God Bless You Mr Chiam!

On Sunday, the last day of April 2006, I decided to visit the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) rally to find out what Yip Yew Weng (Yio Chu Kang, single seat) had to say.

I have only been to one rally before, in the previous general election. That day, many years ago, it also rained. So I learnt my lesson. I would wear slippers.

Muddy soggy grass, but people still turned up. Luckily, there was no rain, not even a drizzle.

The SDA did not raise many new issues – most were pertaining to bread and butter issues – the cost of living, medical expenses and upgrading.

Theoretically, all this made sense. However, it was only amongst the people that I go a sense of what this really meant. It wasn’t so much what people said, but it was just a sense from their cheers or jeers.

The local papers, The Straits Times frequently publicises upgrading that happens in PAP wards. But one never hears of any of these activities taking place in the opposition wards. So it was good to learn that in Potong Pasir, residents had their lifts upgraded without the residents having to co-pay at all.

Currently, all upgrading programmes run by the PAP require residents to co-pay some amount. Chiam See Tong, current MP for Potong Pasir, then informed the rally attendees that it is now by law that residents are required to co-pay for their upgrading programmes. Again, any upper hand that the opposition can get, the PAP cuts off.

From the press coverage of Chiam See Tong this year, I felt there was a good chance that he might lose this election. But if he has managed to upgrade Potong Pasir and his efforts are well known amongst residents there, then maybe, just maybe Chiam will be able to win his 6th term at Potong Pasir. In the previous General Elections, he only won by 571 votes.

But I worry about Chiam and his SPP (part of the SDA). He is already 71 and who is he grooming to take over as MP of Potong Pasir once he goes?

Steve Chia, who is from the NSP, in all his gung-ho-ness asked the people if they preferred to hear him speak in Mandarin or Teochew. Most asked for Teochew.

But midway, Steven switched to Mandarin. The guy standing in front of me observed this. Then later, when Steven wanted to make a point, he struggled to express himself in Mandarin, couldn’t, and switched to English. The guy in front of said, “Aiyah, cannot lah” in Teochew.

His disappointment in Steve’s inability to speak in Teochew was palpable. I hadn’t realised just how important this was.

I looked to my left to look at a Malay lady, who had been standing there for the longest time. There was only one candidate that night who spoke in Malay. Yet, she stood there as the Chinese candidates spoke in Chinese and Teochew without grumbling. How frustrating it must be for those who are Malay or Indian. At least, for the Chinese man, even if Steve Chia didn’t speak in Teochew and went on to Mandarin, he would still be able to understand Chia.

Yip Yew Weng turned out to sound better than I thought he would. He’s new to Yio Chu Kang and has only worked the ground for 50 days there. Still, he was convinced that he knew the needs of people of Yio Chu Kang because he’s been on many walkabouts. He even managed to find an Indian man, who, due to financial difficulties, had sold off everything in his house, except his table, chair and bed. How come the current MP did not know about him?

Overall, I didn’t think it was a particularly good turn out for the Opposition Rally. And as the MC was ending off the rally, people already started moving off. Still, there were ardent supporters, including a lady, who always gave a thumbs up to any candidate of the SDA, and yelled “God Bless You Mr Chiam!” To which Chiam replied, “Thank you”.

What a civilised and nice rally. One wondered what all those cops hanging around were there for.

Images of the rally are here.