comment on local issue

comment on local issue
—Erika (Yang Yu)

Source: Chong Elena(Feb 10, 2010), Guilty of cheating charities, the strait times. Retrieved on Feb 10,2010 from http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_488810.html

I refer to the news “Guilty of cheating charities”. Stephanie Chee Jok Heng, a former management consultant of PHF (Parkway Healthcare Foundation), was declared guilty of cheating PHF. She dishonestly submitted claims for reimbursement and also made a double claim for payment.

In my personal perspective, her behavior is immoral, dishonest. She cheated the charity for personal profit, such as to pay for her daughters’ piano teaches and Chinese tutor, and to make a double claim of payment for her brother. That is not because she is lack of money, but only greedy, sort of common character for ill-gotten gains are luring for most people. Many people go astray just for they are blinded by greed temporarily, lose sense of value and make wrong decisions. In this case, Ms Chee, who has considerable income, also cheated the charity, and more than one time, suggesting that she was drawn into it like addiction. That is very unforgivable.

From another perspective, I think we should pay more attention to the welfare policy in Singapore. On the one hand, as known to many people, Singapore has many good policies, especially subsidy in healthcare. Even though, many people still cannot afford the spending in hospital. It is even said that people can only wait to die when they fall ill so it is better not to get sick. On the other hand, the regulations in Singapore are very strict, most people also behave well. It is still inevitable some people will commit a crime. Any system may lend itself to manipulation by clever people. And sometime, people are forced to err from the right path by their situations.

In China, it is fairly often that people pad the bill for company or personal purpose. Compared with China, Singapore is far more famous for its uncorrupted, clean image. Under the reform put forward by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, to reinforce suppression of corruption, and to nourish honesty with high salary, good effects are achieved through efforts.

Go back to this criminal matter. Strict regulations and investigatory organizations should be set to prevent similar occurrence, and honesty and anti-corruption propaganda should be put forward.