A controversial honest discussion
on the CPF had a troubled beginning when Roy Ngerng, Kenneth Jeyaretnam and a
few others invited themselves to the party only to be disinvited. Kenneth somehow
still managed to gatecrash the party only to create more controversies arising
from his 8 point remarks on Hri Kumar’s ‘dishonest’ honest public conversation.
And Hri Kumar returned the compliments by making his own statements on what he
did not say as what Kenneth said he said. Now there is an ongoing big ding dong
battle between the two key contestants of the honest conversation.
The prelude to this battle was a
woman with an amazing cheongsam that was videoed while making some rude remarks
on a 76 year old aunty making a desperate cry for the return of her CPF money.
The whole social media was on fire with netizens throwing nasty things at the
cheongsam woman who was revealed as a PAP grassroot leader by the name of Jean
Ang. Netizens had a field day digging out everything they could find on Jean
Ang and calling her all kinds of unpleasant names. And before the furore died
out, the woman who took the video of the cheongsam woman that went viral was
knocked down by a car and landed in hospital. More rumours appeared about how
this accident could be linked to the video. In the meantime nothing was
reported in the main media despite the uproar in the net.
What was depressing is that the
poor 76 year old aunty was totally forgotten. Netizens were angry with the
cheongsam woman for her rude gestures. Hri Kumar and Kenneth were crossing
swords with each other over who said what. No one seems to bother about the
reason for the desperate plea of the aunty. She was inconsequential. There are
more important issues and scores to settle.
Irene Yap’s problem was that her
money was locked up in her CPF account. Under all circumstances, anyone of her
age should not have any more entanglements with the CPF. She should have
withdrawn all her money from the CPF and ended her relationship there and then.
Her fault was to choose to leave some of her money in the CPF to earn higher
interest. Her fault was not knowing that once the money was left in the CPF, it
would be subject to all the new regulations rolled out by the CPF. She cried in
vain for the return of her money. Hri Kumar’s best reply to her was that she
knew the law and regulations and that’s it. Her money will stay where it is and
nothing else can be done. And no one in the govt, so far, has said anything
about her case and it seems that there is nothing else she could do or no one
would be doing anything. Is there anyone listening to her plight? Or she only
has herself to blame as the law is the law?
Where is the empathy, where is the
kindness, where is the compassion for an old lady caught by the hard side of
the law? Is there anyone listening? Or everyone is deaf? Does anyone feel that
something could be done for her? Does anyone walking the corridors of power think
she deserves some assistance? Or is it a case of how much does she wants, $500,
$5,000 or to return her everything in the CPF? Is there merit to her grievance?
Irene Yap is not alone. There could
be many in the same situation as her. They are an anomaly in the system, or in
a system that took them for granted, and this should be rectified to let them
live in peace in their golden years. Why made them live in misery and anger for
the want of their money back?
Is Irene Yap’s grievance important
at all?
Kopi Level - Yellow
"Is Rene Yap’s grievance important at all?"
ReplyDeleteRB
That will depend on how many Rene Yaps are there in the electorate come 2015 or 2016.
And also whether some of these Rene Yaps think it is still better to vote PAP because opposition is not ready at all to be govt.
Or worse, in the hypothetical event that the opposition is voted in as govt, they announce 1st thing that there is no more money left in the CPF! So how to return CPF money, even if the new opposition govt wanted to, u tell me lah? Scary, tio bo?
So better vote PAP. Better late in getting back CPF money than never!
Hahahahahaha.
"Or worse, in the hypothetical event that the opposition is voted in as govt, they announce 1st thing that there is no more money left in the CPF!"
ReplyDeleteAnon 9:51 am
I won't say impossible, but it may happen if majority Sinkies really dare to vote PAP out.
Today it is no longer a matter of dare. They will vote them out. When that happens, the IBs and fair weather believers will run to hide under cover.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, you are barking up the wrong tree.
ReplyDeleteThat "poor old lady" lives in a Freehold Landed property and is richer than you and 95% of the population.
She doesn't need the money, at least not urgently anyway. And if she does, she can always cash in her property.
I don't see the problem here.
Neither would you see how the ground has shifted and PAP would be voted out in the next GE.
ReplyDeletegovt already in the wrong holding back citizens' lifelong blood and sweat savings AGAINST their will ! it is preposterous to suggest that those living in landed property should kiss goodbye to their cpf !!
ReplyDeletein fact the logic is very flawed, if she is 'not poor' than the more she will not fall back on the cpf savings as a last resort right, hence PAP/CPF has less or no reason to keep her money what! basically you just want to CONTROL our lifelong savings whether we are living in public or private housings !
ReplyDelete"Or worse, in the hypothetical event that the opposition is voted in as govt, they announce 1st thing that there is no more money left in the CPF!"
ReplyDeleteAnon 9:51 am
It is totally probable. The government, like banks, does not keep cash on hand. If they are forced to return the CPF, they will create a "bank" run. When there is a bank run, the bank collapses unless the government steps in to bail the bank out. But who will bail out the government when there is a run on the CPF money? IMF?
@ "Bleeding Heart" RB:
ReplyDeletePlease lah. These dumb fucks were not paying attention.
