By Andrew Loh
It took less than an hour for the Singapore police to stop a protest by about 20 Singaporeans, all dressed in red t-shirts and some holding placards, outside Funan Shopping Centre this afternoon at about 2.50pm.
The protesters were marking World Consumer Rights Day, which is held all over the world. They were protesting the rising cost of living in Singapore.
Those arrested include the Singapore Democratic Party chairman Gandhi Ambalam, SDP secretary general Dr Chee Soon Juan, Chee Siok Chin, John Tan and SG Human Rights activist Chia Ti Lik.
Videos and pictures below.
Read Reuters report: “Singapore arrests opposition members over protest”.
And International Herald Tribune’s “Singapore police round up opposition party members for protest against rising prices”.
*The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) will hold its event tomorrow. Click here and TOC’s earlier article here.
Gandhi Ambalam, Chia Ti Lik, John Tan, Chee Siok Chin and Chee Soon Juan addressing members of the media outside Parliament House:
Video summary of the entire event:
Protesters outside Funan Shopping Centre:
Police arrest protesters:
(Click on pictures below to enlarge.)
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Possibility of a UN Resolution condemning this act. Then sanctions will come. After all that’s the idea of the protest right?
If hundreds gathered outside the police station, i wonder if they got enough space to jail them all…more should come out hor to test our police space planning. Those at the top are paid so well and let see if its value for money.
How come no passerby came to theri aid? No Foreigner reading the UDHR out to the police?
One day on, no statement from the White House or the UN
Police here are a waste of taxpayer money.. please catch real criminals and leave the citizens alone !!!
I notice the group is getting bigger. Last year’s protest involved only a handful. This time round, it’s about 30 people, though only 15 were arrested.
I salute Dr Chee Soon Juan for his courage and perseverance, despite whatever others might have thought of him or his actions.
Previously, I was of the same opinion as some of those who have commented above but now, after reading his books, I begin to understand better why he is doing it this way.
A single drop of water can wear off a harden giant piece of rock given time and perseverance.
The bunch of bumbling overpaid bums who can’t even keep Mas Selamat in safe custody would spent half the police manpower to
track and arrest a bunch of harmless people who are just speaking the truth about the cost of consumer goods. Either they are too stupid to see it in the overstuff face of $$$.
Remember he would walks the path of truth and righteous shall fear no evil. The old jerk could call himself the Minister Mentor what else can he call himself the IMM (Immortal Mentor Minister) sori old jerk that reserves for God and all these over bums shall meet the maker on the day of judgement for the overpaid sins and heinous greed.
Syed Alwi,
>>>Frankly the WP is there only for show ! What can the WP do ? At the very most – ask some very obvious question. Indeed we do NOT need the WP at all – if that is all it can do. Why bother ? Our blogs in Singapore Cyberspace ask even more penetrating questions than Low Thia Kiang of the WP. Look – if all the WP can do is ask a couple of questions in Parliament – then I put it to you that the WP is IRRELEVANT since our blogs in Cyberspace does a much better job than that !<<<
That’s a whole lot of bollocks. I asked you one question which you have refused to answer: Were you there at the protest?
If Singaporeans approve of what Chee is doing and his methods, it will show in the elections, and in the support he gets for such protests. As it is, 20 people – out of 3.2 million – is a joke, to be honest.
Second, political parties choose their fights, in their own ways, in their own time. If you’re not happy, please feel free to join them and do your part to change their ways.
Why should the WP fight in the same way as the SDP?
The most important point is this: You are one of those who would ask others to put their everything on the line. Heck, you even tell them how to fight, when to fight, what to fight for.
But where are you?
If you so believe in the methods of Chee, please feel free to stand with him. And now that he has been arrested, and will most probably be charged and jailed, let me ask you this:
Will you lead a protest demanding that he be freed?
The answer to this question will prove whether you mean what you say or you’re just blowing hot air.
they are the brave ones. but why were children involve?
Why doesn’t Bush condemn this act like he did for so many other HR abuse cases? Or invade like Iraq?
President Bush Junior has lots of his own shits to clean, as for his Singaporean Uncle; it is out of sight and out of mind. Bush is definitely not as friendly as his Singaporean Uncle make him(Bush) out to be. What is Human Rights to Bush? The Chinese(China) Leadership knows better.
The United Nation and Human Rights Organizations seem uninterested in Singaporeans’ plights because this tiny gem of a country is the richest in the Region(South East Asia). Few will believe that the people are struggling, they would rather believe the skyscrapers and number of cars they see on their television screens whenever news of Singapore appear. And the amount of monies invested in those sick banks are made known to the whole World. Citizens struggling to survive? Foreigners will say; ‘I am coming to work as Foreign Talents in your country to earn good monies!’.
