Primed to be re-hired

Government aims to retain 10,000 older male workers in the next five years

Jasmine Yin
jasmine@mediacorp.com.sg

EVEN as it ramps up efforts for firms to hire older Singaporeans, the Government has also set its sights on plugging the outflow of mature male workers from the labour market. Now, eight out of 10 men in the 55 to 59-year-old bracket work, but this ratio falls to six in 10 when they hit 60 to 64 years old, observed Minister for Manpower Dr Ng Eng Hen (picture).
.
So, according to statistical extrapolation, some 21,000 males between 55 to 59 now will stop working in 2012 — a leakage that Dr Ng, who is also the Second Minister for Defence, wants to stop.
.
"Within the next five years, we will work hard to keep at least half of them working. This means we'll add 10,000 residents to the workforce, but if our economy continues to grow and create 180,000 jobs like last year, we can absorb them," he said at a press conference yesterday.
.
"So, if you're aged 55 to 59 today, you're my target. Is that do-able? Yes, it will involve hard work, but it's do-able."
.
At a separate event yesterday, Mr Lim Boon Heng, the minister overseeing ageing issues, said that the re-employment law for older workers in Singapore is likely to be modelled after Japanese legislation.
.
In Japan, the employer is obliged to offer re-employment to an employee who reaches 60 years old, but there are options to do so, Mr Lim pointed out. The person can be offered the same job with the same pay; the same job with lesser pay, or a different job and different pay.
.
"We have decided that we'll follow the same thinking because we believe that the fundamental principle of successful employment must be that it makes economic sense for the employer to engage an older worker," he said.
.
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) worked with 161 companies to place 2,481 older workers with jobs last year. As of July, the number of firms and jobs went up to 275 and just over 3,000 respectively.
.
Urging employers to start thinking about the re-employment law now, Mr Lim proffered that there could be firms, especially very small outfits, that may find it tough to re-employ their older staff.
.
"The earlier we start, then the earlier we know what kinds of issues may come up and then what kinds of solutions might be possible," said Mr Lim.
.
Mr Stephen Lee, president of the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), suggested that smaller companies here might also want to follow another Japanese practice.
.
There, smaller companies which could not offer their older employees jobs within the company "will bear some costs for the retraining of the workers and place them in another company or industry", he told Channel NewsAsia.
.
Mr Lim, a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, also noted that a key issue that employers need to look long and hard at is the cost of re-hiring older workers. This is where schemes like a performance-based pay — instead of one based on the employee's seniority — and portable medical benefits can come in.
.
Portable medical benefits allow "certainty for the employer of how much you have to pay for the employees' medical expenses", said Mr Lim.
.
When asked about safeguards to ensure that older workers are re-hired fairly, Mr Lim said he expects the unions and the Manpower Ministry to step in should complaints of unfair re-employment offers or unfair treatment arise. In the pipeline too, are plans to monitor and highlight cases of companies that have successfully — and fairly — re-negotiated terms of employment with existing staff as role models for others to follow.
.
Another area that the authorities are looking at is part-time employment, which has not quite taken off in Singapore.
.
In the European Union, he noted, part-timers make up 30 per cent of employment in the services sector, followed by healthcare (28 per cent) and education (24 per cent).
.
There could be certain sectors that are "easier" to be organised for people to work part-time, Mr Lim said.
Government aims to retain 10,000 older male workers in the next five years

