Reuters:Singapore's pension reform plans spark rare protest
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It is a protest in silence. Can't possibly appear in groups with banners and placards as this is illegal according to the law in Singapore. The purpose of this is to let the gahmen know we are not happy with the compulsory buying of annuity, planning policies without consideration and benefits of the people. To send message to the gahmen by not breaking any law.Originally posted by Kenashi:is that called a protest in the first place
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Any way, I am happy I was there. Talk and action go together. Hope the gahmen will take the message seriously and plan whatever policies basing on the needs and interest of the people rather than what they want.
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wonder whether anything going to changeOriginally posted by qlqq9:It is a protest in silence. Can't possibly appear in groups with banners and placards as this is illegal according to the law in Singapore. The purpose of this is to let the gahmen know we are not happy with the compulsory buying of annuity, planning policies without consideration and benefits of the people. To send message to the gahmen by not breaking any law.
most probably not -
As an observer ( salvation statement), it seems to me that the behavior of those who taken part today is that although, understanding the behavior of singaporeans, they expect not a strong turnout but their main reason for doing that was to answer to themselves. I think they regard having done something, as being a success in itself and that doing absolutely nothing, aka NATO is a worse thing to do.Originally posted by Kenashi:wonder whether anything going to change
most probably not
Well, I am a concerned citizen and only an observer. I am neutral.
I try to comment on what I have seen and these are just my personal opinions.
Seems like a new age kind of public polling system has started.
I shall not comment if I support or do no support today's activities. Salvation!
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Time has made extinct all mighty dinosaurs. -
My friend and i went to check the protest in centre point. It seems like there were no major big event call protest. At the end of it he commented that it was a prank one, and said that old Lee will laugh until drop dead if he ever discover that the standard of protest and expression of Singaporeans have dropped to this pathetic state.
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An organised protest or demonstration would have given the 8-10 ISD agents there a reason to call in the Reds and blues and lock up everyone.Originally posted by (human):My friend and i went to check the protest in centre point. It seems like there were no major big event call protest. At the end of it he commented that it was a prank one, and said that old Lee will laugh until drop dead if he ever discover that the standard and expression of Singaporeans have dropped to this pathetic state. -
Gotta ask them if they have gotten a permit to assemble too.Originally posted by Jontst78:An organised protest or demonstration would have given the 8-10 ISD agents there a reason to call in the Reds and blues and lock up everyone. -
Hi,Originally posted by qlqq9:These people who are going are sensible and rationale not to commit any crime that is why they don't want to gather in a group with signboards and get arrested. They want to let the gahmen know that Singaporeans are not happy with what they are doing, making buying annuity compulsory, making policies without consideration for the people. To go there in groups with signboards and so on are illegal, that is the reason why they rather be there in black, do it in silence to alert the gahmen. There is already publicity by REuters on this event and by now the gahmen is aware of it.
I agree. However, Singapore is a country where unapproved protests are illegal and they have never given a permit to anyone who applied. Hence, a real protest has to be illegal.
Over at SBF, a small handful often accuses WP and SDA of "playing by PAP rules" and in my view, it is ironic that they support a "protest" as such.
Regards -
On the contrary, I am not surprised that most forummers who know about the "protest" did not wear black so that they have the free rein to observe the ongoings.Originally posted by reddressman:As an observer ( salvation statement), it seems to me that the behavior of those who taken part today is that although, understanding the behavior of singaporeans, they expect not a strong turnout but their main reason for doing that was to answer to themselves. I think they regard having done something, as being a success in itself and that doing absolutely nothing, aka NATO is a worse thing to do.
Although I agree that NATO is not a good thing and I commend those who bothered to show up and do not like to pour cold water, self-delusion may be worse than NATO, pardon my frankness. It gives the impression that something is achieved when it is not.
While I can't disagree that the channel of opposition politics to change Singapore may deluding, I personally feel that there is more realism to it.
Regards -
Personally, I would find the results of this "protest" more easy to determine if everyone was told to wear, say, dark green (the colour of CPF logo), a less common colour.Originally posted by (human):My friend and i went to check the protest in centre point. It seems like there were no major big event call protest. At the end of it he commented that it was a prank one, and said that old Lee will laugh until drop dead if he ever discover that the standard of protest and expression of Singaporeans have dropped to this pathetic state.
Regards -
Today is historical and I consider the silent protest a wise move. We can't just keep talking and discussing without any action. Whether the gahmen is going to take what happened today into consideration, we have no control, as far as we are concerned we have done our best.
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Any photos.....
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A forumer "Robox" from SBF cited "Blue Jeans Day" where activists who supported gay rights wore blue jeans on a particular day. Yeah, this has nothing to do with gay rights. What I'm saying is, a common clothing color was picked for the very reason of being common. Go search it on Wiki for a more detailed account.Originally posted by Melvin Tan:Personally, I would find the results of this "protest" more easy to determine if everyone was told to wear, say, dark green (the colour of CPF logo), a less common colour.
