Jaslyn Go’s Blog

Subject: Re: UNRESOLVED ISSUES ARISING FROM BLOCK VISIT ON 4th September 2007
To: lee_kuan_yew@pmo.gov.sg, kootk@mindef.gov.sg, indranee.rajah@drewnapier.com, lui_tuck_yew@moe.gov.sg, samtan@cdac.org.sg
Cc: “Yam Keng Baey” <baey.yamkeng@capitaland.com>, tnp@sph.com.sg, npeditor@sph.com.sg, santokh@sph.com.sg, tekmeng@sph.com.sg, melvin@sph.com.sg, kenjr@sph.com.sg, muralis@sph.com.sg
Date: Tuesday, 28 April, 2009, 8:16 PM

Dear Sir / Madam;

The New Paper Article “Go to your MP instead of Complaining” on 28th April 09, which remind us to stop complaining and go to our MP instead.

Perhaps I should refresh my MP and in fact, the whole Tanjong Pagar GRC MPs that despite sending numerous emails and reminders, till to date, I have not receive any response from my MPs.

Perhaps Mr Fulwood or Ms Elysa Chan are not aware that we can write what we want to our MPs, but MPs have the luxury to chose not to respond to us, and in situation like this, what is next for us?
cheers;

Jaslyn Go

— On Thu, 10/4/08, Jaslyn Go wrote:

Subject: UNRESOLVED ISSUES ARISING FROM BLOCK VISIT ON 4th September 2007
To: lee_kuan_yew@pmo.gov.sg, kootk@mindef.gov.sg, indranee.rajah@drewnapier.com, lui_tuck_yew@moe.gov.sg, samtan@cdac.org.sg
Cc: “Yam Keng Baey” <baey.yamkeng@capitaland.com>, chengwee@sph.com.sg
Date: Thursday, 10 April, 2008, 3:47 PM

1. 1. There are Indian glue sniffers who often loiter at the staircase and hide there to sniff glue.
   2. Inhalant abuse, a criminal act, is known to intoxicate the abusers who are then predisposed to committing more crimes.
   3. This situation has occurred many times and whenever I call the police, the latter would take 30 to 45 minutes to arrive, by which the time, the suspects would have finished their glue sniffing and left the scene.
   4. I shifted out 2 years back partly because of this situation as I was pregnant and I did not feel that the neighbourhood was safe at times.
   5. I also raised another incident in which I spotted an axe-wielding Indian man sitting in the ABC hawker centre with his eyes fixated on the adjoining car park as if he was waiting to greet someone. I called the police and offered to help identify the axe-wielder.
   6. The axe-wielder must have been loitering around on a frequent basis for the Indian man in your entourage was also able to describe him as limpy and short.
   7. I told you that the police had reasoned that they had to catch him red handed for them to take action. However, in order to apprehend any suspect red-handed, the police must respond in time but they never did so.

1. 1. Whether he was asserting that Bukit Merah was very much unsafe and with a lot of criminal activity necessitating police attention and which leads to slow response time of the Police, and
   2. Since there was indeed so much crime in Bukit Merah, why did not the Police deploy more manpower to cope with the cases?

1. 1. As an MP, you have been given the mandate by the people to find solutions to our complaints; and
   2. If you need me to provide you with the answers, what then are you supposed to do in your position as our Member of Parliament?

1. 1. I reside in a point block where the lift lobby area’s natural lighting is dim. This is made worse by having doors installed at the staircases such that even during daytime it is dim and made worse when it is cloudy, rainy or overcast
   2. On several occasions, my neighbours, our maids, our children and myself have slipped and fallen because the bad lighting prevented us from seeing that the floor was wet from the rain.

1. 1. you asked your accompanying town council staff whether the lights could be switched on when it is cloudy or rainy. The town council staff replied that residents could just call and request the town council to switch the lights on. He added that he needed to check if this was feasible and would revert
   2. You asserted that the doors were a design flaw which you could do nothing about. The staircase and door provides the residents privacy and therefore as residents we should give and take.

1. 1. to switch the lights on 24 hours a day and 7 days a week would increase the electricity bill and this cost will have to be passed onto the residents. You asked whether or not we would want that.
   2. you cannot accede to every resident¡¯s request and that I would be very surprised at what some of the residents are asking for.

