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COMMENT: Are Singaporeans forgoing news for click bait articles?

(AFP file photo)

By: Donovan Choy

In a day and age where news outlets are competing for attention online, we are met with articles with click bait headlines at every turn on social media.

“You’ll never believe what happened when this man stood up to the bully on the train.”

“This touching story will remind you what it means to be a human.”

“These 25 things will make you miss secondary school because liddat lor.”

We’ve all encountered and fell for these wretched headlines that prick your curiosity and, like its name suggests, baits you to click on it.

In Singapore, news sites rely on colloquial speak, lost memories and popular listicles instead of engaging in purposeful and investigative journalism that serves to keep Singaporeans abreast of the day’s events.

A keen news reader may observe the rehashing and mechanical regurgitation of identical content coming across their Facebook feeds, packaged in a click bait-like manner. The uninformed reader however, falls prey to being framed around a debate or discussion on a subject that has little to no weight of importance.

Dr. Yasser Mattar, who has a PhD in sociology from the Australian National University, observed: “Instead of reporting news in an objective way, they use logical fallacies to get their point across. They appeal to fear, appeal to hatred and worst of all, always make it look like we're standing on a slippery slope.”

Why does this threaten journalism?

When the demand for true journalism dips while readers would rather be “entertained” while taking their news, is it very far-fetched to think that these lazy standards of journalism will be replicated in order to compete and remain financially viable? In the digital age of today, it is here where true journalism is put to its most important test.

“In a journalism world shaken by devalued revenue streams, financial survival is so dire an issue that many sites feel compelled to sacrifice quality. Until the industry finds a way to properly value the work that good journalists do, these pressures will continue to exist,” said Daniel Yap, publisher of local sociopolitical news site The Middle Ground.

Is what is popular on Facebook newsworthy?

Honest journalism is by and large a selfless public service. It brings to light the world’s hidden atrocities, enabling the meting out of social justice and perhaps most importantly, to curb the potential abuse of power by the state.

No longer are reporters committed to the duty of investigating stories and informing the masses, instead, many of these so-called “journalists” and “writers” employed on these digital news sites are cultivated with a keen eye to detect social media virality, in order to quickly capitalise on trending topics for the sole purpose of raising web traffic and serving their own corporate ends.

What is deemed newsworthy today is not measured by the importance of whether the average Singaporean news consumer has something to learn from it. Instead, these news sites seem to be driven by dishonest intentions against the original ethics of journalism, motivated only to publish news stories that have a higher prospect of readership click-through and sharing.

One may argue that these sites don’t attach itself to journalistic principles at all, and that it strives to deliver news content with a hybrid of entertainment value.

If so, when such news sites report on social or political issues in Singapore such as the vacant Non-Constituency Member of Parliament seat after the last General Elections, are such news items viewed as reporting the news or providing entertainment?

Lecturer Tan Ee Lyn from the Department of Communications and New Media in National University of Singapore believes however, that click bait sites can help to keep true journalism in line by pushing conventional news organisations to distinguish and distinct themselves by holding up these precious principles of journalism that are in danger of being eroded.

“True journalism is all the more critical and crucial now,” she cautioned.

There is indeed an inherent danger of the Singaporean masses being informed and taking their news from yellow journalistic news sites. Instead of busying ourselves with following the latest social media trends, that time must be better spent to empowering ourselves with knowledge of matters that are truly vital to the development and happenings of Singapore, from objective and balanced news sources.

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Netizens flame new 666 bus service announced by LTA

A new privately-owned bus service has gotten pitchforks from netizens after it was given the bus number 666. (Yahoo file photo)

By Hadi Lee

A Facebook post by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Monday announcing the launch of new bus services quickly got people poking fun at new bus service 666’s suggestive number.

“Always suspected Satan was living in Punggol,” Sivaraj Pragasm wrote.

Operating between Punggol and Marina Boulevard, the newly-launched bus service is one of five new City Direct Services (CDS) that will enable residents to enjoy direct trips to the Central Business District in Singapore.

Other new CDSs, numbered 667 to 670, will serve residents in Clementi, Dover, Ang Mo Kio, Bedok and Yishun. These new services are operated by private bus operators.

Bus service 666 runs directly from Punggol to the CBD (Photo: Land Transport Authority / Facebook)

However, it appears only bus service 666’s announcement has gained traction on Facebook, garnering more than 100 likes and nearly 500 shares at the time of this report.

According to the last book in the Bible, 666 is the number or name of the Beast, considered the devil. The numbers “666” are also sung in the chorus of Iron Maiden’s 1982 single Number Of The Beast.

Bus service 666 will be run by BT&TAN Transport Pte Ltd.

Some netizens have quickly gotten in on the act, mocking the bus service’s number and making references to the song.

“Well, the bus does take some people to hell (i.e. work) every morning,” Kenneth Low wrote in jest.

Another user, Patrick Chang, was especially critical of LTA’s decision to remain numbering bus service 666.

“Are there no other better number combinations? Reminding people that living in Punggol is like in hell?” Chang commented.

Others like Aaron Quek were quick to dismiss the brouhaha surrounding the new bus service number, downplaying 666’s significance.

“With so many different religions, languages and dialects [in Singapore], there is no way to cater to all as every number can be found offensive by someone,” he wrote.

“As a secular state, we definitely don't need to be like some Catholic schools overseas who skip the number 666 for locker numbers.”

Buses 666 to 670 will operate on weekday mornings and evening peak periods, excluding public holidays. They complement 10 current buses on the CDS program, which is part of LTA’s Bus Service Enhancement Programme launched in 2012.

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Campaign to promote the use of dialects takes off

(L-R) Fiona Seah, Melissa Goh and Cherie Lim from NTU hope the My Father Tongue campaign will spur interest among younger Singaporeans to speak dialects more often (Photo: My Father Tongue)

By Kyle Malinda-White

A new campaign to promote dialect usage among younger Singaporeans is off to a good start with 16 free classes conducted in Hokkien, Cantonese and Teochew fully booked since their opening last month.

My Father Tongue is spearheaded by three students from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) who are doing the campaign as their final-year project. Fiona Seah, 25, Melissa Goh, 24, and Cherie Lim, 23, from NTU’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, started the campaign in October last year.

The classes are held in various community centres, and most of the attendees are between 18 and 35 years old.

By coincidence, the NTU students are Teochew from their paternal side of the family while their mothers are of Cantonese heritage. They hope to promote dialects as an integral part of Singapore’s social fabric.

Their efforts appear to be paying off as the majority of the young Singaporeans that they spoke to have expressed interest in learning more about dialects.

