My countrymen have been riled up recently by the "Return our CPF money" campaign, standard bearers on both ends of the spectrum have chimed in to great lengths on why they support/reject the stand of a certain Roy Ngerng and his companions. We have certainly witnessed appalling behaviour from Roy Ngerng & Co, but sadly the government has also been inciting spurious allegations on social platforms; galvanising public approval in the Party's favour. I will abstain from judgement on the issue because it does not fall within my area of expertise to attempt to restructure the pension system but the manner in which I have seen my fellow countrymen behave in the last month has shocked me to my core. I have always thought of Singapore as a modern and developed country with as mature a society to match, however this saga has proven that a great many Singaporeans are either adversely misinformed or downright brainwashed.
Many if not most are simply hopping on the bandwagon to criticise the manner in which the protest of Roy and Ms Han have disrupted the performance of the special needs children at Hong Lim Park. The point of the protest is not the manner in which it was carried out, but to address the concerns of a great and growing number of Singaporeans who feel that the "spectacular" economic boom of the last decade have not benefitted them proportionally when compared with the top income earners of the country. These concerns are being swept aside in favour of concentrating on the "plight" of the special needs children who had their routine interrupted. While I do not agree with their Roy and Han's conduct, the state-influenced media (both traditional and social) have been using weapons of mass distraction to detract from the premise of the "Return our CPF money" campaign; Roy Ngerng being pointed out to be a homosexual (given the Singaporean context it was meant to be shameful, again a manifestation of the intolerance inherent in our society). They are muddling the distinction between the manner in which they (Roy and Han) carry themselves and why they are protesting, insinuating that their point of contention is secondary to the superficial happenings at the protest. I find it disgusting that with such a high level of literacy and education that so many of my countrymen are too stupid to realise this slip and slide tactic that the establishment is engaging in.
Worse I see Singaporeans drawing (incorrect) parallels to the democracy protests in Hong Kong, calling on local protestors to be more responsible and astute. The protests in Hong Kong stem from their desire for self determination and autonomous rule. This is a totally different issue and context that they are engaging in civil disobedience under. Also given that Hong Kong is a Chinese territory, might I remind the commentators in Singapore that think the Hong Kongers are being peaceful because they understand that if it turned violent, Beijing might just institute a Tiananmen version 2.0. Fear of the CCP's response is what is keeping Hong Kongers in line.
However, if those in Hong Kong dare to stand up to a genuine authoritarian regime, then what are we in Singapore doing to fight for our rights and our benefits. No one can dispute that Singaporean society has become more stratified in recent years, no one can dispute the rising income inequality, no one can dispute that the economic growth of the last decade has benefitted the wealthy and uber-wealthy disproportionately more than the poor and the workers. How then can we as Singaporeans stand by as we see the neoliberal policies of the last decade create a new class structure right before our very eyes, one in which your academic proficiency in adolescence determines your station later in life.
When our children ask of most of us what we did to make the nation a better place, I want to respond with pride that we made it a better place for the majority of us. That universal healthcare for ALL was instituted by my generation, even if it made us poorer or taxed the rich (who can well afford it). That workers rights and income levels allow them to live with dignity and pride, not downtrodden and shackled to their 30 year HDB mortgage, unable to aspire to anything more than a 9-5 job. That Singaporeans no matter your station of birth can go on to compete equally for jobs and school placements, irregardless of daddy or mummy's connections. That my generation saw neoliberalism rip a hole in America's society and decided that it was not for us, America you can keep your Enron and your Exxon and your Nike and your Walmart, we have no use for it. Above all, that Singapore is by Singaporeans for Singaporeans and the civil service works to enrich society not presume to be it's elite rulers. We are living in a point in history where nations across the globe are yearning for change and their people are fighting for it, whether it be rights to a better life or self determination, let history not pass us by and leave us in the dust.
"Rights aren't rights if someone can take them away. They're privileges." - George Carlin.
XY
TRS Contributor