<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>What law on filial duty should address
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I REFER to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's National Day Rally speech on Sunday, which referred to children who dump their elderly parents in hospitals or nursing homes.
These children even go so far as to change their addresses so they cannot be traced or asked to pay their parents' expenses.
There have even been cases where the children have forced their parents out of their HDB flats after the parents transferred the ownership of the property to their children, because the children's spouses cannot get along with the parents.
Although there are only a few cases now, this problem is likely to worsen as Singapore's population is greying rapidly.
To deal with this, Mr Lee said the Government will study how best to use the Maintenance of Parents Act to get such children to do their filial duty.
One way to help these parents is to use their children's Central Provident Fund (CPF) money.
First, legislation should be amended so that funds can be recovered from the children's CPF Ordinary or Medisave accounts if they refuse to pay.
Second, for long-term maintenance of these parents, part of the children's monthly CPF contribution should be diverted to their parents' CPF accounts. As they are usually in their 60s or 70s, they can withdraw the money to pay their living expenses.
Should these parents require other assistance, I am sure the community, charitable organisations and the Government will help.
Financial assistance aside, these parents need social and emotional support. Although there are community activities to make them feel they are still part of society, it is important for them to know their family members care for them, such as with financial support and frequent visits.
Filial piety is more than a responsibility. As Confucius once said, it is not enough to just provide for parents. Dogs and horses are so provided. Without respect, what is the difference?
�
Seah Leong Khai
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I REFER to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's National Day Rally speech on Sunday, which referred to children who dump their elderly parents in hospitals or nursing homes.
These children even go so far as to change their addresses so they cannot be traced or asked to pay their parents' expenses.
There have even been cases where the children have forced their parents out of their HDB flats after the parents transferred the ownership of the property to their children, because the children's spouses cannot get along with the parents.
Although there are only a few cases now, this problem is likely to worsen as Singapore's population is greying rapidly.
To deal with this, Mr Lee said the Government will study how best to use the Maintenance of Parents Act to get such children to do their filial duty.
One way to help these parents is to use their children's Central Provident Fund (CPF) money.
First, legislation should be amended so that funds can be recovered from the children's CPF Ordinary or Medisave accounts if they refuse to pay.
Second, for long-term maintenance of these parents, part of the children's monthly CPF contribution should be diverted to their parents' CPF accounts. As they are usually in their 60s or 70s, they can withdraw the money to pay their living expenses.
Should these parents require other assistance, I am sure the community, charitable organisations and the Government will help.
Financial assistance aside, these parents need social and emotional support. Although there are community activities to make them feel they are still part of society, it is important for them to know their family members care for them, such as with financial support and frequent visits.
Filial piety is more than a responsibility. As Confucius once said, it is not enough to just provide for parents. Dogs and horses are so provided. Without respect, what is the difference?
�
Seah Leong Khai
