The NKF saga is sad- sadder still is the fact that these kind of things will happen gain just as it has happened many times before. Persons in the limelight holding important positions, trusted to be what they expound to be through their actions and words, whether an entreprenuer, politician, businessman, clergyman, charitable figure- disappointing us with their misdeeds. And so we see Mr Richard Yong being hauled back to Singapore, a forlorn figure, scorned by many, treated like a criminal. Just a year ago, this same person was basking in the glory and limelight of public approval- a saint to speak. We feel sad for Mr Yong and all those who started off with noble intentions only to be taken in by greed, power and status.
Sometimes one wonders what could be the motivation for someone to champion a cause at no personal benefit to themselves at all. Could it be for altruistic reasons, is this possible? Or is altruism purely a myth, a figment of the imagination? Even the missionary who surrenders everything to God, looks towards eternal salvation for himself.
Looking at any charitable organisation, one realises that it is the 'small guy' who slogs and toils away working and keeping the wheels of the organisation moving, in anonymity, that deserves the be described as the true saint. These are the people who do the footwork, soliciting donations and funds, organising charitable events in the name of the people they serve, atttending to the day-to-day running of the organisations, who make sure that there is enough on the table to eat for the old destitute, the orphan, the abused women and the many more underprivileged members of our society. These foot soldiers are the true champions of the underclass and the marginalised. They are the true saints of charity whose only satisfaction is derived from knowing that they have done their bit, no matter how little, for the betterment of humankind.
