Simple as that.

Curious
Feb 1, 2010 12:28
@gemami & Mr. E

Ya, Know your right?

You know what happen to people that know their rights and excercise them?

Ans: Dr Chee and his gang!

pickitup
Feb 1, 2010 12:29
To those that says opposition should help.. c’mon give them a break.. most of them hardly have a roof over their heads already they may be the one that needs help. When the rich refuses to do something, the supported of the rich will says, why don’t the poor do something about their condition? why don’t they get a job or something? or why don’t they just buy a house?

Curious
Feb 1, 2010 12:30
Don’t talk RIGHTS with a dictator!

jiangbao
Feb 1, 2010 12:44
Of course, if the Npark ppl do not bully singaporeans, who will they bully? Foreigners? Only when pigs fly.

Yong
Feb 1, 2010 12:46
Well said pickitup! Typical ‘let them eat cake’ mentality. PAP and their lapdogs needs to be GUILLOTINED.

gemami
Feb 1, 2010 12:47
Hi Curious, I’m curious as to where you’re coming from. No one is talking about exercising your rights with a dictator. I am simply saying that one should know his rights so that he does not get bullied because of his ignorance. There is nothing confrontational here so your comparison with CSJ is way out of place.

I am a fan of CSJ and the knowledge I have acquired about him as a politician is in no way the same with those who depend on reading about him from a third party’s point of view. You speak as if the final verdict about CSJ has already been written. No my dear friend. There is no doubt that he is over at the loser’s corner for now, but you can never tell what tomorrow will bring.

I was watching my favourite wrestling character just last weekend – Hulk Hogan. Whenever he fought, it always seemed like he was bound to lose. He gets beaten to a pulp when suddenly, with shaking hands and body and feet, he would find a sudden spurt of energy that would overturn the result and win.

Impossible is nothing, my friend, nothing.

leesjuanpat
Feb 1, 2010 13:03
It is upsetting how the poor and powerless are being treated by the system, with a minister leading the way.

dd
Feb 1, 2010 13:04
Its not the Nparks officers who should be targetted. Alot of them would be sleeping in those tents, if they don’t follow the orders given to them by the superiors. Blame the minister and Nparks Head Office for not having empathy.

“i don’t care how you do it, as long as it is done!”

This is definitely the mantra of the government when it comes to dealing with the homeless problem. We tend to sweep it under the carpet. What do you expect untrained civil servants to do??

Curious
Feb 1, 2010 13:30
@gemami

I am just feeling sad for Singapore!

Years ago, I worked a short period as law enforecment officer and I know how “Rights”are not respected. Do you know that suspects are not entitled immidiate legal consultations? In the Changi case mentioned in the article, if the campers had escalated the confrontation, they will apply some other law to arrest you, if not A law, there will be B , C or D. so don’t tell them you know your rights.

The worst is , people that are supposed to protect our rights, had also given up doing that. Look at what a lame organisation the Law Society had become? They even had their Rights taken away by LKY!

I had long given up on the MIW, but I am also diappointed that the oppositions are not doing enough where I think they should have step up to the plate in many occasions.

 

[Highfalutin]

cannot-afford
Feb 1, 2010 13:54
just email the link to this article to all your friends. Let them read and judge for themselves whether this is the type of government they want especially those that voted for these white pigs.

woodpecker
Feb 1, 2010 14:13
At those parks, at least those destitutes are away from towns and have access to clean water and food (fish).

It’s not wise to push them too hard, if the authorities have not intention of helping them to get out of their predicament.

When a man is cornered and has run out of options, he has nothing to lose.

Such hungry and homeless people will naturally turn to crime.

Is that the price Singaporeans are willing to pay just because some politician or civil servant wants to look good?

gemami
Feb 1, 2010 14:16
Hi Curious,

I share your sentiments. In fact, I dare say most of us here feel the same way. We are all saddened by what what’s happening in and around our country, our home. I repeat that last part one more time – OUR country, OUR home. Is this how one expects to be treated in his own home?

You cite the example of having A, B, C & D laws imposed on another. Well, it justifies my reasoning that ignorance opens the floodgates to such manipulation of the law, don’t you think?

If one is in well-verse and knowledgeable about his rights, do you think the enforcement officials could even move from A to B without having to prove that the accusations of A is first valid? Fact is, ignorance allows the officials to move from A to B and C to D effortlessly until we believe what we are told.

Again, let’s return to CSJ. How many out there believe that CSJ is what the press had made him out to be? It’s time we challenge such views for once. You’ll be surprised with what you may find.

We are prone to blaming the opposition, or the lack of it, but hands to chest, what have we done that could have prevented the almost non-existence of our opposition? More importantly, what are we going to do about it?

So you see, we should look toward ourselves first before we throw stones at the opposition members. We should be applauding them instead for their spirit of steadfastness and perseverance against such seemingly insurmountable odds.

