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http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/09/03/10-awesome-truths-at-amk-grc-nomination-centre/
[h=2]10 awesome truths at AMK GRC nomination centre[/h]
September 3rd, 2015 |
Author: Contributions
Ten awesome truths at AMK GRC nomination centre
on Tuesday
Reform Party candidates arriving at AMK nomination
centre
1. A shakened PM
Our PM came the last at the nomination centre and started to go round and
shook all the opposition candidates hands – including those from SPP, WP and
RP.
At our end, he shook all our hands gingerly and Roy’s hands last – all the
while looking downwards.
He must be wondering how to put off this thorn in the flesh once and for
all!
He left the hall a few times probably to pee due to the nerves as he realised
for the first time that all seats are been contested for this GE.
2. Roy’s English name needs verification by Commissioner of
Oaths
Roy English name needs to be verified by the Commissioner of Oaths as it does
not appear on his identity card.
The verification check came at about 1145 am – 15 minutes before nomination
ends.
The whole team looks on worryingly as a standby Commissioner of Oaths decides
his fate.
Fortunately, it was a walk in the park and we cleared the nomination
nervously.
We are a bit worried as Roy still has a lawsuit with the PM and another case
involving the CPF protest at Speakers’ Corner.
3. Opposition unity
We shook hands with all the opposition parties present and exchanged long
bantering with them during the nomination as the wait was exhaustive.
We sat next to the Aljunied WP group and chatted with them.
Low Thia Khiang has lost much weight perhaps due to a long battle over the
town council issue with the incumbent though Sylvia Lim looks cheerful and
awesome.
SPP/DPP coalition for the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC was a bit far for us to exchange much greeting though I saw a few of the candidates attended some of our events.
I felt glad that the unity among opposition parties is at its highest during
this election especially with the launch of the Vote For Change button.
4. Long prolonged boos for the PM during nomination
speech
During our nomination speeches, we heard loud and prolonged boos for the PM
and his team.
It was unprecedented as we soaked in the atmosphere of Nomination Day.
We also realised that we were cut off at the 2 min 40 sec mark when clearly 3
minutes were allowed for nomination speeches as a team.
The PAP team definitely exceeded their 3-minute allowance mark.
Talking about fairness…
5. Media converging on our team 3 hours before
nomination
Most major mainstream media were converging on our team when we gathered at
Bishan MRT station at 8.30am mainly due to the PM vs Roy defamation suit.
Its the first time that a blogger who was successfully sued came back months
later to challenge the PM at an election contest – it’s something that is very
newsworthy and definitely caught the attention of many Singaporeans.
As we campaign hard during the next few days, I am sure that Singaporeans
will flock to our rallies to hear what Roy has to say – especially on issues
that matter to Singaporeans.
6. Great support for activist platform
We are blessed to have good support from people all over and want to thank
them for taking leave to be present at our nomination.
Its a personal sacrifice and we want to extend our sincere appreciation to
Zarina, Debbie, Jack, Rebecca, Esien and many others for turning up.
Many of them are our supporting activists at speakers’ corner and its heart
warming to see them giving us their support again when we decided to stand for
election.
I have often mentioned that activists and politicians should work closely
together for change and the segregation should be narrowed especially when so
many of my activist friends are standing for election this time round.
Kudos must be extended to Augustine, Roy, Janet, Hui Hui, Osman, Jesse and
others for stepping right into the election fray to be an active agent for
change. Many others are also actively campaigning with opposition parties right
now.
No matter how they fare at the polls, I want to salute them for walking the
talk and being politically active over the past few years – speaking up for
issues that matter and not keeping quiet.
Singapore can only rise up if more people come forward and be counted –
politics are not just for the politicians but for every Singaporean.
We all need to be more politically attuned and you can start by turning up
for events at Speakers’ Corner in future.
7. Professionalism of the election team at nomination
centre
I must also commend the Elections Department for their professionalism inside
the nomination centre.
Timing was followed closely and everything went clockwork-like.
Not one second was wasted and one must salute them for their perfect
organisation.
Nevertheless, I still feel that the Elections Department must not come under
the government as it allows them the room to manoeuvre advantageously.
The head of the Elections department also works for the Prime Minister’s
Office so that’s a clear violation of equal rights.
We hope that once the opposition is in power, they will look into this
electioneering bias.
8. Overly-cold aircon or am I being nervous?
The aircon at RI yesterday was very cold and some of us needed to go to the
toilet but it could be due to nerves.
Four of the team members are standing for election for the first time and we
were looking for the rest room which is a good 100 metres away.
I saw PM Lee going out at least twice – to empty his nerves as he faces a
resurgent opposition power for the first time.
9. Opposition supporters came by themselves, PAP supporters
transported by chartered bus with chicken rice
We saw many opposition supporters coming by themselves to the nomination
centre and many are people in their 40s and 50s.
The PAP supporters are mostly in their 60s – 70s and travelled by chartered
buses to the centre to cheer on the incumbent.
I am sure that they have chicken rice after the nomination whereas the
opposition side has to buy their own food or even rush back to work
afterwards.
The cheers from the opposition side are also more boisterous than the whites
who often followed when a few others led.
The opposition voices seem more united and ferocious.
10. Vote For Change button
Many supporters also wear the Vote For Change button yesterday – an
initiative collaborated by Goh Meng Seng.
Its a sign of a unifying voice as one of the main problem of our opposition
is disunity.
So far five opposition parties have supported the
initiative.
Gilbert
Goh
* Gilbert Goh is a Reform Party
candidate for Ang Mo Kio GRC in GE2015. He runs Transitioning.org, a support site for
unemployed Singaporeans.
