12mum:

So much of a difference. Definitely not easy to manage a large sum of money.


AsiaOne
Monday, Jun 09, 2014

Many people have been criticising online how the widow of the cleaner who died at Budget Terminal last year spent the $1 million she received in donations and insurance payouts within a year.

When the story broke yesterday, many were quick to say that she had mismanaged the money.

Lianhe Wanbao noted that it was not uncommon for the public in Singapore to donate to the families of victims of accidents and tragedies.

In its effort to find out how other beneficiaries of public donations have been doing, the Chinese daily visited the family of the four Yishun orphans yesterday.

The four children - aged three to 13 then - lost their father in February last year to a traffic accident on the Tampines Expressway. They lost their mother to cancer two months before that.

They received more than $400,000 in public donations after the accident.

Their maternal grandmother said that she is managing the money together with the children's paternal uncle, and are very careful with it.

\"We withdraw $2,000 each month for living expenses, and to pay for utilities. And only took an exra $500 out during the New Year to buy new clothes for them.

\"This is money from the public, we have to be accountable for it,\" she said.

She said that they \"still have $400,000 from the donations\", Wanbao reported.

She said that the children are doing well in school.

sinsh@sph.com.sg

janet_lee88:

Glad to know the kids are doing well in school...their parents would be proud.

pinky:

Exactly, they are after all citizens there.

starlight1968sg:

Come to think of it, my Coffin Purchase Fund is better to be kept by somebody in case I become senile one day...

janet_lee88:

pinky:

Wonder why didn't she ask her own government and own countrymen and women for help instead ? :evil:

maybe she felt her husband died in Singapore, so the citizens here should help her.

pinky:

Wonder why didn't she ask her own government and own countrymen and women for help instead ? :evil:

chenwj:

100K not even to buy lorry? Why is she so naive? Or her brother is simply a scum.

pinky:

She should be thankful to her boss who provided an old terrace house for her to stay and even bought groceries for her family. On top of that she has a job that pays RM2000 month. It's time to stand on her own feet and start all over

again...

xueyan:

Recently i read in the newspaper about a old woman in the 70s whom was cheated of $400K by some PRC. This old woman works as a cleaner and this $400K is her life savings. (Off-topic : my colleague and I were contemplating is it possible for a cleaner to save so much?)

janet_lee88:

while many would have no right to comment on others going for a holiday, this widow was using donations from the public to do so...this large sum of money WAS meant for her and children for losing a husband and father. wonder if she wanted to be featured in the news for losing all her money or seeking help again.