*This title takes place within the Ministry of Population Control universe*
As the population decline due to couples not having babies, the MOPC has decided to implement a caste system base on each couples’ contribution in terms of birthrate. A point system has been implemented, and those who go into the negative, will need to serve as comfort women for other men whose points are higher than theirs.
Kate and i thought we could skirt the system and just reap the benefits of citizenship.
The Ministry of Population control (MOPC), has sent us several reminders. We appealed for a delay due to planning reasons. From telling them we want a Dragon year baby, to unfortunate health issues. Covid years bought us some time, and the deadline got pushed back yet again for us.
You see, there is this optimum breeding period, ok, breeding sounds a bit wrong, to put it in another way, there is this preferred age within the MOPC for young couples like Kate and me to start a family.
Rumors online and within whispered circles put that figure between 23-33. Some gave allowance to 35.
We got out 4 room BTO flat with a view of the sea and the landed enclave in Sentosa when we were 26.
By right, we were supposed to start family planning and start a family within 12 months of key collection but we decided to put things off a little.
There are people online that got a deferment, their timeline gets pushed back. So we tried and succeeded. Then we tried again, giving different reasons each time and we were lucky. We pushed back, we appealed, we went to our MP during weekly meet the people session.
‘We want Dragon year babies. more Huat!’
‘We don’t want Dragon year babies, hard to go into schools of our choice…’
‘Alamak, covid leh, how to have babies?’
‘Economy not very good, we should be ready next year’
And we just keep pushing back. Each time we were given the green light, we got our hopes up a bit.
Why ?
Because online there were accounts of people sharing that they keep pushing until they were 33 and they received a letter from MOPC.
They were past the ideal age for family planning and they just needed to pay a percentage of the subsidy they get for their flat as a fine. That was it.
Kate and i wanted the same thing.
Who doesn’t? Hello brother, my BTO flat, directly connected to new Sentosa MRT station. People have sheltered linkway to what? Supermarket, polyclinic?
I have sheltered linkway to universal studio singapore.
Staying on the 16th floor, i can see Indonesia on a clear day and almost hear fireworks every night.
Unfortunately for Kate and me, when more people discovered the loop holes in the system, they decided to make an example of people like us. They introduced a point base caste system.
The max you can get is 100.
The least, is negative 100.
My neighbour, the Tan family. Kelvin and Liping, they have 3 kids and expecting a 4th. They are 100 pointers. Their CDC vouchers are 4x of what Kate and i get. Their utilities? 90% subsidised.
Their childcare and school fees? also 90% subsidised.
What about transport? Free car?
No free car unfortunately, but free parking. You think free parking at their HDB in sentosa? No. Islandwide.
The whole family can drive into Ion Orchard and park there the whole day, watch a movie and come back out for $0.
These are the perks of a 100 point family.
What about Kate and me?
That was when the announcement sounded.
“Couple number 233”, please proceed to room 2”
I stood up and held Kate’s hand.
Kate : Dear…i’m…
James: Don’t worry…it’ll be ok.
From the look on my wife’s face, i could tell she’s not convinced at all.
We walked down the corridor together, past the rows of grey metal chairs bolted to the floor, past the other couples who wouldn’t meet our eyes. Everyone in that waiting area had the same look, like they were queuing up for a dental appointment they knew was going to hurt.
Room 2 had frosted glass on the door and a small LED sign that blinked our queue number in red. I knocked once, and a voice told us to enter.
The officer behind the desk didn’t look up right away. She was young, maybe younger than us. Her name tag read “Officer S. Goh.” On the wall behind her was a poster, the kind you’d see at the polyclinic, except instead of telling you to wash your hands, it showed a cartoon family of five with the caption “Every Child Counts, Every Point Matters.”
Goh : Mr and Mrs Lim…
James : Just James and Kate will do.
I said, trying to sound casual, like we were here to renew a passport.
She tapped on her keyboard, and the monitor angled just enough that I couldn’t read it, but Kate’s hand tightened around mine anyway, like she already knew what was coming.
Goh : According to our records, you’ve submitted six deferment applications over the past 6 years. Marriage registered at age 26, current age 33, zero registered pregnancies, zero registered children.
James : We had health complications…
Goh : The file also states two of those complications were resolved within three months of each application.
She said, not unkindly, but not warmly either. It was the voice of someone who had said this a hundred times that week.
Goh : Mr Lim, Mrs Lim, I want to be transparent with you. The Ministry has reviewed your case extensively. Given the new point system implementation, your household has been assessed.
She turned the monitor around.
The score was 50. The points came as a default for commiting to start a family.
Goh : you have 50 points now and i shall go through with you the deduction and the final score.
Kate tightened the grip on my hand as Goh began reading out each line.
Goh : Failure to start a family…minus point…Failure to be proactive…minus point…
Each time she read something, i saw the negative sign in red rise up like your character in RPG game getting slaughtered.
Goh : Never start family, still keep pets…minus points…
Kate: Wait…minus points for keeping pets?
Goh : you are leeching on tax payer resources, enjoying the subsidies, and using the money you save on a family on an animal? minus points…
Kate: BUT!
Goh stopped talking and glared at Kate and i quickly held my wife back.
James: Dear…calm down…
Goh : 1 cat, minus point, 1 dog, minus point…Getting premium pet insurance…minus point…
The list kept going.
Pram for animals instead of a child, minus point.
Staycation for pets in a 5 star hotel, minus point.
Goh : using CDC vouchers to buy pet food…minus point…
Kate: this is too much! Why can’t i use the vouchers and spend what i want!
Goh : Raising your voice at MOPC officers will result in more point deduction…this is your final warning.
I held onto my wife’s arm and quickly apologised.
James: sorry…sorry..we won’t raise our voices.
Just when i finished saying that, we heard raised voices from the room next to us. Whoever was in there, they probably were not having a good day either.
Goh : Showing off instagram pictures of pets at cafe, spa, grooming, and a pet holiday…minus points…
Goh sighed and looked at both of us.
Goh : The amount of subsidy you both get from us regular tax payers to stay in Sentosa and keep pets is substantial, you have no shame…
I could see Kate on the verge of exploding and i was holding her down against the chair with both my hands on her shoulders while i kept smiling at the officer.
Goh : Your final points…is negative 12.
James : negative?
Kate : -12?
Goh : Yes…and that puts your caste system at…comfort woman tier 1…
Coming soon