Tharman’s call on repaying the debt to the pioneering generations

Be grateful, all the successful million dollar salary employees in govt service or in the private sector, the politicians included. What you are enjoying today is made possible by the hard work and labour of the pioneering generations who planted the seed to grow this tree. They paid the price without enjoying much of their labour. Many lived a life of poverty and died alone with little material comfort.

It is time for the successful to repay this debt to the pioneers of this modern and prosperous city. There are many things the Govt can do to acknowledge the contributions of the pioneers who were poorly paid and worked in very harsh conditions to make what is possible today. Their woes were not much different form the foreign workers today. But they were the foundations, the steps, the stones that we trampled on to scale greater heights.

For some of the pioneers, the little savings they have are fast eroding and wiped away by the high inflation and high cost of living. And with the longer lifespan, many will be in serious financial troubles before they call it a day. Many were also victims of the early retirement policies that took them out of the economic equation too early when they could continue to work to pay for another 30 or 40 years of existence. The situation will only get worse if the Govt does not give a helping hand.

Below are some of the things that our millionaire politicians and the huge reserves created from the pioneers can do.

1. Govt should come out with a comprehensive medicare insurance with the govt footing the premiums.
2. Seniors should enjoy free outpatient care in polyclinics
3. Senior ex NS men should be given a pension to compensate for the miserable $90 NS allowance they received in those pioneering days. The womenfolk should not be forgotten.
4. The older PMETs are also from the pioneering generations. All Singaporean PMETs qualified in their respective fields and professions should be given first priority to be employed unless their health fails them. The govt should implement this policy immediately in the ministries, stats boards and GLCs. The private sector may be difficult and undesirable to do so. Foreigners in the ministries, stats boards and GLCs should be released as early as possible and be replaced by citizens unless their skills are indispensable.
5. All NS men must be eligible to buy a HDB flat and not be disqualified by any stupid rulings. It is a stake for them to defend and make their sacrifices meaningful and not empty.

It is good that Tharman and the Govt is toying with this idea, to acknowledge the contributions of the pioneering generations. There is no need to pay more millions to those pioneers already having money oozing out from all their orifices.

Be grateful and thankful.