Jasmine Yin
jasmine@mediacorp.com.sg

EVEN as it ramps up efforts for firms to hire older Singaporeans, the Government has also set its sights on plugging the outflow of mature male workers from the labour market. Now, eight out of 10 men in the 55 to 59-year-old bracket work, but this ratio falls to six in 10 when they hit 60 to 64 years old, observed Minister for Manpower Dr Ng Eng Hen (picture).
.
So, according to statistical extrapolation, some 21,000 males between 55 to 59 now will stop working in 2012 — a leakage that Dr Ng, who is also the Second Minister for Defence, wants to stop.
.
"Within the next five years, we will work hard to keep at least half of them working. This means we'll add 10,000 residents to the workforce, but if our economy continues to grow and create 180,000 jobs like last year, we can absorb them," he said at a press conference yesterday.
.
"So, if you're aged 55 to 59 today, you're my target. Is that do-able? Yes, it will involve hard work, but it's do-able."
.
At a separate event yesterday, Mr Lim Boon Heng, the minister overseeing ageing issues, said that the re-employment law for older workers in Singapore is likely to be modelled after Japanese legislation.
.
In Japan, the employer is obliged to offer re-employment to an employee who reaches 60 years old, but there are options to do so, Mr Lim pointed out. The person can be offered the same job with the same pay; the same job with lesser pay, or a different job and different pay.
.
"We have decided that we'll follow the same thinking because we believe that the fundamental principle of successful employment must be that it makes economic sense for the employer to engage an older worker," he said.
.
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) worked with 161 companies to place 2,481 older workers with jobs last year. As of July, the number of firms and jobs went up to 275 and just over 3,000 respectively.
.
Urging employers to start thinking about the re-employment law now, Mr Lim proffered that there could be firms, especially very small outfits, that may find it tough to re-employ their older staff.
.
"The earlier we start, then the earlier we know what kinds of issues may come up and then what kinds of solutions might be possible," said Mr Lim.
.
Mr Stephen Lee, president of the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), suggested that smaller companies here might also want to follow another Japanese practice.
.
There, smaller companies which could not offer their older employees jobs within the company "will bear some costs for the retraining of the workers and place them in another company or industry", he told Channel NewsAsia.
.
Mr Lim, a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, also noted that a key issue that employers need to look long and hard at is the cost of re-hiring older workers. This is where schemes like a performance-based pay — instead of one based on the employee's seniority — and portable medical benefits can come in.
.
Portable medical benefits allow "certainty for the employer of how much you have to pay for the employees' medical expenses", said Mr Lim.
.
When asked about safeguards to ensure that older workers are re-hired fairly, Mr Lim said he expects the unions and the Manpower Ministry to step in should complaints of unfair re-employment offers or unfair treatment arise. In the pipeline too, are plans to monitor and highlight cases of companies that have successfully — and fairly — re-negotiated terms of employment with existing staff as role models for others to follow.
.
Another area that the authorities are looking at is part-time employment, which has not quite taken off in Singapore.
.
In the European Union, he noted, part-timers make up 30 per cent of employment in the services sector, followed by healthcare (28 per cent) and education (24 per cent).
.
There could be certain sectors that are "easier" to be organised for people to work part-time, Mr Lim said.
Government aims to retain 10,000 older male workers in the next five years

Jasmine Yin
jasmine@mediacorp.com.sg

EVEN as it ramps up efforts for firms to hire older Singaporeans, the Government has also set its sights on plugging the outflow of mature male workers from the labour market. Now, eight out of 10 men in the 55 to 59-year-old bracket work, but this ratio falls to six in 10 when they hit 60 to 64 years old, observed Minister for Manpower Dr Ng Eng Hen (picture).
.
So, according to statistical extrapolation, some 21,000 males between 55 to 59 now will stop working in 2012 — a leakage that Dr Ng, who is also the Second Minister for Defence, wants to stop.
.
"Within the next five years, we will work hard to keep at least half of them working. This means we'll add 10,000 residents to the workforce, but if our economy continues to grow and create 180,000 jobs like last year, we can absorb them," he said at a press conference yesterday.
.
"So, if you're aged 55 to 59 today, you're my target. Is that do-able? Yes, it will involve hard work, but it's do-able."
.
At a separate event yesterday, Mr Lim Boon Heng, the minister overseeing ageing issues, said that the re-employment law for older workers in Singapore is likely to be modelled after Japanese legislation.
.
In Japan, the employer is obliged to offer re-employment to an employee who reaches 60 years old, but there are options to do so, Mr Lim pointed out. The person can be offered the same job with the same pay; the same job with lesser pay, or a different job and different pay.
.
"We have decided that we'll follow the same thinking because we believe that the fundamental principle of successful employment must be that it makes economic sense for the employer to engage an older worker," he said.
.
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) worked with 161 companies to place 2,481 older workers with jobs last year. As of July, the number of firms and jobs went up to 275 and just over 3,000 respectively.
.
Urging employers to start thinking about the re-employment law now, Mr Lim proffered that there could be firms, especially very small outfits, that may find it tough to re-employ their older staff.
.
"The earlier we start, then the earlier we know what kinds of issues may come up and then what kinds of solutions might be possible," said Mr Lim.
.
Mr Stephen Lee, president of the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), suggested that smaller companies here might also want to follow another Japanese practice.
.
There, smaller companies which could not offer their older employees jobs within the company "will bear some costs for the retraining of the workers and place them in another company or industry", he told Channel NewsAsia.
.
Mr Lim, a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, also noted that a key issue that employers need to look long and hard at is the cost of re-hiring older workers. This is where schemes like a performance-based pay — instead of one based on the employee's seniority — and portable medical benefits can come in.
.
Portable medical benefits allow "certainty for the employer of how much you have to pay for the employees' medical expenses", said Mr Lim.
.
When asked about safeguards to ensure that older workers are re-hired fairly, Mr Lim said he expects the unions and the Manpower Ministry to step in should complaints of unfair re-employment offers or unfair treatment arise. In the pipeline too, are plans to monitor and highlight cases of companies that have successfully — and fairly — re-negotiated terms of employment with existing staff as role models for others to follow.
.
Another area that the authorities are looking at is part-time employment, which has not quite taken off in Singapore.
.
In the European Union, he noted, part-timers make up 30 per cent of employment in the services sector, followed by healthcare (28 per cent) and education (24 per cent).
.
There could be certain sectors that are "easier" to be organised for people to work part-time, Mr Lim said.
Government aims to retain 10,000 older male workers in the next five years