[h=2]10 awesome truths at AMK GRC nomination centre[/h]
September 3rd, 2015 |
Author: Contributions
Ten awesome truths at AMK GRC nomination centre
on Tuesday
Reform Party candidates arriving at AMK nomination
centre
1. A shakened PM
Our PM came the last at the nomination centre and started to go round and
shook all the opposition candidates hands – including those from SPP, WP and
RP.
At our end, he shook all our hands gingerly and Roy’s hands last – all the
while looking downwards.
He must be wondering how to put off this thorn in the flesh once and for
all!
He left the hall a few times probably to pee due to the nerves as he realised
for the first time that all seats are been contested for this GE.
2. Roy’s English name needs verification by Commissioner of
Oaths
Roy English name needs to be verified by the Commissioner of Oaths as it does
not appear on his identity card.
The verification check came at about 1145 am – 15 minutes before nomination
ends.
The whole team looks on worryingly as a standby Commissioner of Oaths decides
his fate.
Fortunately, it was a walk in the park and we cleared the nomination
nervously.
We are a bit worried as Roy still has a lawsuit with the PM and another case
involving the CPF protest at Speakers’ Corner.
3. Opposition unity
We shook hands with all the opposition parties present and exchanged long
bantering with them during the nomination as the wait was exhaustive.
We sat next to the Aljunied WP group and chatted with them.
Low Thia Khiang has lost much weight perhaps due to a long battle over the
town council issue with the incumbent though Sylvia Lim looks cheerful and
awesome.
SPP/DPP coalition for the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC was a bit far for us to exchange much greeting though I saw a few of the candidates attended some of our events.
I felt glad that the unity among opposition parties is at its highest during
this election especially with the launch of the Vote For Change button.
4. Long prolonged boos for the PM during nomination
speech
During our nomination speeches, we heard loud and prolonged boos for the PM
and his team.
It was unprecedented as we soaked in the atmosphere of Nomination Day.
We also realised that we were cut off at the 2 min 40 sec mark when clearly 3
minutes were allowed for nomination speeches as a team.
The PAP team definitely exceeded their 3-minute allowance mark.
Talking about fairness…
5. Media converging on our team 3 hours before
nomination
Most major mainstream media were converging on our team when we gathered at
Bishan MRT station at 8.30am mainly due to the PM vs Roy defamation suit.
Its the first time that a blogger who was successfully sued came back months
later to challenge the PM at an election contest – it’s something that is very
newsworthy and definitely caught the attention of many Singaporeans.
As we campaign hard during the next few days, I am sure that Singaporeans
will flock to our rallies to hear what Roy has to say – especially on issues
that matter to Singaporeans.
6. Great support for activist platform
We are blessed to have good support from people all over and want to thank
them for taking leave to be present at our nomination.
Its a personal sacrifice and we want to extend our sincere appreciation to
Zarina, Debbie, Jack, Rebecca, Esien and many others for turning up.
Many of them are our supporting activists at speakers’ corner and its heart
warming to see them giving us their support again when we decided to stand for
election.
I have often mentioned that activists and politicians should work closely
together for change and the segregation should be narrowed especially when so
many of my activist friends are standing for election this time round.
Kudos must be extended to Augustine, Roy, Janet, Hui Hui, Osman, Jesse and
others for stepping right into the election fray to be an active agent for
change. Many others are also actively campaigning with opposition parties right
now.
No matter how they fare at the polls, I want to salute them for walking the
talk and being politically active over the past few years – speaking up for
issues that matter and not keeping quiet.
Singapore can only rise up if more people come forward and be counted –
politics are not just for the politicians but for every Singaporean.
We all need to be more politically attuned and you can start by turning up
for events at Speakers’ Corner in future.
7. Professionalism of the election team at nomination
centre
I must also commend the Elections Department for their professionalism inside
the nomination centre.
Timing was followed closely and everything went clockwork-like.
Not one second was wasted and one must salute them for their perfect
organisation.
Nevertheless, I still feel that the Elections Department must not come under
the government as it allows them the room to manoeuvre advantageously.
The head of the Elections department also works for the Prime Minister’s
Office so that’s a clear violation of equal rights.
We hope that once the opposition is in power, they will look into this
electioneering bias.
8. Overly-cold aircon or am I being nervous?
The aircon at RI yesterday was very cold and some of us needed to go to the
toilet but it could be due to nerves.
Four of the team members are standing for election for the first time and we
were looking for the rest room which is a good 100 metres away.
I saw PM Lee going out at least twice – to empty his nerves as he faces a
resurgent opposition power for the first time.
9. Opposition supporters came by themselves, PAP supporters
transported by chartered bus with chicken rice
We saw many opposition supporters coming by themselves to the nomination
centre and many are people in their 40s and 50s.
The PAP supporters are mostly in their 60s – 70s and travelled by chartered
buses to the centre to cheer on the incumbent.
I am sure that they have chicken rice after the nomination whereas the
opposition side has to buy their own food or even rush back to work
afterwards.
The cheers from the opposition side are also more boisterous than the whites
who often followed when a few others led.
The opposition voices seem more united and ferocious.
10. Vote For Change button
Many supporters also wear the Vote For Change button yesterday – an
initiative collaborated by Goh Meng Seng.
Its a sign of a unifying voice as one of the main problem of our opposition
is disunity.
So far five opposition parties have supported the
initiative.
Gilbert
Goh
* Gilbert Goh is a Reform Party
candidate for Ang Mo Kio GRC in GE2015. He runs Transitioning.org, a support site for
unemployed Singaporeans.
