It's no glory taking this government money.

In "More seniors get public assistance",Straits Times of 20, Nov 2008 reported that Madam Lim, 88, gets $330 a month under the Public Assistance scheme. The widow has eight daughters and a son, but has lost touch with them.

I hope the $330 is enough to pay for Mdm Lim's 3 meals at hawker centre, rent, utilities and healthcare expenses.

Mdm Lim, who lives in a sparsely furnished 0ne-room rental flat, said she would rather work if she could. She said in Hainanese, "It's no glory taking this government money."

Anyone can debate on how Mdm Lim who has eight daughters and a son reached this stage of poverty. Lack of filial piety? As we don't know, who are we to judge?

Mr Chia Shi Take wrote "Parent would rather suffer and die in silence than to sue". Having done the deed of going after people with Kangaroo T-Shirts, I was thinking if AG Walter Woon can help. If he finds cause in his investigation, he can go after his own Act and help Mdm Lim apply for Maintenance of Parents Act.

I do not know Mdm Lim but I respect her for her dignity and courage when she said she'd rather work. It goes to show that not everyone likes to take advantage of the government's reluctant assistance.

If goverment ministers can sponge off Singaporeans with their million dollars salary, paying Mdm Lim $330 a month is chicken feed. It's no big deal but I'm amazed that Straits Times takes half of Home Page 3 to blow the government's trumpet?

With so much negative news - DBS's retrenchment, Town Councils' $16,000,000 "eyes open" 'sinking' funds and Lehman's minibombs - that's detrimental to the government's first world standard, I guess they have to show some.

So let's show the glory of a 1st world government that cares!

If Mdm Lim takes no glory collecting the $330, do ministers take glory in collecting their millions?

Count With Me Singapore.

feedmetothefish