“We thought that Singaporean youths may find dialects crude. But we realised some of them do think dialects are important to communicate with the older generation,” said Goh.

This enthusiasm is attested by the results from a survey that the students conducted last September. Some 250 youths aged 18 to 35 responded, and 82 per cent of them said they would learn dialects if given the choice.

Some of the young Singaporeans said they did not know that clan associations run dialect classes, partly because there is no online listing of such classes.

To complement the efforts of the clan associations, the students also manage the My Father Tongue’s website (www.myfathertongue.sg), which contains starter kits on Hokkien, Cantonese and Teochew. The resources include a transliteration system and audio recordings to help youths understand basic phrases such as “thank you” and “take care”.

Each dialect class conducted by My Father Tongue has been fully booked (Photo: My Father Tongue)

The students also hope to partner the clan associations, which are already active in the promotion of dialects among their respective communities.

“We hope all the clan associations could come together and promote dialects as a whole instead of doing it individually,” Goh said.

Citing the 2014 Teochew Festival, the students said the event organised by the Teochew Poit Ip Huay Kuan was a successful example of the outreach efforts by clan associations. Going forward, they hope that various clan associations can hold a multi-dialect festival.

Dialect usage has been declining partly because of the government’s efforts to promote Mandarin since the late 1970s, but the students said they understood the rationale for such a policy.

“In the past, language was a barrier for the different dialect groups. It was necessary for the government to implement a common language,” said Seah.

The students are planning more promotional activities in the coming weeks, including opening more dialect classes.

Seah believed now is the right time to bring dialects back to the mainstream of society as many young Singaporeans already have a good grasp of the official languages.

Goh agreed, saying that the students hope the campaign will spur longer-term efforts to preserve dialects for future generations.

“Dialects could be lost within our own generation. So many youngsters are taking up third languages like Korean and Japanese, so why not study their own dialect?”

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Mixed responses, petition over Singapore couple dyeing dogs to look like pandas

Meng Jiang’s new business venture, Panda Chow Chows, has received criticism for dyeing three dogs to look like pandas (Photo: Meng Jiang/Facebook)

By: Kyle Malinda-White

A new business advertising photo opportunities with three dogs dyed to look like pandas has gotten bouquets and brickbats online, with a petition urging such commercial businesses “(not) see the light of day”.

Stock trader Anton Kreil shared a Facebook post last Friday (Jan 29) of his wife Meng Jiang’s new venture, Panda Chow Chows. The venture’s website promises an “ultimate fun photoshoot experience” with the three dogs, consisting of either a studio shoot or a location-based one.

Each dog’s fur is naturally white but parts have been dyed black to make them look like pandas.

Although the business’ website claims the black dye used on the dogs is “non-bleaching, non chemical and safe for dogs” as well as approved by the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association of Singapore, this hasn't stopped many from criticising the move.

Kreil’s post has received over 500 comments as of press time, with some commenters calling the practice “unethical” and “cruel”. However, others have defended the businesses, saying it is “cute” to dress up pets and that the dye used is not harmful.

A petition by Mitchell Fang condemning the service claims the use of animal dye is still debatable and “the commercialisation of these animals means repeated and long-term exposure to these chemicals to maintain their appearances”.

“And in their case of being utilised to provide a service, it is called 'exploitation”,” the petition adds.

The petition, addressed to Member of Parliament Mr Louis Ng, has received over 540 signatures as of press time. Ng is the founder of wildlife rescue group Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) and said in an interview that he would champion animal rights in Parliament.

However, the business’ website claims the dogs are “happy” with the new dye, saying the first dog Yumi “knew something special had been done to her” and that the other dogs “had a serious case of panda envy” before getting dyed.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority has said it is monitoring the case "to ensure that animal welfare is not compromised”, while the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said it is strongly against dyeing animal fur.

“Animals have natural coats and should be appreciated for what they are, rather than trying to alter them artificially. We are unaware of any law existing prohibiting the dyeing of pet’s fur,” the SPCA said in a statement.

Kreil was previously featured in the news for posting a video on Facebook showing a 98-inch television screen being hauled up by movers via the balcony of his Sentosa Cove penthouse.

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Singapore emerging as a hub for Asian contemporary art

The Prudential Eye Awards 2016 celebrates emerging Asian contemporary artists and was part of the Singapore Art Week 2016 (16-24 January). (Photo: Prudential Eye Awards)

  By Bryan Kwa

  Singapore is emerging as a hub for Asian contemporary artists as more of them shift their focus to the region, according to a London-based art curator.

  Niru Ratnam, director of Prudential Eye Programme, told Yahoo Singapore that the Prudential Eye Awards 2016, held in conjunction with the recently concluded Singapore Art Week, underlined the growing importance of Singapore as a world-class venue for contemporary Asian art.

  “The Awards brings together artists from across Asia. For instance, this year we have artists from China, Bangladesh, Japan and Cambodia, among other countries, so you really have to choose somewhere that has a regional significance as Singapore does,” said Ratnam.

  More infrastructure and spaces in Singapore have also been put in place to support the growth of the regional arts scene, he added, citing the new National Gallery Singapore and Gillman Barracks.

  “It’s super-important to have a combination of commercial galleries, such as the ones in Gillman Barracks, for example, with non-commercial spaces such as the National Gallery or non-commercial ventures such as the Prudential Eye Awards. Artists need both sorts of spaces in order to thrive.”

  Complementing the hardware development is the comprehensive approach by Singapore’s authorities to promote arts education, said Thai artist Sakarin Krue-On, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Awards.

  Such a strategy will boost the understanding and appreciation of Asian contemporary art, further embellishing Singapore’s reputation as an arts hub, he added.

  The shifting trends of arts appreciation in Asia are also bolstering Singapore’s aim to be the foremost venue to showcase regional contemporary works.

  Douwe Cramer, show director of the inaugural Singapore Contemporary Art Show, which ended on Sunday (24 January), said higher disposable income, rising popularity of art investment and stronger official support have fuelled the growth of the Asian arts market in recent years.

  “In Hong Kong, we have expats who are more interested in buying Chinese art. In South-East Asia, we have expats who are interested in buying South-East Asian art. We see interest from locals too,” Cramer told Yahoo Singapore.

  Asian artists have also risen in stature among art lovers and investors due to their globalised outlook, said Ratnam. They no longer need to seek appreciation for their works from the traditional arts capitals like New York, London and Paris as this can be achieved in regional hubs like Singapore, he added.

