6/21/2014

A glaring misgiving that was conveniently ignored and forgotten




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 She should have withdrawn all her money from the CPF and ended her relationship there and then.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

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Is Rene Yap’s grievance important at all?"
RB

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.

Anonymous said...

"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!"
Anon 9:51 am

I won't say impossible, but it may happen if majority Sinkies really dare to vote PAP out.

Anonymous said...

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.

Raymond said...

Once again, you are barking up the wrong tree.

That "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.

Anonymous said...

Neither would you see how the ground has shifted and PAP would be voted out in the next GE.

Anonymous said...

govt 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 !!

Anonymous said...

in 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 !

Anonymous said...

"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!"
Anon 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?

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@ "Bleeding Heart" RB:

Please 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!

Anonymous said...

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.

You 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?

Anonymous said...

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.

The existence of a giant Ponzi can never be revealed.

See if they use defamation and ISD to protect their turf. LOL

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@chee bye brain anon 133:

Eh 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?

Anonymous said...

WGreat article and well done for getting back to the crux of the matter.

Actually 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

Anonymous said...

William kindness Wan, display some kindness to Ms Yap will ya ?

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

Hi Kenneth, Welcome to the blog.
Good 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.