How much do you have? How much pocket money does your parents gave you? I have been pondering over this 2 qns ever since i flipped the wanbao, a local tabloid which trives on sex or sensational murder stories for its circulation digits, and i read the story of the man who jumped into the MRT track at Chinese garden Station, the place where he met his current wife.
His whole entire fortune was a measly 30 dollars. For some of us, 30 dollars perhaps was a day's pocket money or the cost of a meal we have eaten at crystal jade. But for him, his 30 dollars need to be stretched to fill up not only a day, a week but maybe a month. I can understand his anguish, his anxiety and his worries. Two teen sons, a loving wife who unfortunately, striked with polio, a 3 room flat which perhaps, mortgage has not been fully paid. In a society like Singapore where a plate of chicken rice cost $2, he can either sacrifice his whole fortune for 15 plates, or to divided it equally to paying utilities, food, transport and health care.
So what went into his mind when he decided to take the plunge? Does he not care about his family? Is he suffering from depression? Does he regret the moment his life flashed in front of him? Sadly, no one can answer these question.
To the society as a whole, the government has been reassuring that Singapore must be an inclusive society. Then, this inclusive society as it is called, does it include the poor as well? If it does, then why has he got to die? Sure, there are alot of measures and avenues presented to the poor like the progress package. However, fingers has been pointed to the poor themselves for not accepting these help due to "face saving".
But thats not forget, the poor usually has little or no education. For him, he only had a primary three education. So shall we just play the blame game and say :" oh the help are there, but blame yourself for not wanting it". I feel its not they not wanting it but they do not know how to get it?
Should we set up a unit to track these poor people, offer them help instead of them coming to get help, to ask for help. Even we do not want to build a social welfare system in singapore, but sometimes, too rigid to one policy may blind us from seeing the big picture.
On a personal note: After i read his story i realised that compared to my silly problem, his is the one which indeed, constitute a problem. I also felt that actually i am still considered lucky for the fact i do not have to worry how to feed my family with just $30. I think i will do volunteer work after i graduate.
