by Ghui

It is always disappointing when an ostensibly legitimate and valid cause is crippled because of a lack of funds. Even more discouraging is when an organisation that apparently champions those that need financial support appears to shy away from taking a stand.

Most people would recall the tragic case of Benjamin Lim, the teenager who tragically took his own life after a less than satisfactory encounter with the police. While the public has somewhat moved forward, it is understandable that the Lim family has been unable to let it go. How do you begin to make peace with a child snatched from you before his time when there have been no real answers or ownership from those involved? Has there even been an unreserved apology from the police force or MOE?

While there have been some inquiries, the whole situation has an air of unresolvedness surrounding it.

Some may feel that it is high time the family accepted the situation and moved on. But how do you begin to move on if you have not received an unreserved acknowledgement of your suffering? Worse still, that any attempts you are making to seek the entire truth is seemingly obstructed by those who have the power to assist?

The Lim family have had their crowd funding campaign on Give Asia removed on the basis that it had received several notifications from the community and deemed it in conflict of their terms after review.

Given that GIVE.asia’s terms and conditions clearly state that they have the right to remove any campaign it deems “questionable”, it is within its legal rights to remove any campaign it so wishes. (https://give.asia/static/terms) However, does an enterprise that is set up to, presumably help the community raise funds for humanitarian causes, not owe the public greater transparency in a public interest such as this?

Is the statement: “The fundraising page was stopped because we received several notifications from our community and after reviewing it, deemed it in conflict with our terms of use. At the time the page closed, the amount collected was SGD 2,135.00.
All the money collected on this page will be refunded to the various donors directly back to the credit card bank accounts. Thanks for your understanding.” sufficient?

GIVE.asia’s website states: “At GIVE.asia, we believe in harnessing human compassion and kindness for people in need. GIVE.asia helps patients with hospital bills and enables children to study in rural areas. GIVE.asia help event organisers raise fund for causes. GIVE.asia provides support for humanitarian effort for countries in need.”

How does cutting the Lim family’s campaign cryptically and without detailed explanations gel with GIVE.asia being a movement for human kindness?

Is it not compassion for a grieving family to have full disclosure for what led to their son’s untimely death? Is it not kindness to the community at large to have full disclosure so that we can be aware of what happens should our children, God Forbid, face similar situations? Is it not kindness to teachers at school to understand what they need to do to protect their charges? The list goes on.

I sincerely hope that GIVE.asia has not shied from this because it involves government bodies. Further, I fervently hope that government bodies have not put pressure on GIVE.asia to remove the campaign.

At this point, GIVE.asia’s stance has in my opinion, failed the community’s expectations. Further, it has failed its own mission statement.

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