  “Now Asian contemporary artists are confident enough not to necessarily need that validation. They confidently combine an international language of contemporary art with local, specific nuances,” said Ratnam.

  Singapore’s growing reputation as a hub for Asian contemporary arts has allowed local artists to exhibit their works to a wider audience. Among them is Robert Zhao, who was nominated for the Best Emerging Artist Using Photography Award at the Prudential Eye Awards.

  “It’s a great time to be an artist in Singapore now and I enjoy a lot of arts that is happening in Singapore,” said Zhao.

  The Prudential Eye Awards Exhibition 2016 showcases 15 emerging contemporary artists from Asia. It will be held until 27 March 2016 at the Marina Bay Sands’ ArtScience Museum.

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Trust in Singapore government rises after 3-year decline: survey

After a three-year decline, a survey has shown an increase in Singaporeans trusting the government (Yahoo! file photo)

By Bryan Kwa

Trust in the government of Singapore has risen after declining for three consecutive years, a survey by public relations firm Edelman has found.

The 2016 Edelman Trust Barometer, the firm's 16th annual trust and credibility survey, found that 74 per cent of the general population in Singapore trust the government. This is an increase of four percentage points from the previous year's result. Globally, trust in government rose by one percentage point from 2015 to 2016.

In the past three years, the survey found a decline in Singaporeans’ trust with their government, from 82 per cent in 2013 to 70 per cent in 2015. The trend reversal comes after the ruling People's Action Party scored a landslide victory in the 2015 General Election – after losing two by-elections and a Group Representation Constituency in the 2011 General Election. The survey was conducted last October.

Dr Tan Ern Ser, Associate Professor of Sociology at the National University of Singapore, is "not surprised" that trust in the government of Singapore went up "given the PAP government's significant response to the various hot button issues of GE2011, be it housing, transport, or healthcare," he told Yahoo Singapore.

Dr Tan, who was not involved in the survey, said there is "some correlation obviously" between the survey result and that of GE2015. "Many have attributed it in part to SG50, and the passing of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, in addition to the slew of measures, such as the Pioneer Generation Package, MediShield Life, income ceiling for HDB eligibility, etc. In hindsight, the election results were not surprising."

'Inequality of trust'

The survey found that the informed public is more optimistic about the future than the mass population. Globally, 55 per cent of the informed public believe they and their families will be better off in five years’ time as compared to 47 per cent of the mass population.

In Singapore, 52 per cent of the informed public believe they and their families will be better off in five years’ time as compared to 46 per cent of the mass population.

Informed public is defined in the survey as those who are aged 25 to 64, college-educated and whose household income is in the top 25 percent for their age in their country. This group also has significant media consumption and engagement in business news and public policy.

Dr Tan reckoned that the informed public is more optimistic "because they have some confidence that Singapore can overcome the challenges, just as it had done so in the past, and given that the Government has a game plan to help Singapore and Singaporeans remain relevant."

He added, "Also, being highly educated, they believe that they have the capacity and potential to remain employable."

"As for the mass public, there could be some concern about not being able to upgrade themselves fast enough to stay relevant and cope with the high cost of living," he said.

In general, the trust gap between the informed public and mass population is 12 percentage points, the largest ever in the survey’s history. While trust levels among informed public are the highest ever, they are below 50 per cent for the mass population in over 60 per cent of the countries surveyed, having barely moved since the Great Recession.

The trust disparity has widened and is now at double-digit levels in more than half of the countries surveyed. In the Asia-Pacific, the largest divides are in India (16 points) and Australia (16 points), followed by China (11 points).

“We are now observing the inequality of trust around the world. This brings a number of potential consequences including the rise of populist politicians, the blocking of innovation and the onset of protectionism and nativism,” said Richard Edelman, president and CEO of Edelman.

According to the firm, the widening gulf is directly linked to income inequality in several APAC countries with India (22 points), Singapore (17 points) and Japan (17 points) exhibiting the largest disparities.

Opportunity for business to lead change

Trust in business increased in eight of the nine Asia-Pacific countries surveyed, with trust in business highest in Indonesia (71 per cent), China (70 per cent) and India (69 per cent).

Businesses therefore have a strong opportunity to lead change in the Asian region, said the firm.   60 per cent of the general population in Singapore trust business – an increase from the previous result of 57 per cent in 2015.

Societal expectations for businesses vary, however, with protecting and improving the environment being the most important in China, South Korea and Japan and access to healthcare being the most important in India and Hong Kong.

Access to education and training is the most important issue for business to address in Singapore.

The 2016 Edelman Trust Barometer surveyed more than 33,000 respondents across 28 countries.

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8-year-old Estie Kung rules the kitchen against adult chefs in new cooking show

8-year-old Estie Kung is the youngest contestant in Man vs Child: Chef Showdown as she tests her skills in the kitchen with adult chefs (Photo: Sherwin Castillo)

By Kyle Malinda-White

Do not mess with Estie Kung. She may look like an innocent child but inside the kitchen, the 8-year-old turns into a consummate chef, giving out orders and whipping up dishes like a professional.

The youngest contestant on the new cooking show “Man vs Child: Chef Showdown” even jokingly guessed one of Yahoo Singapore’s questions even before this reported started asking her.

“Where did you learn to start cooking? My mother,” Kung casually mentioned.

Nothing seems to faze Kung, not even a mini slip-up in the kitchen when she was in Singapore on 19 Jan (Tue) to compete against Justin Hammond, the head chef of local izakaya bar Neon Pigeon in a man-versus-child cookoff.

After the skin from her pan-seared salmon stuck on the pan, she threw the skin away and continued searing her salmon until it had a bright-pink consistency. It clearly showed in the dish - the exterior was crispy while the inside was still tender and soft.

Kung’s problem-solving skills also translate to the show. She said that in a challenge where she had to make lobster devilled eggs, she forgot to add celery to the filling so to use the required ingredient, she garnished the dish with celery leaf instead.

“(I have an) advantage because they underestimate me. (They) under-Estie-mate me. I look so small and adorable,” Kung joked, as she sizes up her competitors who might dismiss the abilities of a child chef.

Don’t force your children to be like me: Kung

8-year-old chef Estie Kung holds the fort in the kitchen against Justin Hammond (left), head chef of local izakaya bar Neon Pigeon, in a man-vs-child cookoff (Photo: Kyle Malinda-White)

There are some disadvantages to being a child chef: she can’t reach the spices on the top chef. However, Kung takes it all in her stride, especially when it came to asking her mother if she could step into the kitchen to learn how to cook.