Jasmine Yin
jasmine@mediacorp.com.sg

EVEN as it ramps up efforts for firms to hire older Singaporeans, the Government has also set its sights on plugging the outflow of mature male workers from the labour market. Now, eight out of 10 men in the 55 to 59-year-old bracket work, but this ratio falls to six in 10 when they hit 60 to 64 years old, observed Minister for Manpower Dr Ng Eng Hen (picture).
.
So, according to statistical extrapolation, some 21,000 males between 55 to 59 now will stop working in 2012 — a leakage that Dr Ng, who is also the Second Minister for Defence, wants to stop.
.
"Within the next five years, we will work hard to keep at least half of them working. This means we'll add 10,000 residents to the workforce, but if our economy continues to grow and create 180,000 jobs like last year, we can absorb them," he said at a press conference yesterday.
.
"So, if you're aged 55 to 59 today, you're my target. Is that do-able? Yes, it will involve hard work, but it's do-able."
.
At a separate event yesterday, Mr Lim Boon Heng, the minister overseeing ageing issues, said that the re-employment law for older workers in Singapore is likely to be modelled after Japanese legislation.
.
In Japan, the employer is obliged to offer re-employment to an employee who reaches 60 years old, but there are options to do so, Mr Lim pointed out. The person can be offered the same job with the same pay; the same job with lesser pay, or a different job and different pay.
.
"We have decided that we'll follow the same thinking because we believe that the fundamental principle of successful employment must be that it makes economic sense for the employer to engage an older worker," he said.
.
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) worked with 161 companies to place 2,481 older workers with jobs last year. As of July, the number of firms and jobs went up to 275 and just over 3,000 respectively.
.
Urging employers to start thinking about the re-employment law now, Mr Lim proffered that there could be firms, especially very small outfits, that may find it tough to re-employ their older staff.
.
"The earlier we start, then the earlier we know what kinds of issues may come up and then what kinds of solutions might be possible," said Mr Lim.
.
Mr Stephen Lee, president of the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), suggested that smaller companies here might also want to follow another Japanese practice.
.
There, smaller companies which could not offer their older employees jobs within the company "will bear some costs for the retraining of the workers and place them in another company or industry", he told Channel NewsAsia.
.
Mr Lim, a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, also noted that a key issue that employers need to look long and hard at is the cost of re-hiring older workers. This is where schemes like a performance-based pay — instead of one based on the employee's seniority — and portable medical benefits can come in.
.
Portable medical benefits allow "certainty for the employer of how much you have to pay for the employees' medical expenses", said Mr Lim.
.
When asked about safeguards to ensure that older workers are re-hired fairly, Mr Lim said he expects the unions and the Manpower Ministry to step in should complaints of unfair re-employment offers or unfair treatment arise. In the pipeline too, are plans to monitor and highlight cases of companies that have successfully — and fairly — re-negotiated terms of employment with existing staff as role models for others to follow.
.
Another area that the authorities are looking at is part-time employment, which has not quite taken off in Singapore.
.
In the European Union, he noted, part-timers make up 30 per cent of employment in the services sector, followed by healthcare (28 per cent) and education (24 per cent).
.
There could be certain sectors that are "easier" to be organised for people to work part-time, Mr Lim said.
Government aims to retain 10,000 older male workers in the next five years

