First and foremost, a big shout out & big thank you to all volunteers & people who attended.
1. Numbers:
From online sentiments, various blogs & socio-political site, I had already predicted that it will break previous record of 4000+ & 5000+ set by the first two protests against the 6.9 mil Population White Paper (PWP). Indirectly & ironically due to PM Lee's PR disaster for sueing Roy Ngnerg.
Ms Han Hui Hui (organiser & speaker) estimated & announced 6000+ & Yahoo SG News has since confirmed this.
While I am glad at this strong show of support, I am reminded that Pink Dot 2013 at the same venue had over 21000 'protesters' or supporters! With better viral marketing (word of mouth) & branding, these protests will hit new attendance records. I am of the view that the figures does matter alot. I think ignorance & apathy breeds votes for PAP. I saw members of SDP, NSP, RP, mostly attending in their personal capacity, which is a great sign. (nation before party)
Interesting to note that at 5pm, SMRT staff were putting up barriers to prevent protesters from blocking the station entrance & escalators at exit A of Clarke Quay MRT station.
2. Anonymity, privacy & reactions of protesters
At first, I had brought a surgical mask to cover my mouth to hide my attendance but when I arrived, I did not put it on. I walked towards the booth to see how can I help. A lady was appealing for volunteers to walk around with the organisers placards. I agreed & even asked for 2 placards. The lady gave me a T-shirt to show her appreciation. I walked in slow speed to just about every available space I can find, with both arms up in the air.
The placards read ''Papa And Anak Party....'' (father & son party) and ''Party Against People, Robbing a Nation to Feed a FamiLEE''
As expected, a person holding up protests placards sends a stronger message compared to the placards placed on trees, ground etc. I lost count how many requests I got to slow down, stop and allow photo-ops.
Met a few perfect strangers during & after protest:
What surprised me was ordinary Singaporeans taking pics with me plus the placard! A joker also assured me ''Dont worry bro, I wont take pic of your face.'' to which I replied ''Nevermind lah, just take lah. But dont just take pic, must upload on Facebook & share with the world to see the messages!''
An uncle also mistook me for Roy and seem to want to give me a $100 note or more! When I told him I am not Roy, he was 'paiseh' and asked me to pass the cash to Roy; but eventally I referred him to Roy.
A man shared with me post-protest that it was his first time at a protest. Better late than never! :)
Another man asked me if I was afraid of getting sued, to which I replied ''the law minister already said u can call PAP MP idiots but not corrupted.'' (I had my own placard & I called PM Pinky an idiot)
I received well wishes such as ''Thank you! Good job! F**k the PAP!'' as I walked around with the placards.
A random uncle also told me he wanted to sponsor audio systems, speakers etc for the follow-up ''Return Our CPF ''protest on 12th July 2014. I quickly linked him up to speak with Roy Ngerg directly.
3. Learning experience
I am grateful to the organisers (actually there is only 1, Ms Han Hui Hui) for giving me the chance to volunteer at last minute! I have since learnt to bring extra water if it is hot! Critics have said that there were too many protests, to which I disagree. Once a month is the way to go, spreading the word slowly but surely. Peaceful protests is still a weird concept to many docile Singaporeans. I actually find it liberating. I made my placards 10 minutes from leaving my home for Hong Lim Park, using cardboards & a marker.
4. The absence of State Controlled Media?
When Ms Han asked if there were members from the state media, there was no reply & the crowd jeered, shouting words like ''Shit Times!'' On my way to HLP & back by MRT, I guess not many know about the protest, as they were staring at my home-made placards. Information and the control of it is still something the PAP has advantage over the people & opposition.
5. Review & Ending words
9/10 for this protest. Great job, Singapore!
Major improvements from the last 6.9 mil PWP protest I attended and a great precursor to the 'Return Our CPF' protest on 12 July 2014!
PM Lee is still an idiot.
(Elsewhere, it was also Red Cross World Donor Day 2014. Being a regular blood donor/volunteer, I was invited with discounts & coupons to the venue, Sentosa. I sacrificed it for the protest instead. I felt much better after I found out that the guest-of-honor were PAP's Ms Tin Pei Ling & Mr Gan Kim Yong!)
Contrast this review to my disappointment previously from the 3rd PWP protest:
THOUGHTS ON 3RD & WORST POPULATION WHITE PAPER PROTEST!
http://therealsingapore.com/content/thoughts-3rd-worst-population-white-...
Bernard Tan Y.J
TRS Contributor