This is the speech delivered by Ariffin Sha at the Hong Lim Park Protest today. #ReturnOurCPF - Medishield Life
Good Evening Hong Lim Park!
You know, some people said that since our old National Stadium was demolished, the Kallang Roar died. I think the Kallang Roar didn’t die, I think it just found it’s way to Hong Lim Park!
I’m Ariffin, it’s truly an honour to speak to all of you revolutionaries.
Today, lets be honest ourselves. How many of us here used to be supporters of the PAP before? I was once too. But times have changed haven’t they? Lim Chin Siong, Dr Goh Keng See, Toh Chin Chye, S Rajaratnam, Devan Nair and Ong Teng Cheong, these were PAP Leaders who truly served the people. These were people who put the interests of Singaporeans before their own. These were people whom the people respected, not feared. These were the visionary leaders who built our nation. They are the true fathers of our nation. We truly miss like them.
The PAP today is a stark contrast of what it was back in the day. That’s why when people say ask why are you against the PAP when they have done so much for us? I always say, that was the PAP of the past, not what it is now.
Roy and I were in Parliament on Monday, and we witnessed a very dissapointing incident. The Speaker of Parliament, Halimah Yaccob suggested that Parliament take a break and resume at 5.10pm. But when it was 5.10pm, there were less than 22 MPs in Parliament and the Radiation Bill was about to be passed. And it took an NMP Eugene Tan to call for a quorum to pass the bill. Then the bell rang again, and our Ministers slowly strolled back in with no sense of urgency. Most of the MPs that were late were Cabinet Ministers, which included our own Prime Minister too! So much for leading by example eh? Halimah Yaccob should give these people a piece of her mind, but of course she won’t dare go against her party, even if it is the right thing to do. If Eugene Tan had not called for the quorum, would Parliament have passed the bill unconstitutionally? They are not even there when an important bill like the radiation bill is being passed. And it only makes we wonder how many bills have been unconstitutionally passed in the past? Forget about them representing our voices in Parliament, they can’t even fulfill their most basic duties. Not to mention a certain MP in Tanjong Pagar who never shows up in Parliament and MPS but still draws the salary of an MP. You have betrayed the people’s trust. We pay them such high salaries and this is what they give us in return.. Hong Lim Park, don’t you think that this is a sick joke?
Indeed, and that isn’t the end of their sick jokes.
I believe most of us here take public transport, and you too would be aware of the recent fare hike in April. But even after the fares were raised I don’t see an improvement. Breakdowns and Disruptions are almost becoming a norm, in fact there was even a disruption on April 6 itself, the day fare hikes kicked in. Does anyone want to guess how many times there was disruptions in the Train services this year? 41 (as of tue) This means that we have one breakdown every 5 days! And guess what our Tuck Yew said? On Monday, he said that there should be regular fare hikes to make sure the our transport systems are sustainable. And yesterday we had another fare hike from SBS. Even with the rising number of breakdowns, they still talk about raising fares, decorating cabins and even inviting buskers to perform! Do you think we are stupid?!
To top it off, last evening Lee Hsien Loong filed for a summary judgement against Roy. To cut the long story short, this means that Lee Hsien Loong is making Roy pay damages without going to trial as he says Roy has no case. Even Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong were willing to go into court and get cross-examined before claiming damages, but you want a summary judgement? This is cowardly behaviour. PAP, you may not give Roy a fair trial but we the people have given you countless trials. PAP, your summary judgment will come in 2016!
Fellow Singaporeans, let me ask you some questions,
Are you sick and tired of living in fear and oppression?
Do you want to reclaim what’s rightfully yours?
Are you ready to rise up and fight for your rights?
Can we show the Government the Power of the People?
PAP, Do you hear the people sing?
Not long ago, our beloved Prime Minister said that “The Ministers are the servants, and we the people are their masters.” Our PM is probably the only servant in the world who sues his own masters. I think it’s time we remind them who the real bosses are.
We have the greatest power of all, the power of the people. We pay them their salaries, we vote them into power, and we can also vote them out of power. Vote without fear, vote for change.
You see, political parties and politicians come and go. But what remains constant is the people. We pass on our values and beliefs from one generation to another, this is why even amongst some youth in singapore there is still a climate of fear. Here’s what I say, whenever you find yourself being stopped because of fear, do not ask yourself what will happen if I speak up or fight for my rights. Instead, ask what would happen if I don’t speak up? What would happen if things don’t change?
