Saturday, October 18, 2008

Lost the sense of bonding and togetherness

Dear Mr. Tan Kin Lian

I am a retiree in my sixties and, like you, my heart sentiments and empathies are for the man-in-the- street, ordinary Singapore citizens, and the senior citizens, who are not able to express themselves on their plights and miseries, for lack of ability, education, literacy, IT skills and media know how.

The plight of the poor misguided uncles and aunties, and including my wife and I, who laboured all their lives trusting in the government's promise of a better life, when they can retire with their CPF nest eggs, have just had their dreams shattered and crumbled by the latest chain of events from the financial collapse from around the world. Some of us may be in the same age bracket as a few of our longstanding national leaders, some of whom have passed on, and some who are still giving counsel on the affairs of state. How does one compare the earning of a poor cleaner or bus or taxi driver, with that of those whose monthly salary income is 2000 times as much, or whose lifetime savings is not even one fifth of one months salary of some.

It is not my mission and agenda to protest against the establishment, just for protest sake. But we are now talking about retirees and hardworking citizens who have saved diligently and conscientiously for nearly all their working lives, and as they now walk into their sunset years, they have just suddenly seen the sun go down, without being sure whether it will rise up again the next day.

This is a very sad and human tragedy for Singaporean leaders to address quickly. There is no point in building more of the asset rich Singapore hardware, when the national heartware is in tatters. We have to offer a temple of hope, in order to create a real sense of community belonging in this small so called ' Red Dot island paradise'

Whilst we are shut out our city to entertain and accomodate our foreign guests, as they pop champagne and feast on caviar and veal, whilst they watch some silly machine zooming by, our taxi drivers, retailers and restaurants are hurting from lack of patronage and support. Whilst Rome burns, we are makiing sport.

It is paradox, and an irony, when well qualified and able young Singapore born sons and daughters, leave this 'island paradise' for greener pastures in Australia, NZ, the U.S., Canada, and may not come back home, and we then encourage new alien migrants from neighbouring feeder countries, offering them PR or Singapore citizenship after two years, because they can play better ping pong, or badminton, or football to add to our talent pool.

On the one hand we have full born and bred political opposition members who risk and sacrifice all they have and owned to speak up for the silent Singaporeans, but they are crucified on our court altar, for their their defiance and different points of view. Are we supposed to behave like obedient Singaporean sheep that goes "baa baa, yes sir, yes sir, you're right again,
all the time" .

What has happened to the days of the "gotong royong" when we were more kin and kind as near equals with 'cangkuls and poon kees' in hand, to re-build track roads and clean up the beaches. That was a time when we truly felt the kampong community spirit of collective self help, and we could relate and identify very strongly with our MPs and national leaders fighting for this country's survival. What has happened to the recognition and memories of some of our surviving pioneer old guards like Toh Chin Chye, Goh Keng Swee, Othman Wok, Ong Pang Boon, Jek Yeun Thong? Are they forgotten, because they have now become irelevant today? What about those who have also contibuted but are no longer with us - Devan Nair, S Rajaratnam., E.W Barker, Howe Yoon Chong, George Bogaars, Hon Sui Sen, Lee Siew Choh, Lim Chin Siong, J.B. Jeyaretnam and others.

This country and this nation's progress in the last 40+ years has been one of miraculous transformation, if we judge our report card by stainless steel, gleaming glass, bricks and mortar, and manicured trees and the landscaped gardens. No Singaporean in their 50 -80 years, would deny our government this credit. Our port, airport, CBD, MRT, highways, public housing, schools and institutions of learning stand out as wonderful trophies to our national sense of accomplishment, and much pride for the civil servants, town planners and estate managers. I, myself, have been a beneficiary of this economic progress, when I recall, as a kid, how I used to take my bath from a public stand pipe, or well, and poo into a bucket. Yes, I am grateful to this goverment for improving our creature comfort, dignity and quality of living, but not of life.

But somewhere along the way, coming to where we are today, we seem to have lost that sense of bonding and togetherness with our founding fathers. Our progress reminds me of the book "Animal Farm" by George Orwell. With the success of the physical transformation of the environment, there has also been an attitudinal and spiritual transformation of another kind. It has been a gradual process and shift of our cultural values and national priorities

As our leaders work and live in fine comfort, we the citizens of Singapore are mortgaged to our hilt, and now even our hard earned savings are going up in smoke, because the people in charge knows how to set up the traffic rules, but did not do anything to monitor and track the traffic flow.

