NUS officials stop Democrats from
distributing flyers
Thursday, 11 September 2008
Chee speaking with University officials Michael Ng (centre) and
Peck Thian Guan (right)
Singapore Democrats
The SDP was prevented from distributing flyers today at NUS. Mr
Michael Ng, Director of the Office of Estate and Development, asked
leaders of the party not to give away flyers to the students.
"We have to protect the interests of our students," the official
said.
"From what?" Dr Chee asked. "Are you running a university or a
kindergarten?"
Another official Dr Peck Thian Guan, Director of the Office of
Safety, Health & Environment, chipped in, "It's not only you
but we don't allow anyone to distribute flyers."
A staff member walking by could not resist taking a dig at the
officers: "Great job, guys. Thanks so much from keeping us safe!"
Messrs Ng and Peck could only smile sheepishly.
Just then several students wanted to take a picture with Dr Chee. A
few asked for autographs.
Turning to Mr Ng, Dr Chee said: "The students don't look like they
want your protection."
Several more students came up and started popping questions to the
leaders. Mr Gandhi Ambalam, Mr Francis Yong, Mr John Tan, and Ms
Chee Siok Chin were soon answering students' questions ranging from
the state of the opposition to the media to the reality of the
economy.
"I have been to Japan many times," one first-year Engineering
student said, "and I've never seen seventy- and eighty-year-olds
sweeping the floor and cleaning tables like in Singapore. It's so
sad." He added that the University seems to be mass producing
graduate robots.
Another student from Political Science who had attended the recent
defamation hearing between Lee Kuan Yew and the SDP, told Ms Chee
that there was still much fear among students.
A journalism major indicated that she "will never join the
Straits Times" after she graduated. She probably learned a
thing or two in school that didn't quite square with the nonsense
that was practiced in the state newspaper.
A couple of other students conducted brief interviews with the SDP
leaders for the online university newspaper Campus Observer. From the
repeated line of questions, it was clear that the students seemed
to be sensitive to the fact that most of their college mates were
rather uninformed and apathetic about current affairs. Why is this
so, they asked.
"That's not hard to figure out," Dr Chee explained. "From years of
authoritarian rule where students have been cowed into silence, we
have bred a very unhealthy university culture. The sad part is that
you are being deprived of the type of cutting edge educational
experience that your counterparts in the top universities elsewhere
are getting."
Turning back to officialdom, Dr Chee said that all the SDP wanted
to do was to raise political awareness among the students.
"Why can't you guys see that education is not just about hitting
the books, taking exams and getting that degree," he said. "It's
also about developing one's intellectual and moral character. It's
not just about producing graduates, but also developing
leadership."
Dr Peck said that he too wanted to see students to think beyond
their books. He suggested that the SDP write to the student
associations and ask them to organise events.
"I've been down that road before. The university administration
will say no and then what?" Dr Chee asked.
"Then you come back to me and we'll see what we can work out. You
have my word," Dr Peck assured.
Dr Chee then asked some of the students to take the lead and
organise themselves to raise political and social awareness on
campus. "In the meantime we'll write to some of the student bodies
and see if they will organise an event," he promised.
11 September 2008
Donald Koh
President
National University of Singapore Students' Union
[email protected]
This e-mail address is being protected
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Dear Sir,
My colleagues and I were at NUS today to distribute flyers to raise
awareness among your fellow students about our nation's
politics.
We were, however, told by University officials that such an
exercise was not allowed. They suggested that we write to student
organisations to see if an event could be organised for us to
address and interact with students.
Being the University's students' union, I would like to ask if you
would organise an event for this purpose. From the reaction of the
students today, it seems that there is great interest in what we
have to say.
Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Gandhi Ambalam
Chairman
Singapore Democratic Party
http://www.yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/
