Black September - I was there

Just curious, just want to see how the people will react to a simple call, an anonymous call in the Net, to wear black to protect their life savings. The call was simply to go there, shopping or walk around, and wear black. No compulsion, no free bus service, no free drinks and vouchers. At your own time, at your own expense. And some went. Were there a lot of them there? There was a noticeable presence of black, maybe 1 in 10. Some were obviously there in their usual black without knowing that there was purpose to be in black. But you could notice some who came in black and walked around with a purpose, knowing why they were there. There were a few families with kids in tow, in black as well, supporting the call, but very tentatively. And the SDP was there too. They attracted all the attention naturally. They had some placards with the words, 'Set Chee Free.' They were recognisable and organised, at least they stuck together as a group. And the media was there to capture the event if there was anything interesting to report on. The rest of the black shirts were just floating around, blending with the crowd as if part of the crowd. There was no focus, no concentration or a meeting point. And no one to take the lead. But that was the intention. Do nothing, do not disturb the peace. Just be there to register a point... Don't touch my money. And of course the good brothers were there as well. You can see them watching attentively. It was their job. A patrol car drove by once a while, unobtrusively as if a routine. I am truly surprised that a simple call on the Net could elicit such a response. If the call were more persistent, more widespread, and the floating black shirts were to assemble in a smaller area, be it inside Robinson or just in the concourse, the presence will be much obvious. A journey starts with a single step. Maybe.

Singapore a museum!

I think it is more a kiddies wonderland. Clean and green and spotless. And all the colourful leggo flats painted in bright yellow, green and red square or rectangular blocks. Walking through one of the estate is like Alice walking through a children's wonderland. Then there is the life size Disneyland in Orchard Road. Singapore is anything but a museum. The only resemblance of a museum is in Chinatown and some of the ageing estates when the oldies start to stagger around or dose off on the benches. Living specimens of a forgotten time. Walking through Orchard Road or Raffles Place and you can't find anything that is called aged. Everything is new and young, especially the living beans.

Notable quote by Ho Peng Kee

'No one in Singapore should be bereft of someone to turn to if they should need legal advice or help, including those who cannot afford to pay for it. Assoc Professor Ho Peng Kee Wah say. Help is available and on the way, to those who cannot afford to pay for it. I have several people owing me between $5k to $15k and I cannot collect from them short of bringing them to court or send a few debt collectors to paint O$P$ on their doors. Going to court would mean that I will have to cough out $3k-$5k for each case without even sure of getting my money back. Can I get help? Definitely no. Cause I can pay for it. But should I pay for it when the cost of recovery may be more than what my debtors are owing me?

All the hoo hah for nothing

The only thing good about the annuity proposal is to get people thinking and talking, creating a kind of buzz, a distraction, but all for nothing, actually. It will only affect a very small group of people. Maybe 1 in 10 will live to that age. May 2 in 10 of this group may need some charity. It is a scheme where many do not need. And those who need cannot afford it. It is like pushing insurance policies to the beggars in the street. What these people, who surely can do with annuity insurance, most probably have no money to pay for it. And they will try very hard to get their hands to the $3000 or $300 in their CPF or will cry for it. To them this is all they got and these few hundred bucks can do a lot of wonders to push back their appalling misery for a few days later. To those who have millions in their savings, they can pooh pooh or scoff at these pathetic beans. Ok, they have a good life. But do not do more to hurt the downtrodden. Forcing them to cough out their few dollars is more like squeezing blood out of them. It is painful. With such goodness being shafted down the throat of these desperate people, it is no difference from stuffing food down the throat of Peking ducks. No regard for their pain and suffering in the name of doing them good. Let those who think it is good for them, and they must have it, pay for it voluntarily. Then we will really see how many believe they will live pass 85 and will be desperate enough to want to depend on the pathetic $300 pm.

Finding a new way to engage the govt

Black September or Brown September, it was over without raising any eyebrow. There was no protest in the form that is recognisable. Nonetheless, it is talking back on something that the people, or some of the people, are disgruntled about. It is not about toppling the govt or anti establishment. But did it have any impact, or was it a non event, meaningless, not noticeable and forgettable? Then there is the online petition. Also a rather non event as it caters only to a small group of netizens. What else can the Singaporeans do other than writing to the media, in the net or writing to Reach, only to get an explanation that this is all done for his own good? Maybe this Black September thing, and the online petition, are the best way to say no, to say they disagree, not so much as a protest, and not threatening anyone or peace on the street. And maybe the govt too think this is a good way for the people to register their views without having to lay on them with the full weight of the law. It is a civilised way by a civilised people to make their point, in a polite way, as the issues are not life threatening or deserving of a violent protest. If these two ways are enough to make the govt listen and tweak whatever they are doing, we may see more in the future, of Singaporeans in black, heads down, mourning over a policy or decision that they don't agree. It is good for the people and good for the govt. The people saying it quietly, respectfully, not upsetting anyone and the govt listening quietly and nodding its head. And no opportunity for press sensationalisation.