"If only rally attendance translates to votes."
I have been hearing this since 2011. Well, you see, that was the year where GE rallies held by the Workers' Party attract seriously large turnouts. It was an encouraging scene for the 39% minority who voted against the PAP during GE2011 but they were in for a disappointing night after Polling Day. Seat after seat were taken yet again by the PAP in familiar fashion. Nothing had changed. To rub salt in, Potong Pasir fell to scammer face. All seemed lost.
We went late into the night and await with abated breaths. There was something unusual happening in Aljunied GRC. It reminded me of that night where the PAP won Cheng San GRC narrowly after a few recounts during GE1997. There was a lot of talk of fraud but no witnesses seemed to be able to produce any evidence to back their claims. It felt like deja vu until the results of Aljunied GRC was announced. Roars thundered through the neighbourhood of Teck Whye, even though the results had nothing to do with our constituency. The thirst for change has no boundaries.
Many considered GE2011 as a watershed election. For many, it was a sign of democratic progress. Not me. I knew it was our last chance and we blew it. I had no choice but to pack my bag and leave my beloved country of birth. Unlike someone like Dr Chee Soon Juan, I wouldn't stay and fight. I was just an ordinary man, unlike Dr Chee who claimed to be the same but clearly was more.
"If only attendance translates to votes," they said. So what if they do? Those rallies turnouts looked really good. For once, a mega Singaporean crowd displayed a different formation to its usual favourite - the single-file queue. It looked impressive like hell but the numbers were only so much. 20,000? 30,000? Even if 100% of that crowd voted for the opposition, how would that measure against a New Citizen strength of 100,000, eligible to vote in the next GE? Even if 50% of the New Citizens votes for the PAP, it would ceremoniously crush the attendance effortlessly. How about the civil servants, business people with vested interests, hoodwinked elderly and folks who never recovered from indoctrination? All the years I have been away from Singapore, I have been keeping tabs with what happens back there. So much had happened from MRT disruptions to leaky buildings. What about the ill effects of overcrowding? Would all these have any effect on the next GE? I bet none.
I can never forget this quote from the late LKY, "Please do not assume that you can change governments. Young people don't understand this."
The frightening thing about this was that I understand what he meant. Perhaps I was no longer one of those young people he was referring to. LKY had perfected the system such that the PAP, even with an idiot on helm, will never fall out of power by weaving a profound web of intermediaries behind the scene, less obvious to the masses, to support the government.
I was glued to the computer every evening during this GE2015 rally week. Granted it was a more interesting one compared to GE2011, nothing has changed where the people are being concerned. Most of them are still writhing in their indoctrinated poison. Though I would be watching the results anxiously like many Singaporeans who care for their country, I knew what would be the result even before Polling Day. I just want to witness an unlikely miracle that wouldn't happen.
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| Meanwhile, somewhere else on any ordinary day |
It saddens me as a Singaporean, to watch new generations after generations being drilled what to say, what to do and the worst of all, what to think. We have a society that cannot stand up to injustice and puts down the few who try.
There is no hope left in this country. A handful of us seen this a decade ago and we can see what is it going to be a decade to come. All seem to be going according to plan, unless the non-indoctrinated New Citizens decide to bite the hands...
Me was at the Rounds with NSP,
ReplyDeletethere's good hope of an increase in
Alternative Parties getting further
inroad into the Parliament. But, alas!
I have to agree with You this 2015 GE
is the Last and Final Opportunity for
Sinkies to turn the Tide.
Anyway, I like to say to those that have
left Sin and are comfortable with where
they are now, that You have been wise.
Even if a new regime comes into being in
Sin, the Future for Sinkies will not be any
better than the Best in the 90s.
patriot
2011 was the last, Patriot. There is no more.
DeleteI'll second that. 2011 was the tipping point, and the chance was lost.
DeleteMore chance this time, all seats contested.
ReplyDeleteDo you get to vote in Perth?
No we don't. The nearest polling booth is in Canberra. Unless they let us vote online from Fremantle, that is another story.
DeleteIn response to your 'last… no more' reply to the comment, I can still hear Yoda's voice:
ReplyDelete"No, there is another."
I will try to either sleep past the announcement of results till morning comes, or be busy elsewhere online and on the computer into the late night.
Because I don't want to be writhing in indoctrinated poison.
But neither do I want to be writhing in the poison of resentment
.
Perhaps I'd rather be writhing in the elixir of our own world of hope.
