7/05/2013

Singaporeans have forgotten how to protest


This seems to be the observations culled from the comments by some bloggers following the epic Egyptian protest and the Hongkie protest this week. I think in terms of public gathering, Singaporeans are more comfortable showing up for a celebration like the Pink Dot Movement or the National Day Celebration.

It is not that protest on the street is not a part of our history or not in our DNA. There were big protests against the colonial govt, industrial strikes, and some quite violent in a way. The students camped in the Bukit Timah campus of Chinese High. These were memories of the past.

The biggest protests in recent past other than the three in Hong Lim did not garner more than 20 people at most and in several cases less than 10. This is quite a phenomenon in our history. Maybe the law that defined 4 as illegal assembly may have conditioned the populace not to be seen in greater than 4 unless it is a govt approved protest.

How then could Sinkies get used to be running down the streets again in protest of whatever they want to believe and protest about? Maybe a little training, a few trial runs or a few practices to get them used to be in a street protest may be needed. Hong Lim is a good place for such training and we had three or so over the few months. The two protests against the 6.9 populations were surprisingly well attended in our context though dismal even to those of our neighbours. Really no fun huh?

And the last call to protest against the haze met with near total silence. Maybe it was the haze and the protesters were there but hidden by poor visibility. Come to think about it, an anti haze protest or something similar could be a good practice round. The Hongkies had a good trial run when they protested against the TianAnMen in what, 1989? I think this is a good idea to start with. Try to protest against something external, like the haze. The temperature would not be so high and people will not be too edgy about it. It may even be encouraged. Have a few runs to get the people to get used to what a protest is like. It can also be fun if grandpa and grandma and the children can come along, like a picnic.

However, not all protests are like a picnic. The latest Hongkie protest surprisingly was like a picnic though the motion was serious and causing the govt some jittery moments. They must have practiced it to an art by now, peaceful protest and both protesters and the govt are quite comfortable and knowing no force will be used against the protesters. Don’t try the Malaysian version 1.01.

The drawback about protesting on external issues is that it may not be attractive enough to draw in the crowd. There are issues too that will make such a protest unattractive. Perhaps the govt could contribute some free chicken rice and free transportation to educate the Sinkies on how to walk the streets confidently for a good cause or at least for the right thing.

Sinkies are now like domesticated animals and have lost their instinct to act naturally, to learn to live off the land, to fight for food, to fight for their own survival and existence. An introduction course to learn how to protest may be good for the Sinkies and country as well. One day we may need this for our own good. It is also a tool that the Govt can apply to exert some pressure in a cause that the official line will not work. There are times when letting the people into the street to do the talking is necessary.

Protesting is a forgotten survival skill in this sanitized and emotionless City when nothing matters anymore. People can get robbed of their life savings and would not dare utter a murmur. It is quite unfortunate really, to lose this survival skill. The discrimination against Sinkies in employment caught the Sinkies totally off guard and not knowing what to do next. Helplessness is the word. The ministers actually thought that the best thing was to plead with the transgressors or recalcitrants by having a chat over coffee, and hoping that things will happen.

Did the thought of a street protest occur in their minds? Lim Boon Heng did one some years back by marching from the NTUC Conference hall to High Street, if I can remember. The Govt must take the lead if the Sinkies are to relearn how to protest once more. Forget about the picnics in Hong Lim, that is a walk in the park.

20 comments:

  1. If gahmen provide good social services, then Sinkies will be very free to protest.

    By making the Sinkies poor.
    Make Sinkies work until 70 years old.
    Then Sinkies will be too tired to protest.
    Not free to protest anymore.

    We are not interested in building up a country.
    We are only interested in staying in power forever.

    We are not interested in making university educated Singaporeans who are world class.
    We are only interested in making dumb Sinkies who will only vote for us.

    We can buy world class talents from anywhere in the world.
    We don't need smart Singaporeans.
    As long as we control the money of Singapore.
    And you don't know where we put it.

    Nanny, nanny, poo, poo.
    You cannot catch me.
    Tio bo?

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  2. RB, I think even the minister does not know that is why they pleaded with the investors in their own country cause likely they think they do not have any say mah

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  3. IT IS NOT SINGAPOREANS HAD FORGOTTEN HOW TO PROTEST!

    THEY WILL PROTEST AT THE BALLOT BOXES.

    IT IS THIS SILENT FORM OF PROTEST WHICH IS THE MOST POTENT! JUST LOOK AT THE LAST FEW ELECTIONS....

    SMILE AND CHEERS....