Jasmine Yin
jasmine@mediacorp.com.sg

EVEN as it ramps up efforts for firms to hire older Singaporeans, the Government has also set its sights on plugging the outflow of mature male workers from the labour market. Now, eight out of 10 men in the 55 to 59-year-old bracket work, but this ratio falls to six in 10 when they hit 60 to 64 years old, observed Minister for Manpower Dr Ng Eng Hen (picture).
.
So, according to statistical extrapolation, some 21,000 males between 55 to 59 now will stop working in 2012 — a leakage that Dr Ng, who is also the Second Minister for Defence, wants to stop.
.
"Within the next five years, we will work hard to keep at least half of them working. This means we'll add 10,000 residents to the workforce, but if our economy continues to grow and create 180,000 jobs like last year, we can absorb them," he said at a press conference yesterday.
.
"So, if you're aged 55 to 59 today, you're my target. Is that do-able? Yes, it will involve hard work, but it's do-able."
.
At a separate event yesterday, Mr Lim Boon Heng, the minister overseeing ageing issues, said that the re-employment law for older workers in Singapore is likely to be modelled after Japanese legislation.
.
In Japan, the employer is obliged to offer re-employment to an employee who reaches 60 years old, but there are options to do so, Mr Lim pointed out. The person can be offered the same job with the same pay; the same job with lesser pay, or a different job and different pay.
.
"We have decided that we'll follow the same thinking because we believe that the fundamental principle of successful employment must be that it makes economic sense for the employer to engage an older worker," he said.
.
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) worked with 161 companies to place 2,481 older workers with jobs last year. As of July, the number of firms and jobs went up to 275 and just over 3,000 respectively.
.
Urging employers to start thinking about the re-employment law now, Mr Lim proffered that there could be firms, especially very small outfits, that may find it tough to re-employ their older staff.
.
"The earlier we start, then the earlier we know what kinds of issues may come up and then what kinds of solutions might be possible," said Mr Lim.
.
Mr Stephen Lee, president of the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), suggested that smaller companies here might also want to follow another Japanese practice.
.
There, smaller companies which could not offer their older employees jobs within the company "will bear some costs for the retraining of the workers and place them in another company or industry", he told Channel NewsAsia.
.
Mr Lim, a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, also noted that a key issue that employers need to look long and hard at is the cost of re-hiring older workers. This is where schemes like a performance-based pay — instead of one based on the employee's seniority — and portable medical benefits can come in.
.
Portable medical benefits allow "certainty for the employer of how much you have to pay for the employees' medical expenses", said Mr Lim.
.
When asked about safeguards to ensure that older workers are re-hired fairly, Mr Lim said he expects the unions and the Manpower Ministry to step in should complaints of unfair re-employment offers or unfair treatment arise. In the pipeline too, are plans to monitor and highlight cases of companies that have successfully — and fairly — re-negotiated terms of employment with existing staff as role models for others to follow.
.
Another area that the authorities are looking at is part-time employment, which has not quite taken off in Singapore.
.
In the European Union, he noted, part-timers make up 30 per cent of employment in the services sector, followed by healthcare (28 per cent) and education (24 per cent).
.
There could be certain sectors that are "easier" to be organised for people to work part-time, Mr Lim said.
Government aims to retain 10,000 older male workers in the next five years

