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Friday, June 6, 2008

Challenging decisions made by the Authorities? Are you kidding Mr Michael Hwang?

I was reading Molly Meek's Human Rights are Not Human Rights, Are Not Right
when I came across
A-G cautions against human rights becoming a 'religion' with fanatics
by Chong Chee Kin of Straits Times of 31 May 2008.

I was delighted to read in that article that
"The president of the Law Society, Senior Counsel Michael Hwang, said lawyers have to be 'alive' to the legal avenues they can use to challenge decisions by the authorities.


Despite the fact that it's one of the first courses lawyers take, the practice of public law has slipped, said Mr Hwang.

He blamed public ignorance and the reluctance of clients to challenge authorities like statutory boards, Government agencies and tribunals.
Lawyer Raymond Chan, the former president of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators, agreed, adding that Singapore's public law is not as developed as other legal sectors, like criminal law.

In the latest issue of the Law Gazette, the society's official magazine, Mr Hwang said there were several areas where citizens could question decisions made by authorities. The list includes rulings from licensing centres and statutory boards.

'In an age where commercial activities are increasingly becoming regulated by statutory authorities, it is important for lawyers to be able to advise whether (they) are exercising the regulatory powers (properly),' he said."

I sincerely hope Mr Hwang can help me out here.

If you have read my heartache at http://feedmetothefish.blogspot.com/2007/09/before-i-die.htm
you may understand my frustration with CPF.


I am angry and I feel so helpless that with each legislative change (they never stop), my money is no longer my money anymore. I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired of not having the freedom to use my hard-earned savings.

I had a heart attack.
My heart went haywire.
The scope showed I was flatlined.
I was defibrillated.
I survived.

I have CPF Medisave.
It's over $30,000.
I can use it for outpatient treatment.
But,
It must not exceed $300 per annum.
For each bill, I must pay a deductible of $30.
I must pay a co-payment of 15% of the balance.

What's left of the bill after I paid cash for deductible & co-payment
Is the amount that I can claim and use my Medisave to pay.
Oh, I must also pay an Admin Fee of $3+ to use this facility of claiming my Medisave.

Here's the frustration and the madness of it all:

It 's my salary, my money.
They legislated that I must put some into CPF.
They legislated again that part of it must go to Medisave.
They legislated again and again to increase the amount in Medisave.

If it's my money, why do I have to pay an administrative fee to use it?

Ok, banks throw you a service charge, why not CPF?

God, please. People use banks' services out of their own choice. They can choose not to. Medisave was forced upon me by the people I could not or did not vote for.

Bottom line: Why must I pay a fee to use my saving to stay healthy and prevent another heart attack?

Mr Hwang, is there a basis to challenge the authority on this?

If there is, will you help me?

Thank you.

feedmetothefish


7 comments:

  1. I recalled Tan Kin Lian mentioned that NTUC should allow the old policy holders to continue in the old system of awarding bonuses, and they should not change the goal post halfway. I feel CPF should also remain unchanged. However, the economic loss to the government will be too great if all those who are allowed to withdraw at 55 really gets to withdraw it! Imagine - they will have to liquidate their holdings in Thakshin, Citi and UBS at great losses if all those at 55 decides to withdraw together.
    PS - I am thankful you brought this up to the people of Singapore.
    Charge us CPF at 4% while inflation is 7% and kena service charge somemore.
    We must thank CPF for this withdrawal service charge !
    Brilliant way for CPF to earn more surpluses.

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