The People of Hougang stand firm!

[Civic2000]

http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/2012/05/...stand-firm.html

 

 

Despite the attempts at character assassination. ...despite the estate upgrading carrots....despite the biased mainstream paper coverage....despite sending in the PAP big guns, the PM & DPM, to campaign for their candidate...the people of Hougang did not waver.

 

In 1991 the Hougang people decided to vote for an opposition representative and they knew something the rest of Singapore did not know, they saw something the rest of us could not see. 21 years ago, before the Internet was widely used, before bloggers and the social media existed to pierce holes in our blindfolds so that we could see through the propaganda, the people in this small section of Singapore already saw a different vision from the rest of us. When you see this vision and start walking towards it, you will not be distracted by the little potholes, the little dirty tricks played by unethical politicians, their seductive promises and material temptations. For 21 years, the people of Hougang have walked this long journey despite having to suffer deprivation and threats.

 

This long journey is a journey towards a democratic Singapore. Without democracy, there will be no future for our children for we will not be able to shape our own destiny. This is a journey away from our dark authoritarian past towards a vibrant democratic future. The PAP has tried to gain their support by using pork barrels, propaganda, and threats...but these are precisely the undemocratic things the Hougang people are walking away from - the more the PAP uses them to get their votes, the further the Hougang people will walk away from the PAP.

 

Once a people know what they are doing is right and just, there is nothing you can do to force them off their path.

 

On Thursday, I went to the Hougang rally and climbed up one of the blocks next to where the rally was held to snap this picture.

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S8-qCeDWKbE/T8FS...oto+%282%29.JPG

 

As I climbed up the block, I noticed that it was very clean. I also noticed that most people staying in the block had left their wooden doors open, to let they air in, were relaxed at home with their families watching TV. The tens of thousands of people who have gathered the open field in Hougang were from other parts of Singapore not Hougang. See... the people of Hougang don't have to go down to the open field to hear the messages and be convinced to do the right thing - they already know which road to walk and what path they are taking so they gave the standing space at the rally to their fellow Singaporeans. Singaporeans came looking for inspiration in Hougang to bring it back to their own corner of Singapore.

 

Today we have a govt that does not listen to the people. Does not act in the interest of ordinary citizens. It does what it wants then uses propaganda and pork barrel carrots to make us vote for them. They use their authoritarian powers to suppress their opponents and character assassination as a tactic to bring down their opponents. As they do this, we can see how much our fellow Singaporeans have suffered - the elderly who are made to work at an advanced age, the large segment of workers with low stagnant wages, the high burden put the sick and their families. We look around and see our beloved country losing its identity and changing in ways we do not want it to change. We see little progress in our political system as other countries in Asia such as S.Korea, Thailand, Taiwan transform theirs to be free and fully democratic moving away from old authoritarian ways.

 

I sense many people were worried when "Yaw-gate" broke and the frivolous Png-gate was created and played up that many people in Hougang would waver and succumb to the upgrading promises Desmond Choo dangled before them. After observing them for 21 years, I was confident they would stand firm so I last Tuesday I wrote " <http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/2012/05/you-dont-have-to-tell-hougang-how-to.html> You don't have to tell Hougang how to vote" . The people of Hougang can already see with great clarity where the PAP govt will take this country unless real change takes place. The PAP govt has demonstrated time and again that there will be no change if the people are seduced by estate upgrading and do not vote against them.

 

Once you see the same vision as the people of Hougang, you will have their revolve to take right path and not waver. 21 years ago, Hougang was just small SMC, a little dot on the map of Singapore but the people there knew that this long journey starts with each one of us taking a tiny step in the right direction...and if we work together these tiny steps will eventually add up to be a leap forward. There are many who will distract us, discourage us, misinform us, threaten us and lure us away from our path with tricks ...when that happens, ask yourself what would happened if the Hougang people had yielded to these tricks and carrots yesterday - our nation would have been taken backwards and the small progress we made since GE2011 would have been undone as the PAP will interpret an Hougang victory as an endorsement of their policies and stop the already slow trickle of changes to improve the lives of ordinary Singaporeans. The rest of us have a lot to learn from Hougang to put our country's interest above our own local interest and understand there are more important things than facilities on our estate. By voting for the opposition, the people forego the wet market and other facilities that the PAP dangled in front of them ....they have to travel to Kovan to do their marketing, But no change can come without sacrifice if they had succumbed to the divisive pork barel tactics of the PAP, it will be a great loss not just for Worker's Party but for Singapore. Each political party and MP should be elected on how their ideas and policies will benefit Singapore and Singaporeans ..and not how much money they can redirect from national coffers to use as carrots to obtain votes, That the PAP continues to use such tactics that divide and harm the country tell us they have not changed fundamentally. The people of Hougang inspire all of us to fight against this and do what is good for our country.

