The man joining the gathered crowd was fuming mad, spewing colourful expletives that would make a seafarer blush. He was telling everybody who cared to hear how low the creeps could stoop to fix the opposition.
He had already made an effort to park a distance away from the Hougang rally grounds to avoid jamming the carparks, and inconveniencing the nearby residents. On Saturday he had found the carpark at Block 601 was not too full, and not too far to walk from. This night he was stopped by a large group of car park attendants, refusing entrance except to those with seasonal passes. When told it was because of the rally, he demanded to know why it wasn't cordoned off on Saturday 19th at the same hour he had arrived at the same car park. Confronting the supervisor in charge, he was told they were under instructions from the HDB. Thoroughly cheesed off, he had to move off to another carpark at Block 611, some 600 meters away. Straight away, we were reminded of the story Sylvia Lim told about the stoicism of her secretary: "
Never mind - if we have no train, we will take bus! If we have no bus, we can walk!"
After the rally, a few friends walked to Block 601 to confirm the guy's story. Sure enough, the parking aunties were there in force, flashing the parking ticket dispenser like a threatening taser. They also found the carpark at Block 611 added to the cordon. Apparently, as the crowd grew, more car park attendants were mobilised to increase the no-parking zone. At taxpayers' expense, of course. But did it deter the supporters from joining the rally? See for yourself.
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That video on that empty car park was circulating in youtube. Full evidence of more bullying, right down to the carpark wardens!! The rot is deep, and no where near inclusive society.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, may I wish the Hougang voters make their wise choice. Whatever the outcome, we will respect it.
Evil regime, unforgivable bastard.
ReplyDeleteSee for yourself with evidence.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mioqoCp_XLM
Now recruiting carpark attendants? What will they think up next - mobilise every sector of the state apparatus? It would seem senior teachers are already in, also the Association of Criminal Lawyers, the Rotary Club......
ReplyDeleteThe PM is also making the rounds - apparently not too busy with national issues, the raison d'etre for pussyfooting on the Hougang by-election. Residents better make sure there are real sweets under the wrappers.
Desmond Choo promised Hougang four more years of the same if he is not voted in. Sounds like a threat - no upgrading, no more free teochew porridge. Hougang does not kow-tow to bullying, nor does the rest of Singapore. Nor to carrots and threats.
And the low-down personal attacks of the DPM, nitpicking on trivialities as if a 50 year flood will swamp Singapore. I worry for Singapore when we have boneheads running the country whose paramount concern is their party's hegemony. Obviously Singapore needs a "fresh start".
Hougang, vote where your brave heart is, and always has been.
The level of leegalised corruption is unbelieveable nationwide. Everything is controlled by the PAP at the highest hierachy followed by government and down to the chain. OMG ...
ReplyDeletedear author, on 19 may there was no pap rally at the stadium so no aunties block the carparks next to the stadium. last night both hougang field and stadium also got rally so govt block carparks next to stadium otherwise people coming back home is no lot to park or maybe some sick people just wanna go home and dun want to go rally. imagine they cannot park if stadium lots all full. why must confront people leh? they are just doing their job earning a not very high wage. this man is a disgrace to opp supporters.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine our HDB can be that 'thoughtful' or helpful. You see, so many CC events happened at our void deck at night and our adjoining carpark has never been caudroned off like that for the sick or for those coming home. So this sort of excuses doesn't mean anything.
DeleteI'm sure any reasonable resident can bear with the inconvenience and it's only fair that they can't favour one political party over the other.
But one thing for sure, why do we exactly need the carpark wardens for during the these rare occassions like by-election rallies ?
If they are there to intimidate or fix the opposition supporters, then PAP really sucks and stinks like shit.
The logic is simple. PAP rally attracted few people while WP rally attarcts large crowd. Further more, many PAP supporters come in buses provided.So the target is crystal clear. Is there any doubt?
DeleteNext time, the train to Hougang or any opposition ward will break down at the most convenient time. They can try very hard but people are not dumb, it will only cause the opposite effect, to the advantage of alternative (not opposition) parties.
ReplyDeleteI think the word opposition is not relevant anymore, don't think people nowadays are that dumb to oppose just for sake of it.
Wow..actually since Desmond is the NTUC guy, for the betterment of the workers who recently only got a mere 5% ($50) increment from $1000, I would like him to stay there and continue to make it betterer for them. He should stay there and contribute and serve these wage poor workers first before thinking of coming in to earn the $15k per month of MP job. The workers there need you more than the residents here.
ReplyDeleteHave you not read that inflation is now at 5.4%? A 5% increase is not an increase. He is taking $4 from the $1,000 workers!
DeleteThink of a company which has 100 workers with a $50 increase. That's like an extra $5000/mth, not to mention CPF increases and operations cost for the company. And then what about bonuses?
DeleteIt would better to ask the government to absorb GST than to increase wages any further. Or to even enhance subsidies at a larger extent.
The $1000 worker is still being shortchanged. How is he going to feed his family with $4 fewer in his pocket?
DeleteThe lower income group has experienced negative real wage growth over the decade while the rich took disproportionate share of the growth in wealth over the same period.
The problem with this report is that it is too biased. Come on, the fact is that the WP supporters have been known to be many, and would definitely cause a problem in the way of parking for residents of the area. Of course they have to mobilize car park attendants.
ReplyDeleteThey even do this every Qing Ming or any of the temple festivals at Guang Ming Shan Temple at Sin Ming to prevent inconvenience for residents of nearby estates. Judging by the crowd, if they were to allow WP supporters to park there, there would be a lot of summons issued and pissed off opposition supporters who'd just blame the government for imposing a fine, more pissed off residents who'd blame the government for not protecting their parking space (even though it's a WP rally), and other pissed off visitors to residents in the area.
Anyway, 600m within a residential area is quite a short distance to walk. That means he had tried to park somewhere very much closer to the stadium, hence it was cordoned off. I live in Sin Ming, and the wardens cordon off car parks up to 400m away from the temple.
I would urge the writer to think about the logistics of the matter instead of just writing from an opposition point of view.
HDB could have just make make a anoouncement before rally. Is that so difficult? Why give people the surprise since they know very well there would be a large crowd. Is HDB telling the truth?
DeleteI think you missed the point.
DeleteTake a look at the video highlighted by anon @5/25/2012 1:03 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mioqoCp_XLM
The carparks are condoned off in the interest of the residents. Imagine if all the carparks have been taken up by rally goers, where could the season parking holders going to park?
ReplyDeleteThese measures are taken during main festivals as well. If you go to the temple at Bishan during Vesak day, the carparks of nearby HDB estates will be condoned off as well.
Support whichever parties you like but let's be fair minded here.
If you look at the video, those empty lots are white ones so they are meant for public parking, not season ones. I have no doubt there are biasness. Last evening when they reported traffic condition on 90.5, you can hear Maggie trying her hardest not to say the W-word. She warned about the road closure and road condition surrounding an "event". She was probably under some instructions not to say that there is a WP rally as it would tantamount to an public announcement. It is that pathetic!
ReplyDelete"The carparks are condoned off in the interest of the residents. Imagine if all the carparks have been taken up by rally goers, where could the season parking holders going to park?"
ReplyDeleteIf the summon aunties were there for a reason, they should be there to fine those people who parked at season parking lots. Those white lots which are open for public should be allowed for the public (which obviously are what they are meant for), to park.
There is a nearby commmunity centre which has events conducted at night too, when the public can park at the white lots in the multi storey carpark. season holders will park at their own designated parking lots.
All kind of 'dirty things' can happen! Never mind this is a minor irritation!
ReplyDeleteJust vote according to your conscience!