1. 1. CPF money is our money. As owners, we have the right to decide whether or not we need any annuity. It is not for the Government to decide for us
   2. In any event, what proportion of people live beyond 85 years of age? How big is that sector of the population in actual fact
   3. I reminded you that not everyone is as long lived as our great leader Mr. LKY. Furthermore in our generation, with the degree of stress and pollution environment, not many can even make it to their 60s.
   4. For the small percentage fortunate to lives beyond 60, the Government should do its duty to look after them and not pass the responsibility to others
   5. Our generation, being more educated, will know the importance of planning for our future retirement, and we do not need the Government to tell us what to do and what to buy for retirement.

1. 1. By the time the details are released on the 17 Sept parliamentary hearing, there will simply be another rubber-stamping exercise, and the fate of all those aged 50 or below will be sealed
   2. One need not look very far into history for examples of such arrogance: the GST increase, Presidential, Parliamentarian and Ministerial salary increments: Once the details are out, the decision is passed and our fate is sealed!

1. 1. You referred to statistics which purportedly show that almost 50% of the current population will benefit from the annuity scheme
   2. You threw the challenge for me to walk around Block 3 to witness the large number of single old folk or those abandoned by their children and who have no one to look after them
   3. You cited the need for the government to increase the pool of resources to help those who have no means of supporting themselves in old
      age.

1. 1. The current older generation who could live to an old age would not benefit from the proposed annuity scheme as it applies only to those aged 50 or below
   2. Furthermore, like my case where I have my own retirement plan, why is the government still making it compulsory for these people who are better-off to buy the annuity
   3. Should it not be every citizen’s personal right to decide how we spend our CPF money? CPF Money is after all our money AND NOT the Government’s money.

here is my feedback to TNP…

I am writing in response to Ms Elysa Chan article on the above.

Perhaps Mr Fulwood would like to know that I have written to my MP Mr Baey Yam Keng 8 times and forward the emails to Tanjong Pagar GRC which includes our well respected MM Mr Lee Kuan Yew twice and till to date, they have conveniently chose to / refused to reply to my emails which are the concerns I raised during Mr Baey block visit at my constituency.

Mr Baey indicated and even get the town council staff which was among his entourage to take down my concerns and assured me that they will get back to me.

So, if writing to MP should be the way to go, tell me then why isn’t my MP and the whole Tanjong Pagar GRC is not responding to my email?  So what is next for us when our MP refused to address our concerns?

