Empathy and Generosity

Saw this wonderful piece of news. Justo and his family were gifted US$2m by Tong Kooi Onn and The Edge. You can read the rest of the article. I am sure there will be a lot of brickbats and bouquets at the same time for the gesture.

https://www.theedgesingapore.com/tong-rewards-whistle-blower-justo-26-mil-help-exposing-1mdb-wrongdoings?mc_cid=b047c30b10&mc_eid=1178ff96b2

For me, it is a splendid show of empathy and generosity of heart by Tong. When Justo wanted to sell the information a few years back. It was more to get back something he was promised but was delivered. Money is given then would have been a transaction.

Still, even without the promised funds, Justo allowed The Edge and Sarawak Report to blow the whole thing up, providing the deep linkages to the Middle East and various tax-free havens where the accounts resided.

Justo and his family suffered through hell in Thailand. While we are busy reclaiming back 1MDB funds, while we busy profiting from the 1MDB implosion with a stupendous general election victory ... we seemed to have forgotten the people who had to suffer to get us there. Maybe the intention wasn't 100% altruistic on Justo's part, but there was still substantial credence and even more personal sufferings involved.

This is not charity, and I am sure one can say there are 1,000 more people more in need of financial help. We can only "bloom where we are planted", empathize and be cognizant of the roles people have played which improved our situation, financially or on personal matters.