Online stories about low-income individuals in Singapore

Mothership: Cleaning aunties are the mums we need at work but not the ones we deserve
http://mothership.sg/2016/12/cleaning-aunties-are-the-mums-we-need-at-work-but-not-the-ones-we-deserve/

The new Paper: Bus driver shelters passengers from the rain

http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/bus-driver-shelters-passengers-rain

The new Paper: A friendship between a student and tissue auntie

http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/friendship-between-student-and-tissue-auntie

The Independent: Cleaners’ real pay down 30 percent last 15 years?

http://theindependent.sg/cleaners-real-pay-down-30-percent-last-15-years/

Channelnewsasia: Cleaners to get S$200 raise in monthly salary by 2019

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/cleaners-to-get-s-200-raise-in-monthly-salary-by-2019/3360766.html

Singapore poor’s woes not alleviated by low level of social transfers from government

http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2016/12/28/singapore-poors-woes-not-alleviated-by-low-level-of-social-transfers-from-government/

Unidentified individual sleeping at Ci Yuan Community Club on Christmas Day

Human Rights Day 10 December 2016, Singapore

Maruah organised a Human Rights Day event in Hong Lim Park, Singapore with the theme The Sorry State of Human Right in Singapore:

https://maruah.org/2016/12/05/the-sorry-state-of-human-rights-in-singapore/

http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2016/12/05/maruah-marks-human-rights-day-with-public-speech-at-hong-lim-park/

Human Rights Day event in Hong Lim Park, Singapore 2016

Paul Tambyah

Sean Francis Han

M Ravi

Teo Soh Lung

Terry Xu

Han Hui Hui

Gilbert Goh

Tan Kin Lian

Leong Sze Hian

The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights 

Article 1 
All human being are born free and equal. 

Article 2 
Everyone from all cultures, races and genders is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration. 

Article 3 
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. 

Article 4 
No one shall be held in slavery. 

Article 5 
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. 

Article 6 
Everyone must be treated in the same way everywhere. 

Article 7 
Laws are the same for every person. Nobody should be treated with a different set of laws. 

Article 8 
If your rights have been denied, you should be able to get legal help. 

Article 9 
Nobody may be arrested and held in jail or deported without good reason. 

Article 10 
All trials should be done in public to make sure they are fair. 

Article 11 
Everyone charged with a crime will be presumed innocent untill proven guilty according to law in a public trial. Everyone has the right to defend themselves at a trial. 

Article 12 
Everyone has the right to be protected if someone tries to harm or invade their privacy. 

Article 13 
Everyone has the right to travel freely within their country. Everyone has the right to leave and return to their home country. 

Article 14 
If harmed in their home country, everyone has the right to ask for asylum: protection in another country. 

Article 15 
Everyone has the right to a nationality: to be a citizen of a country. 

Article 16 
Adults have the right to marry whom they wish and to raise a family. Men and women have the same rights when they are married and when they are not married. 

Article 17 
Everyone has the right to own property, and nobody has the right to take it away without good reason. 

Article 18 
Everyone has the right to practice the religion they choose. 

Article 19 
Everyone has the right to think and say as they please. 

Article 20 
Everyone has the right to join groups and to have peaceful meetings of groups. Nobody can force another person to join a group. 

Article 21 
Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his or her country. Everyone has the right to vote, and all votes should be counted equally. 

Article 22 
Everyone has the right to the economic and cultural resources offered by their country. 

Article 23 
Everyone has the right to work, to choose their jobs, and to fair treatment by their employers. Men and women should receive equal pay for the same jobs. People should be free to create unions. 

Article 24 
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure and to take time off from work. 

Article 25 
Everyone has the right to earn a living so that they can afford food, clothing, and access to social services that assist the elderly or ill. Mothers and their children should receive special care. 

Article 26 
Everyone has the right to free and equal education. Elementary education for children should be required. Parents have the right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children. 

Article 27 
Everyone has the right to freely participate in the cultural life (arts, sciences, traditions) of the community. Artists' and writers' work will be protected. 

Article 28 
Everyone should live in a social "order": an organized society in which everyone's rights are protected. 

Article 29 
Everyone is free to develop their own individual personalities; however, everyone also has duties to the community. Individuals may not infringe upon the rights and freedoms of other individuals. 

Article 30 
No person should act to destroy human rights. 

(Reproduced from Human Rights by Mark Friedman, All rights reserved.) 

