Did CPF Board Have To Defend Itself By Shaming CPF Member?

The CPF Board recently posted on their social media account trying to defend itself in the case where a CPF member accused the CPF Board of refusing to help. Singaporeans know that it is not easy to get CPF to help pay for all medical costs, but with the right reasons and connections, help can be obtained. It is not impossible, but rare.

The CPF member, who was at the centre of this storm, shall remain named as Ms Sua here, although the CPF Board did not feel it was wrong to give out her full name. In fact, not only was Ms Sua shamed by having her name exposed, the CPF deemed it right to publish her entire name, medical details, and financial well-being was which was happily shared with the nation on their FB page after she complained about the CPF Board. Even her daughter got dragged into this issue.

Whichever side of the fence we are in, whether we are pro-government or anti-government on our social media accounts, questions need to be asked. Is this act by the CPF Board really ethical? Is this acceptable behaviour by a government body?

It is not the case of whether the board should respond – they should, because they have the right to defend themselves, especially if Ms Sua was not fully forthcoming. Nobody said CPF should just keep their counsel and bite the bullet. But it is more a matter of how they responded. Their PR needs better strategizing. There is no need at all to name and shame, especially the whole world need not have to know that her daughter had been given educational help via bursaries. Their aim then was really to shame, and not to defend themselves. Is that fair? That is the main concern.