In this General Election, I may appear to some people as a kind
of political whore. My best friend, Zai Kuning, and I were running
all over the island to attend the nominations and rallies. We have
not stopped thinking about Singapore (some of you may dismiss it as
"politics") since the nomination day, even in our sleeps, and I
know that we are not alone. I have many friends who are doing the
same, and those who don't run around like a getai star are always
faithfully at the computer feeding us up-to-date information like
the statellite (you know who you are 
).
It is as if the elections have consumed our lives, but I would like
to see it that we are all woken up, and realised that if we do not
actively participate and claim our narratives, there is no doubt
that the ruling party will literally consume all of us.
I have been planning to write a piece on the six reasons why I
cannot allow PAP to hold absolute power in parliament, but after
attending tonight's rally at Potong Pasir, I can't help myself but
to write about how Mr. Chiam See Tong have touched and enlightened
me.
I attended two rallies prior to this: SDP and WP rally at
commonwealth and serangoon respectively. I was very impressed by
the "Winning-11" team that the SDP has garnered as each of them
respresented to me a distinct and genuine interest in the
"software" (to quote Dr.Ang) of the society - teacher, social
worker, ex-political detainee, psychiatrist... I am convinced that
they will take care of the less priviledged in the society, and
they have promised to give half their allowance to the needy in the
community if they were to be elected. Over at WP rally, although I
was not particularly impressed by what the candidates had said, the
number of people who were there to listen was intoxicating and
certainly, WP will be a great catalyst for change in the
parliament.
However, after two rallies, I felt I had a bit enough of the PAP
bashing. The attack of the lack of accountability and problems of
PAP is of course, very relevant and necessary (I am still going
around with "vote opposition" statements pasted on my back) but
personally I think I am clear enough about the atrocities of the
ruling party: What PAP propagates is basically a selfish,
self-preserving culture. All the bad policies and tactics they have
devised is a result of this warped immoral thinking, and
definitely, it is poisoning the society inside out. I had enough of
it, yes, I am fed up! And so I really wanted to know what are the
dreams of the opposition parties. I wanted to know how they think
about human life. I wanted to know how they can lead Singaporeans
to feel beautiful again. Is there someone who can wake up the
sleeping flowers in our hearts?
I found the answer in Mr. Chiam See Tong today at SPP rally.
Mr.Chiam began his speech with the question of why he decided to
leave Potong Pasir and contest in Bishan-Toa Payoh. He answered,
"for the promotion of democracy. There can never be democracy if
there is no opposition in the parliament." There isn't a fancy
slogan like first-world parliament, which at times really makes one
wonder what it means. Mr.Chiam's fight is for democracy, and he
will never retire with a peaceful mind if he does not see this
happening in Singapore. This is the reason why he has to break a
GRC, the dirtiest divide-and-rule tactic the ruling party has
devised since JBJ won a seat in Anson.
Do I doubt Mr.Chiam's fight? There is very little room for doubt
when you see him in person: frail in physique, strong as steel in
the mind, and gentle as a whispering father in his speech. There is
almost no room for doubt when you think about how he and Mrs.Chiam
have suffered under the government's brutality (he still doesn't
have his own office) trying to serve the residents in Potong Pasir
the best that they can. And there is absolutely no room for doubt
when you continue listening till the end of his speech, because he
values every individual as a human being capable of living her or
her life to the fullest, and is not just a pawn or a
statistics.
I will describe to you my memory of the conclusion of his speech,
which took place after quite a long pause. I imagined that his team
was worried it would be too tiring for him to continue, but he
insisted to carry on.
Like a grandfather telling a story to his grandchildren, Mr.Chiam
told us how Lee Kuan Yew first assessed this man called Chiam See
Tong. LKY looked at his O level certificate. (laughter from the
crowd)
"He counted very carefully. 1. 2. 3...5. Only 5 O levels?" (another
round of laughter)
"How many of you have 5 O level?"
My best friend shouted "I don't have any!" as several in the crowd
raised their hands.
Mr.Chiam smiled in his heart (I could feel) and replied,
"Then you and I are the same. And I have become a lawyer
now."
At this point, the crowd cheered so loudly that a friend who was
sleeping on the other side of the estate was woken up by the
uproar. After a round of hearty laughter, the crowd fell silent as
Mr.Chiam continued speaking (he apologised in the beginning that we
have to be very quiet because he couldn't speak loudly). He told us
that it is o.k if we are not as smart as the others, and it is o.k
if we do not seem as successful as the others. Some of us maybe
late bloomers, but all of us have the potential to be better
people, as long as we stay true to ourselves and keep trying.
"When there is life there is hope, when there is hope,
there will be change."
I will always remember how effortlessly he had delivered that line
and how many people were moved to tears while listening to him
speak. Besides the immediate reference that despite two strokes,
Mr.Chiam continue his fight for change in Singapore, I believe that
these tears are also the most heartfelt human emotions that can
only be brought out by the encouragement of a most loving
father.
It is okay. It is okay.
You have not failed.
I have not failed.
We have not failed.
Just keep trying, my child,
together, let's keep trying.
With each living breath,
We can be better.
We will be better.
Thank you Mr. Chiam See Tong. I was in such a despair after reading
and witnessing so much atrocities and brutality that the ruling
party and Lee Kuan Yew have done to gentle people like you, Dr.
Vincent Cheng, Ms Teo Suh Lung, Dr. Lim Hock Siew and many more
people who have been forever silenced in the PAP version of
history. I was in such a despair thinking how Singaporeans will
disappear with the influx of yet another 1 million foreigners. I
was in such a despair thinking how our children will have to grow
up in this self-perserving culture that propagates bottomless fear
and arrogance thinking about nothing but Money. But tonight, you
have shown me, shown all Singaporeans, the light. And I am not
angry and upset anymore.
Singaporeans. This election has nothing to do with GRCs. It is time
to stop all these ongoing, useless debates and arguments that the
ruling party wants to confuse you with. It is time to stop all the
hype about Tin Pei Ling Vs Nicole Seah, Worker's Party conspiracy,
Mas Selamat, upgrading lifts, grow and share etc.
This election is, with no doubt, about the past, the present, and
the future of Singapore.
It is about how PAP has completely crippled our rights to claim the
power of our narratives as a living community and worthy
individuals. It is about how they do whatever they want without a
single question asked or answered. It is about how we, the citizens
of Singapore, want the stories of our forefathers and mothers to be
remembered and told; It is about how we, the citizens of Singapore,
want to write our story from now; It is about how our children, the
future citizens of Singapore, can be the writers of their stories
without fear.
Ultimately, it is about trying to achieve democracy and equality in
Singapore, as long as we have one more living breath.
Singaporeans.
Singapore is not PAP.
I love Singapore very much, but not the PAP.
Please, please don't let them bully and silent us anymore.
Lin Shiyun