Hence for many of us who continue to place our blind faith and trust in a government backed and publicly endorsed brand name, and then to be told when the bottom falls out, "you make your own bed, you lie in it". " If you fall down from bed, through no fault of your own, that's too bad. That's life. The market forces of caveat emptor will have to prevail "

It is like saying, we have proudly built for you a wonderful zebra crossing, but you can cross at your own risk, without the need for traffic light controls..

You are a brave man for doing what you are doing now, and I will refrain from egging you on, by being just an entertained spectator. Some people will do that, but when the riot vans come around, many will scatter and hide. I am a peace loving person, but like many Singaporeans who have helped to build and make this place our home, I too have my gripes and grouches, at the way we are often being programmed and manipulated by those who know what is best for us.

It will be interesting to see if the Prime Minister will still deliver on his national rally pledge, that no one will be left out of the national banquet and pie sharing, even in this difficult and trying time. To the rich dining in aircon comfort, an unfinished bowl of rice is only just $0.50 cents. To the impoverised and starving, that same bowl of rice, could represent a days wage, of burning and straining in the hot sun, or some bent old lady collecting tin cans and discarded cartons just to stay alive, let alone calling it a living.

May God bless, and keep you.

PatAngel

22 comments:

  1. We have lost the sense of humanity.
    It is cheeki kuchikee.There is no unity and bonding. Without Mr.Tan
    risking himself the people , the ordinary folks will be lost and helpless.
    Now is the time to band together , to exchange notes so that the FIs, the insurance agents , the RMs or whatever title they use will not be able to fool us and who most of the time don't know what we bought.Are we too trusting that we have been taken advantage?
    What is structured product, or whole life or endowment? We may know them by names but what they can do for us we are absolutely clueless. We depend on these salesmen to disclose everyhting and to advise us whether they are good for us or not. These salesmen have to be honest. If the product isn't suitable tell us honestly instead of lying and make us buy.
    I find this day the insurance agents and the new breed of salesmen called Relationship Manager, a respectable and but not respectable when you know their motive. The insurance agents are getting worse now.They have no qualms cheating an elderly person. I was a victim of an agent from the cooperative company who sold me a product purportedly to serve as annuity but turned out to be some kind of anticipated endowment called revosave.I found out the bank rate is better than this revosave now.They told me it was better. How about now? This is despicable.They have no more conscience anymore. They are chasing money and any body comes their way they would just rob.At their roadshows they put up misleading posters to lure the unwary passers by.The moment you stop they will harass you for a long distance.
    It is sad. Lucky we have people like Mr. Tan to put a check now, to expose the cheats. We are indebted to him for championing our cause. Thank you , Mr. Tan

    Tired Retiree

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  2. Very sad but true. sigh...

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  3. Humility is not in their vocabulary.

    They are drowned by their "successes" that they alone have transformed Singapore into No.ONE world-class nation in every aspects of life for the citizens.
    Without them, we will not progress so rapidly and "enjoy" their fruits of labour. We owe it to our Government and yet we whine day-in and day-out.

    What I perceive all these years is the number one failure in our education system. I am afraid it has done more harm than good. Anyway, I am not caught-up with this highly stressed curriculum and not impressed with the elite's qualifications. Look at the whole mess in the world's system now and one can get the answer implicitly.

    I want to thank PatAngel for writing out her feelings and sharing them with us. Your sentiments are mutual.

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  4. Hi PatAngel

    Yes, agree with what you wrote, esp. Animal Farms. I feel like a puppet.

    Hi Mr Tan

    Please don't think of standing for President. Instead use your precious time to do more meaningful things. Otherwise very high chance you'd regret, just like Mr Ong.

    Regards
    Bee

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  5. Agreed on what PatAngel said but why? The government focused too much on economic growth, and wanting to attain number 1 in everything they can think of. So this is the result, everything is driven by $$$. But the worst thing is most of them have lost touch with the ground, if you read some of their comments when the crisis just exploded. I can't help laughing at some of their comments. The problem is A, their reply is Z. They clearly do not understand what was going on, thinking that it's some unhappy losers trying to exxagerate things. I have several friends who migrated "for good", all highly intellectual people with degrees to PhD. What were their reasons for leaving? They were labelled as Losers but in the end S'pore is the loser because they are all native S'poreans who were born, grew up, contributed and defended S'pore. I would have joined them if not for family considerations. It's sad, after just one generation the thought of leaving surfaced. What's the point of bringing in foreigners to make up the numbers? Will they be around after they get what they want? Just read the interviews with some foreign scholars who came here to study, most of them said they will go back to China or India one fine day! Also look at some of the sports talent that was brought in, what happened? Will they defend S'pore if a war breaks out? I doubt. Why do we have to be number 1 in everything?
    S'pore has changed so so much in the last 2 decades alone. Even the government's salary need to be pegged with the top 5 professions, where is the sacrificial passion of the first generation of leaders. All changed to passion for $ now? Sigh...