I'm sorry, Nix. You proved to be a way better judge of it all. I went to the opp ground and stayed till the end of the last results past three to be extremely disappointed. All is lost.
ReplyDeleteYes. I can only be so glad that I got my Aust PR approved 6 months ago, and i've been making plans since to move there in 2 years. I've lived in Auckland for 6 months and have personally seen the "ills" of high tax rates. Perhaps shockingly to the average Singaporean, I actually thought it was a society i could live in despite paying 10x the taxes i paid in singapore. All is lost, Nix. I came back here in Singapore from Auckland and many people thought I did a U turn because Singapore was good. On the contrary, I did this U turn because I knew I had to, if I am serious about settling overseas. I came back to settle the issues that weren't settled prior to leaving for Auckland. I've given myself 2 years and thereafter, it will be bye bye to sinkapore.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally I'm deciding between Perth, Melbourne or Adelaide and should be making a trip there sometime this or early next year. If we can meet up please do drop me an email.
ReplyDeleteHi all, thanks Nix for this platform for us to share. I am so heartbroken over the election results. Frankly, my family and I have no more stake in Singapore. We are already (proud) Australian citizens. My disappointment could be pinned down to me being just a sucker for the underdogs, specifically the voiceless poor in Singapore, and I felt that it was another kick in the belly for them and those who care for human rights. Or I could be trying to redeem my guilt for having left my loved ones behind to face an uncertain future under an authoritarian government. So, I was tuned into the election fever in Singapore. I read the manifesto of the WP, SDP and PAP. I even gave feedback to the WP on its manifesto via email.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I believe the large swing in favour to the PAP could be partly due to the undecided voters voting for the men in white because they thought that the opposition would garner sufficient votes. Nonetheless, I think the people in Singapore got the government they voted for and share your disillusionment. So, they really should not have any more complaints. As for me, I'll have a good night's sleep tonight and not be bothered with future Singapore elections. My Christian friend reminded me Romans 13:1 "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God". Therefore, I pledge again my allegiance to the Australian government to Advance Australia Fair.
In fact, post-GE research has shown that it is the poor (1-3 room flats), less educated (PSLE and below) that voted most for PAP. It is also shown that these groups of people are most likely to view opposition as non-credible. Instead, it is the more affluent groups of people that are more likely to vote opposition, despite having survived and benefited from the system. I guess if these "voiceless poor" don't want to, no one can save them from themselves.
DeleteIt is a funny instinct that you cannot let go. Even we have settled in Australia for decade, what happen back home still bother us.
ReplyDeleteI am Malaysian or kind of ex. Malaysia is worst in its list of scandals and they suddenly not treating any of their citizen with Chibese descent nice. I still have vast majority of friends and relatives in Malaysia. Some of them can leave but others just not qualified. I also have a large numbers of classmates who settled happily in Singapore.
Nowadays people can live where they want and they world is globalised. I guess it is time to let go. Less critical to them, respect those who are staying and count the blessing in a country who accepted us.
Happy weekend.
It is a funny instinct that you cannot let go. Even we have settled in Australia for decade, what happen back home still bother us.
ReplyDeleteI am Malaysian or kind of ex. Malaysia is worst in its list of scandals and they suddenly not treating any of their citizen with Chibese descent nice. I still have vast majority of friends and relatives in Malaysia. Some of them can leave but others just not qualified. I also have a large numbers of classmates who settled happily in Singapore.
Nowadays people can live where they want and they world is globalised. I guess it is time to let go. Less critical to them, respect those who are staying and count the blessing in a country who accepted us.
Happy weekend.
Nix could have painted Oz as a picture perfect place without problems instead of his open whinging about work and house prices.
ReplyDeleteCertainly there is more than a few times when he advises people who is thinking about migrating to Oz to balik kampung when their mindset is simply not right.
While not exactly evangelical about it, Nix would be like a person who have seen the light and wanted to share some personal snippets of his journey, which is not without problems, unlike some fake examples dreamt up by migration agents
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI read this post on the night before 11 Sept. I wanted to reply but I procrastinated and ponder upon my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of GE 2011, I also felt that it was our last best chance. My GF still naively bet with me that the Opposition will win more seats in 2015. I was worried that WP might lose the GRC and they came pretty close to losing it.
But at the end of it, I have epiphany. Maybe PAP ain't that bad. Maybe the 70% is right. Maybe I am the problem that does not fit well in this society.
Now I just have one regret. I didn't actively seek migration back in 2011.