Jasmine Yin
jasmine@mediacorp.com.sg

EVEN as it ramps up efforts for firms to hire older Singaporeans, the Government has also set its sights on plugging the outflow of mature male workers from the labour market. Now, eight out of 10 men in the 55 to 59-year-old bracket work, but this ratio falls to six in 10 when they hit 60 to 64 years old, observed Minister for Manpower Dr Ng Eng Hen (picture).
.
So, according to statistical extrapolation, some 21,000 males between 55 to 59 now will stop working in 2012 — a leakage that Dr Ng, who is also the Second Minister for Defence, wants to stop.
.
"Within the next five years, we will work hard to keep at least half of them working. This means we'll add 10,000 residents to the workforce, but if our economy continues to grow and create 180,000 jobs like last year, we can absorb them," he said at a press conference yesterday.
.
"So, if you're aged 55 to 59 today, you're my target. Is that do-able? Yes, it will involve hard work, but it's do-able."
.
At a separate event yesterday, Mr Lim Boon Heng, the minister overseeing ageing issues, said that the re-employment law for older workers in Singapore is likely to be modelled after Japanese legislation.
.
In Japan, the employer is obliged to offer re-employment to an employee who reaches 60 years old, but there are options to do so, Mr Lim pointed out. The person can be offered the same job with the same pay; the same job with lesser pay, or a different job and different pay.
.
"We have decided that we'll follow the same thinking because we believe that the fundamental principle of successful employment must be that it makes economic sense for the employer to engage an older worker," he said.
.
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) worked with 161 companies to place 2,481 older workers with jobs last year. As of July, the number of firms and jobs went up to 275 and just over 3,000 respectively.
.
Urging employers to start thinking about the re-employment law now, Mr Lim proffered that there could be firms, especially very small outfits, that may find it tough to re-employ their older staff.
.
"The earlier we start, then the earlier we know what kinds of issues may come up and then what kinds of solutions might be possible," said Mr Lim.
.
Mr Stephen Lee, president of the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), suggested that smaller companies here might also want to follow another Japanese practice.
.
There, smaller companies which could not offer their older employees jobs within the company "will bear some costs for the retraining of the workers and place them in another company or industry", he told Channel NewsAsia.
.
Mr Lim, a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, also noted that a key issue that employers need to look long and hard at is the cost of re-hiring older workers. This is where schemes like a performance-based pay — instead of one based on the employee's seniority — and portable medical benefits can come in.
.
Portable medical benefits allow "certainty for the employer of how much you have to pay for the employees' medical expenses", said Mr Lim.
.
When asked about safeguards to ensure that older workers are re-hired fairly, Mr Lim said he expects the unions and the Manpower Ministry to step in should complaints of unfair re-employment offers or unfair treatment arise. In the pipeline too, are plans to monitor and highlight cases of companies that have successfully — and fairly — re-negotiated terms of employment with existing staff as role models for others to follow.
.
Another area that the authorities are looking at is part-time employment, which has not quite taken off in Singapore.
.
In the European Union, he noted, part-timers make up 30 per cent of employment in the services sector, followed by healthcare (28 per cent) and education (24 per cent).
.
There could be certain sectors that are "easier" to be organised for people to work part-time, Mr Lim said.
Government aims to retain 10,000 older male workers in the next five years

