For more than 20 years, Wong Lai Ngoh has been giving away coupons to poor, uncared-for elderly living around Owen Road for them to come and eat free of charge at her stall.

The 65-year-old owner of the Cambridge Road Hong Kong Roast Pork stall in Pek Kio Food Centre has won the hearts of those who have benefited from her generosity, reported Lianhe Wanbao.

“The decision to help began one day about 20 years ago when a ragged old man came to our stall to beg for a plastic bag,” Madam Wong recounted to the Chinese evening daily on Wednesday.

That time, she was a helper to her father, whom she assisted for more than five decades until he died some six years ago and left her the stall.

Curious over what use the man would have for the bag, she tailed him to observe.

“I saw him walk around the food centre to put into the bag the leftover food of others,” she said.

She stepped forward to ask him why and was told he had no money for meals and had to pick up the remainders of others’ food.

“Noting that he was all alone by himself, I could not but feel the compassion to help. There began my undertaking to give away food to the old and needy,” said the mother of three.

At the beginning, she offered her roast pork rice only to about eight elderly, but soon word spread and more came.

Madam Wong revealed that her family was not well-to-do but her burden had lightened ever since her children started working.

“Now I give away up to 130 coupons per month, which go to about 60 old folks.”

The coupons are distributed through the help of volunteers, and each entitles the holder to a dish of free roast pork rice, which is sold at $3 to paying customers.

Although the elderly she helps are poor, they would sometimes offer her something such as a banana or a piece of bread as a token of appreciation.

She sees these little acts as proof that the elderly people have strong self-respect and do not want to take from others without making some kind of repayment.

Retiree Soi Soi, 61, who receives two coupons every month from Madam Wong, described the stallholder as an affable person with a good heart.

Chen Zhongsun, a 71-year-old who has never eaten a free meal at her stall, said all in the neighbourhood know of her altruistic commitment and commend her for that.

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RULING the death of Benjamin Lim a suicide, State Coroner Marvin Bay said the police and his school had taken steps to engage him sensitively. But an “additional refinement” could be for a school counsellor to accompany the student to the police station.

The North View Secondary School student, 14, was found dead at the foot of his block in Yishun on Jan 26, hours after being questioned at Ang Mo Kio police division for the alleged molest of an 11-year-old girl in a lift.

Coroner Bay said he had viewed the closed-circuit television footage from the lift many times.

“It would only be fair to state that this touch was momentary, and (he) did not appear to grasp or grope the girl upon contact with her body,” he added.

The coroner, saying that a combination of factors were probably at play in this case, suggested that Benjamin may have been worried about the consequences of his action.

While he would probably have been given a stern warning or “sanctions geared towards guidance, therapy and rehabilitation”, young people are often geared to engage in a phenomenon known as “catastrophic thinking”, said the coroner.

“Young people may inadvertently associate their offending with the examples seen in current-affair programmes such as Crime Watch, and be completely unaware that the punishments meted in the depicted accounts are for hardened adult offenders who have committed heinous crimes in egregious circumstances.

“In such a setting, if a young suspect is not given an appropriate perspective, he… may gravitate towards self-harm or other destructive behaviour based on the erroneous belief that what (he has) done will irreversibly change the course of (his) educational and career prospects, and other aspects of their lives.”

The coroner suggested that young people be better informed of the consequences of their actions.

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The New Paper, Shin Min Daily News

In this case, the police did tell his mother that Benjamin could receive a warning in lieu of prosecution, he might have to undergo probation, or he might have to go to court.

“There does not seem to be any indication from the adduced evidence in the record that (he) was made aware of this,” said the coroner.

Before he jumped, Benjamin found out from his mother that he would be attending a school camp that began the next day.

While finding that the school had suggested to his mother it was better for him to be with his family instead of being at the school , the coroner added that in hindsight, it may have been better for the school counsellor to explain the decision to Benjamin.

“This will enable the actual context of the action to be properly understood,” he explained. “A communication with only a parent or caregiver would carry the risk that essential nuances and details may, perhaps inadvertently, be filtered or edited away… A child may react badly if the measures, intended for their well-being, are misinterpreted to be punitive or retributive.”

The coroner also suggested that school counsellors accompany students under their charge to the police station, if they need to be interviewed.

“I am, of course, not suggesting that counsellors should become advocates for the child or actively participate in the interview process, but rather to be present as resource people to meet any arising needs from the police, the student, or his caregivers,” he explained.

At the end of his findings, the coroner extended his “deepest condolences to the family of Master Benjamin for their very sad loss”.

byseow@sph.com.sg

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COME Aug 9 next year, The Float@Marina Bay will once again be awash in red and white.

It has been chosen as the venue for the nation’s largest party, the annual National Day Parade (NDP), Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen revealed yesterday evening.

Speaking at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Marina Bay Sands, where an appreciation function to thank those who took part in NDP2016 was held, he said this year’s event was a success.

“What about next year’s NDP? Many have asked where we intend to hold it – in the National Stadium, floating platform or Padang?

“Each site has its unique charm and fans among Singaporeans… we have decided to hold NDP2017 at the floating platform.”

He also hinted that NDP2018 could be held at the National Stadium.

But, he added that wherever the NDP is held, the goal remains the same – to celebrate together as one people and one heart the nation’s birthday and progress year after year.

Dr Ng’s announcement comes just over a week after Singapore held its 51st birthday bash at the National Stadium – marking a return to the grand old dame after a decade-long refurbishment.

Since 2007, the Aug 9 bash has been held seven times at the floating platform and twice at the Padang.

While the 55,000-seater stadium allowed twice as many people – about 275,000 – to watch the parade, previews and rehearsals this year, many crowd favourites had to be forgone due to venue restrictions.

The Red Lions parachutists, for example, did not jump right in front of spectators inside the stadium.

The convoy of war machines did not rumble past them either, due to the design of the stadium.

Hence, the return to The Float@Marina Bay is expected to sit well with Singaporeans, many of whom also favour the unobstructed bay view.

Holding the NDP there could be cheaper too.

This year’s event was mired in controversy due to its hefty price tag.

In March, Dr Ng said in Parliament that the staging of NDP 2016 at the National Stadium was expected to cost $39.4 million, about double what it cost at the Marina Bay floating platform.

The reason for the steep rise was the rent of the dome-shaped venue at the Sports Hub. It made up 15 per cent of the budget, more than three times the cost of using the floating platform or the Padang.

At $39.4 million, it was the second most costly NDP after last year’s Golden Jubilee edition at the Padang, which cost $40.5 million.

Previous NDPs at the floating platform cost between $15.7 million and $17.9 million.

The 2010 edition at the Padang cost $20.6 million.

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

AsiaOne, Berita Harian, The Straits Times

audreyt@sph.com.sg

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