Singapore's poor turn to temples to fill bellies. Most are elderly or labourers, in a country that has the second highest GDP per capita in Asia after Japan but ranks alongside the Philippines and Guatemala for income disparity.
I READ with dismay the report, 'Singapore's poor turns to temples to fill bellies,' (ST, 7 Jun 08).
For a country that has the second highest Gross Domestic Product after Japan in Asia and now termed a First World nation, what I read was both shocking and disappointing. How is this possible?
I also read that we now have accumulated close to $300 billion in foreign reserves. But the manner in which some of our country's poor live does not truly reflect this healthy figure. Perhaps something can be done to unlock these funds to even out the income disparity?
The situation goes to show that the income gap is widening and more needs to be done to bridge it. It also shows that many are sidelined either by a lack of opportunities or educational qualifications to seize advantage of our phenomenal economic progress.
In fact, the way I see it, many foreigners have come to our shores to take up the good jobs that pay well. They live in big condos and eat at the best restaurants.
While doing a stint in social services, I came across people who could not afford simple luxuries like going to the movies or even visiting fast food restaurants with their kids. Sometimes, their utility bills went unpaid for months.
Needless to say, life for them and their families remain very much on the edge. They toil day and night to make ends meet and do not see any chance of breaking away from the hardship. They can only look on as the country prospers. This group of people may need more than a helping hand from our government to ensure that they have a decent standard of living.
Unless something is done in the next few years to even out the income disparity, I see a large group of our population living on the edge while the foreigners, who are arriving in large droves, reap the benefits of what our forefathers have toiled for.
Gilbert Goh
Hubei, China
Sources and Relevant Links:
ST Forum Close widening income gap; do more to help the poor 10 June 2008
The Star Income Gap: The different faces of Singapore 04 May 2008