Jaslyn Go

‘Go to your MP instead of complaining’ By Elysa Chen April 28, 2009

WHILE some of his countrymen are eagerly joining in the bashing of Singapore on the Facebook group ‘Singapore Sucks’, an English teacher from the UK who has been living here for the past five years is leaping to Singapore’s defence. HAPPY: Mr Anthony Fulwood (left), an English teacher from the UK, is an active participant in grassroots work. TNP FILE PICTURE This unlikely knight in shining armour is Singapore permanent resident Anthony Fulwood, 30. Mr Fulwood, who lives in an executive HDB flat in Bukit Panjang, is so proud of Singapore, he even dubbed himself an ‘ambassador’ to promote ‘life in Singapore’. That is why when he heard that a group had formed on the social networking site to criticise his adopted homeland on things like the lack of freedom and the ungraciousness of its people, he felt that he should speak up. ‘It hurts me when I hear people attacking my home like that. When your home is being attacked, the first thing you do is to stand up and defend your home,’ said Mr Fulwood, who is active in grassroots work in Bukit Panjang. ‘I don’t want a gold star, and no one’s going to give me a gold star either, but I just want people to know the truth about life here,’ he said. Mr Fulwood, who has lived in India, Africa and the Middle East, added: ‘People always say that the grass is greener overseas. My challenge to them is: Go overseas and see what it’s like in another country. ‘I am sure that 100 per cent will come back and say that Singapore’s better.’ Mr Fulwood listed government policies such as the baby bonus scheme, his HDB home, the community spirit and safety as some of the reasons why he loves Singapore. The New Paper, 23 Apr. He also felt that there was enough political freedom here as people have the right to choose in elections and they have the Speakers’ Corner to voice their opinions. ‘Yet, people don’t want to go to the park. They want to complain in pubs and Facebook groups. These teenagers that complain about things they know nothing about are immature,’ said Mr Fulwood. ‘They should approach their Member of Parliament, and try to solve the problem. But these people want an audience. That’s why they go to Facebook to complain,’ he added. American expatriate Bill Hedman, 52, the managing director of an investment firm said: ‘Singapore’s great. I have had no problem in the last seven years my wife and I have been here. Everything works ‘Everything is clean, there are good restaurants and everything works. The business climate here is also very good. The Government is very pro-business.’ Addressing one of the main grouses of the Facebook group, the lack of freedom here, Mr Hedman felt that ‘Singapore is still a young country, but political and artistic freedom will eventually come’. The only downside to living here, he said, is the ‘hot and humid weather’, but that did not bother him much either as he is from Florida, he added, chuckling. Agreeing, Mr Lin Menuhin, 45, a British expatriate who has been working here for the past three years, said: ‘Singapore is a regional hub that’s efficient and comfortable, and provides a safe environment to work in. ‘As someone who is here for work, to be honest, there is nothing negative I can find about the system.’ Singaporeans have also rallied online to rebuke the comments made by foreigners. Some observers have noted the irony that Singaporean netizens are defending their country against accusations that they themselves have often made online. Explaining why Singaporeans are reacting so defensively even though they may agree with the foreign critics, Dr Tan Ern Ser, an associate professor in the Department of Sociology in the National University of Singapore, said it was because Singaporeans wanted to ‘reserve the right to criticise ourselves’. And even though the Facebook group has garnered at least 400 supporters, Dr Sulfikar Amir, from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences in Nanyang Technological University, said: ‘They may not necessarily represent the opinion of the majority of people here, which is why so many others have hit back at the people who have set up and joined this Singapore Sucks group.’ When The New Paper asked the creator of the Facebook group, who gave his name as Mr Wils Cheng, why he created the group, he said in an e-mail reply: ‘I did expect some negative reaction but I never thought that the group would be covered by sites like Stomp, Asiaone, The New Paper and Singapore Enquirer.’ It is not known if he is a Singaporean. Adding that he was ‘surprised’ to see how his group could have ‘stirred up such a big fuss’, Mr Cheng said: ‘I don’t see Japan Times covering the group ‘Japan Sucks’ or the French AFP writing about the group ‘France Sucks’.’

Re: Unlawful Parking made by Police Vehicles (SIU 3494/2008)
Thursday, 11 September, 2008 2:20 PM
From:”Paul TAN”

—–Inline Attachment Follows—–

Dear Ms Jasly Go,

I refer to your email dated 8 Sep 08.

2 Police have taken internal departmental action against the officers concerned.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Tan
for Quality Service Manager
Singapore Police Force

Re: Report against Police vehicles for parking in reserved lots at public car parks
Thursday, 4 September, 2008 7:39 PM
From:
“URA CPPLU”

—–Inline Attachment Follows—–

Our Ref : CPD PO/E (08082956635) Tel : 6329 3464
Fax : 6225 3336
Email: ura_cpplu@ura.gov.sg

4 Sep 08

REPORT AGAINST POLICE VEHICLES FOR PARKING IN RESERVED LOTS AT PUBLIC CAR PARKS

Dear Ms Go,

We refer to your email of 28 Aug 08.

In our earlier reply, we have requested that you confirm the following details in writing if you wish to lodge a report against the illegally parked vehicles:

a. The offending vehicle number.
b. The location of offence (name of car park, parking lot number, etc).
c. The date and time of offence.
d. Whether you agree to bear witness in court if the need arises.

We wish to explain that as a public regulatory authority, we have to ensure the reliability and accuracy of any public reports, before we can take follow up action on them. The complainant will have to attend court as a witness if required. The same requirements apply to anyone who makes such public reports.

Since we did not receive the information from you, we are unable to follow up on your report. If you still wish to submit the required information, you may do so in writing for our consideration.

Yours Sincerely,

ESTHER WANG (MS)
for DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT
CAR PARKS DIVISION

Re: Unlawful Parking made by Police Vehicles (SIU 3494/2008)
Monday, 1 September, 2008 12:22 PM
From:
“Paul TAN”

—–Inline Attachment Follows—–

Dear Ms Jaslyn Go,

I refer to your email of 29 Aug 08.

