By Goh Chin Lian

THE sight of old men and women collecting used drink cans to crush and sell as scrap metal troubles 17-year-old Ken Chew.

The Catholic Junior College student wondered if Singapore could do more to ease the poverty of such people, whom he felt had been left behind.

His question at a inter-school seminar on overcoming social divides received a prompt pat on the back from Minister Lim Swee Say.

'I like you. You have your heart in the right place,' said Mr Lim, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office. With him was Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources.

Both were quick to assure the JC student that the Government had in place many programmes to help the elderly poor.

They highlighted how these folk received food and food vouchers from grassroots organisations, as well as the cash and contributions that the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme made to the CPF savings of low-income older workers.

But such government efforts alone were not enough, they told the youth from 11 junior colleges and six secondary schools attending the seminar at Anderson JC.

Mr Lim urged the students to do their part. 'Even as you make more money for yourself, don't forget to do community work...don't forget to donate to charity,' he said.

He explained at length to the 400 students what the Government's considerations were when giving help.

Such aid should not reduce people's incentive to work. Also, the economy must do well enough to generate the revenue for helping those in need.

His explanation failed to fully satisfy Ken, who later told The Straits Times that, with its huge Budget surplus, the Government 'can do a better job for those people who fall through the cracks'.

Another issue that resonated with the students was the local-foreign divide.

Yishun JC student David Fong was worried that foreign students would rob Singaporean students of places in the Institute of Technical Education, JCs, polytechnics and universities.

Mr Lim noted that nine out of 10 local students were already receiving post-secondary education.

Competition from foreign students here was a plus, he told them, because it would hone them to compete on the world stage.

David agreed. However, he felt some Singaporeans could be left behind. And if their families could not afford to send them overseas for study, the Government should find them a place for further study here, he added.

This article was first published in The Straits Times on July 31, 2008.