Cancer-stricken Sarojini Jayapal’s husband Suriia Das has responded to online criticisms regarding his Central Provident Fund (CPF) withdrawal application case following the CPF’s Board response to online reports on the couple’s predicament.
Suriia, in response to a netizen’s comment on the CPF Board’s post on Sat (13 Jul), defended his decision to continue Sarojini’s treatment at Mount Elizabeth Hospital (MEH), reiterating that only the private hospital had given them some hope that his wife’s condition could improve.
He urged the public to not make any assumptions, and even sought to personally clarify his situation via email for those who would like him to, adding that he has “evidence” from the National University Hospital (NUH) that “a professor did mention that instead of treating her, I should bring her for a holiday”.
He stressed that contrary to allegations made by netizens against him and Sarojini after the CPF Board had published its response — many of which suggest that the couple appears to behave in an entitled manner — applying to the Board to allow him to use funds from his Ordinary and Special Accounts was “a last resort” after exhausting other financial avenues.
“Did I ask for donations? And here you all are blabbering about it … If it happens to your loved one, will you still [let them seek] treat[ment] in a gov hospital, knowing [that] the doc [had] ask[ed] you to stop the treatment?” Suriia lamented.
“She is already very ill … Please have [a] heart and don’t throw hurtful words [at us],” Suriia pleaded.
He also suggested that not all doctors in private practice go for money, as he revealed that Sarojini’s current doctor at MEH “had waived off the bills and paid from her pocket” many times.

Suriia also continued to demand answers from the CPF Board as to why it has rejected his request to withdraw money from his Ordinary account to fund Sarojini’s treatment, given that her cancer is currently at the advanced metastasis stage and that she is racing against time in her treatment process.
He questioned as to why the CPF Board allegedly appears to be evasive regarding the issue by suggesting that Sarojini be moved to NUH for subsidised care.
“I asked CPF to let me use my money earlier than 55 years old, but instead of answering that, they turn the table and made you ppl believe we are not truthful.
“CPF [Board], instead of answering why I can’t use the Ordinary account earlier, why are you changing the topic about offering service at NUH and which doc is correct?
“This is not your daily debate … This is about saving a life using my money. Why can’t I use it earlier?
“The reason is very obvious. She is very ill; she needs to have the treatment continue. I cannot wait until 55 to transfer it,” he said, asking the CPF Board to reconsider his situation out of grounds of compassion.

NUH offered to transfer Sarojini for subsidised care, couple can seek financial assistance through MediFund: CPF Board
Responding to online reports on the couple’s case via Facebook on Fri (12 Jul), the CPF Board stressed that NUH “had offered her an open appointment date should the family decide to transfer to NUH for subsidised care” despite the poor prognosis, contrary to the couple’s assertion that they were compelled to seek treatment for Sarojini at MEH because only MEH and Parkway Cancer Centre (PCC) “gave her the hope that she will survive”.

“As Mdm Sarojini chose to continue treatment at PCC, which is a private institution, there is no government subsidy. Nevertheless, Mdm Sarojini is covered by MediShield Life, which has paid out about S$60,000 for her medical and hospitalisation bills so far. She also has additional private insurance coverage under an Integrated Shield Plan,” said the CPF Board.
“Together with MediShield Life, health insurance has paid out over S$300,000 to date, covering close to 90% of her medical bills at PCC and MEH. Mdm Sarojini has also been receiving S$1,100 per month under ElderShield and ElderShield supplement plans since October 2017, amounting to about S$23,000,” added the Board.
“CPF Board’s Home Protection Scheme had also paid out $186,500 to fully redeem her outstanding mortgage loan.
“In sum, arising from Mdm Sarojini’s illness, CPF-allowed insurance schemes have paid out a total of about S$510,000 to date, while S$34,000 has been withdrawn from the CPF accounts of both Mdm Sarojini and Mr Suriia Das,” said the CPF Board.
The Board also reiterated its suggestion to the couple to seek government subsidised care at NUH, and to obtain financial assistance from MediFund should they struggle to pay for care at NUH.
The CPF Board’s response, however, did not appear to address the issue raised by Suriia’s lawyer M Ravi regarding the CPF Board’s alleged reluctance to allow his client to withdraw funds from his Ordinary and Special Accounts under such pressing circumstances before Sarojini turns 55, given that Sarojini is suffering from late-stage cancer and is racing against time in terms of obtaining consistent treatment, and that Suriia might be left with no other options in the event that MediFund is insufficient.
Suriia, an operation manager who earns only about S$3000 per month, previously said that his Medisave is now empty, and has had to resort to borrowing money from various other parties such as moneylenders, family, friends, and his company. He has also sought to raise funds for Sarojini’s treatment via crowdfunding online.
CPF Board savings withdrawal policy restricted to recipients aged 55 and above “mindboggling” and “irrational”: Suriia’s lawyer M Ravi
M Ravi had previously raised several concerns regarding his client’s case.
Firstly, he argued that Section 18(d) of the CPF Act allows a CPF member to transfer a portion of his fund from the Ordinary and Special accounts to his loved one’s account. However, according to the CPF Board’s policy, the money can only be transferred to someone who is 55 years of age and above.
“Now, to me, this policy is irrational. A policy which is irrational in the administrative law sense becomes unlawful.
“In other words, what the CPF Board is saying is that although they are sympathetic to the fact that Sarojini is suffering from 4th stage cancer, she has to wait until she turns 55 for Suriia to transfer the money, with the Board’s consent, from his account to Sarojini’s Medisave account.
“To me, this is mindboggling and to say the least, it rankles the soul,” said M Ravi.
The human rights lawyer also argued that the CPF Board’s policy deprives Sarojini of her right to life under Article 9 of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, which stipulates that “no one should be deprived of his life or liberty in accordance with the law”.
M Ravi had consequently filed a Mandatory Order to the court “to compel the CPF Board to allow” Suriia “to transfer to his wife, portion of his CPF funds to her” on Wed (10 Jul).
“Suriia also seeks a Declaration from the court that the CPF Board’s policy made pursuant to Section 18D of the CPF Act is unlawful and unconstitutional, insofar as it prohibits the transfer of funds from Suriia’s Ordinary and Special accounts to his wife Sarojini’s Medisave account,” he added.

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