Regards
1. Makes it harder for the One Dozen ISD/Police officers to do anything.
2. Unkowingly, others added to the presence. -
Hi guys,sorry i didnt go as have to study for prelims.
But i did post the thread to HWZ. -
Do you know who started the call?Originally posted by (human):My friend and i went to check the protest in centre point. It seems like there were no major big event call protest. At the end of it he commented that it was a prank one, and said that old Lee will laugh until drop dead if he ever discover that the standard of protest and expression of Singaporeans have dropped to this pathetic state. -
Jontst78, any chance you can get some pics from Sammyboy to post here as some are asking for photos? Thanks.Originally posted by Jontst78:A forumer "Robox" from SBF cited "Blue Jeans Day" where activists who supported gay rights wore blue jeans on a particular day. Yeah, this has nothing to do with gay rights. What I'm saying is, a common clothing color was picked for the very reason of being common. Go search it on Wiki for a more detailed account.
1. Makes it harder for the One Dozen ISD/Police officers to do anything.
2. Unkowingly, others added to the presence. -
What is HWZ?Originally posted by ceecookie:Hi guys,sorry i didnt go as have to study for prelims.
But i did post the thread to HWZ. -
Hi,Originally posted by Jontst78:A forumer "Robox" from SBF cited "Blue Jeans Day" where activists who supported gay rights wore blue jeans on a particular day. Yeah, this has nothing to do with gay rights. What I'm saying is, a common clothing color was picked for the very reason of being common. Go search it on Wiki for a more detailed account.
1. Makes it harder for the One Dozen ISD/Police officers to do anything.
2. Unkowingly, others added to the presence.
Many thanks and appreciated for the lead. I found the article here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_Blue_Jeans_Day
Personally, the contents of the article addresses the point I was trying to raise. I am open to alternative interpretations though.
Regards -
Hardwarezone forums ...Originally posted by qlqq9:What is HWZ? -
This statement has my fullest concur and I appreciate any efforts - *true* efforts - taken. Just be prepared for disappointments. Case in point was the casino issue. One casino was planned. After public feedback and 3 opposition party's disagreements, the PAP decided to go ahead - with *two*.Originally posted by qlqq9:Whether the gahmen is going to take what happened today into consideration, we have no control, as far as we are concerned we have done our best.
Regards -
Thanks. Did you take any pic? I am really surprised to see so many aunties in black.Originally posted by Trump_Card:Hardwarezone forums ... -
No ... Everything was normal as at 2+ when I was there ... I saw very small groups of ppl wearing black ... After which I went off at close to 3 to meet my friends ...Originally posted by qlqq9:Thanks. Did you take any pic? I am really surprised to see so many aunties in black. -
Originally posted by qlqq9:
Police states are the safest places on Earth, aren't they?
Singapore's pension reform plans spark rare protest
Reuters - Thursday, September 6
SINGAPORE, Sept 6 - Singaporeans have started a rare protest against the government's pension reform plans with an online petition and a planned public protest action.
An online petition against the pensions reform had drawn nearly 600 online signatures as of Thursday, while on Saturday, activists will test Singapore's ban on demonstrations by staging a symbolic "black T-shirt" protest at a popular downtown mall.
Any public protest is rare in Singapore, where all outdoor demonstrations are banned and any public gathering of more than four people requires a permit.
The protest takes aim at plans to make it mandatory for all Singaporeans under the age of 50 to buy annuities and which would impose restrictions on how pension savings are invested.
"People are quite unhappy, partly about way the announcements about the pension reforms were made," political commentator Leong Sze Hian told Reuters.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the pension reform in his National Day speech last month, saying there was no choice as "people are living longer".
To cope with a rapidly ageing population, the government is upping the retirement age from 62 years to 65 years by 2015, and up to 67 beyond that.
In recent weeks, government ministers have talked about several planned changes to the Central Provident Fund , a mandatory retirement savings scheme for all Singaporeans that pays a lump sum upon retirement and can be used to pay for flats.
"There is concern, but the public ought to wait for more specific details on the changes, to be out later this month," Member of Parliament Halimah Yaacob told Reuters.
Singaporeans have turned increasingly to cyberspace as an outlet for their dissatisfaction.
The latest petition -- on Petitiononline.com -- has drawn 580 signatures over two weeks. In the past two years, petitions against a pay-and-perks scandal at a national charity and against the introduction of casino gambling drew thousands of signatures.
Saturday's protest -- announced on political blogs and online forums -- is set to test Singapore's limits on freedom of assembly, as organisers merely suggest participants turn up at 4 p.m. at the Centrepoint mall, dressed "partly" in black.
Law student and online activist Choo Zheng Xi told Reuters he does not expect a strong turn-out, as other small-scale protest actions in the past months have drawn a massive police presence as well as plainsclothes policemen filming protesters. They even seek to protect the interest of the public from being caught up in the demonstrators' actions... -
I think all the black clowns have been silenced. Not much postings for the next few days I predict.
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What do you mean by black clowns, please explain?Originally posted by LimSianTong:I think all the black clowns have been silenced. Not much postings for the next few days I predict.