Current Affairs
CPF’s repeated insistence on woman staying overseas to pay up
Seven years after she left the country, a Singaporean lady was contacted by the Central Provident Fund (CPF) to settle her outstanding Medisave contribution or face possible court action.
Ms ‘A’ Tan left for Germany in 2003 and had been staying there since. In April last year, CPF contacted Ms Tan to make payment for her Medisave contribution amounting to staggering estimate of SGD $12,600. Her full story is featured in the article “Medisave – pay up or be charged?” under the fictitious name ‘Jane’.
In May, Ms Tan wrote in to CPF to appeal against the payment. She cited her dire financial situation as a reason why she would not be able to pay.
She further added that she feared she might not see her monies in the CPF account again due to the CPF minimum sum scheme.
CPF did not respond.
Ms Tan wrote again in January this year, and this time CPF replied.
It asserted that as Medisave is compulsory, the Board was unable to waive the outstanding Medisave fees but would be willing to consider a lower monthly installment payment for her.
Ms Tan wrote back reinterating her reasons for not being able to pay. She further added:
“As i am not living in Singapore and don’t intend to return anywhere in the near future, is it neccessary that i pay this amount now?”
In its reply two days later, CPF maintained its original position. It also wrote:
“Self-employed persons are required to make Medisave contributions if they earn a net trade income of more than $6,000 a year.”
When TOC contacted CPF to seek their clarification on this matter, CPF responded:
“More information about self-employed persons’ Medisave liabilities can be found on this website:http://ask-us.cpf.gov.sg/explorefaq.asp?category=23043. Alternatively, you may contact our CPF Call Centre at 1800-227 1188.”
Source: relax.com.sg
Ms Tan told TOC that she feared entering Singapore with her Singaporean passport.
She hopes that CPF can give her an assurance in document saying that no court actions will be taken against her if she were in Singapore due to her outstanding payments.
“I don’t want court action in Singapore in my life but what should i do as i don’t earn enough money to settle it even in installment plans. So i am left with no choice but to enter Singapore again with a foreign Passport even to visit my family,” she wrote.
__________________________________________________________________________
The following is the email exchange between CPF and Ms Tan from January 2011. (Note: Certain details have been omitted at the request of Ms Tan)
Name: Ms XXXX Tan
Feedback form submitted by Ms XXXXX Tan on Self-Employed dated 06 January 2011 (Thursday), at 21:23:11
Dear Sir/Mdm,
I am refering to my self employed medisave account.
As i am living overseas now & am only earning about XXXX euro per month, I am unable to contribute to top up my account as i am fighting to survive here with only ca. XXX euro in my paycheck.
I have explained my situation in an email to you dated in May 2010. To date, i have not heard from any Officer of the CPF board.
A short reply would be appreciated. If necessary, i can forward you& your office a copy of the last email i have sent.
Thank you very much.
yours sincerely,
XXXX Tan
___________________________________________________________________________
Datum: Mon, 10 Jan 2011 10:38:59 +0800
Von: [email protected]
Betreff: Re: Feedback on Self-Employed [Our Ref: SES/SMTP2/SXXXXXXXY]
Dear Ms Tan
MEDISAVE FOR THE SELF-EMPLOYED SCHEME
We refer to your email of 6 January 2011.
With regard to your request in May 2010, we are sorry that we are unable to trace the correspondence. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Self-employed persons are required to make Medisave contributions if they earn a net trade income of more than $6,000 a year. This applies to income earned from 1 January 2002 onwards. For income earned before 1 January 2002, self-employed persons are required to contribute Medisave if their yearly net trade income was more than $2,400. Medisave payable is computed based on net trade income declared to the Income Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS).
Our records show that you were assessed by the IRAS with a net trade income of more than $2,400 for year 1995 to 2001 and a net trade income of more than $6,000 for year 2002. Hence, you are required to make Medisave contributions for the mentioned years.
As Medisave is compulsory, the Board is unable to waive the outstanding Medisave payable by you.
You may wish to settle your Medisave payable through instalments.
Instalment payment is a concession granted on condition that the self-employed person makes an up-front payment of a specific amount and undertakes to pay the instalments by GIRO.
We can grant you a concession of 12 monthly instalments, on condition that:
a) an up-front payment of $632 of your Medisave outstanding is made;
and
b) you complete an Application For Interbank GIRO form for
the instalment payments.