Animal
Feb 1, 2010 14:24
The Npark officers, police and MCYS people behave worse than animals.

The police doesn’t want to deal with the HUGE problem of loan shark harassment, assault (remember the “non-seizble offense” bullshit), etc……but they waste taxpayers’ money by forcing homeless people to the brink.

fpc
Feb 1, 2010 14:27
I wonder if the pap don’t care about these people because they don’t have an address and therefore cannot vote.

Not The Best
Feb 1, 2010 15:13
The PAP govt is face-conscious. The ministers must show the world that there are no social problems here. That is why begging is not permitted. If you must die from poverty , die quietly.

This country is a facade. Beneath this facade is a country whose people are bleeding profusely from the wounds inflicted by the govt. Very soon, many people will become carcasses disposed off in the streets like dead rats and dogs.

Very sad for the people of Singapore.

 

[Highfalutin]

Objective
Feb 1, 2010 17:03
Studies have shown that not all of them are homeless or broke, many of them had either sold their flats and refused to buy a new one, and have hundreds of thousands in their bank account. Others have home but chose not to live in them. A small percentage of them however, are truly homeless, but they should seek help at the proper channel instead.

According to sources, it seemed that the authorities already know, but the TOC reply was probably seen as a “complaint”, so they took action.

To be fair, on my rounds, I’ve seen some people totally being rude and disregarding the officers, they are also human, however they should be trained to keep their cool and cannot lash out, if and only if what is reported is true. We must also take what the people say with a pinch of salt, because some of them might be lying.

Why did the writer refuse to furnish the details of those “homeless” so the officers can check whether they are indeed homeless and they can assist them?

Objective
Feb 1, 2010 17:09
and how come none of you, and writers and photographers with swanky laptops and huge olympus cameras offered help”?

Curious
Feb 1, 2010 17:41
@Objective….

“Studies have shown that not all of them are homeless or broke, many of them had either sold their flats and refused to buy a new one, and have hundreds of thousands in their bank account. Others have home but chose not to live in them. A small percentage of them however, are truly homeless, but they should seek help at the proper channel instead.”

Please provide source of your ” Studies”?

and how come none of you, and writers and photographers with swanky laptops and huge olympus cameras offered help”?

Is the govt job to help these people… what are the GST for?????

why should someone take the blame when the govt ’s not doing a good job?

sweeney 38
Feb 1, 2010 17:47
It has been a long wait. Welcome back TOC!!

Andrew, thank you for the latest feedback on “Homeless People”!

As for the daft PAP, they will be taught a lesson when the GE comes.
Out they go, for sure!……Period!

Bonzi
Feb 1, 2010 18:20
Hi sweeney 38,

I don’t think that our PAP are any daft or dafter with regards to the GE concernced, do you think that the opposition are any better? me thinks that opp are worst and just talking only, nothing concerete comes out from them, so far.

Just had to
Feb 1, 2010 18:58
Please all, don’t fall for the DELAYING tactics being thrown around right now by the PAP or HDB. All the reviews and what-not about revising housing policy etc. They are only meant to show that something seems to be done. But we all know that the current skyrocketing housing prices cannot be reversed just like that.

MBT knows that by halting or trying to reduce housing resale prices is dangerous because it could lead to panic selling by speculators leaving a huge supply that cannot be cleared (remember the US housing market?). Many of these speculators have no affinity to Singapore and they will simply cut their loses and default the mortgage payments and leave. We are in a poor situation no matter what. It is not a simply a matter of just setting quotas and stuff.

I can GUARANTEE that if you vote out MBT this time round, whoever replaces him as the minister by the PAP will be always on his/her toes around citizens. Don’t be a contented citizenry! We need to be whiny and “complainy” because it is our duty and our job! We do not owe it to the PAP to make their jobs easier as they are already handsomely compensated all this time.

stark
Feb 1, 2010 19:07
i am utterly disgusted. these are singaporeans – citizens – we are talking about. citizens whom the government by mandate has a duty to vouchsafe from a plight like this one. in a true democratic society, no citizen would stand for this; no journalist, or his editor, or any member of the press for that matter would stand for this. the whole country would be up in arms quicker than you can say ‘quick’, demanding that food and shelter be bestowed upon these people; many of which are homeless not due to laziness, but the economy, or a lack of opportunities in our double-edged meritocratic system that seems to only favour the rich, the powerful, or the famed.

and what is with the harsh tone reserved for even the casual users of the park? it reflects badly on public servants on a whole and by extension speaks volumes about how the government trains its staff. it is outrageous, and very precarious for our image, i tell you.

 

[Highfalutin]

Muhammad
Feb 1, 2010 23:49
Based on the above facts I see the homeless campers mostly looks like Malay Singaporeans (Not for racial issue just to identify clearly the problem to solve it ). We muslim contribute 2.5% of our savingss annually as Zakat (Helps to poor) every year in the month of Ramadan to MUIS. Besides we contibute to the society&mosque every Friday prayers and whenever we visit mosque for 5 times prayers.