2 As indicated in our previous reply, Police do take action against officers who park at these lots when they are not on operational duty. Thank you.

Regards,

Paul Tan
for Quality Service Manager
Singapore Police Force

Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 18:06:37 +0800 (CST)
Subject: Re: UNRESOLVED ISSUES ARISING FROM BLOCK VISIT ON 4th September 2007
To: lee_kuan_yew@pmo.gov.sg, kootk@mindef.gov.sg, indranee.rajah@drewnapier.com, lui_tuck_yew@moe.gov.sg, samtan@cdac.org.sg
CC: “Yam Keng Baey” , chengwee@sph.com.sg

Dear Sir / Madam (Tanjong Pagar GRC),

No reply till to date..

Perhaps you might have overlooked this due to the recent COI report, high inflation concerns troubling your party, but as a constituent in your ward, I believe I should not be ignored.

Let this be my first reminder to Tanjong Pagar GRC. My MP Baey Yam Keng failed to reply me and I do hope the GRC will not.

Looking forward to your reply.

Thank you.

Jaslyn Go

Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:47:28 +0800 (CST)
From: “Jaslyn Go”
Subject: UNRESOLVED ISSUES ARISING FROM BLOCK VISIT ON 4th September 2007
To: lee_kuan_yew@pmo.gov.sg, kootk@mindef.gov.sg, indranee.rajah@drewnapier.com, lui_tuck_yew@moe.gov.sg, samtan@cdac.org.sg
CC: “Yam Keng Baey” , chengwee@sph.com.sg

Dear Sir / Madam (Tanjong Pagar GRC),

I am writing in as a constituent in your ward as my MP Mr Baey YK has failed to reply me even after 7 reminders were sent.

At the block visit which the questions were raised, MP Baey assured me that he will look into them and get back to me, however, till to date, 7 months after his block visit, I have yet to hear from him.

I need urgent attention towards point 8 (a)and (b) as the recent rainy weather has made the situation worse. There has been no action from any department to improve the situation.

In a ST article on 13 Jan 2008 by Teo Cheng Wee, MP Baey commented that for spams and wacky emails, it will be straight to his computer trash bin..

In the same article, Hong Kah GRC MP Zaqy Mohamad said he will spends about an hour or two clearing some 100 e-mail regarding his constituency every day. Of these, one or two might be mass e-mail, He prioritises his responses. He is more concerned about those from his residents.

Now, I am concerned as to whether my emails on the unresolved issues arising from MP’s block visit is considered by MP Baey as a spam / wacky email.

Shouldn’t all MPs be concerned with the issues the resident raised as pointed out by Hong Kah GRC MP?

Awaiting a reply soon.

Thank you.

Jaslyn Go

After 8 emails to my MP – Mr Baey Yam Keng, over a period of 5 months, I still have not receive any reply from him.

During his block visit, Mr Baey indicated that he will get back to me with regards to some of the issues I raised.

My name, contact and address was taken down by one of his entourage.

Before he took his leave, he distributed a calendar pamphlet with his email address on it to me and my neighbour, encouraging us to write to him.

I waited for a month for him to get back to me as promise before I wrote the email to him.

Now, my question to MP Baey;-

1) is your purpose of block visit just to show face and shake hands with the residents?

2) isn’t our MP expected to listen to the ground and bring forth our concern to the parliament?

3) despite my numerous emails to you, with genuine issues at hand, you have choose not to reply to me, why invite residents to write to you in the first place?

4) is my email consider a spam to you?

Jan 13, 2008
Rants and raving mad e-mail
Most people have to deal with commercial spam. MPs, however, have to also deal with some strange politics-related e-mail
By Teo Cheng Wee

LAST month, Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Baey Yam Keng was scrolling through his e-mail when he spotted a familiar-looking one.

Addressed to himself and some 30 other MPs, it originates from a man in India who proclaims himself a ‘self-styled world leader’ and ‘a hope of the world’.

‘The solution to Myanmar problem is in my hand!’ the mail proudly states, referring to the political crisis that broke out in the country last September.

