The Hawker's Assistant: CNA Insider's Series On Singapore's Elderly Poor

He was once so broke, he couldn't afford to eat. But even then Mr Ong Hock Soon didn't want welfare - he just wanted a job. "I still can move," he said. At 69, he's on his feet 8 hours a day serving customers at a porridge stall.
READ: The faces of Singapore's elderly working poor
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For our full series on #elderlypoverty in Asia, see: cna.asia/elder...
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[@karlchandran4631]

I found the video moving and tragic. I realize the reality of his situation, a former compulsive gambler, being close to penniless. I must confess that I found his drive to work and support himself was a little tough to watch but I still found it admirable. Like a lot of cities around the world, the changes, the dependance on foreign construction workers, has left a lot of people, once able to work and earn a living, now unable to because of the changes in the economy. I wish him well and hope things work out for him.

[@Unteroffizier]

I have no pity for people who gambles and smokes, and affect not only their own but their families. However i approve and admire him at present. he is able to secure an income of $1,000 with the work he is doing at the hawker centre, and give back by volunteering at the senior activity centre. He also never ask for his family to come back to him or bother them anymore because he knows he was very wrong and did them wrong. I sure hope people who are the cause of their families' problems are humble enough to admit their mistakes and move on the right path. Like that we will have less social problems and problems will not snowball or loop around in their lives and their children's' life.

[@rhuyisia8163]

In the video he said he doesn't want to rely on his family! Although he realised and admitted his folly and mistakes, it's way too late! I think he's got no choice, now that he's old! He must never forget he brought shame, extreme hardship/suffering and poverty to his wife and innocent children throughout their lives! If I were the children, I would never forgive him nor ever forget the horrible scars he inflicted and left the family! Leave him be to taste his own medicine and suffer in his old age! He deserved to rot!

[@chongwei2945]

I seriously hope that CNA is still in contact with these individuals especially during this pandemic period and do share about their current situation and there are vulnerable and could be in need of help from everyone.

[@kennykeenano]

This is why CPF is very important for the elderly. The final backup for compulsive gambling and smoking.

[@marcusb.7412]

Most can’t even withdraw money from CPF

[@moonstars6279]

Cpf belongs to individual hard earned money i hope govt should return to us asap

[@kennykeenano]

@@moonstars6279 It is returned to you when you reached 55.

[@wendybrierley5412]

I know the Chinese people are majority of gamblers, is in the 'genes'. There is daily gambling, weekly and monthly. Even some rich businessmen lost their home, marriage, business, car/cars. It is very sad. But now Mr. Ong is working, his choice is to keep him active and socially involved with his friends and customers. Use it or loose it. Like he said he is happy with his friends. This is a better option. He rather not claim welfare. But can he claim welfare and work part time as well?? To save some money for his coming old age, we hope and not gamble away. Government should encourage this. I take it he has no Old age Government pension then? Does everybody get a Government pension in Singapore when pensionable age?? When is pension age please?? Now he learned the hard way, hope his family forgives him. Bless him.

[@Unteroffizier]

@@moonstars6279 I rather work or find other source of income. When i am old and feeble and cannot move anymore then i will use my CPF for my monthly expenses.

[@Unteroffizier]

I have no pity for people who gambles and smokes, alcoholics, and affect not only their own but their families. However i approve and admire him at present. he is able to secure an income of $1,000 with the work he is doing at the hawker centre, and give back by volunteering at the senior activity centre. He also never ask for his family to come back to him or bother them anymore because he knows he was very wrong and did them wrong. I sure hope people who are the cause of their families' problems are humble enough to admit their mistakes and move on the right path. Like that we will have less social problems and problems will not snowball or loop around in their lives and their children's' life.

[@davidlee2215]

We are only human after all....

[@tw.bluesea]

I'm happy he found his job and friends. God bless!

[@drw888]

I hope the children forgive him. Can't hold a grudge for too long. For the children, it's understood that they may have suffer at his hands, but life's too short. Go see him you guys

[@rhuyisia8163]

I hope you could put yourself in his wife and children's shoes! I can tell you it's not easy when living with the hurt and scars he caused thru the years!

[@mumford2023]

No. Never.