At least one-third of households incomes in Singapore have stayed static or have gone down over the past six, seven years.
It’s about time somebody did something. I’m sick of people who eat Caviar telling me to eat frozen food.
Is it really that tough being a minister when all you do is rubber stamp all these price increases? Even my grandmother can do that.
RH why didn’t you protest? Why don’t you write a letter to Bush to impose sanctions? To the UN? To the British PM?
The government always give lame excuse such as racial riot in 1964 , 1969. Now is 2008,protest is peaceful and nothing to do with race.This is a very shameful government.In Indonesia,today the people also protested against price hike. This is our basic rights.I did not vote for SDP the last election, but I think they can bring out real issues affecting our lives,in contrast the PAP MPs can’t help us much, they say it is global issue due to rising cost. But the ministers pay is not global issue.They increase their own pay because they have 2/3 majority, so if you don’t want their pay to increase, remember just follow Malaysia, deny them 2/3 majority, because the men in white are very very aggorant !!!
Incidentally, CNA said that the police would like to reiterate that No One is Above the Law. Well, i guess if they all wore like white shirts and white pants like the MIW nothing would happen!
We talk about denying the MIW. But how come every election most areas are walkover and there are reorganisations of GRCs every election? haha. Must make all of Singapore buay song then eh sai. If not in the end everyone go and jiak sai, MM will call in the tanks then you know…
Anyone know how to contact the Washington Post? Perhaps they should see this after listening to what mm had to say about Iraq…
Dear LifesLikeThat,
While I may be afraid to participate in any protest in Singapore – I do admire the courage of Chee Soon Juan. Hence even if you are afraid to protest – you should vote those who do have the guts to do it. Don’t put them down as “mad-dogs” – because after all – with the blogs in cyberspace doing a good job – we don’t need people who can only ask a few questions but pretend to be “watchdog”.
If you cannot do it – then support those who can
Dear Robert Ho,
Yes – I also admire LKY and LHL. The fact of the matter is that they are capable. I praise what is good and I put down what is bad. I highly admire Chee Soon Juan. His perseverance in the face of persecution and his courage to protest etc are highly praise-worthy.
I am not blind to the good that the PAP does. There is no denying this. That is why the PAP still receives the support of the masses.
However – having said that – I am also aware that the PAP has created a system that can be easily manipulated and abused by possible tyrants. My quarrel with the PAP lies in the way the system is set up without safeguards.
Without the freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and without a multi-party system – then Singapore becomes a sitting duck for those wannabe tyrants. Because the people will NOT have the means to dislodge an evil and corrupt government – should one come into power.
I believe that the PAP is clean today. No doubts about that. But what of tomorrow ? Will tomorrow’s PAP still remain clean ? Singapore has a leadership problem. Beyond LKY and LHL – who is there left to run the show ? And while these two may be clean and honest – what about people AFTER LKY and LHL are gone ? The system does NOT have any safeguards !! It is open to abuse……
The WP is NOT even politically mature. To simply brush off protests etc is silly. There are very good reasons why people protest. Low Thia Kiang is doing us a disservice by denying such valid political action and means. Suppose – AFTER LKY and LHL – a new guy takes over but after a few years he becomes corrupt. Then what ? The WP will NOT be in a position to rectify such a situation because it has denied the relevancy of peaceful protests etc. It will be left to Chee Soon Juan and the SDP to carry the torch forward for Singapore.
So while I do sing praises to LKY and LHL because of their obvious contributions – I also respect and support Chee Soon Juan. I do NOT support Low Thia Kiang because he is very foolish to surrender the people’s right to peaceful assembly and protests. The WP has become a toothless party. All it does is just ask a few questions. But the blogs in cyberspace are already doing that ! What we need are ACTIVISTS ! Now I may not be brave enough to join SDP protests – BUT I know that the SDP is doing us all a very good service. The SDP provides a good safeguard……..
Singapore basically is still a police state.yesterday wong said the enquiry regarding mas selamat’s escape can not be made public, this only gives the public peception something fishy going on that will be covered up, it is not transparent at all.This government can not take criticism and the media cover up for the governemnt by not stating why chee and company protested.It is the cost of living that they protested, but the media made no mention, instead to day’s ST front page, the media stating yesterday’s CASE walk about, MInister Khaw Boon Wan eats chay koay teow 3 or 4 times only per year.That is irrelevant, how many times he eats is not our problems.We know how to take care of our health,when you die, can your million dollar salary go to the coffin ? Better donate to the poor and you will get a better life after death.
please leave the kids out if you guys are intent on resisting arrest
where were the kids during the armlocking stunt?
it is good that kids be more politcally aware, instead of taking things like it is, eg questioning why CASE walk is allowed, but SDP walk is not. That was not covered by the MSM AT ALL. Shame on the 154 States Times. Editors of the papers should take note that there is a shift and more youths will read the internet. And the truth will be out.
kids better stay in pap kindergarten,they are too young to understand, what is protest. They thought it was an outing with ballons, pity them their parents were arrested.
err.. the kids might get hurt in the shuffle?