He continues by stating that he wishes to become a Member of Parliament in India and subsequently its Prime Minister, but needs US$50 million to $100 million (S$71.6 million to S$143.2 million) from the Singapore Government to do so.

His plan? ‘First, I shall give a warning to the military junta in Myanmar to vacate from the seat of ruling the Myanmar. If it listens to my word, fine and well. Otherwise, I shall declare a war on Myanmar.’

The wacky mail went straight into the MP’s computer trash bin.

‘That guy is really persistent. I got a few from him already,’ Mr Baey says. He knows he is not alone, as he often sees his fellow MPs’ e-mail addresses copied on the mailing list of such mail.

Indeed, MPs are a key target of mass e-mail.

Other MPs say their In Box is cluttered with them, from a few times a day to once a month.

Other than asking for money to solve problems in strife-torn countries, topics include rants about governments (in Singapore and elsewhere), personal views about policies or complaints that an initial matter had not been attended to properly by the authorities.

Occasionally, there are political commentators who send their own take on policies. Some of them are quite well-argued, Mr Baey acknowledges.

Quite often the politicians are included in a large mailing list although the issue may not directly concern them. But they add that they always at least give all their e-mail a quick look.

Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP Josephine Teo, for instance, always scans at least the first few paragraphs of these mass e-mail. She looks out for specific feedback about her constituency or worker-related issues. If there is none, she deletes them.

Jalan Besar GRC MP Denise Phua does not want to dismiss such e-mail straightaway because ‘there may be underlying issues you need to check out’.

‘You never know – it could be someone who is doing this because there is no other way to get his grievances addressed,’ she says.

Hong Kah GRC MP Zaqy Mohamad spends about an hour or two clearing some 100 e-mail regarding his constituency every day. Of these, one or two might be mass e-mail, he says.

On the days when he has Meet-The-People sessions, which typically end around midnight, he might go to bed only at 3am after clearing his mail.

He prioritises his responses. He is more concerned about those from his residents; he pays less attention if it is from overseas and talks about, say, Singapore’s track record on human rights.

Despite the extra work that these e-mail seem to have caused, he says he does not mind them. ‘It’s part and parcel of my job and it’s what I’m here for – to listen to my residents. E-mail makes me more accessible, which is what’s important.’

Law lecturer Eugene Tan of the Singapore Management University says people send political messages in mass e-mail because they feel that this would achieve the desired effect for action.

And because the e-mail addresses of Ministers and MPs are readily available in the government directory, people may think that their mail gets read personally and acted upon by the politician concerned.

As for why the tone of such letters are sometimes aggressive, Dr Adrian Wang, a consultant psychiatrist at Gleneagles Medical Centre, says it is because e-mail allows people to say things that they ordinarily would not dare to in a face-to-face confrontation. ‘I think many emotionally charged e-mail are written in anger. The fastest way of dealing with these feelings would be to fire off an e-mail to let the sender know your thoughts.’

Prof Tan says such methods of corresponding rarely work. ‘Each government ministry or agency has established protocols in dealing with correspondence from the public. Furthermore, mass e-mail is likely to elicit a negative first impression.’

Instead, he feels that people with a grievance would be better off writing a formal letter addressed to the relevant person, rather than mass-copied.

Mr Zaqy agrees: ‘I understand that people have grievances, but if there is an issue to solve, relevant to what I do, then I will certainly try to help. But if you’re just ranting about a policy and using foul language, I don’t know how to help you.’

But most MPs agree that they have come to accept these mass e-mail as part of their jobs.

‘I don’t think we need to get too irritated by these. E-mail is the current modus operandi – it’s the way people express themselves today,’ says Ms Phua.

chengwee@sph.com.sg

Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:33:33 +0800 (CST)
From: “Jaslyn Go” Add to Address Book
Subject: UNRESOLVED ISSUES ARISING FROM BLOCK VISIT ON 4th September 2007 – Final Reminder
To: BAEY.YamKeng@capitaland.com, yamkeng@pacific.net.sg

Hi Mr Baey..

Email send on 09 October 2007 – No reply.

1st reminder – 25 October 2007 – No reply

2nd reminder – 08 November 2007 – No reply
3rd reminder – 23 November 2007 – email bounce back
4th reminder – 27 November 2007 – No reply
5th reminder – 7 December 2007 – No reply
6th reminder – 27 December 2007 – No reply

Let this be my final reminder Mr Baey..