[@theonlyyashh8070]

​@@mumford2023 r u mad

[@ayeayehtun5898]

I got one lesson. Everything is changing and need to be thoughtful for our life. Hope he will be healthy and happy

[@alexperdo7596]

When I see this, I'm reminded of my own abusive father who beat me so hard when I was a child, he actually broke my ribs. I attended his funeral recently, just to make sure that he really was dead. As the oldest son, I was asked to give a eulogy. When I stood up to speak, all I could do was laugh my ass off. I threw a huge party that evening to celebrate his death. It truly was the happiest day in my life! Not every death deserves to be mourned.

[@rhuyisia8163]

Hey man you got so many likes! Looks like we are not alone! I am still cursing someone to hell since 2004! For that I think I may end up in hell too la! Nvm living on this earth is hell enuf! I am getting used to it!

[@fearless6947]

Yep, my dad is abusive as well. I'm still suffering from the trauma. If he is dead, I don't worry about anything and think trauma will go away

[@cacildeasa]

Well, at least he owns it up. His children didn't abandoned him, they ran form him. This is the case of many "abandoned" elderly people, they are terrible human beings.

[@Ryan-rp5vu]

I was actually expecting cna to invite his family and give him a surprise at the end of the vid

[@truthseeking6611]

Only in American TV.

[@truelovewontwait]

That would be very intrusive. Any producer with a clear mind and not pursuing drama for the sake of rating would avoid it. And I'm grateful they didn't.

[@lazeintun178]

That will be too dramatic liao.

[@secrets.295]

How can a rich country like Singapore pay their workers 1,000 dollars only. That is ridiculously low. Especially since he has been working there for 15 years

[@jaypascual4379]

this is why theyre a rich country. all goes to taxes

[@altoncoolthings]

Because we don't have a minimum wage. We instead have support programs.

[@altoncoolthings]

@@jaypascual4379 that is bull. Have you actually seen our taxing system? Seriously, learn to research first before running your mouth.

[@jaypascual4379]

allee i have a lot of relatives and my sister lives working in Singapore and they always tell me how high is the cost of living in sg. They put so much money especially theyre foreigners there. I’m just stating what I’ve heard as what my relatives are experiencing there. Well good for them, they have decent jobs and can go travel around the globe

[@prettycatmint4514]

@@jaypascual4379 It's not totally expensive living in Singapore. Boils down to one's lifestyle and daily choices. Will be expensive if compared with certain Asian countries.

[@MYTHOMINHTRAN]

A decent man who relies on his feet and work hard. He should be proud of himself.

[@fearless6947]

properly spent all his money and left nothing for the wife and kids

[@thewhambam]

​@@fearless6947 you are the type to look only at the negatives

[@fearless6947]

@@thewhambam are you the type, to abuse your own children and wife? Don't answer me straight away, take some time to think about it.

[@davidlee2215]

We are only human after all....

[@freiheit5593]

He deserves this fate. But I appreciate that he has a sense of guilt

[@rhuyisia8163]

Not guilt dear! He feels hopeless, maybe rejected now that he's getting older day by day! He's got no choice but to rely on social care!

[@sonnykhoo7236]

He apologised to his children. I hope they are watching this. Times are so different nowadays. I’m 60. In my father & grandfather’s time they took care of their parents and their kids took care of them. Now we take care of our parents and also take care of our kids. We are called the sandwich generation

[@muliamandiro6078]

please make more video about compulsive gamble

[@crimson6172]

So he had a good life when he was young. A good job and a family is something that most young people envy nowadays. But he threw it all away under his own foolishness. At least he is man enough to admit his mistakes from the past. Everything that happens to him is his own fault and he deserved it so it's good that he takes accountability for it.

[@henrytay1706]

Singapore was and will be a place for the risk takers.

[@aravinthsrisivasritharan4098]

Why cant they try and make gambling illegal to prevent these situations

[@cookiecrumbles9062]

Government versus the thousands and thousands of people who likes gambling. We aren't having another "French Revolution" in Singapore

[@aravinthsrisivasritharan4098]

@@cookiecrumbles9062 yes but if we have a referendum for something like this I'm sure alot of people would want it to be illegal

[@cookiecrumbles9062]

@@aravinthsrisivasritharan4098 OK your reasoning sound logical but gambling dens these days are hard to find. Who knows, there might be hundreds we have yet to know of. Plus, governments made some legal soooo, basically govs fault unless we act on it. Like what, go to Chinese Garden and report on them?

