By: Jose Raymond
First published: 6 January 04, TODAY

They receive their medals to the strains of Majulah Singapura, but some of Singapore's China-born athletes are wondering when they will be entitled to something Singaporeans take for granted: CPF contributions.

In his own eyes, thrower Dong Enxin is doing a job like every other Singaporean - and doing it well. He has been a citizen since 2001, receives $1,200 every month from the Singapore Amateur Athletics Association (SAAA) and has repaid it with a gold in last year's SEA Games.

But the thrower, speaking through his guardian and former SAAA vice-president Steven Lee, said he was startled when he received a note from the CPF Board in 2002 asking him to make a $50 contribution to receive his Economic Restructuring Shares.

"I asked around and found out that I had not been paid any CPF," he told TODAY.

Somewhat confused, he missed out on the first allocation and got the second one only after making a $50 contribution himself.

"Every other Singaporean earns a salary and has CPF contributions," said the 22-year-old. "I am also a Singaporean, am I not? So, if I spend the next 10 years as a thrower, shouldn't I get my CPF?"

SAAA does not think so and it became clear that other China-born athletes like Ms Du Xianhui and Mr Zhang Guirong - stars of the recent South-east Asia Games - have also not been receiving CPF contributions, though they are citizens receiving a fixed $1,200 a month. This was confirmed by their guardian, Mr Lee.

Even sprinter U K Shyam, a Singaporean by birth, said he had not received any CPF contribution on his monthly allowance of more than $2,000 a month.

This is no oversight. SAAA director general Eric Song told TODAY that the athletes were not entitled to CPF contributions.

"The money given to the athletes consists of training grants and not salaries.

"There is a grey definition over the payment of these grants and whether they should be considered salaries." But this situation seemed peculiar only to SAAA.

Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) has been making CPF contributions for its dozen-odd full-time athletes.

Said SBA's general manager Jacqueline Lim: "The rules on CPF contributions are clear.

"As long as a person is being employed and receives a fixed allowance or salary every month, he is to receive a CPF contribution as long as he is a PR or a citizen and as long as there is a contract between the athletes and the association."

Singapore Table Tennis Association president Choo Wee Khiang said that making the contributions for all its full-time athletes was "not an issue", as it was compulsory under law.

But SAAA's Mr Song said that the China-born athletes had been told of the situation even before they came to Singapore.

"Will making CPF contributions, which may amount to only about $100 or $200 a month, lead them to have a more comfortable life?" he asked.

Even as the association quibbled over the athletes' entitlements, it has been reported to the CPF Board by Mr Guo Huaiyun, the China-born coach of the throwers, who became a PR in 1999. Guo, who was employed on $2,500 a month, said he received no CPF contributions.

Mr Song said the association was working to settle the issue. The coach has left for China, but his wards are wondering what makes them so different from other athletes - and other Singaporeans.