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Free Money In The Mail

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You may have received one of this in the mail. Surely this cannot be part of the "support network for past and present NSmen" mentioned by Ng Eng Hen in parliament. Everyone knows $50 to $100 can't get you very far in Singapore.

What the people were asking for:
"NSmen should have more subsidies for further education. We should have a better chance of entering universities instead of foreign students."
(Mr Teo, who works in finance)
"They have served two years of their lives. They deserve some form of tangible recognition for their efforts...  Subsidies on housing and medical benefits would be a start."
(Ms Fatin, a personal assistant)

This small amount of handout is usually associated with buying supporters' votes, but the next election is 3 long years' away. Still, the money goes a long way to offset the $3 administrative levy each time one draws on his own Medisave to pay for outpatient treatment. Yes, Virginia, since 1984 the Singapore Government had been charging you to access your own money. But that is supposed to be removed from April 1, unless it's someone's idea of an April Fool joke. Mr Yeow, single, earning $450 a month, explained what $3 means to him, "Everyday, I spend only $2 on lunch. If I eat $3 meals, I won't have enough money left."

Delving further into the NS45 HomeTeamNS pamphlet, one comes across the offer to use $20 of the free cash to sign up for a PAssion card. Not the kind of passion offered to a certain ex-House Speaker by a passionate PA member. The card presumably provides access to 3 HomeTeamNS club houses at Bukit Batok, Balestier and Chinatown which are being upgraded in 2013, where "members can expect a one-stop lifestyle destination with a wide range of sports and social facilities, food & beverages outlets and retail shops." Hang on to your $50 to $100 vouchers, you'll find it barely sufficient for hawker center meals.


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