[@aravinthsrisivasritharan4098]

@@cookiecrumbles9062 no I'm not saying it's possible, it's be better. It's like banning alcohol. It would be nice but ik it's not possible

[@fly89]

i think it is better to raise the gambling awareness instead of forbid it totally. You can just gamble illegally in back rooms, or drive up to genting ..

[@7482ashish]

How is he now?

[@alexperdo7596]

He's dead.

[@sazisazi]

True GRIT

[@fly89]

in the meantime in europe.. 3 generations of family on welfare. Many teens just have babies and relies on welfare for the rest of their life and claim it like it their birthright.

[@beezlebub9]

Really, where in Europe does this happen?

[@denisechan5992]

Nowadays skilled craftsmen and construction workers wages are suppressed because of the influx of foreign migrant workers.

[@maricarpatubo7581]

Uncle stop smoking

[@ruthgoh4869]

😢

[@rhuyisia8163]

I hate people who are drunkards, gamblers and womanisers! I also hate gullible women who are despicable enough to be mistresses and homebreakers to irresponsible men, already dirt poor and struggling to survive! Tell me, what and where is the attraction?

[@hdkjchksdj9048]

可是原来请本地人的薪水很高，请中国人工作不用付那么多薪水的话，房价应该下降才对呀，为什么物价还是那么高，工资反而更低了呢，答案就是这中间的钱被发展商赚走了，新加坡人找工作更难，物价还是一样高，应该把责任推给发展商

[@mumford2023]

If he bought a house instead of gamble, he can live on rental income , when jobless.

[@rkninrknin4610]

We don't have poor people in singapore

[@vinnysing1324]

You are in the moon

[@rkninrknin4610]

@@vinnysing1324 aiyo our govt say no poor people

[@cookiecrumbles9062]

@@rkninrknin4610 and you believe them? There's no homeless people yes, cause the government gave them homes. No matter if SG is the country with one of the best business opportunities and top charts for economy. Government, politicians. They are still corrupt. Behind this country, there may be a lie we Singaporeans do not know. But no matter what, there will always be poor people in SG. Because if our standards are too high. People who can't meet the standard will not survive well here without the help of any financial schemes.

[@wendybrierley5412]

The poor people are poorer in comparison to the majority of richer citizens. But it is good if your Government looks after them and give them somewhere to sleep and stay and some money to get by. Or they will be homeless. I like to think that Singapore can make good examples to the World, no poverty.

[@ThePaperthinhymne]

Hope the children and his ex wife are living a much better life than him. They must have gone through a really tough and fearful life when living with him in the past. Elderlies who abused and treated their family like trash do not deserve any form of filial piety from their children.

[@altoncoolthings]

The man has already learnt his wrongs. Is there a need to rub it in? There are some scars that don't fade, yes. But even the lowest of society deserve second chances.

[@vinnysing1324]

No one is perfect. When a child does wrong, parents always forgive. Children need to learn to forgive their parents. Hatred won't bring inner peace.

[@Adonna2424]

I agree and a lot of the comments on this video are really tone deaf and disrespectful of abuse victims and their trauma.

[@bowlampar]

Children forgive your father bad habit, you only have one father/mother in life , holding long term grudge over a personal hobby is plain stupid and silly.

[@aravinthsrisivasritharan4098]

True but there is a point when u cross a line, like killing a dear one is something not even a son could ever be able to forgive

[@Adonna2424]

This response is disrespectful and tone deaf to abuse victims. No victim NEEDS to forgive anyone. Calling their trauma a 'grudge' is disgusting.

[@lorrainewade6956]

That gentleman and the daughter buzz, that's rubbish about letting her down she should be there for him now

[@HKspurs10]

This is why we cannot have welfare state. This is not politically correct, but imagine if we had such thing as welfare or unemployment benefit, people like him, compulsive gambler would continue not to work and gamble and that in turn would put government coffers in constant budgetary stress. Money is better used for infrastructure investment for future generations and wealth redistribution should be in the form of subsidised housing and affordable education, not just cash handouts which encourages laziness

[@backseatgaming9087]

yes instead of welfare state you will have begger state instead