By now you'd be a moron if you don't realise that CPF is one scheme you have to be on the ball, and GRAB AS MUCH AS YOU CAN before they change the rules...again and again.
Lucky, there are many Singaporeans who are on-the-bola types. They are super-fast to take advantage or "exploit" the occasional "free kick" the govt. either willingly gives or as an oversight forgot to close a "lobang" properly.
Like the old HDB rule of not being allowed to sublet your flat. However if you LOCK UP one room, voila, perfectly "legal". As an opportunistic Singaporean, it is you cultural duty to EXPLOIT as many lobangs as you can, to make money, get ahead, and climb the social ladder to "self actualization" -- not according to Maslow and his fake philosophy, but according to hear-and-now Singapore-style materialism.
Singaporeans like their money. They even keep voting in a govt. who likes to earn big money. Sama-sama, the govt and the people.
So to the fuckers who are not paying attention, it's your funeral. You only have yourself to blame. Many other Singaporeans are quick to respond when opportunity presents. But you must be quick, because the govt. can and will change the rules and "spoil the party".
Got opportunistic mentality? Be less of a scholar and more of a Pua Chu Kang!
Knn MS, you are cursing those people like Auntie Rene for having so much faith and trust in the govt to keep their money in the CPF as stupid. Also those people who topped up the minimum sums of parents and spouses also stupid lah. Like that you mean govt conning them lah.
ReplyDeleteYou don't any say ok. CPF is the safest place to put your life savings ok. Raymond, right or wrong?
If Matilah is saying govt and CPF no good, please screw him. Or he is like you, both IBs so no need to screw each other?
The FamiLee will never allow any future government to admit that there is no more money in the CPF. Their contingency plan is to declare a "freak election result" and invoke the mandate of heaven.
ReplyDeleteThe existence of a giant Ponzi can never be revealed.
See if they use defamation and ISD to protect their turf. LOL
@chee bye brain anon 133:
ReplyDeleteEh dip shit...what universe you in?
And please don't be a mother cheebye by suggesting/ implying/ putting words I never said in a post as if I said them. Fuck you and your liar brain lah. And fuck your mothers smelly cheebye with a basket of rotting durians lah. Fuck her good, ok?
What I said is very clear: In Singapore, you better pay attention and EXPLOIT as many lobangs as you can. You must think of YOURSELF first. You have to pay attention and be on the bola. You already know the fucking govt will suka suka change here and there...so you better GRAB whatever you can whenever you can.
I'm about the same age as these complaining fucks ok? But me and my friends we did A-OK -- using the SAME SYSTEM you cockheads are complaining about.
When I was self employed in Singapore, I pay CPF and MediSave -- many self employed fuckers don't. So I am not "impressed" with people who top up their minimum sum. You are supposed to do it lah, kotek. Everyone is. Ponzi scheme or not, the law is the law lah...not your own suka suka interpretation.
When time to buy your first HDB, move quick. Some more you might qualify for grant (free money from govt). Supposing you live in overseas, you rent the place out -- lock one room. So rent cover repayments (tambah a bit, no sweat). So most of your CPF still intact -- can use to buy more property...Then ask mother to buy HDB, then young sibling (s) ... no sweat, help them with deposit and "cash over value" (COV) to sellers. You are "joint venture" with them. The mother and sibling come go overseas to live with you -- cost efficient. Rent out the HDBs. In 10-15 years all paid up. Sell and upgrade to whatever.
Like dat lah. Got many other ways...Singaporeans are very good at exploiting "lobangs".
Please stop talking about "rights" in Singapore. No such thing lah. In Singapore the LAW determines whether you can or cannot do what you're thinking of doing. even the "rights" mentioned in the constitution are subject to STATUTORY LAW, which is itself deemed constitutional.
Some of you talk like there are people dying on the streets in Singapore from poverty and disease. Please lah fuckheads -- it is one of the richest places on the motherfucking planet and what you see is people doing alright lah.
You make up these "problems" in your heads, and like The Hysterical Redbean -- Roadside Storyteller of some import -- and blow them up as if they are a the biggest threat to human existence. They are NOT. They are simply small, annoying little issues, that's all. If you apply some effort and personal sacrifice, you can solve them for yourselves.
You don't need some messiah from the opposition party riding a white horse to come and "save you"? If you are too lazy or too stupid (or both) to even try to save yourself (and each other), you don't deserve to exist and the Darwinian process of natural selection should be allowed to function unabatedly to CANCEL YOU OUT forthwith. Remember: Meritocracy.
Got positive spirit today?
WGreat article and well done for getting back to the crux of the matter.
ReplyDeleteActually I didn't forget her. I gave her my card soon after she spoke. I have since been contacted by a property tax expert offering his services to her pro bono. However she did stand up and say how much she loved the PAP so I haven't pressed her.
Kenneth Jeyaretnam
William kindness Wan, display some kindness to Ms Yap will ya ?
ReplyDeleteHi Kenneth, Welcome to the blog.
ReplyDeleteGood for you to walk the ground and help people like Irene.
There is one angle that nobody is pushing, the legality of the govt holding back the people's CPF and the changing of the rules. Can this be challenged in court as an issue of human rights or individual's right?
Foreigners did not know that this is not the normal pension fund but the people's savings, not the govt's contribution.