“I begged them. I was just like, 'Please, can I touch the raw chicken?'” sid Kung coquettishly, batting her eyelashes and pouting her lips.

Kung’s assertiveness shines through as she aims to conquer the world of cooking and she believes confidence is the most important asset any chef must have.

“If you’re not confident when you try to make a hamburger or a peanut butter sandwich - if you give up and you can’t make that, then you can’t even be a chef,” she said.

However, there are days when - just like any person - Kung’s confidence takes a dip. She turns to her parents in times of need and counts herself lucky to have a supportive family.

She elaborated, “When I’m about to cook a dish and I am talking to my dad backstage, he always says, 'It is nothing you haven’t done, and nothing you don’t know, so why are you so scared?'”

Ultimately, Kung believes it is passion that led her to learn how to become a chef but she believes parents must not force their children to be child prodigies.

“I don’t want any parents out there forcing their kids to be like me. If you want your kids to be like that, you’ve got to see if that’s what they want because the kids will have to do it,” she advised.

Kung knows she has a long journey ahead of her, which is why she can confidently say that she has not created the perfect dish yet. What is the one dish she wishes to conquer?

“Sushi. It’s so difficult. It’s technically impossible to me, the cutting is so exact. I think it’s as difficult as ripping a piece of paper in half in a completely straight line.”

With her gumption and drive, it is only a matter of time before Estie Kung rules the kitchen as an adult chef.

Man vs Child: Chef Showdown premieres 26 Jan (Tues), 7pm on the Lifetime channel.

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Manhunt Singapore winner recounts emotional turmoil of finals

Muhammad Fuad, 25, is all smiles despite the personal setbacks he had to go through leading up to his Manhunt Singapore win (Photo: Kyle Malinda-White)

By Kyle Malinda-White

On night of the Manhunt Singapore finals on 7 Dec, Muhammad Fuad’s mind was somewhere else.

The 25-year-old was troubled that his girlfriend was lying in hospital with a slipped disc and needed to undergo surgery.

Fuad said it was the Manhunt contestants' encouragement that kept him going.

"The other contestants saw me down and kept the motivation going and morale up. A few of them who knew what’s going on just gave me the tap on the shoulder and told me to just go for it. In my mind, I said that I’ve made it this far. It’s the last bullet, now fire away," Fuad recounted.

The winner of Manhunt Singapore missed not only his girlfriend’s presence at the finals, but also his parents’. His parents were working that day. After the win, Fuad rushed to the hospital to see his girlfriend and managed to call his mother.

Holding back tears, he said, "I didn’t have my phone throughout the whole event, so when I finally got to call my mum, she was in disbelief. I could hear her voice break down - like she was crying. I made her really proud that night."

Fuad's father is a technician, while his mother just recently started working despite having diabetes. The family's financial difficulties were what inspired Fuad, a graphic designer with local club Attica, to give Manhunt a shot after participating in a physique fitness competition earlier this year.

"I thought of doing this to see what opportunities are in store for me. I want to help my family out," he said.

Despite setbacks, Fuad pushes through with charm

Muhammad Fuad with his Manhunt Singapore win (Photo: Jwalking Studio via Manhunt Singapore/Facebook)

Fuad's underwent knee surgery in 2014 - a move that kept him bedridden for three months. He was about to complete his National Service stint when he ruptured his meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament in an army tug-of-war competition.

Fuad said that in the first month of bed rest, his mother had to deliver food to his bed. After that month, Fuad took an unusual step to get back into fighting form.

"I just wanted to walk out and try to gym again, so I went to the gym in crutches. Everyone was stunned because they thought I should be resting at home. I tried my best from there to get my legs in working condition again," he said.

"If I fall before, I should get back up and fight again."

Fuad believes it was his grit and determination that charmed the Manhunt Singapore judges. In fact, the self-proclaimed "shy guy" says that he becomes somewhat different on stage.

"I’m always shy - I’m not that outspoken with jokes on the spot. During the auditions, I tried to speak as much as I could. I knew (the judges) could tell that I was shy. I wasn’t sure about the other contestants - they looked like they had more experience and talents. But when I’m on stage, I let it all out,” he said.

Now, Fuad is setting his sights on a bigger goal: to represent Singapore in the Manhunt International competition in May 2016 in China. He admitted the pressure is intense but is keeping his fitness and diet regimen in check.

"I try to control myself and show my best side. I don’t have a special trick - I’m just myself. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, at least I represented Singapore well. Right now, I have to do whatever I can," he said.

Fuad said that maintaining his abs will be a tricky affair. Currently, he prepares batch meals on Sunday nights, does circuit training and gets at least 30 minutes of exercise in after work every day.

But Fuad admitted he let his inner glutton loose after the Manhunt Singapore finals. "The first thing I ate was two Snicker bars. Chocolates make people happy, right? When I ran to the hospital to check on my girlfriend, I went to Cheers and gobbled up pau, sandwiches, siew mai and lo mai gai (steamed glutinous rice with chicken). I also ate rice and pizza, so I gained quite a lot."

His food kryptonite? "Nutella is the best!"

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Construction supervisor reminisces life back home through poetry

Second prize winner Mohor Khan (left) with first prize winner Zakir Hossain Khokon (right) (Photo: Bryan Kwa)

By Bryan Kwa

While 38-year-old Zakir Hossain Khokon, a Bangladeshi construction supervisor who arrived in Singapore in 2003, battles the social exclusion he faces as a migrant worker, he also channels his thoughts on how he misses his family back home in Dhaka through poetry.

His poem, written in his native language of Bengali, talks of how he draws a portrait of the people he's missing and hangs it on the wall. "Then I talk to the audience: ‘Hey, I’m sorry because I put this portrait on the wall.’ Then I explained what is in there. At the end of the poem, I say I am sorry. Then, I take down my portrait.”

Zakir's heart-rending poem-painting won him the first prize in the Migrant Worker Poetry Competition 2015 on Sunday night (13 Dec) at the National Library. He also came out tops in the same competition last year.

Titled ‘I am sorry’, his winning poem conveys migrant angst through a painting with words. He tells Yahoo Singapore he draws the feelings of the 'migrant worker' on the portrait and explains it with the poem.

Zakir is also a freelance journalist with Banglar Kantha, a Bengali newspaper in Singapore. He is also a published poet, releasing two collections, including a non-fiction work titled, ‘Singapore riots and a love story’.

The crowd at the competition were treated to poetry in various languages: Bahasa Indonesia, Tagalog, Mandarin, Bengali, Punjabi, Tamil, and English. Students from United World College read the English translation of the poems.