We as a population cannot afford to be fearful and apathetic anymore. And the best way to combat this fear and apathy is through self education. Stop letting that expert on Channel News Asia or that editor from the strait times tell you what to think. do your own research from multiple sources of information, stimulate your mind, think for yourself and form your own opinions! Don’t give in to fear-mongering or subscribe to propaganda anymore. It’s time to Wake, Up Singapore!
And this time, no GST Vouchers, no handouts, no crocodile tears and no sorrys will do the trick, we the people have already been bitten once. We aren’t the same Singaporeans who once lived under an iron fist, we are a new breed of Singaporeans. We are the dreamers that do. We have learnt to judge our MPs not by their words, but by their actions. You can fool some people sometimes, but you can’t fool all the people all the time.
We the people are the real checks and balances to whoever gets into power, we are their ticket to parliament. without us, they won’t be in parliament but without them, we can still be here. They need us, but we don’t need them. Parliament is only 99 people, but we the people are 3.2 million strong. So don’t ever think you’re too small to make a difference, my friends. The power of the people is real and great. There is no PM, Government or military stronger than the power of the people. Power to the People!
Don’t wait until elections time, start now. Start educating yourself, and educating the ones around you too. You’ll be surprised how much people don’t know. Talk, Share, Retweet, do whatever you can. This is not something that only activists and politicians can do, Everyone of us has a part to play in this mass political awakening. Think about what we want to tell our grandchildren. Do you want to be remembered fighting for Singaporean’s future or for making comments on Facebook?
Take a look at Hong Kong, half a million people led by student activists marching down the streets to demand democracy. It’s possible, my friends.
To the youth of Singapore, don’t get too distracted by materialism and be deceived by Propaganda. Question Everything, don’t believe everything that your Social Studies textbooks tell you. Don’t let others tell you what to think. You, just like me, may not be able to vote, but how your friends and family vote will affect you.We may be too young to vote but we’re never too young to make a difference. It’s time to rise and take responsibility for our future, we are the future of Singapore. A nation of awakened and unafraid youth is our Government’s worst nightmare.
Stop believing in authority so much and start believing in each other. look to your left, right front and back, these people are your brothers and sisters, they may not be related to you by blood, but we are all united by our fighting spirit. within each and everyone of us there is a the resilience of Chia Thye Poh, the fire of Lim Chin Siong and the fearlessness of JBJ. Let’s stand up for Singapore.
Don’t let them divide us through race, religion, politics and minor issues, the moment we are divided and fight amongst ourselves, they have won. Our real enemies are not the IBs, the gays, Muslims or Christians, let us not forget that who our real enemies. let us not fight amongst ourselves but let us fight our common enemy don’t let them divide and conquer us. in this fight there are no chinese, malays, indians or eurasians, there are only Singaporeans. Let us stay united as singaporeans, just like how all of us here stand united in Hong Lim Park today. If we hold on to this unity, there is no force in this world that can take it away from us.
This battle is a marathon, not a 100m sprint, my friends. As Socrates said, the secret to change is not fighting the old, but building the new. Today will be the day where we begin organizing ourselves and raising our voices against our condition, at hong lim park, among the singaporeans. Today is a beginning that must witness our unity, a beginning of a new era of proactivity and chasing after our rights, a beginning of a dream, that we each have a voice and opinion, let us not inflate our optimism, not everything we seek will happen in 2016, it will certainly not be the last day of greed and tyranny, but if we join forces and act as one, it will be the beginning of the end.
It will be end of silence, acceptance and submission to all that is happening in this country. we will let our government know that we have taken interest in one another’s problems and that we shall reclaim our rights and will not be silent anymore. All empires will eventually end, all dictators will eventually die. Even the darkest nights will end and the sun will rise. Don’t be afraid, brothers and sisters, change is on the horizon.
Victory will be ours because we have no hidden agendas, because we do not understand politics, compromises, negotiations and cheap tricks. victory will be ours because our tears are heartfelt, because our dreams are legitimate, because hope has now established a stronghold inside of us, victory will be ours because we prefer to die an honorable death than live without dignity, victory will be ours because singapore comes first and rises above all.
The fight ahead may be long and hard, but this fight won’t be over until we win.
Truth, Freedom and Justice will Prevail!
(Victory is Ours) - Tamil
(Kita Mahu Kebebasan) - Malay
Tuan Jie Jiu Shi Li Liang - Chinese
MAJULAH SINGAPURA
Ariffin Sha