We're too mollycoddled

May 25, 2009

We're too mollycoddled

		Mr Sam Tan, MP for Marine Parade GRC, is worried that Singaporeans might have been so mollycoddled by the Government that they have become so used to what he calls 'recession cushion'. -- ST PHOTO: LIM SIN THAI

MANY Singaporeans see Government help as an entitlement, something they would tap on as a first port of call rather than as a last resort, said a backbencher in Parliament on Monday.

Recession? What recession? DESPITE all the gloom and doom coming out of the United States and other countries, it seems 'business as usual' for Singaporeans, who are still spending freely and as cheerful as ever, an MP has noted. Mr Sam Tan, MP of Tanjong Pagar GRC, wondered if this 'buoyant optimism' is the Government's fault. ... more RELATED LINKS SPEECH BY MP SAM TAN

Mr Sam Tan, MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, is worried that Singaporeans might have been so mollycoddled by the Government that they have become 'practised at the craft of recession cushioning', and so accustomed to the government largesse.

'Each time the economy shows signs of slowing down, we've the NTUC and the e2i coming out to the forefront to job match, provide training, reduce retrenchment,' he said in his speech on the President's address.

'We've Ministry of National Development pump-priming with infrastructure projects. We've, of course, the Ministry of Communications, Youth and Sports and its numerous help schemes.'

Making clear that he is 'not diminishing the efforts' of civil servants and unionists, Mr Tan added: 'I am, however, wondering what the true impact of all these efforts are.

'Suppose you're the father of an eight-year-old boy who wants to learn how to cycle. Do you line the streets with cushions so that he would not hurt himself if he loses his balance?

'Do you brace his knees, and every conceivable part of his exposedbody with padding? You might, if you were an extremely protective father. But a commonsensical approach would be to let the boy have a go at it himself, and take the knocks and spills as they come.

'A boy who's mollycoddled is a very different person from the one who is physically tough and take the spills without fear, and whining. The latter, I think could be the approach that we take towards helping Singaporeans during tough times.'

Citing an example to back his point, Mr Tan said recently he has seen many residents, especially the elderly, come and see him at meet-the-people sessions.

'The difference is that while in the past, many of them would be hesitant to do so, and would rely on their children first. Today, many see the government help as an entitlement, something that they should tap on as a first port of call, rather than a last resort.

'I want to spare my children the burden of caring for me', they tell me. I am frankly astonished and dismayed, for my traditional Confucius values tell me that it is the natural obligation for children to look after their parents, and for the parents to be cared for by their children when they grow old.

'I would sometimes tell them 'You should let the children care for you, not the state, not because this is a good public policy (although it is), not because society expects it (although it might), but because it is the right thing to do.

'It is filial piety, one of the most fundamental values of the human race.'

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