Jaslyn Go’s Blog

Today is the day where most (not all) of us will be receiving our GD from the govt..

I receive a mailer that states in big bold blue letters ‘BENEFITS FOR ALL SINGAPOREANS IN 2008″..

and it reads ” The Government will share over $3 billion with Singaporeans in 2008. Most households will receive benefits that are higher than the increase in costs of living”…

Now my questions…

1) ALL Singaporeans – children below 7 not consider Singaporeans?
2) Who are the “most Singaporeans” to them? or how they derived at that conclusion that “most Singaporeans” will receive more than the increase?

From: “STForum”
Subject: Re: ST Forum – GST Credits – Why our children are forgotten
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:48:55 +0800

Thank you for writing to us. We do appreciate your making the effort.

We receive up to 70 letters each day. Limited space means we can publish only about a dozen every weekday.
This means having to make often-difficult editorial judgments on which letters to publish.

We regret we are unable to publish your letter.

If your letter relates to a matter under the purview of a government department, you may want to visit
www.sgdi.gov.sg for a list of officials to contact.

Yours sincerely

Ms Noor Aiza
for Forum Editor
The Straits Times

Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:18:31 +0800 (CST)
Subject: ST Forum – GST Credits – Why our children are forgotten
To: stforum@sph.com.sg

According to the Government, the recent GST Credits were given “to help Singaporeans cope with the 2% GST increase from 1st July 2007″. I was given $200 GST Credits this year, which I believe is what most Singaporeans are getting.

However, I am a mother of two, and my children are not entitled to GST credits. Why have our young been forgotten? Our dependents should also be entitled to GST rebates for milk powder, diapers, health care costs, childcare services, school fees, textbooks, etc.

If the Government wants to encourage its citizens to procreate, why are our young children exluded from the GST rebates, leaving parents bearing the brunt of the GST increase?

How can the Government claim to have introduced a comprehensive GST Offset Package in Budget 2007 when our young have been forgotten?

The following blog was NOT done by me, this is a case of impersonation..I will write in to wordpress and request for their assistance!

http://jaslyngohuileng.wordpress.com

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

In this practical era that we are living, how many people we know live by this belief “取自社会，回馈社会“?

In my many visits to Dr Seng’s clinic, sometimes I will joke with the nurses about how expensive gynae visit can be..it was during one of those jokes, that the nurses revealed to me Dr Seng’s charitable side.

For elderly above 60 years old..Dr Seng waived off his consultation charges.  Wow!!

I remember seeing not just expectant mothers and young ladies in the clinics, but in fact quite a handful of elderly, some in wheelchair too..

Dr Seng have not once bragged about his way of contributing back to the society to me as his patient for so many years.  My friends and ex-colleague who referred Dr Seng to me was not even aware of this when I told them about it.  It bring our admiration to him besides his fantastic skills as a gynae to a greater level..

During one of my last post natal visit after the delivery of my son, he reminded me come back for my yearly routine check up, which I jokingly told him, with another mouth to feed, I might be able to afford the luxury of a top-notch gynae like him.  He joked back and told me ok, wait till I turn 60 years old and he will waived off his consultation charges as what he is doing for all his current elderly patients.

That was the first time he shared with me what he deems as his “little contribution” back to the society.

He told me, people from his genre, believes in giving back what you have taken from the society.. He told me he hope hIs son, Dr Seng Shay Way, a trainee doctor at KK then, can carry on what he is doing, but will not imposed or insist though, that he should do what he did.  He told me matter of factly, the younger generations are different from their generation, making more money seems to be on everyone minds now..and that is a very sad sight!

Indeed our generations are a sad state.  We been brought up struggling to get into the best education, find the best profession, make the most money.. but are we taught about returning back to the society what we have taken?

How many doctors do we actually know that is doing that?

For me, Dr K M Seng is the only doctor I knew who had such a big heart..

I believe many of the elderly patients are thankful for his contributions to them, and many of the patients who knew this side of Dr Seng, have not only admirations but deep respect for him.

Dr Seng, you live up to the virtues of a doctor.. 医者仁心 aptly describe you.

Dr K M Seng, as I fondly addressed him, was my gynae for the past 11 years..

He was like a father, a friend, a mentor to many of his patients like me..

A many of a few words to many, but with me, every visit to his clinic, he will spend at least 5 – 10 mins chatting up with me..

All those 5 – 10 mins of chit chatting, I got to know this fatherly gynae of mine better, and through the years able to build that special bonding of trust between a gynae and a patient..

Trust that I know I am in good hands.
Trust that I know that he will place my interest above everything else.

My son was conceived and delivered under his care.
The pregnancy was tough as I was a complicated case..
He never took chance, and was always giving me assurance and encouragement to pull through some of the most difficult moments of my pregnancy..

After 2 kids, I no longer need to see him as often as I use to.
After a almost 3 years break..I went back to him last November.
When he saw my medical card, he came out of his room to receive me.
A tab on my shoulder and walk me in to the consultation room.
I feel so much at home in his clinic..
Familiar and friendly nurses and a fatherly doctor..
It was more like a catch up of old times, rather than a doctor’s visit..
Sadly, that was the last I see of him..

A called from a friend, informing me of the demise of my beloved gynae, took me by surprise on Wednesday.

I am still coming terms with his sudden death..
He is only 68..(still so young, by papies standard, we suppose to live past 85)
I attended his funeral this morning, paid my respect and bid my final goodbye to a great doctor..

Thank you Dr Seng..
For helping me bring two wonderful children into this world..
You left footprints in my heart..
I thank you from the bottom of my heart..

You will always be fondly remembered by many.