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  6. very sadden by these, how can our Prime Minister help us in this needy time? \Should a task force be set to tackle those affected like myself to recover the money.

    Our Prime Minister has always been a very caring person as far as I know.

    Hard earn money........
    :{

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  7. I have some advise for all these people:

    "The more you hold onto something, the more you are likely to lose it".

    Holding money tighter could often means one day you could lose it all.

    I bet if they donated these money for charity or save some poor souls, they would not be talking about lost "investment".

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  8. When the many aggrieved needs the supporting voices of our elected representatives publicly all we get is silence. Is this issue of providing moral support and standing up for mis-led investors by our elected representative such a treacherous minefield to tread ? Where is that moral courage? What a contrast when you wanted our vote. You were so visible. You were so vocal. You were so independent expounding your values to represent the electorate. The cries of a thousand aggrieved investor cannot be so dim that they cannot be heard. As a retiree I am totally moved by PatAngel posting and identify with him or her. I hope we "baby bloomers" generation are not just sidelined to be ordinary "animals" after putting the "pigs" in position as in George Orwell's Animal Farm.

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  9. If Lee Kuan Yew dies this week, his name will be a stench to most Singaporeans.

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  10. YES YOU ARE RIGHT.

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  11. Only time can really prove sincerity of a person.

    We will wait and see.

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  12. Looking at all these irregular financial practices occuring everyday and everywhere in Sg I think it is a matter of time we will loose our financial-hub status very soon. Who is to blame?

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  13. I congratulate Pat on writing such a nice letter in eloquent english. I guess she conveniently missed reading the T&C before signing on the dotted line.

    Stop crying foul Pat and blame yourself for it!

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  14. 11.30AM
    You must be a RM and one without soul. Likely will go to hell!

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  15. Didn't a wise old man said if you voted in the wrong government, all it takes is just 5 years to ruin? Is it 5 years already?

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  16. If 11:30AM is not a RM, then he/she must be from the authorities (cos same same, the heart is missing, big gaping hole in the chest..)

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  17. To 8:49PM

    What nonsense are you rattling about ? Seems you don't understand what is going on. We are talking about mis-selling and mispresenation, nothing to do with charity, ok ! If you don't understand, keep your comments to yourself.

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  18. Yes!
    Some families have also lost their children through migration as the smarter ones know the difference thus leaving many old folks Singaporeans like you and me having the Lost the sense of bonding and togetherness in that context too!
    Go to Bedok South newly renovated hawker/market and hear the cries of the hawkers/market sellers groaning on account of the high rental fees!...many are forced to retire or give up Isn't it a sad state of bonding?

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  19. The government that transformed Singapore, no longer exists. The leaders then are either dead or retired. The current bunch of managers are not worth their spit (millions).

    A chinese idiom "wealth does not last more than three generations" appear to hold very well in our case. The first generation of leaders slogged with the people to build wealth; the second generation manages this wealth and adds to it; the third generation thinks it's their birthright, demands more and squanders it.

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  20. No problem, we got reverse mortgage on our HDB to fallback as survival kit......got to NTUC Reverse Mortgage Dept.

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  21. The saying:

    Migrate / Innovate or Evaporate?
    Which do you belong?
    I chose to Innovate but remain jobless at my early 50's and now in my early 60's still chasing for that elusive dream but to remain jobless .....no more stamina to Innovate but waiting for the last option when everying is exhausted!

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  22. sad indeed, well written and this country's soul lost But HOW did we get here, who's blessing upon the same people who govern us for years and years of empty promises?who's mandate? and where are those few good men that dare to speak, ANMINAL WORLD indeed,all are equal but some are more than equal of others, DON'T JUST TALK, do we have the guts for change, CHANGE!! REAL CHANGE or just talking pot? then mandate the 1oo,000 signature for a start, bonding in Singapore, show it, do it and when the time is right, vote it, democratatize the dream, the hope and the vision, just is action, and follow up to making this birth land our country, one with a better hope in human spirit and a soul for the living, not the living corpse, each for his own, is long due, alas, just a dream...awaiting for, SINGAPORE PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS BE SINGAPORE PEOPLE and the regime knows...see, the majority speak then what you are going to do about it...

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