 

A friend of mine sent this to me. May be some of us here may have already read the above article.

 

I must say :

 

后 港 人 有 种

后 港 人 有 骨 气

正 所 谓 威 武 不 能 屈.

 

[Ladykillerz]

respect their integrity.

[LoverofCar]

I also do what Hougang people do but my GRC people no balls.....what can I do?

[Vid]

I also do what Hougang people do but my GRC people no balls.....what can I do?

 

Not just your GRC. Many people in other GRC also no balls

[Damienic]

Not just your GRC. Many people in other GRC also no balls

 

Its actually quite scary how the people living in the west love pap. PAP's votes in the west area have never drop below 65%, saved perhaps for CCK occasionally dipping to 60% and couple of odd occasions where Bukit Gombak once fell to opposition.

 

In the east and north east, the people living there are far more receptive to opposition..

Edited May 29, 2012 by Damienic

[GSwhite]

I did the same, my GRC also no balls..haiz Hope that someday we will see our country's biggest political joke. 52% vote to oppo, 48% vote to ruling party..BUT ruling party still retain more that 70% of parliament seats... I will see how the msm is going to write it out.. with the world watching, is it possible with their invention of GRC system.

[Felipe]

Its actually quite scary how the people living in the west love pap. PAP's votes in the west area have never drop below 65%, saved perhaps for CCK occasionally dipping to 60% and couple of odd occasions where Bukit Gombak once fell to opposition.

 

In the east and north east, the people living there are far more receptive to opposition..

 

i think more tiongs live in the east, tats y!

 

 

[Toothiewabbit]

Not just your GRC. Many people in other GRC also no balls

For my GRC, think its just not a matter of no balls. The challenger team not that good enuf for us to show our balls leh.

[Tigerwoods]

Its actually quite scary how the people living in the west love pap. PAP's votes in the west area have never drop below 65%, saved perhaps for CCK occasionally dipping to 60% and couple of odd occasions where Bukit Gombak once fell to opposition.

 

In the east and north east, the people living there are far more receptive to opposition..

Frankly all the GRCs under ruling party have lifts that stop at every floor, nice sheltered walkways, and nice surroundings.

What else do you need? So vote alternative parties and push towards a more democratic society.

I find everything the ruling party represents = money money money.

oh how I wish the old guards are still alive. They are the truly the bestest.

If we are to pay them mirrions, I'd say they are worth every penny.

The people in the west cannot be blamed as the alternative parties are not strong there.

healing a wound starts from Hougang then slowly heal to Aljunied then East coast, and slowly to the west.

imagine you have THE 3 top guns going HG plus some MPs and ministers. Only increase 2.7%

they could have gotten 39.9% but dampen by DPM ring tone.

[Damienic]

Frankly all the GRCs under ruling party have lifts that stop at every floor, nice sheltered walkways, and nice surroundings.

What else do you need? So vote alternative parties and push towards a more democratic society.

I find everything the ruling party represents = money money money.

oh how I wish the old guards are still alive. They are the truly the bestest.

If we are to pay them mirrions, I'd say they are worth every penny.

The people in the west cannot be blamed as the alternative parties are not strong there.healing a wound starts from Hougang then slowly heal to Aljunied then East coast, and slowly to the west.

imagine you have THE 3 top guns going HG plus some MPs and ministers. Only increase 2.7%

they could have gotten 39.9% but dampen by DPM ring tone.

 

actually the reverse is also true. the reason why many credible opposition did not want to go to the west is that the people living in the west are not receptive to opposition. this is historically true. even during the 80s, with anson the only exception, the votes are pap is alarmingly high in west compared to the east and north east. its not true that a more credible party like WP have stayed completely away from the west. They have ever contested in West Coast GRC and Bukit Timah SMC and suffered crushing defeat there. and everytime they contest in east and north east areas like Eunos in 1991 and Cheng San in 1997, they get good results. hence after sometime, they decide to concentrate in the east and develop their base there.