Some audience members were teary-eyed as the poems touched on themes such as the calculations of migrant life and the suffering of a mother who leaves behind her young children to be a foreign domestic worker. For example, the poem of Filipina domestic worker Rolinda O.Espanola, titled ‘My Wish’, is a very personal message for her daughter who celebrated her seventh birthday recently and for all the family events she missed while working in Singapore.

Are we prejudiced towards thinking migrant workers are “uneducated”?

Debbie Fordyce from TWC2 speaking at the Migrant Worker Poetry Competition 2015 (Photo: Bryan Kwa)

The finals were judged by poet Alvin Pang, academic Kirpal Singh and translator Goh Beng Choo.

Singh said the poems need to have a transformative quality for them to be performed, "And I think our lives have been transformed. And as judges, we want to acknowledge that. We are humbled by the experiences that have been captured as beautifully.”

Describing many of the poems as “deeply moving”, Pang said, “We cannot even pretend to begin to know what’s going on. We can only begin to understand the blindness that has afflicted us for so long, so much that we do not know and do not see among us.”

Debbie Fordyce from Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), one of the competition’s partners, said, “Many of the workers here have a level of education that exceeds that even of their employers. This may seem like a shocking sort of thing, but it’s true. Their education certainly qualifies them for jobs far beyond what they are doing here. And that’s why we shouldn’t be surprised to see this sort of talent, especially from the kind of people that we’ve seen here from countries that have a long tradition of literature and the arts. “But what does it say about us when we find this surprising, when we don’t expect to see this kind of talent and passion and emotion among the people that do the dirty jobs in Singapore? It could be that some of us still hold those usual prejudicial views of migrant workers as being uneducated and unqualified for skilled work.”

Poetry competition aims to integrate migrant workers into Singapore society

Finalists of the Migrant Worker Poetry Competition 2015 pose with their certificates, together with the judges and organisers (Photo: Bryan Kwa)

Organisers said this year’s edition had triple the number of participants. Out of the 74 contestants, 65 per cent were female and a lot of them were mothers.

Leader of the organising committee, writer and management consultant Shivaji Das, said the competition had attracted a wide variety of participants – from people with “a sophisticated sense of literature” to people who are “actually writing for the first time” and those “trying to use Singlish for their poems”.  

He also recounted “anxious moments” including how, when he was calling some of the domestic workers, their employers picked up the phones, pretending to be the contestants. He had some convincing to do before they handed over the phone to the contestants.

“Nonetheless, I’m glad to say that all the employers have been supportive and all of them (the contestants) are present here today to say their poetry.”

He believes the “eventual goal” of this competition is not just to showcase the literary talents of migrant workers but also to have “tangible” impact on their living conditions in Singapore.

“Hopefully in the long term, we wouldn’t even need a migrant worker poetry competition because the title of such an event would seem rather needless at that point in time because the society and the groups are assimilated by then.”

He has plans to expand the competition and reach out to more migrant workers by working with dormitories, bus drivers, restaurants workers, and sex workers.

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Asean Para Games: Singapore’s 5-a-side team vow to make top three

(Photo: 8th ASEAN Para Games 2015 - Marina Bay Sands, Singapore - 8/12/15 Football 5-a-side - Men's - Round Robin - Singapore vs Vietnam - Singapore's Melvinder Singh S/O Betermarjit Singh (C) in action APG2015 Mandatory Credit: Sport Singapore / Action Images via Reuters Livepic)

By Hadi Lee

Melvinder Singh to Singaporeans: Look out for the next Asean Para Games - we will do better”

Visually impaired footballer Melvinder Singh urged Singaporeans to “look out for the next Asean Para Games” after his 5-a-side football team fell to a 2-0 loss against Vietnam on the final day of the competition on Tuesday (8 December).

“Even though we lost all our games, looking at how we played, I think we are the champions,” he said. The result leaves the team in forth place after a winless stretch at the Games.

The contest, played out at Marina Bay Sands Hall B, was a closely fought affair with goals from Vietnam’s Vong Thanh Duoc and Vo Thanh Trieu on either halves the difference between the two teams.

Vong provided a constant threat to the Singapore defensive third all evening - his close ball control and dizzy runs caused problems for Singapore defenders Tee Wee Leong and Fahmi Yusoff.

His compatriot Vo Thanh Trieu capped off an equally impressive display with a strong second half strike that gave substitute goalkeeper Hairul Abu Bakar no chance.

Hairil replaced starter Ronnie Lim in the second half after the latter’s collision with an unsuspecting Vong en route to goal.

The substitution proved vital in keeping the potent Vietnamese attack at bay. Hairil was instrumental in blocking an onslaught of shots on target by goal scorer Vong.

“We have shown to our Singaporean fans that blindfolded football is not easy to play. But we tried to show them that it is easy for us,” Singh said after the game. “I’ve learnt that we can do so much even with our disabilities.”

Singapore team manager Ong Meng Hong voiced his delight at the team’s performances at the Games, labelling the game as “fantastic” despite the limited preparations.

“This is a totally new game in Singapore. We don’t even have an actual court here so we had to improvise our training methods,” Ong remarked. “For them to achieve today’s result, the team has done a tremendous job.”

Defender Azhari Adam was equally bullish about the team’s prospects at the next instalment of the Games, insisting that the team “will be in the top three” in 2017.

[yahoosgpopspoken]

PG13 for Singapore film on ex-political detainee: How did it pass the censors?

Artist Green Zeng is behind The Return, a fictional film about an ex-political detainee who was freed after being arrested as a student activist (Photo: Singapore International Film Festival)

By Kyle Malinda-White

Artist Green Zeng’s debut feature film “The Return” which tells the story of an ex-political detainee freed from Singapore prison, was shown at this year’s Venice Film Festival and had its Singapore premiere at the recent Singapore International Film Festival.

But for a film containing references to student activism and the Internal Security Act, it passed the censors with a milder rating from its politically-charged counterparts: PG13.

In an interview with Yahoo Singapore, Zeng believes that it is the subtlety of The Return’s fictional narrative that made his film pass the board as compared to other films such as Tan Pin Pin’s “To Singapore, With Love”. Tan’s film, which presents the views of Singapore’s political exiles living outside the country is classified as Not Allowed for All Ratings – a statement from the Media Development Authority (MDA) in September 2014 said the contents of the film undermined national security. 

"In my work, I’m trying to find a subtle way to talk about these periods. In the last three years, there has been a surge in such works but they are documentaries whereas mine is a fictional film,” said Zeng.