Jasmine Yin
jasmine@mediacorp.com.sg

EVEN as it ramps up efforts for firms to hire older Singaporeans, the Government has also set its sights on plugging the outflow of mature male workers from the labour market. Now, eight out of 10 men in the 55 to 59-year-old bracket work, but this ratio falls to six in 10 when they hit 60 to 64 years old, observed Minister for Manpower Dr Ng Eng Hen (picture).
.
So, according to statistical extrapolation, some 21,000 males between 55 to 59 now will stop working in 2012 — a leakage that Dr Ng, who is also the Second Minister for Defence, wants to stop.
.
"Within the next five years, we will work hard to keep at least half of them working. This means we'll add 10,000 residents to the workforce, but if our economy continues to grow and create 180,000 jobs like last year, we can absorb them," he said at a press conference yesterday.
.
"So, if you're aged 55 to 59 today, you're my target. Is that do-able? Yes, it will involve hard work, but it's do-able."
.
At a separate event yesterday, Mr Lim Boon Heng, the minister overseeing ageing issues, said that the re-employment law for older workers in Singapore is likely to be modelled after Japanese legislation.
.
In Japan, the employer is obliged to offer re-employment to an employee who reaches 60 years old, but there are options to do so, Mr Lim pointed out. The person can be offered the same job with the same pay; the same job with lesser pay, or a different job and different pay.
.
"We have decided that we'll follow the same thinking because we believe that the fundamental principle of successful employment must be that it makes economic sense for the employer to engage an older worker," he said.
.
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) worked with 161 companies to place 2,481 older workers with jobs last year. As of July, the number of firms and jobs went up to 275 and just over 3,000 respectively.
.
Urging employers to start thinking about the re-employment law now, Mr Lim proffered that there could be firms, especially very small outfits, that may find it tough to re-employ their older staff.
.
"The earlier we start, then the earlier we know what kinds of issues may come up and then what kinds of solutions might be possible," said Mr Lim.
.
Mr Stephen Lee, president of the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), suggested that smaller companies here might also want to follow another Japanese practice.
.
There, smaller companies which could not offer their older employees jobs within the company "will bear some costs for the retraining of the workers and place them in another company or industry", he told Channel NewsAsia.
.
Mr Lim, a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, also noted that a key issue that employers need to look long and hard at is the cost of re-hiring older workers. This is where schemes like a performance-based pay — instead of one based on the employee's seniority — and portable medical benefits can come in.
.
Portable medical benefits allow "certainty for the employer of how much you have to pay for the employees' medical expenses", said Mr Lim.
.
When asked about safeguards to ensure that older workers are re-hired fairly, Mr Lim said he expects the unions and the Manpower Ministry to step in should complaints of unfair re-employment offers or unfair treatment arise. In the pipeline too, are plans to monitor and highlight cases of companies that have successfully — and fairly — re-negotiated terms of employment with existing staff as role models for others to follow.
.
Another area that the authorities are looking at is part-time employment, which has not quite taken off in Singapore.
.
In the European Union, he noted, part-timers make up 30 per cent of employment in the services sector, followed by healthcare (28 per cent) and education (24 per cent).
.
There could be certain sectors that are "easier" to be organised for people to work part-time, Mr Lim said.

In response to the article above, I support the government's view point and potential steps they are to implement. The newly introduced laws may address many issues, recent and old.

The first problem it addresses is the lack of jobs for the elderly. Even today, it is a common sign at mass transit stations to spot the elderly begging people to buy tissues, simple food or some (to the extent of) pure begging, especially some disabled or handicapped people. Many of them are probably willing to look for jobs, but are unable to do so with such a competitive market. Gone are the days where education is considered a premium - many of these uneducated (or even illiterate) people cannot even compare up to even the 'O' level students, some not even PSLE. Although they have the experience, they barely have the spirit, energy or enthusiasm. Therefore, the introduction of such laws will create better prospects for the elderly of Singapore.

The second problem is how it addresses the drop in standard of living many elderly are not willing to take, resulting in sustained spending after their retirement without the income to support it, resulting a downward spiral in terms of savings. Those who plan ahead have enough to spend before realizing this is not the way to go, but many who don't probably become so poor they are forced to look for a job only to find none. Also, it is not uncommon to hear years of CPF funds being withdrawn and spent within a year or even months. Therefore the increased aged of employment and CPF withdrawal will sharply increase Singaporean's economic health for the elderly.

The recent problem it addresses is the problem of the lack of new babies. If the workforce spirals into a decline without stopping for years at a go, it may represent a big hit to the economy. This is bad for everyone, companies, youngsters, elderly and industries alike. This isn't an immediate problem, but a solution will take a long time to take effect, and it'll take years when the problem hits Singapore at full force.

Therefore, I fully support and agree with the government's actions.

Beds and a roof for the homeless sick

Beds and a roof for the homeless sick

Weekend • August 18, 2007

Sheralyn Tay
sheralyn@mediacorp.sg

HE USED to sleep on park benches, under bridges and void decks, tucked up in a sleeping bag and wrapped in blankets. During the day, Mr Amir Hamzah, 48, would carry his worldly possessions in three bags.

Having lost his home after a divorce 10 years ago, Mr Amir became effectively homeless about three years ago when he decided that he did not want to impose on his relatives anymore.

"I used to stay with (my siblings), but my nieces and nephews are still young, so (my siblings) have to save up for their future as well. I did not want to be a burden."

To add to his woes, Mr Amir, who underwent a heart bypass two years ago, also suffers from kidney failure and needs to undergo dialysis. Due to his long-term illness, he cannot find — and keep — a permanent job.