 

during the PE election, if you follow results of the different voting precints, you would have also noticed that Tan Jee Say's votes are particularly high in the east then the west areas. this is evident that the people living in the east and north east is far more receptive to opposition than the west do

Edited May 29, 2012 by Damienic

[Watwheels]

Aiya. What do you expect from politics? Play nice and shake hands?

[Damienic]

i think more tiongs live in the east, tats y!

 

actually not true you know. I know Jurong West is occupied by lots of PRCs and PAP enjoyed very high level of support there.

[Damienic]

For my GRC, think its just not a matter of no balls. The challenger team not that good enuf for us to show our balls leh.

 

which GRC are you from? west coast grc?

 

I can assure you that even if WP were to contest in the west, the % of their votes is likely to increase up to 40% max at most. to quote another example, the rather weak challenger team SDA contesting in Pasir Ris Punggol GRC also can get almost 37% votes. In west coast grc, the RP team led by Kenneth Jeyaratnam only garner about 32%. I don't see how good the SDA team is compared to RP.

[Darthrevan]

Its actually quite scary how the people living in the west love pap. PAP's votes in the west area have never drop below 65%, saved perhaps for CCK occasionally dipping to 60% and couple of odd occasions where Bukit Gombak once fell to opposition.

 

In the east and north east, the people living there are far more receptive to opposition..

 

this video tells u more..in a nutshell the poor support PAP more!

 

http://www.razor.tv/site/servlet/segment/m...news/77088.html

[Toothiewabbit]

which GRC are you from? west coast grc?

 

I can assure you that even if WP were to contest in the west, the % of their votes is likely to increase up to 40% max at most. to quote another example, the rather weak challenger team SDA contesting in Pasir Ris Punggol GRC also can get almost 37% votes. In west coast grc, the RP team led by Kenneth Jeyaratnam only garner about 32%. I don't see how good the SDA team is compared to RP.

From Pasir Ris-Punggol. Dunno how WP or if they did work the ground at East Coast or Moulmein-Kallang GRC but I certainly have not seen or know any of SDA team prior to the last GE. We may be pissed at the ruling party but we ain't gonna leave our brains at the door and vote blindly.

Edited May 29, 2012 by Toothiewabbit

[Poper]

Btw, did any brothers receive PAP/grass root brochure at your door that your MP will be doing door-to-door visit soon?

 

I'm aware that Tampines and Telok Blangah people receive it this/last week (after HG election I believe).

 

Is it PAP's desperate attempt to work the ground more?

[Damienic]

From Pasir Ris-Punggol. Dunno how WP or if they did work the ground at East Coast or Moulmein-Kallang GRC but I certainly have not seen or know any of SDA team prior to the last GE. We may be pissed at the ruling party but we ain't leave our brains at the door and vote blindly.

 

WP did work the ground at East Coast. Moulmein Kallang GRC is a new GRC comprising parts from former Jalan Besar GRC. Still, they did a decent 42% at Moulmein Kallang despite having been first time there for certain sections of the population in that ward.

 

Err...from what I know SDA already contested in Pasir Ris Punggol prior to 2011. Its just that the team ain't going anywhere under the leadership of Desmond Lim after Chiam's SPP left the alliance. But, I think their votes is considered quite high at alm 37% for the quality they put up. Which is why my observation that people in the east/north east are more receptive to opposition. The NSP put up a relatively weak slate (although better than SDA) in Tampines and garnered about 43% of the votes.

Edited May 29, 2012 by Damienic

[Damienic]

Btw, did any brothers receive PAP/grass root brochure at your door that your MP will be doing door-to-door visit soon?

 

I'm aware that Tampines and Telok Blangah people receive it this/last week (after HG election I believe).

 

Is it PAP's desperate attempt to work the ground more?

 

I didn't receive any. I am in the GRC which is thought to be the most untouchable in whole of SG for opp although the particular MP in the ward I'm staying in is very good.

 

PAP is starting to feel the heat and will work the ground more I believe from now till 2016. In the past, they seldom conduct such door to door visit when there is no elections. From what I know, Baey Yam Keng also conducted such visits recently in Tampines.