Good Day!

Ms Jaslyn Go

25th September 2007

Mr. Baey Yam Keng
Member of Parliament for
Tanjong Pagar GRC, Bukit Merah Division

Dear Sir,

UNRESOLVED ISSUES ARISING FROM BLOCK VISIT ON 4th September 2007

When you came to my unit during a block visit on 04/09/2007, I raised several issues to you and we had the following exchange, set out below for your easy recollection and reference:-

1. My neighbour and I commented on the slow timing of the Singapore Police Force in response to our complaints listed in short as follows:-
There are Indian glue sniffers who often loiter at the staircase and hide there to sniff glue.
Inhalant abuse, a criminal act, is known to intoxicate the abusers who are then predisposed to committing more crimes.
This situation has occurred many times and whenever I call the police, the latter would take 30 to 45 minutes to arrive, by which the time, the suspects would have finished their glue sniffing and left the scene.
I shifted out 2 years back partly because of this situation as I was pregnant and I did not feel that the neighbourhood was safe at times.
I also raised another incident in which I spotted an axe-wielding Indian man sitting in the ABC hawker centre with his eyes fixated on the adjoining car park as if he was waiting to greet someone. I called the police and offered to help identify the axe-wielder.
The axe-wielder must have been loitering around on a frequent basis for the Indian man in your entourage was also able to describe him as limpy and short.
I told you that the police had reasoned that they had to catch him red handed for them to take action. However, in order to apprehend any suspect red-handed, the police must respond in time but they never did so.
2. You trusted the police not to deliberately take their own sweet time to respond and cited the lack of manpower in the Police force as the cause. An Indian male in your entourage who identified himself as a policeman seconded your view.

3. I responded that the lack of manpower was not a valid reason as it is the right of every citizen and resident to be protected by the Singapore Police Force.

4. The grassroots policeman had replied that the Police had other complaints to handle and that our wards have kept them busy. I grew up in Bukit Merah and I know the ward very well and I asked him:-
Whether he was asserting that Bukit Merah was very much unsafe and with a lot of criminal activity necessitating police attention and which leads to slow response time of the Police, and
Since there was indeed so much crime in Bukit Merah, why did not the Police deploy more manpower to cope with the cases?
5. You surprised me by asking me in return, “So Madam, what you think we should do? If no one wants to join the police force we can’t force people to join right?¡±

6. To this unimaginative excuse, I told you very frankly that: -

As an MP, you have been given the mandate by the people to find solutions to our complaints; and
If you need me to provide you with the answers, what then are you supposed to do in your position as our Member of Parliament?

7. You quickly retracted your words and instructed your grassroots policeman to look into this matter. You also responded that since my opinion was formed 2 years ago, it might not be justified now as it may not be happening now. [I have since verified with my neighbour that the glue sniffers are still loitering around at times and now of course I am asking for a reply]

Town Council issues

8. Next, my neighbour and I brought up the following issue concerning the management of common areas in our block under the purview of your town council:-
I reside in a point block where the lift lobby area’s natural lighting is dim. This is made worse by having doors installed at the staircases such that even during daytime it is dim and made worse when it is cloudy, rainy or overcast
On several occasions, my neighbours, our maids, our children and myself have slipped and fallen because the bad lighting prevented us from seeing that the floor was wet from the rain.
9. As MP and Town Councillor,:-

you asked your accompanying town council staff whether the lights could be switched on when it is cloudy or rainy. The town council staff replied that residents could just call and request the town council to switch the lights on. He added that he needed to check if this was feasible and would revert
You asserted that the doors were a design flaw which you could do nothing about. The staircase and door provides the residents privacy and therefore as residents we should give and take.

10. I replied that staircase doors cause more danger to residents as they provide cover for the glue sniffers. Furthermore residents could be ambushed by robbers hiding behind the staircase doors.

11. You then responded as follows:
to switch the lights on 24 hours a day and 7 days a week would increase the electricity bill and this cost will have to be passed onto the residents. You asked whether or not we would want that.
you cannot accede to every resident¡¯s request and that I would be very surprised at what some of the residents are asking for.

