Saturday June 14, 2025 Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow Mrs Josephine Teo MFA Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan Dear DPM Gan & ministers, Help raise funds for the families who perished in the Air India plane crash Reference the above urgent matter. The incident has been described as the world’s most devastating aviation disaster in a decade, leaving only one survivor among the 242 passengers. On board were two pilots and ten cabin crew members. The passengers included 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. Will the families of the deceased cope, particularly if the victims were the primary breadwinners? Did they have travel insurance? Will this tragic event lead to an increase in travel insurance premiums? The Singapore Government and the Singapore Red Cross (SRC) have pledged a total of $505,000 in humanitarian aid to support relief efforts amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. This commendable act has brought significant recognition to Singapore, its government, and its people on the global stage. Several points stand out: (1) The affected families are likely to face challenges such as depression and other severe mental health disorders; (2) the aviation industry may suffer setbacks; (3) travellers could experience anxiety; and (4) collective and concerted efforts are essential to restore the reputation of the airline industry. Singapore has had strong bilateral relations with India for decades. Building upon this foundation could assist Prime Minister Modi in managing this devastating crisis more effectively. In light of this, I urge DPM Gan and his colleagues to consider raising the much-needed funds to help grieving families rebuild their lives. Fundraising is a challenging endeavour, and planning a successful campaign requires careful strategy. The Indian channel Vasantham could host an event encouraging voluntary contributions from donors. Vasantham is a Singapore-based Indian language (predominantly Tamil) entertainment free-to-view commercial broadcast television network owned by MediaCorp, a subsidiary of the Government of Singapore's sovereign wealth fund, Temasek Holdings. Additionally, the Indian Chamber of Commerce could reach out to affluent members of the Indian community for this purpose. We could draw inspiration from the mission of the Three Musketeers: All for one and one for all. I kindly request a response from DPM Gan and look forward to your valuable consideration and support. Thank you. Sincerely, Raymond Anthony Fernando

It's all in he brain, its all in the heart : By: Raymond Anthony Fernando

On this urgent matter, I will focus on the lack of support from the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC) following my severe mobility issues. It centres in my brain where there are high levels of protein stuck inside, and what is vitally needed is being able to be kind and compassionate from the heart. After succeeding in securing the partial disability allowance of $400 per month from AIC through the assistance of Ms. Aileen Chin, the kind-hearted social worker from Tan Tock Seng Hospital, I made an error in judgment by applying for a full disability allowance on March 16, 2025, as my condition is worsening with nerve problems in my hands, pain in my shoulder bones, and giddiness. AIC directed two of its staff, Victor and a therapist, Irene, to visit me on Friday, 15 March 2025, at 3 pm. The assessment took just 10 minutes, and I felt uncomfortable with the manner in which both wanted to rush off. On Wednesday, March 26, 2025, as expected, I again received bad news: my appeal for the restoration of my monthly disability allowance, which I am heavily dependent on to pay for my meals, transport, and vitamins, was again rejected. I copied my appeal to my Member of Parliament, Yip Hon Weng, whom I find is pretty helpful. I was hopeful that he would speak up on my behalf. I still do. My appeal was also copied to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, and Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, all of whom I have placed my full faith in. I trust that they will not let me down. More so when these leaders have assured all Singaporeans that no one will be left behind. Application for donations from Hope GIVE. Asia A friend suggested that I apply to the above social media platform for help. After going through several rounds of answering their queries, they also rejected my pleas for help. It turned out to be another fruitless exercise. Believing in myself Despite all the hardships and rejections time and again, I will not give up. The fighting spirit in me reminds me that I have to believe in myself. If I walk by myself, it's OK, as I know it is only me whom I can trust. In believing in myself, I can sit differently, I can read things differently, I can look at life differently, and I can advocate differently. The key is to keep believing in myself.