Folks, do find time to read all my articles. For its
crisp, moving and provides practical and workable solutions. Happy reading, folks!
Sincerely,
Raymond Anthony Fernando
(1) Magnanimous of MediaCorp’s Radio GOLD 90.5 FM to
pay the bills of shoppers
If anyone were to ask me to pick my all-time favourite song, I would
most certainly pick Glen Campbell’s smash hit ‘Try a little kindness’. The lyrics bear an important message – the
willingness to extend a helping hand to those in need.
And this virtue of showing kindness was so well carried out by the
fantastic Deejays of our popular radio station Gold 90.5FM during their recent
unique project of Making Someone’s Day. It was so encouraging seeing the DJs
helping to pay the grocery bills of complete strangers that brought on big
smiles from the shoppers as well as tears of joy from those who were deeply
touched by compassion and kindness. I guess in a certain way, Christmas came
early for the lucky shoppers who benefitted from the kindness shown by the
radio station.
It is always good to emulate programmes that support the community. The
station decided to carry out this project after they were inspired by a group
of friends from Oklahoma City who started the ‘Fill My Basket’ initiative. By
paying it forward, GOLD 90.5FM has clearly demonstrated that MediaCorp can be a
great corporate citizen. For even as I watch the TV show RenovAID, I can see
that that our national broadcaster has taken much pains and effort to bring
happiness to those who live in the shadows of life.
To save on costs, many of our seniors will shop at NTUC FairPrice on
Mondays and Tuesdays where discounts are given.
With the growing need for better support for our silvered haired
citizens, this initiative on the part of the radio station, I hope, will
inspire other organisations and radio stations worldwide to step forward and do
their part as responsible corporate citizens.
Perhaps, Gold 90.5FM could ride on this programme and through
collaborations with the grassroots leaders, identify isolated and lonely
citizens and bring some basic groceries to them twice a year. The joys that is
bound to come on their faces could be a motivating factor for the station and
the sponsors to consider the proposal.
For at the heart of making Singapore the best home to live in, it will
help if successful companies do their part to give a ray of hope to those in
need.
RAYMOND ANTHONY FERNANDO
(2) Mischief makers must be taken to task and
counselled for causing alarm
At a time when terrorism is on the rise and efforts on the part of the
government and our security personnel are being made to ensure that our
citizens live and work in a safe environment, the alleged mischief caused by
the 69-year-old man in placing a baking powder at the Woodleigh MRT station must
never be condoned (“Man arrested after using baking flour to mark running
trail”; The New Paper, April,19).
With thousands of commuters taking public transport every day, people
must be able to travel about with peace of mind. Moreover, the police and the
Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) have their hands full in having to attend
to emergencies like fighting fires, accidents and saving lives. Such resources
are precious and should never be abused.
The law must therefore come down hard on the alleged offender and the
two other suspects with a clear message: That putting fear in the public is not
a game, and that repeats of such offences might make some people mistakenly
believe that it is not for real. Then what happens when there is really a bomb
scare? Remember the story of the boy who cried wolf?
Nonetheless, it is heartening to note that our men in blue and the SCDF
take every incident seriously and leave nothing to chance.
Following police investigations into the incident, local running group
Seletar Hash House Harriers had apologised on Wednesday (Apr 19) for causing
alarm and inconvenience in Tuesday’s (Apr 18) security scare at Woodleigh MRT
station.
The group said in a press release that three of its members were marking
a trail for a run scheduled for Tuesday evening.
In all seriousness, can all this be forgotten over an apology?
RAYMOND ANTHONY FERNANDO
(3) Aggressive woman under severe stress, probably not
in the correct frame of mind, needs treatment
Like many people, I was disturbed and shocked to see the video and to
read the report of the violent woman who abused the staff at the spectacle shop
Owndays in Tiong Bahru Plaza “Woman arrested after hitting shop employees at
Tiong Bahru Plaza” (April 4).
However, those who have some understanding of psychological issues will
feel that the woman in question was not in the correct frame of mind during her
outbursts. In my view, she needs treatment as she could be going through severe
stress, unable to cope with life’s challenges, and might just be having a
mental disorder that has probably gone untreated.
I have much admiration for the staff who were abused physically and verbally
as retaliation could only have resulted in more damaging incidents.
Many psychiatrists and other healthcare workers, particularly those
working in emergency or acute care settings, have reported direct experiences
with aggressive and violent behaviour among those trying to cope with
overwhelming stress.
Aggression can take on a number of different forms such as verbal
communication through yelling at another individual, or physically by engaging
in some type of physical violence. Aggression can be direct behaviors such as
hitting, kicking, biting, and pushing, just to name a few.
Ailments that influence aggressive behavior often also have
psychological, cognitive, and physical symptoms.
It is a mistake to leave aggression untreated as it can lead to serious
complications and permanent physical, legal and psychological ramifications.
Conditions which can lead to aggression include brain tumors and closed
head injuries. Some of these disorders may include bipolar disorder, conduct
disorder, schizophrenia, and ADHD.
I have read the comments by netizens on social media and it is such a
sad state of affairs that such things are taking place.
Professionals can help the woman by getting to the root of her problems
and finding out her family background for I have every confidence that with
medication, counselling and structural support from grassroots leaders who are
being trained in mental health education, she can go on to lead a normal life.
RAYMOND ANTHONY FERNANDO
(4) Open up a few polyclinics after office hours and
on public holidays to reduce the workload on the ambulance services
It is rather alarming that the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) had
to attend to 81,686 calls between January and June this year – a 7.4 per cent
increase over the same period last year (“Ambulance calls surge with ageing
population”; The Straits Times, Thursday 3rd May 2017).
Most certainly it is worrying that 4 percent or 3,453 were non-emergency
calls while the rest of the calls were false alarms.
Everyone has to understand that the SCDF have to attend to several
emergencies that includes fighting fires, attending to accidents on our busy
roads and even rescuing people who are suicidal. With their mission to save and
reclaims lives, it is crucial that the services of the SCDF is not misused.
For those who abuse the SCDF officers in one way or the other or make
prank calls, they must be taken to task, counselled, and if need be made to do
some sort of community work. We must never allow precious lives to be placed in
jeopardy on account of abusers.
These days people get unduly worried when they or their loved ones fall
ill or have accidents at home which can easily be attended to by GPs in clinics
or at emergency units in private or public hospitals. But many are
unwilling to pay for the extra medical fees incurred.
To help reduce the number of SCDF services, it would help if a handful
of polyclinics offer medical services after office hours and on public holidays
in the different districts/zones to attend to non-emergency cases. Locum
doctors can be hired for this purpose, with patients paying an additional $2-$3
for this special service.
RAYMOND ANTHONY
FERNANDO
