An ardent supporter breaks down upon meeting Mr Chiam See Tong, (Yahoo! photo/Christine Choo)
For one man in his 60s, it was just too much to bear.
Moments after the Singapore People's Party's (SPP) first General Election rally at Jurong West ended on Friday, he was so moved by secretary-general Chiam See Tong's speech that he began to tear.
The man cried as he shook Mr Chiam's hand and said, "I feel so happy for you that I am crying. I hope you win."
Others added more words of encouragement, including one who said, "We need more people like you."
Indeed, many in the estimated 1,200-strong crowd had come just from across the island -- some from as far as Woodlands --just to hear Singapore's longest-serving opposition MP speak.
Crane operator Nizam, 26, who stays in Choa Chu Kang, attended the rally even though he would not have the opportunity to vote for the SPP, which will be contesting only in Hong Kah North SMC, Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC and Potong Pasir SMC. "I came down to see Mr Chiam, because I wanted to see him in person, to hear him speak. He's a great man," he said. "He's a legend," added Hanizah Zaini, 27, a customer service officer. "It's amazing that he is still here (and standing for election again), against all odds." The most poignant moment of the night came when Mr Chiam -- hunched and bowed by old age and the lasting effects of a stroke -- took to the stage.
Even as the audience chanted his name, the Potong Pasir MP for the last 27 years said humbly, "You give me more applause than I deserve."
Explaining his decision why he's contesting another election at the age of 76, the former lawyer said, "I am not actually a brave man. But I love Singapore and I love Singaporeans." Speaking in a slow, measured voice, he said that the opposition is the essence of democracy and that the government needs to be more transparent and accountable.
Urging the audience to make their vote count, he said, "Every one of us can take part in politics. I can assure you that nothing will happen to you; I am a living example you can follow." The crowd responded and at one point, a resident called out, "Mr Chiam, you don't have to speak. We will vote for you!" while others applauded to show encouragement.
Of course, Mr Chiam is fighting to win, and has even gone as far as saying that he believes he will triumph over the incumbent PAP team in Bishan-Toa Payoh, which comprises two heavyweight ministers in Wong Kan Seng and Ng Eng Hen. Most observers say that the chances of an upset are slim, but Mr Chiam has been an underdog for pretty much all of his dazzling political career.
Whether he wins or loses, Chiam See Tong is guaranteed a place in Singapore’s political folklore for generations to come. However, just about every single person in the country is silently rooting for him to score yet another fairytale victory as he embarks upon his last hurrah.
The author is a political correspondent at The Satay Club. She works as an analyst in a leading multinational research firm.
这个 strategy 是错误的，但要一户一户去访问也很辛苦。。。
其实一个小小的真心就可以赢到选票。。看这个。。。Straits Times 资深记者写的。。。
What goes on in the heart, not the head, that matters
By Bertha Henson, Associate Editor
I WAS out all Easter weekend in various parts of my neighbourhood with family and friends, having lunch, strolling around the HDB shops and having several cups of coffee at the hawker centre. And all the time, hoping to catch a glimpse at the contenders for my vote.
Not the old warriors, whom I have interviewed in the course of my career, but the newbies. I wanted to lock eyes with them, grasp their hand and wait for, hmm, pearls of wisdom to fall from their mouth. I had no joy. And now that I will be out of town for most of the campaign period, I would probably not have the chance to meet any of them before going into the polling booth.
Is it really so important? Those few seconds of glad-handing, palm pressing? I reckon the politicians think so, looking at how they seem to be rushing about doing block visits and hawker centre tours. It boils down to name and face recognition and a higher visibility and profile among voters always helps. After all, can you really get a measure of the man or woman in just a few minutes? Hardly enough time to quiz them on policies or their position on issues. But it is enough time for a voter to decide, straight-off, whether the person grinning over those bowls of laksa deserve consideration.
I know someone who decided immediately that the candidate who appeared at his door would not get his vote because the candidate, looking at my friend in his tee-shirt and shorts in the shophouse, thought he worked in a factory. The first words out of the man in white was 'Which factory do you work at?' My friend is an architect visiting his father. The candidate who made such presumptions don't deserve my vote, my friend harrummphed. Too drastic? (Oh, that was a few elections ago).
I know of another candidate who picked up a booklet of political satires on a walkabout and muttered that this could only have been done by the English-educated. I was within earshot - and aghast. A retort hovered at the tip of my tongue - that's because the Chinese-educated preferred sex and violence? As I said, the retort merely hovered. I am glad to say he did not stand in my ward.
As a reporter, I have watched tongue-tied candidates who had to be led by the nose by activists, who are themselves sometimes no advertisement for the candidates. One family told me of how grassroot leaders knocked on their door to tell them the incumbent would be dropping by. They waited an hour, door opened, until the woman in the family decided it was time to sit down to dinner which was getting cold. The door closed.
One memory I cherish: I was with Mr Lee Kuan Yew when he was Prime Minister campaigning in Bedok. Along one corridor of flats, a girl in uniform was in the act of locking up her flat, presumably because she was going to school. Mr Lee asked if her parents were in, she said no. And told her: 'Tell your parents that Lee Kuan Yew came by.'
It was such a simple statement. And truth to tell, I still don't know why it resonated with me.
As politicians of all stripes launch into debate about what constitutes a First World Parliament and whether Singapore housing policies are moving in the right direction, they might want to consider that for most people, the first qualifying round so to speak, is whether the candidate is 'nice'. A relative once chanced upon a Workers Party team in an HDB carpark and yelled out good luck to them. The team came over to her, beaming away and eventually invited her to lunch with them. She declined. The upshot: 'They are very nice people'.
Did that translate into a vote for them? I don't know.
You see, for most people, it boils down to what goes on in the heart, not the head. The People's Action Party has a bunch of smart people, and the Opposition isn't looking too bad this time in the smarts front. I read everything they say when quizzed by reporters, and I do so always with a touch of cynicism - they have been prepared, they sound rehearsed, what else do you expect them to say? Strip all that off and it comes down to how they relate to you and me.
So here are tips for candidates with tongue only in half in cheek:
Do make sure you have a firm handshake because older menfolk like that in a man.
Don't ask if people are having lunch when they obviously are.
Don't let your activists run ahead of you to prepare the path, because voters do not like to feel that they are waiting for royalty to descend on them,
Don't make divisive statements that single out any community, like the English-educated, or the gays or overseas Singaporeans or immigrants
Do be on time for all events especially outdoor ones because the weather can wear out anybody's patience.
Even Lee Kuan Yew introduces himself.
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发表于 30-4-2011 09:32 AM
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