Zeng’s approach is not one of confrontation and he affirmed how it extends into his personality as well.

“It’s not because I’m afraid – it’s just my personality; I will not do anything different in my films than in my own life. If I go out in the street and I talk to people about such times, I would approach them just like how I approach it in my work. There is no difference between film and my life.”

The artist’s previous body of work explores the disconnects in history and the Singapore identity. His previous 2007 short film, “Sentosa: Pulau Blakang Mati”, features the story of a political detainee going back to the island he was exiled to. The film passed the censors with an NC16 rating.

Local audience a tougher crowd than overseas: Zeng

Filmmaker Green Zeng said his film’s protagonist is an homage to his father. (Photo: The Return)

“The Return” hits home on a personal level: the film’s protagonist is an homage to Zeng’s father - “Chinese-educated, interested in politics and student activism”. Zeng declined to reveal if the film was connected to a specific event but he said his family and relatives experienced the period where student activists were being arrested in Singapore.

It is these and other local references that make Zeng more anxious to show the film in Singapore than in overseas countries. Although he believes the local audience has the ability to understand the film’s nuances, he was also nervous about the local crowd’s moviegoer culture.

“Local audiences are very critical about local films - they have a preconceived idea of what a local film should be and they are not there with an open mind sometimes,” he said.

Despite the setbacks, Zeng’s passion in history shines in his work and he believes his honesty shows despite being a fish out of water in the film festival circuit. He noted that during the screening of “The Return” in Venice, many stayed behind for the question-and-answer session when it is normal culture to leave immediately for the next film.

“I believe the audience are intelligent enough - you don’t have to try too hard to pander to them. I don’t have exotic elements that people put in local films to make them stand out. Yet, by focusing on my interest alone, I was selected for Venice,” he said.

It is the quality of a film’s story that Zeng believes, makes ratings “overrated”.

“For me, it’s a bit overrated if the film is R21 or PG13. It doesn’t tell you a lot about the film whether it’s good or bad. A film being banned doesn’t mean anything. I don’t start to make a film for it to be banned - I want it to be seen. It’s difficult to get a film to not be banned and push that very sensitive topic to the public to open up discourse,” he said.

Zeng is currently in talks with distributors for a theatrical release. When asked to clarify on rating processes, a spokesperson from MDA said the board "assesses each film on its individual merits" such as treatment and presentation.

[yahoosgpopspoken]

Could new Singapore tree planting innovation combat global warming?

Stop global warming 'the Singapore way': local chapter of Al Gore's non-profit The Climate Reality Project organized a Climate Picnic on the eve of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris where more than 140 world leaders are expected to attend. (Photo: Bryan Kwa)

By: Bryan Kwa

A new technology developed by a Singapore engineer could see more trees successfully grow, thus helping to reduce the world’s carbon footprint.

Giok P Chua, 63, told Yahoo Singapore his new invention, “Growow”, will ensure carbon dioxide emissions are reduced by increasing the probability of a tree being successfully grown.

“For most of the trees you plant, for out of 100 seeds, only about 5 grow. My system makes sure that if you plant 100 seeds, 100 seeds will grow,” he explained.

Saying trees are overly fed with fertilisers and excessively “rain-fed”, Chua suggests 'micro atmosphere control' to ensure only the right amounts of water and nutrients are given “so that there is no environmental pollution”.

Chua believes Growow will be able to grow trees even in drought periods. Chua has reached out to partners such as Asian Development Bank and Temasek Polytechnic and aims to launch the technology in February, with the goal of planting one billion trees by 2020.

Chua said this on the sidelines of a Climate Picnic organised by the Singapore chapter of The Climate Reality Project Sunday (Nov 29), on the eve of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris where more than 140 world leaders are expected to attend.

Participants of Climate Picnic SG wore green, brought posters showing their care for Mother Earth, and formed a green heart to send one message: Stop global warming (Photo: Bryan Kwa)

The non-profit project is founded by former US vice president and environmentalist Al Gore. Chua is a climate reality leader who was trained by Gore himself to set up the Singapore chapter.

Chua believes Singapore has some way to go in fighting climate change and proposes its citizens keep a monthly dashboard to track their progress in reducing activities such as excessive consumption and driving.

“If 5 million (people) reduce their energy and food waste consumption by 10 per cent, we can upsize our carbon dioxide commitment easily,” remarked Chua.

Software engineer Rendell Peh, 35, lent his support to the cause by developing, together with his business partners, a carbon footprint calculator that determines a user's carbon footprint through a series of questions, and compares it with Singapore's and the world's averages.

"Personally, I don't drive, even though I can afford it. I believe driving is a main cause of carbon pollution. Even though it takes a longer time, I prefer to travel by train to reduce my carbon footprint as it is greener – it normally uses electrical energy or diesel energy,” said Peh.

The Climate Picnic was part of the Global Climate March, where activists are planning more than 2,300 climate rallies around the world as the Paris talks commence.

Initially named 'Climate March SG', the picnic was to be held at the Speaker's Corner before being shifted to Ben & Jerry’s Dempsey branch to allow foreigners to participate. However, organizers said Ben & Jerry's franchisor, Unilever Singapore, "rescinded" their booking on the eve of the event, citing "corporate policy". The event was eventually held at Highgate Condominium, a private residential estate.

[yahoosgpopspoken]

Former political prisoner Chia Thye Poh nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

Academic James Gomez reveals that his nomination of former political prisoner Chia Thye Poh for the Nobel Peace Prize has been accepted by the Norwegian Nobel Committee (Photo: Angela Low)

By: Angela Low

Chia Thye Poh, Singapore’s longest-held political prisoner, is a nominee for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.

Speaking at a media conference on Saturday (3 Oct), academic James Gomez, who nominated Chia for the highly-coveted award, hailed the “inspirational” political contribution of the former Member of Parliament. His achievements were laudable in a country “where the levers of power, control and suppression are sophisticated”.

“I feel Dr Chia is worthy of consideration for the Nobel Peace Prize for his pioneering work and inspirational continuity through the sacrifices he made by enduring decades-long detention and restrictions. These include the psychological scars he continues to weather in silence,” Gomez said.

Chia, 74, a member of Barisan Sosialis, was detained without trial or charge for 23 years from October 1966 to May 1989, under the Internal Security Act. He was subjected to personal and political limitations for another 9 years thereafter, including solitary confinement on Sentosa Island.

In the 1960s, Chia participated in protests against the US bombings during the Vietnam War, and engaged in civil disobedience over Singapore’s independence from Malaysia. He was also accused of being a member of the Communist Party of Malaya and engaging in violent anti-government activities, both of which he denied. 

