Monday, August 6, 2012

A Matter Of Cost

It's no longer funny. Nanyang Siang Pau reported that an accountant in her 30s did not show up after being informed of her mother's death at a nursing home. She refused to be associated because of the S$2,000 in funeral expenses. A saddened undertaker who learnt about the travesty donated a casket and paid for the last rites.

Last month we learnt via word of mouth an ex-colleague's father had passed on. The simple wake and the cheap coffin in the void deck said it all, our old friend was trying to make ends meet. Since he did even post the obituary notice in the morning paper, we called up those we know. Many declined to attend, citing various excuses - the customary donation of money to help offset funeral expenses (Chinese call it “pak kum”, literally “white gold”) was obviously too much of a tax in these hard times. The cheapest niche in a government columbaria costs $500 for standard, $900 for a family. The website clearly states that there will be an extra $250 selection fee should one wish to choose a different location from that allocated by the state. Even in death, freedom of choice comes with a price.

What is also hard to fathom is why Khaw Boon Wan is still maintaining that $2,200 is justifiable for a foldable bike: "That’s why just now I was trying to lift these cheaper bikes which are not foldable, it’s not easy." He was probably trying out one of the 47 bicycles sponsored by French consumer-product company Bic to aid the National Community Emergency Response Team (Cert) work in Sembawang GRC. Bic will also provide another 53 of the Aleomakino Italy bicycles - which cost about $200 each - to West Coast GRC.

Lim Chong Yah was spot on when he said the Gini coefficient is approaching dangerous levels.

22 comments:

  1. In the past, say we had 20 working adults(WA) supporting 1 elderly (E).
    20 yrs ago, these WA were only making $500 each (in today's value of money, equals total monthly income of $10,000).

    Today, we have only 5 WA : 1 E, but these present-day workers make $2000 each, combined monthly income is still $10,000. No change in level of support for that elderly.

    In next 20 yrs, if we only have 2 : 1 elderly, but those 2 buggers are making $5000 each (brought to today's value of money), their combined effort can still support the single elderly at no change to level of support.

    So if increasing earning $ of the Singaporean WA can ensure that there is no change to level of 'support' to be received by each elderly Singaporean, then are we sure immigration is the only way out of this aging population 'problem'?

    We have moved from 1m to 2.9m to 4.2m to now 5.2m all in the name of working labour, foreigns talents etc.

    All these time, what have the leaders to show when in comes to support for the elderlies?

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  2. Wow. If an accountant didn't/couldn't even fork out a $2k funeral expense, what hope is there for ordinary folks? Is already ashes, why does it cost $2k to die?!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. $2k for rites vs $2k for rides.
      I don't know what to say.

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    2. How abt a 2009 3-week french cooking lesson holiday for $46k by the then Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Water ...? and they say "ponding" is not found in the english vocabulary, of course not, mon cherie! The top civil servants (or masters for us) have golden six o'clocks, and rather selective tastes. For rest of us, there is always royal watch a l'anglaise.

      Delete
  3. The state must, I repeat must take care of the sick and elderly. If nparks can afford to splurge on Bromptoms, it won't be harder to afford care for the elderly. Why should we continue voting in this government who seems interested to work for their million dollars pay yet ignore the sick and elderlys' well being.

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  4. //hard to fathom is why Khaw Boon Wan is still maintaining that $2,200 is justifiable for a foldable bike//

    Same reason why taxpayers funded $1.1b to buy more buses, while spender went on 69.2m acquisition spree buying up Aussie Bus Group.

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    Replies
    1. Guess nobody will ever understand why should we pay bus companies the money to buy buses for them chrage us? No make sense!!

      Delete
    2. To help maintain Temasek's 17% annual return?

      Delete
  5. GLCs are killing private companies by shutting them out of valuable resources. Ever-increasing rentals are driving local SMEs to the brink of extinction. Strict rules and restriction on freedom of expression are inhibiting creative and innovative industries. Singapore's economy is on steriod. We know how effective steriod heals and kills.

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  6. $2,200 is very prudent. $200 is a gimmick.

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  7. $2,000 for a funeral for a heartlander does not impress world leaders.

    $2,000 for a Brompton bike will impress world leaders about "how world class" our leaders are.

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  8. Aiyoh, just tell the Government to legislate CPF to approve expenses for "Kuah Cha" + "Jiu Song" + "Chut Suah". Then everything is settled.

    Notes to Government of the day: Don't come back and tell us that CPF is for our old age or retirement bullshit

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. IT is very possible that the mother may have some remainder CPF, but because it was locked up in the account, coupled with whatever financially challenged situation the daughter is facing, she was unfortunately unable to have her last rites. Is a tragedy if true.

      I cannot for the life of me understand why CPF Board are denying people of their life savings. If they want to delay, or discourage the withdrawal, then at least have the decency to give them a higher interest rate for those who will still keep some amount. This whole episode of CPF is leaving a lot of sour and bitter taste to our retired folks.

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    2. It is prudent to check the nominees of an aged person's CPF account before it's too late. The CPF board will not release the information to anyone, claiming it is confidential information of the deceased. If the nomination is not up to date, the monies may be locked up forever.

      Delete
    3. Many are not aware that recently, CPF have a revamped Nomination Form which among other things, allow for nomination of a third party to be informed of the deceased member's nominations and the proportion!
      As to why, it was not publicised, I guess it is to protect the way-ward spouse and other special cases.

      I did mine with my wife, nominating each other. Like Carly Simon's "No Secrets".

      Delete
  9. Whatever the case.

    CPF will never accidentally let you have your money back so easily.

    If it is easy, it's not CPF.
    If it's CPF, it's not easy.

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  10. CPF = Cash to Pay Funeral.

    Is it true?

    ReplyDelete
  11. The daughter recently revealed a secret that they are a very frugal family. But if whole family is so frugal as described, why do they need to collect tens of millions annually and probably hundreds of millions over a few decades of perpetual rule ?

    If one does not need so much money to spend but yet demand so much of it, are they not just plain greedy ?

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  12. Nobody questions the need for foldable bikes, but how and why so much is paid! Kapish? Don’t take us all for dumb, daft, duds. Now, please explain the river-duck tours tender. Water-taxi-gate so soon after the brompton-gate? Don’t give us the shit that “I do not get involved in operational matters” or “did I jump the gun”.

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    Replies
    1. “I do not get involved in operational matters”

      Then what exactly do you do?

      Delete
  13. Even to feedmetothefish, I still have to pay for cremation and another $500 (last checked 5 years ago) to get a boat, bring my ashes outside Singapore water to feedmetothefish.

    Cheaper alternative is not to claim the ashes at the crematorium which most likely will be used as landfill.

    Or is it against the law to feedmetothefish at East Coast Park or along any coastline in Singapore?

    feedmetothefish

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  14. 'Si wu zang shen zi di', meaning died and without any land for burial, which to the Chinese is a terrible curse. However, if one died in Sin, one's remain(ashes) is likely to be suspended in a tiny space, meaning; to be cursed forever.
    Yes, best leave it to the crematorium or collect the ashes and quietly disposed them anywhere. Provided, the surviving kins, relatives or frens are not superstitious lah.

    ReplyDelete