Your views: The tragic death of Mr Tan

I cannot believe how stupid the MP, Madam Ho Geok Choo, 50, (West Coast GRC), is. In her interview conducted by Andre Yeo of THE ELECTRIC NEWPAPER, Madam Ho talked about her own life of poverty.

We are talking about a dead man, we are not interested about Madam Ho's personal life. That in itself, is a mean-spirited attack on the family. You ask me how? I will tell u. "Oh poor me, I sufferred too, but I survived..."

Madam Ho mentioned the ComCare fund for the needy, workfare bonus for low-wage workers, and a $2.6 billion progress package, 'We must look into how else we can reach out to these people.'-said Madam Ho.

You start with your own boss first, Madam Ho...and work upwards. There needs to be a financial aid coverage for the desperate and the poor, to get them up and going to even begin to look for a job.

You need to have a financial parachute, first... then these poor Singaporeans can get up from the ground, stand up, and begin to walk. Not wait for a job, and starve? That is what your programs are all about.

You have to help the poor feed their families first. Before anything can be done. The poor need financial bridging first and foremost. Don't let these poor Singaporeans down. You, the Singapore govt can help.

If you can help, why not pass a law that will assist the poor n needy? If it is the right thing to do, why not do it? The gratification and payback will be huge, Singapore Govt. When your own people need your help, don't turn your back on them.

Do the right thing. It is within your control, such tragedies do not have to happen. If we can save one family, we can save almost all the poor families, they just need 'a financial help' from you, Singapore Govt, to tie them over?

In addtion, my question is do these agencies really work for the poor and needy? What do the poor and needy do in the meantime with no funds in their bank to support a family? Mr Jonathan Siew, 36, counsellor from the Care Corner Counselling Centre mentioned about govt employment agencies, again, do they work?

If they do work, then this poor man died in vain, and if they don't, we sure do not hear about these programs? How many poor people know about them, and where do these people to go and get help?

Bear in mind, that many poor Singaporeans may not be educated??? Has the Singapore MP madam Ho done anything to enlighten her constituents , get to know their situations who need help, about these programs?

Are these programs known to the the general public of Singaporeans that live in the heartlands? Shame to all the govt officials who let this man die, did he slip thru' the singapore system which caters to the wealthy?

Shame on MP Ho, who should know about all of her constituents' plights n needs. What kind of JOB are you doing Madam Ho?

Shame on all of the Singapore Govt officials who DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for the poor of Singapore. They are all million dollar ministers, with big fat bank accounts, and have lost touch with the average Singaporean's needs.

Who is raising money for this family of two sons and a widow of 50? The Singaporeans, organized, by a kind hawker. And now the Singapore officials are bitching about the amount of money collected for the Tan Family.

Are they envious that the collection money for this family is going to be a huge amount? "Is this Singaporean tragedy going to be the new Singaporean Toto?"

I hope they collect a large amount of money, that will enable those 2 boys to go to school, get a good education, become hugely successful in their lives and careers, and any sum of money is never enough to bring back their father.

It is one thing to pass laws, and stupid programs, and another, to wait for the desperate, poor or old to die. It is also a fact that Singapore has one suicide a day.

What does that say about the government officials of Singapore who make well over US$1,000,00 a year.

The poor need financial aid first. Not more rules and programs. Their bellies need to be fed first. Shame on you lot who rule and pass the law.

May Chu Harding (A Singaporean)