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  4. What is there to protest?
    Sin is the Richest Tiny Island in the World.
    Sin Leaders are the Most Talented and corrupt free.
    Sin has the Most Branded Cars in the Tiny Land.
    Sin is a cleanest and safest place in the World.
    There are no beggar or homeless people in Sin.
    Can one have a better place to live in?

    Protest?
    What protest?
    Protest wat?

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  5. Protest:

    The Temsasek Holdings that deal with public funds took out a 4-page advert easily worth more $100,000-00 today in shitty times.

    Waste of papers also, plant so many trees yet so unecological!

    yet in it, the management of temasek hdoldings which deals with hundreds of billions of dollars do not even dare to put a NAME on the 4-page advertisement.

    So many figures but nobody is accountable to those figures

    Hello you are addressing who and from whom?

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  6. Our CPF money full withdrawal delayed way past our retirement age!

    Minimum sums keep increasing every years!

    CPF money transferred to Ministry of Finance keep increasing!

    We want our savings back unconditionally !

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  7. 2009 NEWS--

    --Government will be able to issue more securities like bonds, after Parliament approved raising the limit of its borrowings from $250 billion to $320 billion.

    This motion to increase the limit was passed yesterday.

    Explaining the need for a higher amount, Second Finance Minister Lim Hwee Hua said the Government is close to reaching the current ceiling of $250 billion, with more securities likely to be issued.


    There are $234.7 billion worth of outstanding government securities, she said, and the amount is expected to hit $320 billion in the next five years.

    The increase, she added, is due to growing Central Provident Fund (CPF) balances in members' accounts, which the CPF Board invests in government securities to ensure a certain rate of return.---

    aREN'T THE MONEY HELD BY THE MINISTRY FROM CPF ALSO USED TO BUY BONDS FROM TEMASEK?????

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  8. a large non-military style,non-pap, national day celebrations at Hong Lim Park on 9 august could be organised to in form of dance performance, poems recital., short speeches, etc e

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  9. The national day parade organised by
    pap is way too structured in military protocols. It is exactly like a military regiment.

    Furthermore it is always honouring the pap cec members and the p.a members.

    Guess what, PRs who are foreign citizens also have the same priority as citizens given by pap to get the tickets!!

    Singapore-citizens only celebrations could be organized.

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  10. Why should Singaporean sons trained so hard in the scorching heat only to perform to the delight the foreigners?

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  11. THEY SAY: NOTHING IS FAIR IN THIS WORLD.

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  12. Let's celebrate a real Singaporeans' National Day in Hougang.
    Capital of Free Singapore.

    Low Thia Khiang.
    You oragnize the party.
    We will be there to celebrate with you.
    9 August 2013.

    ReplyDelete
  13. There is nothing to protest. Almost everyone waiting to sell their HDB flats to some foreigners at $1m. Bring in more foreigners, maybe their flats can sell more than $2m. With so much money, no need to work already.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Singaporeans espically the the baby boomers want to decide for themselves when to retire and when to withdraw their hard earned money.

    Stop holding back our money in the cpf accounts, return it back to us now.

    It our money.


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  15. Did the govt say they will listen to the people or they will decide what is best?

    VTO.

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  16. What protest?
    Better Celebrate National Day.

    ReplyDelete
  17. It is wrong to keep something especially someone else money when it is time to return it after so many decades.

    When the lender intention is very clear that he or she wants it back then it is very bad of the borrower not to return it.

    This is chow kuan or bad attitude on the borrower.

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  18. What is abhorent is when instead of returning the money on demand after the initial agreement date to return has expired the borrower even forced the lender to deposit more money every year.



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  19. If the borrower claimed he has ton of money in the bank yet refused to return the money back to the lender when he rightfully and nicely ask for it back then the borrower is unpardonable not to return it.

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  20. I went abroad for 3 weeks.
    Came back n found out the Pink dot was attended by 21,000 people. Not all are LGBTs but the sympathisers are idiots not knowing the impact of repealing the 377A.
    Wats wrong with these people. The 6.9m population was attended by 5k.
    I really questioned these people priorities. Dont they hv enough freedom. Get a room if you are feeling frisky. What really bother me is their hung up on the 377 or whatever. Die die must hv that. I squirmed when M.Ravi in the video says, a 15yr old boy shud hv a right to sexual consent. Predators. Sex, sex, sex is all in their minds. If there a single LGBTs thats against this pls come forward, I've yet to know.

    Mr.Red Bean lets hear your view. LGBTs are feeling proud when coming out of closet. Nobody discriminating. So why must need attention ah?.....

    ReplyDelete