The nomination letter, sent on 27 Jan this year, has been received and registered, as informed by Olav Njølstad, director of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. There are 273 candidates for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, of which 68 are organisations.

In the letter, Gomez wrote that the government under the People’s Action Party (PAP) had “unsuccessfully tried to extract self-implicating statements from (Chia) in exchange for his release from detention.”

“However, Dr Chia’s steadfast resistance to self-incrimination throughout his detention and restrictions over 32 years is the work that is deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize,” said Gomez.

Chia was contacted through email about the nomination and has yet to respond.

When asked if there has been backlash to the nomination, Gomez said there has been “nothing negative”.

"I am not expecting Singaporeans to speak negatively of other Singaporeans on the occasion of the Nobel Peace Prize nomination," said Gomez, 50.

Gomez, now professor for communications and associate dean for international affairs at Bangkok University, co-interviewed Chia in 1989 as a second-year National University of Singapore (NUS) undergraduate for a student newsletter.

Nomination a step to rewriting more balanced history of Singapore: Tan Jee Say

Tan Jee Say, secretary-general of Singaporeans First, who was also at the conference, said, “We want the world and, in particular, the citizens of Singapore, to know of this personal tragedy and the huge sacrifices that he and his compatriots had made on our behalf in the early pioneering years.”

“This is the dark side of SG50 that is totally ignored in the national narrative that this government has written and in the LKY myth that it has created. We look forward to the day when the balanced history will be written of our past and we hope the nomination of Dr Chia Thye Poh for the Nobel Peace Prize will open up a path of this much-needed re-writing of our history,” said Tan.

“Regardless of the outcome, the nomination of Dr Chia Thye Poh is a victory in itself.”

The recipient of the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize will be unveiled on Oct 9 at 11am Central European Time by Kaci Kullmann Five, the chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

Past laureates of the award include Malala Yousafzai, an 18-year-old Pakistani women’s rights and education activist, former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela, humanitarian nun Mother Teresa, and Martin Luther King Jr., the leader of the African-American civil rights movement.

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How this Singapore startup went from bootstrapping to securing USD2.3 million in funding

Derek Tan (left), 31, and Ho Jia Jian (right), 28, are co-founders of Viddsee, a Singapore-based hybrid video platform that went from humble bootstrapping to securing a seven-figure sum to date (Photo: Viddsee)

By: Kyle Malinda-White

Viddsee, a Singapore-based video platform for budding Asian filmmakers, announced today that it has raised an undisclosed amount of funding, accumulating funds to a whopping USD2.3 million to date. It previously secured a S$50,000 government-backed grant a few months after it started up in late 2012.

The latest round of funding was led by Japan-based CyberAgent Ventures (CAV), which was the majority investor. The company did not disclose information on other investors in the round of funding.

The platform, headed by co-founders Derek Tan and Ho Jia Jian, is now poised to take on the regional market with the added funding. The company is set to double down on plans to expand into markets such as Indonesia, Taiwan and the Philippines to support budding filmmakers there with an ecosystem to publish and market their work.

However, things did not go easy from the onset.

In an interview with Yahoo Singapore, Tan, 31, said tensions between him and Ho - both former students in National University of Singapore - were high when it came to deciding how Viddsee should be built in its early days. Stakes were even higher because Ho, a Malaysian, was a permanent resident in Singapore and had to contend with bread-and-butter issues.

“From Jia Jian’s standpoint, he needed to rent an apartment. Taking the plunge away from a stable job meant there were more sacrifices to be made: money going out instead of in. It was very, very real: having to pay for rental. He went to hawker centres and had to be thrifty, choosing cai fan (mixed rice) over something else. I was still working, so when we were out for meetings, I had to bear the costs first,” said Tan.

Tan’s early days working for a startup in Silicon Valley worked in his favour as he had learnt the rough-and-tumble nature of entrepreneurship. He said it put him in good stead in learning how to tackle problems.

“Because of our backgrounds in entrepreneurship, we came with the mentality of making things work. In the beginning, we took a short time to get our product out. We experimented with marketing content instead of just hosting it. We saw our Facebook page grow, people reacting to our content. It’s working on those little experiments,” Tan said, recounting the company’s strategy of starting out with a Facebook page in September 2012 before launching a website in January 2013.

“Success is measured through those little wins, and then you try to scale things up. We came with the mentality to make things work with the least required resources.”

The quality of content on Viddsee, Tan says, is a stark contrast to low-quality, user-generated content that is going viral. He believes there is a gap for cinematic mobile-friendly video content that Viddsee is fulfilling.

“We’re quite saddened when we see baby videos or cat videos getting billion of views online. There is a lot of noise. We wanted to surface content for filmmakers in the region. People have been watching (such films) in traditional spaces, but we believe the medium has changed,” said Tan.

“Our investors saw it. The video space is growing, but another thing is to look at the space of high-quality entertainment. What we want to do is craft that space for professional content.”

The founders’ gumption in providing solutions to challenges is something Tan hopes to see in future entrepreneurs. He cautioned against entrepreneurs without technological know-how seeing films like The Social Network and getting into the startup business because it is seen as popular.

“Being in it is a lot of hard work, and it’s not as easy as what the media portrays it to be. I’m not sure if a lot of aspiring entrepreneurs see that. (Their motives) can be to sell the company, but they also need to make a stand,” said Tan.

“Me and my co-founder are engineers that have a strong passion for film. A passion for technology can change industries. When bad things happen and they happen all the time, you need to go back to why you are doing this. I don’t fault entrepreneurs who do it for money, but it needs to come from passion, not just because it’s the “in” thing,” he said.

In a statement, Takahiro Suzuki, spokesperson for CyberAgent Ventures, says the company is confident Viddsee will become the touchpoint for online cinematic content, giving mobile-oriented audiences in countries such as Indonesia “their first experience of watching quality films”.

[yahoosgpopspoken]

GE2015: Will municipal or national issues matter more?

Jeanette Chong-Aruldross’ plans to reinstate Dakota Crescent is part of a municipal “manifesto” that may win more favour in addressing constituents’ direct concerns rather than a campaign solely on broad, national issues (Photo: Jeannette For Mountbatten/Facebook)

By: Sarah Oh

Winning isn’t everything. If opposition Members of Parliament (MP) are still outnumbered after September 11, what difference will their elections campaign on national issues make if their vote on a contested bill is eclipsed by the voice of the majority?

For some candidates in this general election, they have taken to municipal matters in a bid to assure residents that issues in their backyard are taken care of.