"Because of the stress and sleeping on the cold floor, my kidney failure got worse. I get backaches and am always tired. With kidney failure, it's not easy to lug around more than 5kg of belongings," he said.

But today, Mr Amir has a roof over his head, thanks to an initiative by the Muslim Kidney Action Association (MKAC). He stays with three other homeless men at a shelter for chronically ill homeless people — believed to be the first of its kind in Singapore.

Launched this weekend, the shelter (picture) functions on a different model from that of current homes, said MKAC president Ameerali Abdeali.

"The shelter by MKAC is not regimented. Most kidney patients prefer to be independent, as they have to go for dialysis. So they are given the freedom to come and go as they please," he told Today.

At the shelter, the chronically-ill would be properly managed, able to attend their dialysis sessions and have their day-to-day needs met. The shelter, an airy and bright single storey terraced house located next the MKAC's headquarters at Telok Kurau, can house about 10 adults. It is not known how many homeless people there are in Singapore, but some 1,700 destitute people live in government-funded homes, according to official statistics.

In July, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports set up a temporary shelter for homeless families.

From : http://www.todayonline.com/articles/206235.asp (Link may expire)

This comment is in reference to the article above.

Firstly, I would really like to commend on Muslim Kidney Action Association (MKAC) for their efforts on helping the homeless sick by at least providing them a proper shelter.

I find that in such a realistic city like Singapore where grades, income and education level is always held in some of the highest regard, there are some people who actually reach out to others by providing help they desperately need. On a more personal level, I feel that people in Singapore are more often than not harsh and unfeeling, especially to strangers. People often stare and are unwilling to lend a helping hand to someone in trouble. I see it quite common where people just 'fend' for themselves (perhaps forced by the culture of the society?) and simply 'minds there own business'.

I feel that Singapore, which many regard as a developed country, should start moving it's general direction towards empathy for others. After all, an unfeeling society will not be able to excel, and will perhaps always be limited by their unwillingness to provide help for others.

The government should, in my opinion, lead the way by providing shelter to those in need. Sick or not, people should deserve a shelter over their heads, no matter how crude or simple the shelter is. As the case is above, many people may have made a single mistake in life and spiraled down into a situation where they are unable to be employed where their lack of money doesn't even give them the ability to dress smartly, and their unemployment leads them to the lack of basic necessities, and eventually a home.

As commonly known, the government does support the notion of fending for oneself - nobody owes us a living. However, do these people really have to spend so much wasted time during to stand up after such a bad fall? Most will never be able to, and eventually become a burden to the society. With a shelter and some basic needs fulfilled, they can actively seek work and contribute back to the society.

Perhaps if more organizations (or even the government) can follow their leads and do more promotion of their efforts for a greater reach, we may never see people sleeping overnight on benches again.

In reference to the article located at :
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,130108-1179007140,00.html

Naïve Deluded Cowardly Insincere Irresponsible
Judge gives local actor dressing down for drink driving
May 12, 2007

          This isn’t the first article I have read upon drink driving, and will certainly not be the last. This has already become a worrying trend. Just a week ago, another MediaCorp actor was convicted of drink driving as well. This problem may not have been very prominent in the past in the eyes of the public, but the status of these two offenders has definitely brought the issue back into the limelight. It certainly displays certain aspects of the problem, and how some people can be as selfish as to ignore those that they have injured. It is definitely a call for concern as it reflects how selfish some Singaporeans may be.
          I believe what was the most disgusting aspect of this case was how irresponsible the actor, Lee, was when handling the situation both before and after the situation has occurred. The first part of the problem was how Lee actually drove under the assumption that he “felt” sober. One should know very well that “feelings” are usually an extremely unreliable method of judging and should not be relied on when considering when one is in violation of the law. However, he still went ahead and drove his car, ignoring the fact that he was drunk just a few hours ago. The only thing that can be said would be that he did make significant measures to stop himself from driving such as taking a cab home after drinking. This, however, cannot “make up” for how irresponsible he was in drink driving. The second more important part of the problem was how he simply abandoned the victims of the collision and drove hundreds of meters away from the scene of crime, ignoring how much damage he could have possibly done. He was fortunate the victims did not suffer fatal injuries, and did not die from the lack of immediate treatment. However, he should have from the start stopped to help them, a minimum expectation from a morally upright person. It would be immoral to just leave the victim to die on his own. He even stopped to get down from his car to check out what happened, but knowingly abandoned the victims. Ignorance is already not a valid excuse.
          I am disgusted that some Singaporeans are selfish enough to care only for themselves and their own reputation and such a trend in the society should not be allowed to build up or continue. Such actions are definitely irresponsible, and I think a jail term would serve as an appropriate warning to all.