Homeless individual at Buangkok, Singapore

Low-income individuals waiting for daily-paid jobs in the morning at Kumpong Kapor Road, Singapore

Low-income individuals selling tissue papers in Toa Payoh, Singapore

Deepa Oli 2016 @ Pungol South Park

Deepa Oli 2016 @ Pungol South Park

Guest-of-Honour PAP MP Indranee Rajah

PAP MP Ang Hin Kee, Dr Lam Pin Min, Daryl David,
Dr Koh Poh Koon and Gan Thiam Poh

PAP MP Intan Azura Mokhtar

Dr S Vasoo

Low-income individual can collectors in Bencoolen, Singapore

The Purple Parade 2016 - Support Inclusion Celebrate Abilities of Persons with Special Needs

DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam

Mothership article:
5 special needs artists of The Purple Parade who are cooler than you
http://mothership.sg/2016/11/5-special-needs-artists-of-the-purple-parade-who-are-cooler-than-you/

Purple Parade website:
http://www.purpleparade.sg/

Purple Parade Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/purpleparade/

PAP MP Denise Phua

A low-income individual can collector in Little India, Singapore

Deplorable workplace for some individuals in Singapore!

Why is there stigma? (Poem)

Recently, I learnt that 
there is a stigma to being an ex-prisoner, 
there is a stigma to being a cleaner, 
there is a stigma to being an ex-offender, 
there is a stigma to being a prostitute, 
there is a stigma to being a LGBT, 
there is a stigma to being a destitute, 
there is a stigma to being mentally-ill, 
there is a stigma to being a low-income individual, 
there is a stigma to being homeless. 
Why is there stigma? 

An individual from Jenaris Home at Pelangi Village

He is an individual from Jenaris Home at Pelangi Village. He does not have the freedom to go out of the Welfare Home on his own. 

Needy individual at a shopping mall in Hougang, Singapore

Low-income individual selling tissue paper at a shopping mall in Bugis, Singapore

I discover a fish-bone in a value meal in a hawker centre in Singapore

Reply from NEA:

Dear Mr Chua   

We refer to your feedback dated on 20 Oct 2016.

Following your feedback, our officer has conducted a surprise check at the alleged stall at the Ci Yuan Hawker Centre on 26 October 2016.

During our inspection, the premises was clean and food preparation was satisfactory. However, we noted the refuse bin was uncovered and have taken enforcement against the stallholder.

Notwithstanding, we will continue to conduct surprise checks. Strict enforcement actions will be taken for any hygiene lapses observed.

Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.

Yours sincerely

Benny Lee

Senior Officer

NEA

Homeless individual sleeping in the public in Little India, Singapore

Low-income individual on a tricyle in Little India, Singapore

Low-income individual in Singapore

Low-income individuals in Singapore eat Chinese pickles (salted vegtable) often

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chinese pickles or salted vegetable are high in sodium and is consumed by many low-income individuals in Singapore.

Reproduced from Wikipedia on Chinese pickles:

Possible health hazards of pickled vegetables

The World Health Organization has listed pickled vegetables as a possible carcinogen, and the British Journal of Cancer released an online 2009 meta-analysis of research on pickles as increasing the risks of esophageal cancer. The report cites a potential two-fold increased risk of oesophageal cancer associated with Asian pickled vegetable consumption. Results from the research are described as having "high heterogeneity" and the study said that further well-designed prospective studies were warranted. However, their results stated "The majority of subgroup analyses showed a statistically significant association between consuming pickled vegetables and Oesophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma".^[3]
The 2009 meta-analysis reported heavy infestation of pickled vegetables with fungi. Some common fungi can facilitate the formation of N-nitroso compounds, which are strong oesophageal carcinogens in several animal models. Roussin red methyl ester,^[4] a non-alkylating nitroso compound with tumour-promoting effect in vitro, was identified in pickles from Linxian in much higher concentrations than in samples from low-incidence areas. Fumonisin mycotoxins have been shown to cause liver and kidney tumours in rodents.^[3]

Replies from Member of Parliament (MP)

A: From MP Tin Pei Ling:

Auto reply: Please bear with my slow responses & please approach my MPS for assistance if urgent Re: No freedom at Pelangi Village Government Welfare Homes!

Hi,

Hope this finds you well. I am currently on compassionate leave and my
responses to your email(s) will be much slower.
Please bear with me. I will respond whenever I can.

Nonetheless, if there is an urgent issue requiring immediate
attention, please contact Ms Choy Chinn Yunn at
choy_chinn_yunn@pa.gov.sg.

