ª¥ Traditionally, a person¡¯s insurance against poverty in his old age was his family, lifts is not a revolutionary concept. Nor is it uniquely Asian. Care an d support for one¡¯s parents is a universal value shared by all civilized societ ies.ª¥ 

The problem in Singapore is that the moral obligation to look after one¡¯s parents is unenforceable. A father can be compelled by law to maintain his child ren. A husband can be forced to support his wife. But, until now, a son or daugh ter had no legal obligation to support his or her parents.ª¥ 

In 1989, an Advisory Council was set up to look into the problems of the ag ed. Its report stated with a tinge of complacency that 95% of those who did not have their own income were receiving cash contributions from relations. But what about the 5% who aren¡¯t getting relatives¡¯ support? They have several options : (a) get a job and work until they die; (b) apply for public assistance(you hav e to be destitute to apply); or(c) starve quietly. None of these options is soci ally acceptable. And what if this 5% figure grows, as it is likely to do, as soc iety ages?ª¥ 

The Maintenance of Parents Bill was put forth to encourage the traditional virtues that have so far kept Asian nations from some of the breakdowns encounte red in other affluent societies. This legislation will allow a person to apply t o the court for maintenance from any or all of his children. The court would hav e the discretion to refuse to make an order if it is unjust.ª¥ 

Those who deride the proposal for opening up the courts to family lawsuits miss the , point. Only in extreme cases would any parent take his child to court. If it does indeed become law, the bill¡¯s effect would be far more subtle.ª¥  

First, it will reaffirm the notion that it is