It was heartening to hear him recount the time his parents and siblings experienced poverty and hardship. Indeed, his story spoke volumes about his credibility in charitable works. In contrast, another man born with a silver spoon in his mouth would not have sounded as convincing. Prior hardships are often nature's way to direct a person's heart to help the less fortunate.

Likewise, I appreciated the speeches by Mr Sam Tan and Mr Siew Kum Hong who suggested well-meaning approaches towards caring for the poor.

I suggest we look at the situation from another angle.

I would use the anecdote of the Widow's Mite. A Teacher watched worshippers donate money to the temple treasury. Many who were rich gave much. Then one poor widow came and gave two mites. The Teacher told his disciples the poor widow had given more than anyone else. This was because they had given from their abundance, but she had given all she had, her entire livelihood.

We need to grasp the meaning of giving as described here. The individual, community and Government will collectively create the right atmosphere of generous giving through their conscience.

To be a gracious society, we cannot offer help to the poor yet exact a return. Should we even begrudge a beggar who may have cheated on our compassion? True love does not adopt a calculative attitude towards giving. Fund raisers with a sound mind who fail in their conduct only show an unsound heart.

George Lim Heng Chye