In reference to the article located at :
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,130301-1179179940,00.html

Shock Outrage Shame
Student from top school allegedly punches bus driver
May 14, 2007

          I was appalled upon reading the subtitle – a top school student, physically assaulting a bus driver? I would find that hard to believe, even when seen in a newspaper. As I continue to read the article, I find this raise an alarm as to the attitude of this student, and whether or not this may be a rising trend.
          Looking deeper into the issue, one may find two underlying problems. Firstly, the student admitted using violence by punching the bus driver, which in any case was wrong unless for self defence. Secondly, even when admitting his mistakes, he chose to push some blame back to the bus driver, insisting that the bus driver did not explain clearly to him the reason for taking his friend’s ezlink card. Even so, his version of the story also placed much more emphasis on how the driver assaulted his friend without providing a valid reason. Regardless of whose version was true, it was undeniable that there were many witnesses around, who saw clearly that the boy repeatedly punched the driver, even when the driver fell into the driver’s seat, meaning when he was defenceless. Others also witnessed a gentleman restraining the boy, who continued to struggle in an attempt to deal more blows to the driver. After simple reasoning, one can imagine that if the student’s version of the story was true, it would be contradictory as someone attacking out of self defence would unlikely attack the person even when the person is helpless and did not retaliate, and would definitely not struggle when helped by someone else who could potentially speak up for him if the driver were to be in the wrong.
          I think the main problem here is how he focused on violence when he could have talked it over with the driver amicably. The issue was actually arisen from a very small problem – he tapped his friend’s ezlink card that she reported lost and found again, when he should have used the newer ezlink card. If he was to have handed the card over to the bus captain, this matter could have been avoided completely and his friend would only need to explain to TransitLink and destroy the card in question. I would even conclude that it is unwise, if not foolish, to use violence unnecessary and possibly recounting a story that would put him in better light and better justify his use of violence, which amounts to lying.

I am posting in reference to the article :

Pub Date: 09/02/2007   Pub: ST              Page: 3
Day: Friday
Edition: FIRST
Headline: Another S’porean jailed in Malaysia for illegal entry
By: KHUSHWANT SINGH
Page Heading: PRIME
Source: SPH

          After reading the article, I felt that there is a tad of unfairness with Malaysia's decision. I appreciate how Malaysia is doing her best to keep their customs safe from rule breakers. However, it is not uncommon for mistakes to be made at the customs, as even on of the officers admitted that there are 10-15 such cases monthly. Moreover, the Singaporeans they caught had no obvious motive to break rules - each had reasons, and some reasons may be attributed to the negligence of both parties. They should be punished for their folly, admittedly, but is there a need to give them a jail sentence? A fine would probably suffice to deter future offenders. As proven by Singapore's law system, fines are an effective way to deter future offenses.
          Perhaps a more effective way to stop rule breakers would be to improve the staff training and number of staff at the customs. At least there will not be cases of "empty" booths when visitors are driving through. It would be better for both parties, as Malaysia need not waste time and effort prosecuting innocent people who made a careless mistake, and neither do their visitors have to suffer the severe consequences of jailtime in Malaysia.
          Singaporeans who wish to cross borders to Malaysia should also be careful - it is indeed still their responsibility to ensure that their passport have been properly stamped and cleared, as the custom offers who are human will inevitably commit errors. It is not very time consuming, nor hard, to cultivate the habit of checking one's passport before driving on, and it may save them the trouble of breaking the laws of Malaysia unintentionally.
        Hopefully, this will be a one-off case only to serve to warn visitors, and not as a permanent new approach.

Welcome

This blog is born on 05 February 2007, in a Raffles Computer Lab.
This blog is currently work in progress, and will be updated as time goes by.

Look forward to new articles created for ERP.