12. I replied that if I am requesting for TC to paint the wall in specific colours, then it is obviously unreasonable, but there is nothing unreasonable about requesting for proper lighting.

13. The Indian follower in your group claimed that in your block visit from the 25th floor to the 7th floor, no one complained about lighting problem except me and then blamed the poor lighting on my neighbour¡¯s bamboo blind.

14. My neighbour explained that the blind prevents children from climbing and rain from coming in but your entourage insisted that blind causes bad lighting.

15. If a mere blind can block natural light and cause lighting problems, what about the staircase doors then?

16. I then asked whether it was your position that since there was indeed nothing you could do about it, the residents would have no choice but to live with the inconvenience stemming from the fault of the person who designed the flats.

17. You then replied that you needed to check with the town council before you could reply to me. You asked to take leave as you had a few more floors to cover, but I managed to raise the following final issue.

The Compulsory Annuity

18. I asked for your position on the proposed Compulsory Annuity. To my surprise, you turned the question around to ask for my opinion. I replied that I was definitely against it for the following reasons:-

CPF money is our money. As owners, we have the right to decide whether or not we need any annuity. It is not for the Government to decide for us
In any event, what proportion of people live beyond 85 years of age? How big is that sector of the population in actual fact
I reminded you that not everyone is as long lived as our great leader Mr. LKY. Furthermore in our generation, with the degree of stress and pollution environment, not many can even make it to their 60s.
For the small percentage fortunate to lives beyond 60, the Government should do its duty to look after them and not pass the responsibility to others
Our generation, being more educated, will know the importance of planning for our future retirement, and we do not need the Government to tell us what to do and what to buy for retirement.

19. You replied with the extremely common tagline these days: “To wait for 17 Sept, when all the details are out before adopting such a negative view about this annuity scheme”.

20. I replied that knowing the style of the PAP government:

By the time the details are released on the 17 Sept parliamentary hearing, there will simply be another rubber-stamping exercise, and the fate of all those aged 50 or below will be sealed
One need not look very far into history for examples of such arrogance: the GST increase, Presidential, Parliamentarian and Ministerial salary increments: Once the details are out, the decision is passed and our fate is sealed!

21. You then responded as follows:

You referred to statistics which purportedly show that almost 50% of the current population will benefit from the annuity scheme
You threw the challenge for me to walk around Block 3 to witness the large number of single old folk or those abandoned by their children and who have no one to look after them
You cited the need for the government to increase the pool of resources to help those who have no means of supporting themselves in old
age.

22. You tried to lower my manifest resistance by commenting that you believe that I would not need to rely on the annuity because I would have planned for my own retirement.

23. I pointed out to you the following:-

The current older generation who could live to an old age would not benefit from the proposed annuity scheme as it applies only to those aged 50 or below
Furthermore, like my case where I have my own retirement plan, why is the government still making it compulsory for these people who are better-off to buy the annuity
Should it not be every citizen’s personal right to decide how we spend our CPF money? CPF Money is after all our money AND NOT the Government’s money.

24. You then tried to justify the compulsory annuity scheme’s workability on the following reason that the cost would only be a few thousand dollars.

25. I replied that being an MP who makes $13.5k per month and maybe possibly much more, a few thousands is not a lot to you, but if you being the MP were to take a walk around Block 3 as you have suggested, you would realize that a few thousand dollars would be enough to feed several families for a single month.

26. You declined to continue the discussion on the reason that you had to take leave to cover the remaining floors. Before you left you advised my neighbour and I to read a well written article by a financial adviser who is not related to the Government who had given a good insight on this annuity issue in the previous Friday’s Today newspaper.

27. I replied you that the article was all crap and that a number of my friends and I were going to write a letter to refute that article and that I would forward a copy of that letter to you. The letter drafted jointly with my friends on the compulsory annuity will be forwarded to you in due course.

28. In the meantime, this letter serves to remind you that the outstanding issues raised at the above block visit are still outstanding which I am now seeking your replies / action on the same.

29. My name, address and contact number was recorded by one member of your 10-man strong entourage, therefore I do believe that you would have not difficulty remembering me and the above conversation.

I look forward to receiving your reply.

Yours sincerely
Ms. Jaslyn Go