You may view your outstanding Medisave payable under ‘my cpf Online Services? by going to: http://www.cpf.gov.sg. You will need to login with your SingPass. Upon successful login, select “Check my Medisave Liabilities”. The SingPass Online Request service is available at the CPF homepage.
You may make your up-front payment using any one of the following modes:
1. E-Payment – log on to our website and pay through the internet if you have Internet banking facilities with UOB/DBS/Citibank/OCBC.
2. D-Pay (ATM Cards) / Diners Club Credit Card ? at any AXS Station.
3. ATM – at any SAM machine
4. ATM Card / Cash ? at any Singapore Post offices.
5. Crossed cheque made payable to CPF Board
For option 4 and 5, please use the payment form SE 3 Medisave payment form for Self-Employed?.
An instalment plan will be issued to inform you of the amount to be deducted and the dates of deduction after your GIRO has been approved. However, if you have difficulties in maintaining the instalment amount, you may appeal for a lower monthly instalment plan using the Form CPF SE Appeal: Appeal for Instalment Payments by Self-Employed Persons
You can click on http://mycpf.cpf.gov.sg/Self-Employed/Gen-Info/Forms/se_FormsVP.htm to print the required forms.
Please visit the CPF website http://www.cpf.gov.sg for more information.
Alternatively, you may contact our CPF Call Centre at 1800-227 1188.
Yours sincerely
Tay Wen Ling (Miss)
Self-Employed Section
Central Provident Fund Board
__________________________________________________________________________
10/01/2011 03:11 PM
Subject: Re: Feedback on Self-Employed [Our Ref: SES/SMTP2/SXXXXXXXY]
Dear Madam,
i have explained that i earn only ca. XXXX euro per month. Out of this ca. XXXX euro, i have to pay for my monthly rent (XXX euro per month), compulsory state insurance (XXX euro per month), German taxes (XXX euro per month) , public transportation fees (XXX euro per month)and living expenses (the rest of what is left). I have explained in the email that due to this amount that i earn, i couldn’t even come back in Nov 2009 to witness my brother getting married.
As you can see, it would be impossible to pay the amount as you requested even as an upfront guarantee. If i have the money, i would gladly pay you the upfront amount as you have requested.
As i am not living in Singapore and don’t intend to return anywhere in the near future, is it neccessary that i pay this amount now? I have just got my degree and would like to give myself a chance to find a good job here while working first as a self employed person.
Regards,
XXXX Tan.
P.s: i can gladly scan you the original documents (all in German) basing on my income for the 2010 to show to you that i am not exagerating. Life is hard here too, just as in Singapore. Plus, the currency here is euro (1euro = 1.62 S$) I will give you an example : 1 cup of coffee in Mcdonald’s Singapore cost 1 S$. The same will cost also 1 euro here. Hence, I am paying 1.62 S$ for every cup of coffee i buy. So please don’t think that we as overseas Singaporeans earn far more than the locals back home. The standard of living here is as high, if not higher, than that in Singapore.
Thank you.
________________________________________________________________________
Datum: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:33:29 +0800
Von: [email protected]
Betreff: Re: Feedback on Self-Employed [Our Ref: SES/SMTP2/SXXXXXXXXY]
Dear Ms Tan
MEDISAVE FOR THE SELF-EMPLOYED SCHEME
We refer to your email of 10 January 2011.
We note that you are currently overseas. Self-employed persons are required to make Medisave contributions if they earn a net trade income of more than $6,000 a year. This applies to income earned from 1 January 2002 onwards.
If you wish to pay your outstanding Medisave contributions by instalments, please email us at [email protected] to work out the repayment arrangement otherwise, reminder letters would be sent to you from time to time.
Please visit the CPF website http://mycpf.cpf.gov.sg/Self-Employed/home.htm for more information on Self-Employed Scheme. If you have further queries, you may email us at[email protected]. We can also be contacted at CPF Call Centre
1800-227 1188.
Yours sincerely
Tay Wen Ling (Miss)
Self-Employed Section
Central Provident Fund Board
___________________________________________________________________________
The following is CPF’s reply to TOC’s enquiry
date: Wed, Feb 9, 2011 at 6:22 PM
subject: Re: Attn To: Ms Tay Wen Ling [Our Ref: SES/ SMTP6/SXXXXXXY] mailed bycpf.gov.sg
Dear Ms Choo
MEDISAVE FOR THE SELF-EMPLOYED SCHEME
We thank you for your email of 7 February 2011.