Dear friends;
most of the local pressmen/women are indeed mouthpieces and adulators of the Leaders. Apart from admonishing them here in Cyberspace, a more effective way to show them displeasures is to stop patronising them by not buying any of their Newspapers.
Please do not think that the Newspaper Publishers are kind to distribute Freesheets for us to read. Those Freesheets are also written to indoctrinate the readers to make readers ‘feel good’ about State Policies. Reports are usually not comprehensive as ‘bad’, ‘poor’, ‘lousy’ and damaging news are usually left out to paint a good picture, for us and the World to see.
So, when we stop reading their materials, we effectively prevent ourselves from being brainwashed. And all those journalists/reporters will understand that their ‘lack conscience’ characters are reprehensible and dislike by us.
Surely by now, we can ascertained that the MSM people have not been responsible to us, the people, and that they deserve to be chuck away. Stop subscribing and buying the local newspapers and persuade your friends, colleagues, relatives and others to save money. Not reading(avoiding) unsatisfactory news reports can also save one from frustrations and disappointments. News can make ones’ heart aches, believe it or not?
Just tell them, they can read real-time world class news reports from the likes of Reuters and AP. There is also more variety from newspapers the world over. What more, discover hidden literary talents of many fellow Singaporeans in their blogs. Save the money and go online to get much more.
Dr Syed Alwi, is he for real? He supporter of LKY and LHL……. and CSJ?????
Don’t he know the laws of LKY and LHL got CSJ bankrupt, jailed and disqualified?
He’s only against WP. If you know LKY and LHL have done well for Singapore you should understand why WP take a non confrontational approach!
There is no such thing as supporter of PAP and SDP. When WP is between PAP and SDP, yet you hate only WP, something is not right! Support opposition that cannot run for election, don’t support opposition that can run??????
He also lied about WP dismissing protests! Look what Andrew Loh posted on Sylvia Lim’s speech!
Conclusion: Dr Syed Alwi is a fake! He must be a PAP counterinsurgency team or someone who has a gurdge on WP!
Actually there are many of them if you care to look closely. You can tell when they jump at every clue/ bait and appear in full force, here, there and everywhere. It’s not a smart thing to do – assuming that Singaporeans are stupid.
No I am NOT a fake nor a PAP guy. I do admire LKY and CSJ. WP is about tokenism. Just ask a few questions etc and thats it. But politics is NOT about asking a few questions here and there. People live and die in politics. Its a deadly serious business. The WP are amateurs and are NOT serious. Anyone who is serious about politics will tell you that the system in Singapore is rigged and hence CSJ’s rather confrontational approach.
I also admire LKY despite what you may say or think about him. He did what others have failed – and that is to develop Singapore. I respect him for that. Credit is given where credit is due.
Yes – LKY and CSJ are political foes. But you know what Mahathir once said about politics ? That there are no permanent enemies nor permanent friends in politics. just look at Malaysia.
Sometimes I feel that Singaporeans are NOT politically mature. There is NO denying LKY’s contribution to Singapore. In the breath – there is NO denying that democracy is the way forward for Singapore…..
Be honest with yourselves. Can you honestly deny LKY’s contributions to Singapore ? Do you honestly have the courage of CSJ to protest against the PAP in Singapore ?
These 2 factors are why I admire BOTH LKY and CSJ. Be honest to your self. BTW, the last line in the above post should read,
In the same breath – there is NO denying that democracy is the way forward for Singapore.
If there’s one thing both LKY and CSJ share, it is the inability to give up their fight.
Agree with Spyware. To say you admire PAP and SDP is an oxymoron. To say you admire LKY and LHL and Singapore system is rigged in teh same breath is CONTRADICTING yourself.
If LKY is doing such a great job, what is Chee protesting for? For fun? I am sure Chee doesn’t think so or he will not oppose 99% of whatever PAP comes up with.
If LKY is doing such a great job, it means he got his sums right most of the time. What’s wrong with WP just asking questions only when PAP is wrong?
I think PAP clones are trying to invent new theories to discredit the strongest opposition we have but the argument is just too hard to swallow.
