Tsunami
A tribute to Singapore
Government and people respond with a heart much bigger than Singapore's size; hard to call it 'kiasu' now. By Seah Chiang Nee
Feb 8, 2005

Recently schoolchildren here have been busy packing 100,000 'play packs' - carrying toys, colouring books, stationery, even a dental kit, etc - for their tsunami-devastated friends in Indonesia.

Non-governmental Mercy Relief innovatively calls it 'Happiness in a Bag'. Its aim is therapeutic, to let the young Acehnese children know in their dark hours, they're not suffering alone, that other people care for them.

It is a fantastic idea.

When TV showed these Singaporean kids working to pack them, my heart warmed up to them - and the organizers.

Meanwhile at a hospital in Singapore, a badly burnt baby from Meulaboh is recovering from serious burns after being flown here for emergency treatment.

The 8-month-old boy was accidentally burnt at a refugee camp and he was near death with half the body burnt and smoke-inhalation. He has had several skin grafts.

These were the latest of many other touching stories since Dec 26, las year when the tsunami hit.

Singapore - both the citizens and the government - poured out their charitable hearts to help victims of Asia's worst natural disaster in 40 years.

Unlike before, it wasn't just money. Thousands moved into action to save the survivors and normalise lives.

What the armed forces and non-government bodies did in Merlaboh, Aceh, (and elsewhere) deserves a place in history. It's still ongoing.

In addition, thousands of thousand of private individuals had packed their bags made their own way with supplies there to help. They included doctors, nurses, TV stars, students, workers and businessmen.

Aceh was the main target, but Sri Lanka and Phuket (which required less outside help). One Singaporean died on his way to the Thai resort when his vehicle overturned in Malaysia, the ultimate sacrifice.

In fact, pretty much the whole nation responded through the Red Cross, firms and embassies of countries affected to contribute (mostly) cash, food, clothes and medicine.

Hundreds of thousands opened their wallets. A long list of collecting organisations and companies, big and small, had helped Red Cross Singapore to collect some S$65 million for victims.

To all of these people, Littlespeck.com would like to humbly pay a tribute for their efforts, in particular to: -

* The government (especially the armed forces). It was an awesome display of innovative ideas, good planning, and an opening of hearts that have done much to dispel the notion that it acts only for economic benefit. It shows its softer, carring side and brought itself closer to Singaporeans by doing so.

What it did in Meulaboh was awe-inspiring.

* The NGO's like The Red Cross, Mercy Relief, various other ogranisations, companies, hospitals, etc), which contributed in a large collective way.

Foreign workers from affected areas were allowed time off to contact home and free phone calls, an untypical event in Singapore INC.

* Hundreds of thousands of little people from all walks of life who have shown that the past 40 years of independence - with their education and public campaigns - are bearing fruits.

It sure made people proud to be Singaporeans.

There were, of course, the exception; people who contributed used underwear and unwanted roller skates, etc., but such idiots exist in Malaysia and elsewhere, too.

One overall result is that it has cleansed us of the "kiasu" image - at least temporarily.

By Seah Chiang Nee