I refer to the letter Lam Thye a former social activist?

It is about time that questions as to who are social activists are raised. The case in point of Lee Lam Thye is perhaps a 'classic' case.

Without going into an academic discourse, I believe it is fair to say that a social activist is someone who attaches priority to and contributes towards the welfare of the community without consideration of the benefits that he or she might personally accrue in the process.

I think anyone who does a bit of research will come to the conclusion that Lam Thye sits on many boards and committees of both statuary and government-sponsored committees for which he receives remuneration. In such a situation, it is imperative that such persons would want to increase their involvement in as many 'social activities' as possible because this gives them the publicity to make themselves known.

But it would be incorrect to point the finger at Lam Thye alone. What we are seeing is a network of the elites among all the three main races pushing themselves forward (irrespective of whether they are qualified or not) to seek representation for their own benefit. Many do so in the hope of receiving honourary titles thereby also becoming 'in demand' by the private sector and business community to facilitate commercial transactions.

Indeed, this can become a very lucrative source of income. Some former civil servants drawing possibly the maximum pensions under the government scheme go on to receive additional monthly allowances from each of these statutory or business and commercial interests which they represent because they hold such titles. If my memory serves me right, there was one instance where a former civil servant sat on no less than 25 bodies and received monthly payments from each one of them!

Again, if some study is made of the assets accrued, it will not be surprising to find that each of these so-called 'social activists' are quite well-off. Indeed such social activism is nothing more than a case of 'God helping those who help themselves'.