A really good deal

So, the Mountbattan Citizen Consultative Committee (CCC) held a fund raising dinner at suntech city yesterday, the proceed of which would go towards helping the poor residents of that constituency. And so:

• The CEO of Kim Seng Heng holding bid $6,800 for an XO wine with SM Goh's signature on it.
• The boss of Yafriro International bid $19,800 for an extra large Heineken, also signed by SM Goh.
• This same boss donated a $29,000-worth Parmigiani Fleurier watch.
• Someone bid $33,000 for this watch.
• Another bid $5,500 for an OSIM massage chair.

All in all, these generous people raised $200,000 for charity.

Erm, what about the wooden one himself, whom I supposed was the guest of honour? Of the $200,000 total, how much did he contribute to help the poor residents of Mountbattan?

Make a guess!
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Ans: $0.00! That's right, zero dollar and zero cent!

But, oh, the wooden one promised that if the CCC's Chairman, togther with the Vice-chariman of the sports club were to run 217 km across the Death Valley in California, USA, he would donate some money thereafter.

How much?

$5000

(The newspaper lauded his yet-to-be-seen, subject-to-condtions action thus: "he will donate more than $5000").

This human battery suddenly remembers two idioms that his Chinese Language teacher has "forced" him to memorise (and for which he is now reaping the good fruit) :

为富不仁

乐善好施

The first - to be rich and yet not benevolent - of course does not apply to SM Goh. How can it? Firstly, our leaders are very benevolent (they said so. We accept. That's the way things work) and secondly, they are not rich - they had all made undue "financial sacrifice" to enter politics, as we were reminded recently.

The second applies to him - he is such a generous man, ever happy to provide and to donate. I am impressed.


联合早报 2007-05-08
吴资政两瓶亲笔签名酒　为贫寒居民筹获2万6000元

　　国务资政吴作栋昨晚捐出两瓶附上他亲笔签名的酒供投标，为蒙巴登区筹得2万6000元。

　　蒙巴登公民咨询委员会昨晚在新达城举行筹款晚宴，共筹得近20万元。这笔款项将用来帮助该区穷苦居民。昨晚约500人出席这项活动。

　　晚宴的高潮是投标活动。金成兴控股总裁朱峙安先以6800元标得吴资政签名的XO酒，投标活动上，人们越叫越热，第二瓶酒的叫价在两分钟内就已经超越这个价格。

　　经过一轮激烈的喊价战，Yafriro国际表行老板丘金雄最终以1万9800元成功标得吴资政签名的特大瓶装的喜力（Heineken）啤酒。裁缝师出身的丘金雄透露，他愿意出如此高价，主要是为表示对吴资政的支持。“我和吴资政认识多年，经常为他量身订做洋服。”

　　丘金雄昨晚也捐出了一支市价2万9000元的Parmigiani Fleurier豪华表，该表以3万3000元成交。另一项投标项目Osim按摩椅则以5500元成交。这四位成功投标者都将获得由吴资政签名的合照。

　　蒙巴登公民咨询委员会主席林义发和蒙巴登区体育俱乐部副主席杨渊菁也将在7月中挑战美国加利福尼亚州死亡谷，设法完成217公里的长跑。

　　主办当局昨晚也当场分发筹款卡，呼吁人们捐款表示支持。吴资政带头宣誓若他们完成挑战，他将捐出超过5000元。

Neo: Yeah. That sounds like a really good deal. But I got a better one. How about... I give you the finger... and you give me my phone call?
Agent Smith: Mr. Anderson... you disappoint me.