Hundreds of students from Sembawang Primary
School were FORCED to stand in the rain for hours to
welcome the YOG torch rally during its island-wide procession on
11 August 2010.
A netizen who was driving back home managed to capture this
shocking scene along Sembawang Crescent at
around 5.10pm:
[Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_mDji0Sa9o]
As we can see from the above snapshots, it was still drizzling
and some of the students were in raincoats while the teachers tried
to shelter them with umbrellas.
According to one teacher we spoke to on the condition of
anonymity, they were asked to bring the students out as early as
3.30pm and were made to stand in the rain for almost two hours
to ”cheer” for the YOG torch rally.
“What to do? The instructions come from the top. We have
to welcome the YOG procession even if there are thunderstorms. I
just hope that my students won’t fall ill from standing in the rain
for so long,” she said in exasperation.
The school did not seek consent from the parents for allowing
their children to stand in the rain to welcome the YOG torch, many
of whom are probably still unaware of what happened.
Besides Sembawang Primary School, students from Compassvale
Primary School were also forced to stand for hours under the hot
sun to cheer for the YOG torch with a few students falling sick the
very next day.
Despite the massive resources poured in by the PAP regime to
promote the YOG, the response from Singaporeans has been lukewarm
so far.
Short of “inspiring” young Singaporeans as proclaimed
proudly by one of its purported objectives, the YOG has
managed to peeve many people off especially after the stunning
revelation that Singapore YOG volunteers are being fed “DOG” food
by the organizers.
Is this what the “Olympic spirit” is about, Mr Jacques
Rogges, Chairman of the International Olympic
Committee?
By forcing unwilling students to provide “free labor” for ten
hours or more without rest sometimes under the sun and being fed
“DOG” food for their efforts?
Is it reasonable and fair to make our innocent primary school
kids to stand in the rain for hours to “cheer” for the YOG torch
procession just to save the blushes of the PAP regime? What if they
catch a cold and have to miss school as a result? Who will pay
for their medical expenses?
Shouldn’t the cheering be spontaneous from passer-bys rather
than orchestrated by the organizers themselves?
While the chorus of unhappiness, frustration and anger at the
YOG from the ground continue to grow louder with each passing day,
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan is fast running out of excuses to justify
his $389 million dollar investment, or rather misadventure.
Source: Temasek Review
