Source : The Straits Times, Sep 21, 2007
THE debate on CPF changes has brought about a mood of gloom and despondency among older folk.
After all the hard work putting their children through school, feeding and supporting them, struggling to make ends meet, now they are told to continue working hard because they might not be able to depend on anybody else but themselves for support.
Instead of focusing on the elderly being the problem, more should be done to instil filial piety in the young.
They must not be given the impression that they can now shirk the responsibility of supporting their elderly parents since the Government has encouraged people to work longer.
The young are enjoying a better quality of life today because of the sacrifices made by their parents. It is difficult to understand how they can enjoy luxuries such as mobile phones, the Internet, cable TV and cars, but when it comes to supporting their parents, they just don't have enough.
As long as the young demand such a high standard of living, the high cost of living will continue to rise and they will never have enough to support themselves, what more their parents.
They should try to live within their means so that they can fulfil their obligation to take care of the people who had taken care of them.
It pains me to see old people having to continue toiling and fending for themselves despite rattling bones and disintegrating body parts, at a time when they should be enjoying the fruits of their labour.
Please spare a thought for the elderly and let them live their life to the fullest.
Ahmad Salik Ahmad Ishak
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DUTY TO PARENTS
More should be done to instil filial piety. The young must not think that they can now shirk their responsibility to their elderly parents.
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