Thank you for your understanding. Wishing you a pleasant day ahead.

Tin Pei Ling

B: From MP FOO Mee Har:

*MESSAGE TO RESIDENTS PROVIDING FEEDBACK OR SEEKING HELP*

Thank you for your email.

If a response is required, we will attempt to reply as soon as
possible.   However, we can only respond to residents whom we can
identify.  Please provide your NRIC, address and contact details
including telephone, if you have not already done so.

The best way for me to help residents is to meet at my Meet-the-People
Session (MPS), held on Thursdays at Block 32 Teban Gardens.  It is not
necessary to make an appointment - registrations start at 7:30 pm and
we operate on a first-come-first-served basis.  No appointment is
needed.

--

Regards,

FOO Mee Har (Ms)
Member of Parliament for West Coast GRC

C: From MP Zaqy Mohamad:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Thank you for your e-mail. We acknowledge receipt of your mail and endeavour to respond to you as soon as possible.

In the meantime, for urgent matters related to the respective agencies, you may want to liaise with the relevant agencies direct: -

1. Chua Chu Kang Town Council    Tel: 65690388 or Email: info@ccktc.org.sg
2. HDB (CCK Branch)              Tel: 1800-2255432 or Email: bckadmin@mailbox.hdb.gov.sg
3. CCK Neighbourhood Police Post Tel: 1800-7659999 Email: spf_j_div_choa_chu_kang_npc@spf.gov.sg
4. NEA Call Centre               Tel: 1800-2255632 or Email: contact_nea@nea.gov.sg
5. LTA                           Tel: 1800-2255582 or Email: feedback@lta.gov.sg
6. South West CDC                Tel: 63161616 or Email: southwest_cdc@pa.gov.sg
7. AVA (Animal Issues)           Tel: 63257625, 62221211 or Email: ava_email@ava.gov.sg
8. NParks                        Tel: 1800-4717300 or Email: Nparks_mailbox@nparks.gov.sg


Thank you very much and have a good day.

Warmest regards,

Zaqy Mohamad
MP, Chua Chu Kang GRC


D: From MOT:

Dear Sir / Madam

Thank  you for your email.

We will look into your concerns and refer them to the appropriate agencies where applicable.

Meanwhile, should you need any further assistance, you can call us at Tel: 1800-278-3500 during office hours.

Yours sincerely

Quality Service Manager
Ministry of Transport

E: From MOF Ann SIM:

Please be informed that I will start using my new email address : “Sim_Ann@mti.gov.sg” with effect from September 1, 2016.

You may wish to update your address book.

In the meantime, your email to me has been automatically forwarded to my new mailbox. Thank you.

F: From MP Baey Yam Keng:

Dear all

I am away and will be back to the office on 14 October, Friday.  During this period, I have limited access to my emails and appreciate your understanding if I cannot reply to your emails immediately.  

Should you have any urgent queries, kindy send an email to my Assistant, Betty, at betty_woo@mccy.gov.sg

Thank you.

Rgds

Baey Yam Keng

Parliamentary Secretary

Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth


End

Reply from Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF)

14 Oct 2016, Friday.

RE: No freedom at Pelangi Village Government Welfare Homes!

Dear Mr Chua,

Thank you for your email. Welfare Homes are gazetted under the Destitute Persons Act for the reception, care and rehabilitation of destitute persons.  For the safety and rehabilitation of residents, activities and programmes are scheduled and there is close supervision by staff.  Residents able to care for themselves would be granted more liberty to go out of the Home for work or to attend to personal matters.

Warmest regards,

Karen

MSF

Foreign workers in Singapore

Tending to the garden

Repairing the Road Divider on the public road

No freedom at Pelangi Village Government Welfare Homes!

Dear Sir/Mdm,

I wish to inform you that in Pelangi Village Government Welfare Homes, there is no freedom, that's Singaporeans who are sent there by Ministry of Social and Family Development, cannot go out on their own.

 

If there is a single individual (human being) in Singapore who has no freedom, then I think we should speak up for him or her or whatever.

 

The place which I mentioned is at:

 

Google Maps: Pelangi Village.

 

https://www.google.com.sg/maps/place/Activity+Hub@Pelangi+Village/@1.381688,103.8850973,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x31da1641c419e049:0xd527e537e6c3ea07!8m2!3d1.381688!4d103.887286?hl=en

 

Sincerely,

 

Mr. Chua Lee Kheng

Singaporean

The plight of the homeless!

(Photos from Google Images)