Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society's Public Fund Raising Project Launch

15 Jan 2005

By Dr Balaji Sadasivan, Senior Minister Of State For Information, Communications And The Arts and Health

Mr Lee Kim Siang, Chairman, Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society

Dr Lee Ngak Siang, CEO, Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society

Mr Tan Mok Yong, Mr Loh Kai Boon and Mr Ong Thiam Hock, partners of Sin Chew Chinese Cultural Products

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am happy to be here to launch the first ever fund raising project by Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society, which has been in existence for 26 years. Currently, the Society has more than 50 charity programmes, homes, services and projects, including Ang Mo Kio Hospital which takes part in providing free health screening services.

Today's launch is to kick off the Society's Direct Appeal Mailer 2005. It will be attached to the Singapore Power's Utilities bills and will reach out to 1.2 million households in Singapore. The Society is appealing to members of the public to donate a small amount of $5.00. More, of course, is better. But the Society does not want to over-tax donors and well-wishers. Ultimately, it is the participation by the masses that is more important. Small amounts when accumulated can become a big amount.

When charities raise funds, they help two groups of people. Obviously, they help those who need the funds. But they also help donors. They make donors realise that no man is an island and that we are all part of the same human community. Donating helps reaffirm the individual humanity of each donor. Hence, the donating process is important and donors expect the process of fund raising to be morally and ethically correct. Charities should not raise more money then they really need and they should always carefully evaluate the moral correctness of the means that they use to raise funds. For example, images of sick children may maximise fund raising abilities, but on the other hand, the children involved could suffer permanent psychological scars when they are subject to such public display.

I congratulate the Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society for its emphasis on moral correctness in its method of fund-raising. Its appeal for a small sum will not make people feel fatigued by the on-slaught of appeals for donations. Thye Hua Kwan has been prudent in its expenses and in regulating its fund-raising, and I am happy that the Society has been self sufficient. It is important for all Voluntary Welfare Organisations to have such discipline.

I am pleased to also launch the Moral Charity Buddha 2005. Companies like the Sin Chew Chinese Cultural Products Pte Ltd, which sponsors the Smiling Buddha collections, are doing much to help fund-raising efforts in Singapore. The company has been helping out in this effort in the last few years. It has voluntarily sponsored the Smiling Buddha statue and assigned the entire proceeds of the donations dropped into the statue by kind donors to Thye Hua Kwan. In return, Thye Hua Kwan will be sharing part of these proceeds with the Kwan-In Welfare Society, Man Fut Thong Nursing Home, Inter-Religious Organisation, Mercy Relief and Home Nursing Foundation.

Today, I will also be flagging off a fleet of 30 taxis which carry the Charity Direct Appeal Mailer 2005 on the top of their vehicles. This will help to bring awareness to the public of Thye Hua Kwan's efforts to help the poor, the weak, the disabled, the aged and the needy.

In closing, I wish Thye Hua Kwan success in all its endeavours.