There is no deny LKY’s contribution to Singapore. But he is not the only one who contributed. Nor is he the one who contributed the most. Yet, Singapore’s success disproportionately credited to him alone. Why?
Why have those common citizens and other admirable leaders who toiled and sweated along with him to build our country to what it is now, who supported and trusted him through thick and thin, been penalized heavily for mistakes the government has made? Look around you Dr, and see how they are still suffering in poverty despite the many programs the government has put in place? Why?
Why, when I ordered a home delivery, did I see and old man at my doorstep with my meal in hand, when he should be enjoying old age at home with meals delivered to him instead? Why do I find my discarded cardboards disappear almost instantly every time I throw them away?
Why, not only do we have our my CPF locked up, but we are forced to pay for the mistakes of LKY’s administration? Why do they still pay themselves top world salaries, when more of our people are suffering? Why are we throwing so much money to save rotting banks in the name of investing for the future when our present does not even guarantee a future? Why are we importing so many foreigners in the name of economic progress when only the rich get the bulk of the benefits.
Why the imbalance? Why the persecution of well-meaning protesters and heavy censorship in the media? You are a Dr, surely you could see why.
Dr Syed Alwi,
{Hence even if you are afraid to protest – you should vote those who do have the guts to do it. Don’t put them down as “mad-dogs” – because after all – with the blogs in cyberspace doing a good job – we don’t need people who can only ask a few questions but pretend to be “watchdog”.}
{If you cannot do it – then support those who can}
But according to you, I should not be supporting the WP, if I support the WP, right? The only party in your opinion which is worth supporting is the SDP. And not only that, you would go on and detail why other opposition parties are not worth supporting – why?
Because they do not do what YOU want, they do not do it the way YOU want, they do not do it at a time YOU want, they do not champion the causes YOU want. Funny then that you should admit you do not have the guts to take part in public protests – even SDP ones, the very same SDP which you trumpet and ask others to support!
Also, as I said earlier, what you’re saying is this:
“Please SDP, go protest! It’s ok if you get jailed, fined, bankrupted! I support you – but I will not join you in your protests!”
I ask again: If you support SDP’s actions, would you now be prepared to hold a public protest to demand their release from jail, if they are found guilty and sentenced to incarceration?
If you’re not, as you said you are afraid of being involved in protests, then I am sorry that the SDP has supporters like you.
Now, don’t start preaching to others when you yourself are not prepared to do your part.
There is a word for this type of people. It has 9 letters – starts with “H” and ends with “e”.
Go figure it out before you open your mouth again.
Why are we giving excuses for importing talents when in actual fact we are suffocating our own talents?
http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2008/03/generosity-of-singaporean-education.html
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sammyboymod/messages?msg=170961.31
http://kojakbt.blogspot.com/2008/03/how-many-actual-places-in-our-local.html
Why can our scholars only challenge us to give them solutions and not come up with their own solutions? Who are the scholars? Who are the leaders?
Indeed, why the complacency? Why are we paying through our noses just to be told to give solutions or shut up?
The truth is there is no real democracy here.
The system does not allow it.I do not see any point somebody protesting out in the streets.
and all knows the person will be arrested.
We are not going anywhere near to democracy.
Even neighbouring country,M’sia got into trouble for allowing mass demos out in the streets.
This terribly caused them the upset in their recent GE.
From this experience,the system here learns that real democracy will cause them trouble for themselves.
They do not wish to see themselves at risk.
What’s the point of allowing permit for demos??
Here,is a creation of a nation that thread itself carefully not wishing to play with fire.
Instead it’s slowly walking carefully along a slippery bride not wanting to fall into the fire.
Dr Chee SJ and his team can only be politically effective if his supporters join them in the thousands.
And he is a political failure if he attracts only instigators that prodded and stoke him.
Hands up if you want the doctor to be your future leader.
And so you people think that the tokenism of the WP will get you anywhere ? The system is rigged ! Do you honestly think that the WP can get enough MP’s in Parliament to be an effective Opposition ?
And – no – I am NOT a PAP supporter although I admire LKY. You people are afraid to protest just like me but you do not want to admit it. The WP cannot do anything much because it cannot change the system which is rigged to favour the MIW’s.
If you really want to see changes – then you must go for ELECTORAL REFORMS. I admire CSJ for his guts and his brutally honest assessment of the current situation.
People don’t like CSJ because he reminds them of their own fears and insecurities. If the WP is so great – then how come they cannot make any changes ? They cannot even get a GRC team !
Another interesting observation – you people do not even have the courage to use your names but prefer – instead – to use pseudonyms ! What does it say about you ?