More information about self-employed persons’ Medisave liabilities can be found on this
website:http://ask-us.cpf.gov.sg/explorefaq.asp?category=23043. Alternatively, you may contact
our CPF Call Centre at 1800-227 1188.
Yours sincerely
Kuah Mei Yin (Miss)
Self-Employed Section
Central Provident Fund Board
_____________________________________
Current Affairs
Farewell to Dr Lee Wei Ling: Rain marks solemn tribute, echoing her father’s funeral
Dr Lee Wei Ling’s funeral was conducted on 12 October 2024, in Singapore, with family members leading the procession in the rain. In a heartfelt eulogy, her brother, Lee Hsien Yang, remembered her dedication to medicine and family. Dr Lee had requested a simple ceremony, with her ashes to be scattered at sea.
Dr Lee Wei Ling was farewelled on 12 October 2024, in a solemn funeral ceremony attended by close family members and friends.
The weather was marked by light rain, drawing comparisons to the conditions during her father, Lee Kuan Yew’s funeral in 2015.
Her nephews, Li Huanwu and Li Shaowu, led the procession, carrying Dr Lee’s portrait and walking side by side under the rain, symbolically reflecting the loss felt by her family.
In his emotional eulogy through a recorded video, her brother, Lee Hsien Yang, spoke of Dr Lee’s profound contributions to medicine and her unshakable devotion to family.
He described her as a remarkable individual whose life had left an indelible mark on those who knew her, as well as on Singapore’s medical community.
Expressing deep sorrow at her passing, Lee Hsien Yang reflected on their close bond and the immense loss he felt, having been unable to attend her final farewell.
He recalled his private goodbye to her in June 2022, a poignant moment that stayed with him during her last months.
Lee Hsien Yang also reiterated Dr Lee’s wish for a simple funeral, a reflection of her humility.
In accordance with her wishes, her body was cremated, and her ashes will be scattered at sea, symbolising her desire for a modest and unobtrusive departure from the world.
LHY acknowledged the efforts of his sons, Li Huanwu and Li Shaowu, for their role in managing their aunt’s care during his absence, thanking them for their dedication to her comfort in her final days.
During his eulogy for his sister, Lee Hsien Yang also conveyed a message from Dr Lee regarding the family’s long-standing issue surrounding their home at 38 Oxley Road.
Quoting from Dr Lee’s message, LHY said: “My father, Lee Kuan Yew, and my mother, Kwa Geok Choo’s, unwavering and deeply felt wish was for their house at 38 Oxley Road, Singapore 238629, to be demolished upon the last parent’s death.”
Dr Lee had been a vocal advocate for ensuring that this wish was honoured since Lee Kuan Yew’s death in 2015.
Dr Lee and LHY had strongly supported their father’s wishes, while their elder brother, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, took a different stance. This disagreement led to a public and highly publicised rift within the family.
In her final message, Dr Lee reiterated: “Lee Kuan Yew had directed each of his three children to ensure that their parents’ wish for demolition be fulfilled. He had also appealed directly to the people of Singapore. Please honour my father by honouring his wish for his home to be demolished.”
Dr Lee had maintained a private life, focusing on her medical career as a respected neurologist. She was known for her candid views, often unflinching in her advocacy for transparency and integrity.
Her professional accomplishments, combined with her strong commitment to her parents’ legacy, made her a significant figure in both Singapore’s medical community and public discourse.
Diagnosed in 2020 with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare neurodegenerative disorder, Dr Lee faced immense physical and emotional challenges in her final years.
The illness progressively affected her movement, speech, and ability to swallow.
Despite her health struggles, Dr Lee remained actively involved in public discussions, particularly on matters concerning her father’s legacy, until her condition worsened to the point where communication became difficult.
By March 2023, her brother LHY revealed that her condition had deteriorated significantly, and he feared he might not be able to see her again due to his own circumstances.
Even in her final months, Dr Lee maintained a close relationship with her immediate family, who cared for her during her illness.
Dr Lee’s funeral and cremation mark the end of a significant era for the Lee family and Singapore.
