Parent-Support law: Necessary or not?

In PM Lee’s National Day rally speech not so long ago, he brought up an issue close to the hearts of many Singaporeans: Filial piety. He spoke of the increasing number of sons and daughters who neglect their parents, leaving them financially unable to fend for themselves. But is it necessary to resort to enacting laws, so as to force these unfilial children to support their parents financially? Or is such an action too extreme and severe?

Even though such a law might be unheard of in many other countries, but I feel that the Maintenance of Parents Act is necessary to stop this trend. Our parents have worked hard and spent so much money bringing us up, and as we grow up and start earning an income, it is natural for us to repay them for what they have given us. However, over the past 2 years, there have been an increasing number of aged parents suing their children for not giving them financial support. This rising trend has made it even more important to implement this law, and make sure that no elderly will be left abandoned in today’s society.

Besides, the children abandoning their parents in homes for the elderly can also cause a burden to the community. In a newspaper report some time ago, the Peacehaven Nursing Home, run by The Salvation Army, had over 300 residents and about a third of them owed more than 3 months’ fees, which roughly equates to $500,000 unpaid dues in total. As the parents age, it is the child’s responsibility to support the parent, instead of leaving the parents to nursing homes and not even giving their parents some financial support. The enactment of the law will ease the amount of unpaid fees for nursing homes.

However, although the law will ensure that the parent is financially supported, it still does not solve the problem of filial piety in Singapore. Instead, it might end up in a situation where some people give money back to their parents “just because the law says so”. This is definitely not desirable and the government will have to put in much more effort in solving this social issue. For example, the government can organize more talks that teach parents how to educate the child on about filial piety and the importance of it, and schools may also teach children to remember to give back to their parents for what the parents have done for them.

In conclusion, I would say that the Maintenance of Parents Act is necessary, but much more has to be done to change the current situation. Inculcating filial piety in the younger generation is a not an easy task that can be solved by law.