Where all this money goes, top salaries to all executives working under MUIS, branding, media publishing on heroic stories of their own creation or unnecessary or unread or wasted media like Nadi(one of them), which is not useful at all (You can visit every mosque and see the copies left overs). Creates tons of paper waste (lead to more tree cuts & carbon emissions) which is not Islamic (Prophet Muhammad (Saw) many times condemned unnecessary tree cuts in his life time. This fund could be channeled properly to action to community who needs helps immediately.

Many Singapore family are in basic needs like food (they are mostly depend on Magie Mee), water suppy & Electricity supply, Managing their transportation fee.

Singaporeans can’t keep on begging to Government all the time, My feedback to government is to give them some small quick interest free loan to solve their immediate problems, and give them more concession and rebates in other avenues if they quickly turn new leaf with Community service help to place themselves in work and repay atleast part of their loan. We have to set aside some funds for them with nature of it not profitable on it and only to help them without looking of their returns.

There are 1000s of ways to do it to help our people, Let our government open a way for Citizen’s to contribute this ideas,sure they can solve this problem easily as they need to focus on root cause. They need new think tanks not the existing tanks which fill only their tanks.

Tan
Feb 2, 2010 0:08
Sadly our leaders of today are rich and brilliant in handling issue of high social standing but when it comes to common people issue, compassion and understanding the plight of the people…..FEW IF ANY is capable for such matters for they are the poorest of poor. Most are so well read and highly qualified in terms of degrees collection….all too puffed up without compassion. How many of our MP/leaders in government ministry writing policy or in decision making position actually rose from rank and file or are they prepared/molded upon graduation into office? Do they really know what challenges the commoner daily? Are the policies set up good for classroom lessons only? Do they get a chance to experience
- the constant blast of speakers torment from common parties granted by HDB ie chinese festivals, weddings, funerals, community parties etc etc etc or do they hide away in private property of serene and bliss from what torment the common folks weekly and sometimes daily depending on the season.
-or lived in the constituency they are put steward over to understand what faced their people on a daily basis?
- or experienced public transport substantially to really hear the people?
- or dine at hawker centers / food court during lunch/dinner crowd?
How many of our leaders today can say they really know what faced a commoner? Let’s not talk about those election rounds of display , or the artificial show of a one moment photo snap in leisure rides to promote the public system. Seriously how effective can they be without the people touch? This, in my opinion is the core problem of our modern leaders today.

Michael
Feb 2, 2010 0:30
I am so disgusted!

Seelan Palay
Feb 2, 2010 11:38
Little LKYs? The bureaucracy is full of them.

“Our biggest struggle is not against the PAP, it is against what the PAP has done to our minds.” ~ Dr Chee Soon Juan

aygee
Feb 2, 2010 11:43
I agree with some commentors here.

Its not reported whether they are, but here’s an opportunity for NGOs, charity groups, religious organisations, to come in and help.

On the harshness of it all, well, NParks must have gotten an ultimatum, or a complaint from someone, as usual. I dont think its easy to chase people away, when you know they have nowhere to go to.

Maybe the homeless people should make a din in MRTs or SBS buses, like some of our newly-welcomed fellow citizens.

SBS gave them a taxi for making a noise when no wheelchairs were allowed on a bus…so…who knows.

aygee
Feb 2, 2010 11:51
To Muhammad, Feb 1, 2010 23:49,

I think you’re over-assuming. If you dont really know where and how the Zakat funds are distributed, i think you shouldnt make allegations as you did. And this post about the treatment of homeless folks has got nothing to do with cutting down trees and paper wastage.

Fitnah is as big a sin as misappropriating zakat…

I suggest you investigate, and ask, rather than saying the money’s wasted. MUIS has a religious obligation to God to distribute the monies fairly, and i dont think you’re in a position to criticise without knowing the facts.

gemami
Feb 2, 2010 14:29
I think what Muhammad is saying is that there should be clear and proper accountability. When ambiguity sets in, coupled with a situation that is associated with the same community, then it is inevitable that questions would be raised.

He does have a good point – for the government to offer interest free loans until these homeless can stand on their own feet again. If they really want to help them and with the constant call to be productive, then this might just be a good solution to the problem.

What have they got to lose? 10% of MBT’s or LSS’s monthly salaries?

 

[singveld]

yeah they have a social welfare system call, DUN ASK DUN GIVE.

 

[AvalanCh3]

i see already damn angry lo, so unreansonable. homeless is wrong and minister get millions is correct.

 

[Highfalutin]

i see already damn angry lo, so unreansonable. homeless is wrong and minister get millions is correct.

Would be interesting to know the racial background of those homeless. WEre they Chinese?