Mrs Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss, the Singapore People’s Party’s candidate for the Mountbatten single-seat ward, intends to roll out a series of redevelopment plans for the Dakota Crescent estate. Known as her “Mountbatten Manifesto”, she plans to keep rental prices affordable for local stall owners, improve public transport connectivity and capacity, and set up a bursary for children of the disadvantaged.

Dr Lee Bee Wah, MP for Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency (GRC), is actively involved in making Singapore an efficient and accessible place. She has contributed to managing the crowd traffic at bus stops during peak hours, executing lift upgrading at multi-storey carparks, and sheltered pathways. Her success in her ward comes because she knows what is troubling the residents in Nee Soon and resolves to tackle these problems in her constituent.

Big dreams usually start small. Suppose this bodes well for one constituency: it can then be rolled out on a national scale. Against this backdrop, Singapore can benefit from a re-energised municipal alliance that articulates a common cause for Singapore’s future.

Singapore is a small nation. Tampines should not be any different from Clementi. Singaporeans should not be deprived of municipal privileges simply because the incumbent is not elected as MP. In fact, municipal strategies could be articulated in national policies in a holistic way.  

Meanwhile, in this election, national issues have been raised as touchpoints for expressing discontent and making acid jibes at one another. Over the past few days of campaigning, it has been observed that opposition parties are attacking the government over on national issues such as housing, healthcare, immigration, education, cost of living and the Central Provident Fund (CPF).

Yet, municipal contributions are overlooked. Singaporeans may be forgetting that municipal issues can be framed as part of a national agenda. One must not fall into this trap. In small municipal concerns, there may be many lessons for the nation.

[yahoosgpopspoken]

GE2015: Singaporeans may be a minority under PAP rule: WP’s Low Thia Khiang

P chairman Sylvia Lim P chairman Sylvia Lim 

Workers’ Party chief Low Thia Khiang speaking at a rally in Simei (Photo: Hadi Lee)

By: Hadi Lee

The Singaporean core is being eroded by the ruling People’s Action Party’s (PAP) policies of “blind economic growth”, the Workers’ Party (WP) warned.

Such policies have caused a sharp decline in the quality of life, and are contributing to the low birth rate, an aging population and a big influx of foreign workers in Singapore, WP chief Low Thia Khiang said at a party rally at Simei Road on Sunday (6 Sep).

“If we carry on this way, we might end up one day with an aged population with insufficient renewal. We might even see the day when Singaporeans become the minority,” said Low, who is defending his seat at Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC) at the 11 Sep general election.  

Calling for “compassionate and equitable growth”, Low said the government’s current policies are not sustainable.

“PAP’s method of policy making and governance has worked for Singapore’s rapid development but will undermine the future sustainability of Singapore,” he said. 

Low criticised the PAP for its labour policies that are hurting Singaporean workers, saying there is an over-reliance on foreign workers to fuel Singapore’s growth.

“I don't believe Singapore lacks local talent. More investments should be made by the government in Singaporean workers.”

WP’s Daniel Goh highlighted the risk of issuing a “blank cheque” to the PAP to maintain its open-door policy on immigration and foreign labour, which will result in a spike in Singapore’s population to a projected 6.9 million people. 

“Singapore is not a machine and its people are not the nuts and screws in it,” said the candidate for East Coast GRC, who was speaking in Mandarin at the rally.

WP chairman Sylvia Lim addressed the issue of more diversified representation in parliament. She slammed the comment by Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong that the opposition’s position of calling for a bigger presence in parliament as a check and balance on the government as a “seductive lie”. 

Many countries have broad representation in their parliaments and yet, they are not unstable, she said, pointing to the example of New Zealand. Singaporeans cannot afford to be over-reliant on a single party to run the country, she added.

“The only way for Singaporeans to protect ourselves is to build another party if PAP fails.“

[yahoosgpopspoken]

GE2015: Ravi Philemon says moving from blogging to politics “very easy”

Ravi Philemon shakes hands with supporters after the social activist and blogger gave a rally speech as a Singapore People’s Party candidate for the general elections (Photo: Bryan Kwa)

By: Bryan Kwa

Singapore People’s Party (SPP) candidate for Hong Kah North Single Member Constituency (SMC) Ravi Philemon intends to crowdfund his campaign promise of a $500,000 Hong Kah North Medical Assistance Fund.

“I am an experienced fund-raiser so I know how to raise funds,” the social worker and blogger told Yahoo Singapore after an SPP rally Saturday (Sep 5) night.

He was upbeat about the trend of activist bloggers standing for elections.

“A blogger is still a Singaporean and he blogs about various issues because he feels passionate about them. There’s a thin line that divides social issues and political issues. So it’s very easy for bloggers to cross over to provide better opportunities, to provide another alternative for Singaporeans.”

Activist bloggers standing for election include Gilbert Goh and Roy Ngerng of the Reform Party, who are contesting in the Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency.

Ravi delivered an impassioned speech at the rally, thanking voters for embracing him with open arms.

“When I first came here, I was a stranger to many of you but you gave me a chance. You had hard questions, but you allowed me to talk to you. Once you had seized me up, and knew you can trust me, you shared your concerns with me,” he said.

“You have acknowledged my hard work. We have done the hard work but you allowed me to know you. You allowed me to hear you. Now, I ask that you send me to Parliament to speak for you.”

Ravi also censured his opponent, Dr Amy Khor of the People’s Action Party (PAP). He lambasted Dr Khor’s report card as Senior Minister of State for Health and Manpower, claiming patients were still affected because of the hospital bed crunch and that she said “a Singaporeans-first policy will not benefit the economy”.

Ravi added that he has given his personal phone number to Hong Kah North residents, proving commitment to voters.

“You don’t need to speak to a third party to have access to me,” said Ravi.

He also reiterated promises for good town council management, after learning from veteran politician Chiam See Tong’s style of running one. Ravi said Chiam’s former town council in Potong Pasir would attend to late-night calls and assured voters that “my town council will be at your call”.

Ravi acknowledged it would be a tough fight for him to win given that Dr Khor was the top electoral performer at the previous general election in 2011.

He said in his speech, “Even if I don’t win, by voting for me, and thereby reducing Dr Khor’s margin of vote share from the last election, you will be sending a strong signal to her – that she needs to pull up her socks and not take Hong Kah North voters for granted.”

When Yahoo Singapore asked him on his chances of winning, he said, “I know it will be a hard fight. It’s a hard ground, but I’m here knowing that, and I hope the voters will trust me enough to send me into Parliament.”