I did not want to make a trip there today. The appeal letter
of Han Hui Hui changed my mind. I just got to be there to see what was going
on. There was another big event organised by YMCA that virtually took over the
whole of Hong Lim
Park according to Han Hui Hui, and
her team would have problems pitching their small tent and doing a token march
around the field of Hong Lim.
The sun was very unkind, contrary
to the prediction of our resident geomancer. Too damn hot. While at the traffic
junction waiting to turn into Fook Hai
Building I could hear Han Hui Hui’s
voice piercing through the car window. And there was an equally loud male
speaker alternating from her speech as if they were screaming for attention. A
clash of loudspeakers perhaps, and it was just 5 minutes past four.
I hurried to the park only to be
greeted by several huge red and white tents, the biggest the size of 3
basketball courts at least, pluck right in the centre of the field. There was
no sign of the Return Our CPF tent. There were at least a couple of thousand
people under the tents and in the main stage area. At the mole hill that
resembled what Charlie Brown stood, there stood pint size Han Hui Hui screaming
her heads out, under the hot sun, no tent. It was blazing and maybe 200 people
were around her in a little corner squeezed between the tents. See photos.
The little lady did not want to
bow out in defeat. Apparently there were some negotiations with the police and
NPark officers earlier and she was using the loud speakers to thank them
profusely for the privilege of the little mole hill to exercise her freedom of
speech. And of course to the police
officers for making sure her safety was not compromised. Roy
joined her later plus a couple of fiery ladies. They blew their lungs out under
the blazing heat of the tropical sun. By the end of the session, Roy
almost lost his voice.
The climax of the event was the
march around the big tent when Teo Ser Luck arrived. By then the spectators of
the Rally had swell to possibly a thousand or more. It was quite difficult to
count when they were intermingled with the participants of the other
event. Roy
caused a stir and some worried faces when he carried the national flag and headed for Teo Ser Luck. They had a friendly
chat and there were smiling faces all round after that.
There were many things to cheer
and shared with the very supportive crowd. And they shared with the
participants of the other event as well. It was a good thing after all as Roy
and Hui Hui found a bigger audience to speak to. I overheard some saying that
the next event should be held on a Sat when there is another big event at Hong
Lim to capture their participants. The supposedly clash of event did not really
affect the mood of the Return Our CPF crowd. In fact many went there
specifically to support Han Hui Hui’s call, fearing that she would be in some
kind of difficulties. Many in the crowd said the same thing, that they did not
plan to attend this round but must turn up to support Roy and Hui Hui in view
of the presence of another big event on the same day and same time.
Looks like future events will be
held when there are other events organised at Hong Lim and at the same time. It
was a good thing, getting a bigger audience without any effort. No need to pay
for drinks and chicken rice. The slight problem would be that Roy, Hui Hui and
their fellow speakers would have to drink more ‘liang teh’ to soothe their
throats.
I have posted more photos in the
previous posts before this.
Kopi Level - Green