Her legacy as a dedicated neurologist and a firm advocate for her parents’ values will continue to resonate, even as the debates over the future of the Oxley Road property remain unresolved.
The rain that fell during her funeral, so reminiscent of her father’s final farewell, added a symbolic layer to this momentous chapter in Singapore’s history.
Current Affairs
TJC issued 3rd POFMA order under Minister K Shanmugam for alleged falsehoods
The Transformative Justice Collective (TJC) was issued its third POFMA correction order on 5 October 2024 under the direction of Minister K Shanmugam for alleged falsehoods about death penalty processes. TJC has rejected the government’s claims, describing POFMA as a tool to suppress dissent.
The Transformative Justice Collective (TJC), an advocacy group opposed to the death penalty, was issued its third Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) correction direction on 5 October 2024.
The correction was ordered by Minister for Home Affairs and Law, K Shanmugam, following TJC’s publication of what the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) alleges to be false information regarding Singapore’s death row procedures and the prosecution of drug trafficking cases.
These statements were made on TJC’s website and across its social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter).
In addition to TJC, civil activist Kokila Annamalai was also issued a correction direction by the minister over posts she made on Facebook and X between 4 and 5 October 2024.
According to MHA, these posts echoed similar views on the death penalty and the legal procedures for drug-related offences, and contained statements that the ministry claims are false concerning the treatment of death row prisoners and the state’s legal responsibilities in drug trafficking cases.
MHA stated that the posts suggested the government schedules and stays executions arbitrarily, without due regard to legal processes, and that the state does not bear the burden of proving drug trafficking charges.
However, these alleged falsehoods are contested by MHA, which maintains that the government strictly follows legal procedures, scheduling executions only after all legal avenues have been exhausted, and that the state always carries the burden of proof in such cases.
In its official release, MHA emphasised, “The prosecution always bears the legal burden of proving its case beyond a reasonable doubt, and this applies to all criminal offences, including drug trafficking.”
It also pointed to an article on the government fact-checking site Factually to provide further clarification on the issues raised.
As a result of these allegations, both TJC and Annamalai are now required to post correction notices. TJC must display these corrections on its website and social media platforms, while Annamalai is required to carry similar notices on her Facebook and X posts.
TikTok has also been issued a targeted correction direction, requiring the platform to communicate the correction to all Singapore-based users who viewed the related TJC post.
In a statement following the issuance of the correction direction, TJC strongly rejected the government’s claims. The group criticised the POFMA law, calling it a “political weapon used to crush dissent,” and argued that the order was more about the exercise of state power than the pursuit of truth. “We have put up the Correction Directions not because we accept any of what the government asserts, but because of the grossly unjust terms of the POFMA law,” TJC stated.
TJC further argued that the government’s control over Singapore’s media landscape enables it to push pro-death penalty views without opposition. The group also stated that it would not engage in prolonged legal battles over the POFMA correction orders, opting to focus on its abolitionist work instead.
This marks the third time TJC has been subject to a POFMA correction direction in recent months.
The group was previously issued two orders in August 2024 for making similar statements concerning death row prisoners.
In its latest statement, MHA noted that despite being corrected previously, TJC had repeated what the ministry views as falsehoods.
MHA also criticised TJC for presenting the perspective of a convicted drug trafficker without acknowledging the harm caused to victims of drug abuse.
Annamalai, a prominent civil rights activist, is also known for her involvement in various social justice campaigns. She was charged in June 2024 for her participation in a pro-Palestinian procession near the Istana. Her posts, now subject to correction, contained information similar to those presented by TJC regarding death penalty procedures and drug-related cases.
POFMA, which was introduced in 2019, allows the government to issue correction directions when it deems falsehoods are being spread online.
Critics of the law argue that it can be used to suppress dissent, while the government asserts that it is a necessary tool for combating misinformation. The law has been frequently invoked against opposition politicians and activists.
As of October 2024, Minister K Shanmugam has issued 17 POFMA directions, more than any other minister. Shanmugam, who was instrumental in introducing POFMA, is followed by National Development Minister Desmond Lee, who has issued 10 POFMA directions.
Major media outlets, including The Straits Times, Channel News Asia, and Mothership, have covered the POFMA directions. However, as of the time of writing, none have included TJC’s response rejecting the government’s allegations.
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