75 year old granny abandoned by 6 her children to fend for herself in twilight years
December 25th, 2008 | 
Author: Video produced by The Enquirer TV, The Singapore Enquirer
Prologue:
While Singaporeans are celebrating the festive season, 75 year old Madam Chan (not her real name) does not know when her water supply will be cut off again.
She lives with her 69 year old husband, Mr Chua (second husband, her first one whom she had her children with passed away 20 years ago) in a one room rental flat.
Her 6 children have abandoned her and she have tried to find them to no avail. Occasionally, they will drop by and give her a hundred dollars or so to spend.
Unable to find any work and not qualifying for Public Assistance, she was left to fend on her own. Madam Chan still owes PUB about S$2,000 in utility bills and her water supply was once cut off for 2 weeks.
PART 1
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5Fecesp4F0&hl=en&fs=1]
PART 2
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0dXQQI2LU0&hl=en&fs=1]
Excerpts of interview translated from Hokkien:
SG Enquirer: How many children do you have ?
Madam Chan: 6 , 3 sons and 3 daughters.
SG Enquirer: Do they still keep in touch with you ?
Madam Chan (sobbing):
No, they simply vanish, I don’t know where they are. They didn’t give me any numbers to contact them.
Madam Chan: Have you seek the help of your MP ?
SG Enquirer: Yes, they ask me to contact the Tribunal for maintenance of parents. I dare not go as I do not know what to say. If I say the wrong thing, I may be jailed.
SG Enquirer: Do you owe the PUB any money ?
Madam Chan: Yes, about S$2,000, only for the water, they didn’t charge me for the electricity.
SG Enquirer: Was your water supply ever cut ?
Madam Chan: Yes, not too long ago, it was cut for 2 weeks because I cannot afford to pay the utility bills.
SG Enquirer: Oh gosh, how do you live without water for 2 weeks ?
Madam Chan: We leave the tap on for it to drip drop by drop into a bucket which is filled up after a day. We use the water to bathe.
SG Enquirer: How much is your water bills a month ?
Madam Chan: Sometimes S$20, sometimes S$30, we owe them for a few months already.
According to AFP, the Singapore government has recently acquired the property interests of a US-based firm in China and Japan for 1.3 billion dollars which it paid up front by cash. Our government is damned filthy rich. Why can’t it do a bit more for helpless elderly like Madam Chan ?
EDITORS’ NOTE: We thank our reader for informing us of Madam Chan’s plight. We have sent given her some groceries and NTUC vouchers worth S$60 to tide her over this difficult period. A volunteer will be contacting Madam Chan soon to bring her to the Family Court run by MCYS. We will bring you the interview with Madam Chan’s husband, Mr Chua tomorrow.
Posted in Snippets
sure,the government can do a bit more
but sometimes the govt donut even know that such person exists
THE CHILDREN SHOULD BEAR THE RESPONSIBILITY of repaying their parents
CHARGE THEM IN COURT!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I feel really day whenever I read news like this. A lot of people like her around but they are neglected but I am sure they are not forgotten. Our society favours the productive, at her age, most probably she is consider “non-productive” – so one takes care of them.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The irresposible children should be taken to task. It is not the responsibilty of the government as whatever help given by the govt would be taxpayers’ money………..money from responsible taxpayers.
If the government is expected to bail out parents, then more irresponsible children will be bred.
Having said that, the resident committee should be the one to assist the old lady to report to the tribunal, and also to provide help in the meantime.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Cases of this nature had a good solution. Get as much details of the children as possible and published them widely for the whole world to know who they are. Such cases will be reduced to almost zero in a kiasu society like Singapore, except for cases where the children really are in no position to fend even for themselves.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Maybe the town council of her area should at least allocate her into old folks home 1st. When they trace her children then can ask them to start paying for the fee for her stay since they do not want to take care of her.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I think Ministers should help them by action and not just telling them to go here and there, where they not sure how to do it. And the Childern should be charge in court, Laws should help the poor old couples.
What kind of welfare by just S$150 per month, they once upon the time also did their duty to build up Singapore. PAP keep on asking us Singapore Citizens to do Charity and donate money to Charity Organisation, but why we still have such poor old people not been asisst by Charity. Singapore Citizens should think again and donate our money direct to all this poor people instead of donate to third party and don’t know where our donation goes to.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Hi can Wayang Party Club set up a website with the list of poor people that need help by Charity. May we can start ourselves a Charity Group to donate directly to all this poor people that PAP Government never really help. Just a suggestion.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Yes, the children should take responsibility too. But i wonder y is she not eligible for Public Assistance?
Maybe same as my case. Sister and Brother both married. Me and mum living on my income of 2.5k thus family income =~~ 1.25k which doesn’t qualitify although my mum need to see doc often, i need to buy insurance else in times of need, i die. So not much money left over mthly for savings. Going to PT studies also, need to reduce my expenses even more liao… How?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Hi Richard Tan,
Thanks for your suggestion.
The Singapore Enquirer is planning to set up a grassroots volunteer group to assist needy Singaporeans in the community. The details are still being out.
We will keep you updated soon.
Would you like to leave us your email ?
Alternatively you can email us at [email protected]
Regards,
Zhi Yuan
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
the children should take care of her and not the government !
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
PLease update me on the grassroots volunteer group to assist needy Singaporeans in the community.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Hi Benny,
We are still in the process of discussing how we should go about setting up the group.
Please leave us your email and we will get back to you.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0