Societal Issue

Hijacked taxi slams into wall after high-speed chase

Hijacked taxi slams into wall after high-speed chase (ST 8 August 2007)
http://news.asiaone.com/News/The%2BStraits%2BTimes/Story/Hijacked%2Btaxi%2Bslams%2Binto%2Bwall%2Bafter%2Bhigh-speed%2Bchase.html

Carjacker moved off… then the chase was on (ST 8 August 2007) http://news.asiaone.com/News/The%2BStraits%2BTimes/Story/Carjacker%2Bmoved%2Boff...then%2Bthe%2Bchase%2Bwas%2Bon.html



Yesterday, on the eve of National Day, a hijacked taxi slammed into the walls of Keppel Golf Club after a high-speed chase in the wee hours of the morning. While you might think that the carjacker is just another mad man off the streets, I beg to differ. The very fact that he is ‘just another mad man’ shows the significance of this incident.

Today, on National Day, PM Lee highlights our projected economic growth of up to 8%, what has been labeled as a ‘positive outlook’ for the Singaporean society. Yet, what has been neglected is our social growth. How is it possible that such moonstruck lunatics have not been assisted? Why is it that such tragedies are still happening? What is it that we lack, that is causing these people to be driving into walls and driven into their graves?

The problem lies within our very own success. So what if our efforts to transform our economy are paying off, when some people within our country are still having trouble making ends meet? So what if we will be completely transformed within a decade, when it is just but a masquerade hiding the social problems that we have?

While I am deeply aware that my capabilities certainly do not extend much beyond community involvement projects, it is disappointing to see that the Government has not done much to improve the well-being and livelihood of the troubled lot in society. This will definitely have its implications, like the carjacker for example. Government organizations within his estate have definitely not been paying much attention to his woes, thus leading him onto the road of death. A politician’s career must definitely be more than just gala dinners; these social problems definitely deserve and desperately need more attention from our societal leaders.

While I might not be qualified to speak in this viewpoint given that I belong to the bunch of ‘arrogant eye-in-the-sky elitists bred with a silver spoon’ in Singapore, I certainly empathize with these people on the other end of our economic scale. The result of their financial status brings about a whole pile of problems to their lives, that they are pinned down by these obstacles, and never able to break loose again.

While our fathers complain about the high taxation demands that are smacked in their faces, I believe that its time their perspectives towards society change. Taxes have never been a problem for others’ fathers, yet their fathers are carrying so many other responsibilities on their shoulders, their children’s education, their wife’s health conditions and the like, that their shoulders are bound to give way one of these days. I believe this is the chain effect that is causing Singapore’s never-ending problems in society.

Although Singapore can never achieve utopia, we must do our best to be near perfection. Only when the needy are out of their plights, and when all citizens lead a good life, can we progress as one to achieve happiness, prosperity, and progress for our nation.