“You people”? You is what we call very tuah kang – very big hole. Talk a lot but don’t dare join Chee. You real doctor meh? Scared your good life kena pichar if you join Chee is it?
At least I am honest enough to publicly admit that I am afraid to protest ! What about you ?
City Of Possibilities, they say.
Hi Dr Syed Alwi,
With respect to your remark “If the WP is so great – then how come they cannot make any changes ? They cannot even get a GRC team !”, let me share my view here.
No political party can make change without public support, not WP, not SDP. The question is what is the best way to get public support. People are afraid to protest, SDP approach is hardly the way to win public support.
WP may be a bigger political party among oppositions, it is still very small and far from “so great”. WP has chosen a different approach to win public support under the current leadership started since 2001. We saw the fruit of this different approach in last GE. We also saw the consequence of Dr Chee’s approach to SDP.
Only when concerned people join or help a political party then the party will get a chance to become great. Let the concerned people join or help political parties to make them great, be it NSP, SDP, SPP, WP.
Regards
Doctor, what you are saying, SDP has done more than WP. I don’t see any changes coming out from the things SDP has done. Does this mean SDP is more useless than WP?
Stop playing a fool. One more thing, my name is not real.
Dr syed alwi,
I understand u are trying to be honest.For me,what you have stated is your own personal comments.
To make sure ppl vite for the specific party is for the concerned party to be credible.
Nobody willing to follow a blind man.
It’s running of a country not a provision shop.
Well the least we could do as cowards is not to criticize WP for being cowards and doing nothing, yes? And also, it’s worse to criticize SDP for doing what we can’t do right? Especially when some actually accused him of making Singapore look stupid.
What good is there to argue about which is the best opposition? Can the one best opposition win the majority of seats if not all the seats in parliament? What is the purpose behind this popularity contest?
No wonder we are still in the dumps.
Well – the WP will never be able to get more Opposition people into Parliament. The system is rigged. Until such time when Singaporeans have overcome their own fears – there will be no changes. BTW – this is my real name.
I guess Singaporeans are too afraid and too materialistic to make sacrifices for change. And I guess the SDP will continue to make protests – but to no avail from Singaporeans who are too selfish to make sacrifices.
At the end of the day – Singaporeans deserve the current PAP Government.
Syed Alwi,
First things first, are you a REAL doctor? (You accused others of not using their real name. So I ask you, are you a REAL doctor?)
Second, former WP sec gen JBJ Jeyaretnam has already shown, through all of his years, that his methods did not work – methods similar to Chee’s. So why are you insisting that the present WP do the same?
You say the WP cannot get more members into parliament. Well, are you a futurist? The WP, as far as I know, started their new approach only recently. 2000-something. How long has it been? You expect change overnight?
Thirdly, you talk so much but in the same breath you declare that you are too much of a coward to participate in Chee’s protests. Isn’t that a whole lotta fun????
Syed Alwi,
In case you forget the WP’s view on public protests, here is a re-posting of what Andrew Loh posted earlier. You seem not to have read it. So let me do you a little favour and re-post it:
Sylvia Lim on amendments to the Penal Code, 22 Oct 2007:
“Being a member of such an assembly will see stakes rise from a max of 6 months jail to 2 years jail, a 4X increase. Joining an unlawful assembly knowing it has been commanded to disperse, will go up from 2 years to 5 years.
….
Sir, let us distinguish between gatherings which are violent such as rioting, and those which are peaceful.
The constant refrain of fearing law and order problems makes a mockery of licensing law – why have a law saying a permit is needed, when it is seldom granted? Minister for Law mentioned on Fri that Singapore needed controls as we were a densely populated country. But so is Hong Kong.
As our society continues to evolve, the time is surely ripe for us to allow peaceful outdoor protests as a form of expression. By all means, we can have rules about how, where and when such processions may be held, but wider law reform is needed.
S 141 should be restricted to offences which threaten the public peace, and other laws such as the Miscellaneous Offences Act which require permits for peaceful assemblies should be modified.”
There is a difference between “rigging the system” and fear.
Rigging would mean the ruling party employs dishonest tactics in an election such as tampering with ballot boxes to turn the favour against opposition candidates.
Fear to vote against the PAP is something else and that applies even if elections are free of fraud. Without GRCs, gerrymandering, Singapore shares/NSS/ERS, PAP could still win hands down.
One said to me a few days ago that fear may be used by some voters as an excuse to reject voting for the opposition.
By acknowledging their “fear”, they shift the blame to themselves as “cowards” and a courtesy gesture to opposition candidates whom they do not trust their constituency with, in order not to insult them.
Hence, the opposition needs to gain trust.