Irate netizen calls on Singaporeans to gatecrash “Water Festival” organized by Bukit Batok grassroots organizations
March 26th, 2010 | 
Author: Written by Our Correspondent
An irate netizen by the name of Aurora Long has called on Singaporeans to gatecrash the “Water Festival” organized by Bukit Batok grassroots organizations to welcome the New Year for the Thai, Burmese, Laotian and Cambodians living in Singapore:
After the event was publicized on our site, many netizens expressed their dismay and disappointment at grassroots organizations using public monies for doing so.
While they do not object to foreigners celebrating their cultural festivals in Singapore, many wonder why we have to foot the bill for organizing them.
One commentator wrote in disgust:
“When we go to the United States, do we expect its government to organize CNY or Hari Raya for us?”
Due to the PAP’s liberal immigration and pro-foreigner policies, foreigners now make up 36 percent of Singapore’s population, up from 14 percent in1990. Of the remaining 64 percent who are citizens, an increasing number are born overseas.
As too many foreigners were allowed into Singapore within too short a period of time, the PAP is now having serious trouble integrating most, if not all of them.
To tackle the problem, it has unveiled a mega $10 million Community Integration Fund funded by taxpayers to organize events, seminars and language classes to make the immigrants feel welcomed in Singapore.
The exact cost for organizing the “Water Festival” was not revealed, but it is likely to come from the Community Integration Fund.
Ms Long hopes that those who are not supportive of the government wasting taxpayers’ money on foreigners to turn up in BLACK on that day.
[Source: Aurora Long's Facebook]
EDITORS’ NOTE:
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Related articles:
>> PAP MP Grace Fu: organizing “Water Festival” is a way of telling foreigners we respect them
>> Netizens protest against “Water Festival” organized by Bukit Batok grassroots organizations
>> Singaporean unhappy at grassroots organizations hosting Water Festival for foreigners
Posted in Editorial
man, honestly, Aurora Long sounds really bitter, even planning to gatecrash -.- So much hatred there.
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this is dangerous. TR should not encourage these ideas. it seriously undermines the Opp cause.
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Just wondering: if all the “irate netizens” come together and decided to protest against the PAP, would we have a turnout like the Red Shirts in Thailand? Or are we going to end up with a small bunch of people who number less than 100 people, and it’s all the SAME people using different alias and monikers online?
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Wasting tax payer’s money.
The PAP ministers and MPs should foot the bill of the whole event since they are the only people who do not discriminate between being a citizen and a non-citizen.
The PAP is a threat to the existence of Singapore. Their immigration policies are seditious and threaten the very existence of Singapore
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@wat?
This has nothing to do this oppo parties..its an citizen uprising action
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I think remember when I was young and living in Boon Lay in the 80s, the Thais celebrated the Water Festival back then. But I remember the Man-In-Blue came and stopped them. Reason given was it was a waste of water to do that. Please please, someone from the SPF come in and clarify if I am wrong regarding this matter.
What a change in the “water saving” mindset now!
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@wat? on Fri, 26th Mar 2010 8:56 am
this is dangerous. TR should not encourage these ideas. it seriously undermines the Opp cause.
Yes, i agree that TR should not.
The reason why so many of us is write to support TR is we sincerely think, we need to gather more support. Only than the opp cause can come true.
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I am hoping one of the Foreign Thrash splashes water on Grace thinking that she should get in the act, but she’ll be rudely shocked because she wasn’t expecting it at all.
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Since we paid for it, surely no problem if we went there to collect water? good for flushing toilets. hahaha
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Can someone tell them Not to waste water…
Make October fest better,at least can drink beer.
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Is good. Singaporean should be more upfront in saying NO when the government can no longer respect its own people’s will.
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wat?,
It is not started by the opposition so it has got nothing to do with the opposition unless the local msm want to protray it otherwise.
This is just another sign of the growing unhappiness among the common singaporeans with the miw poorly executed policies.
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Singaporeans have been pushed to their limits, time to show the STUPID gahmen where we stand!
PEOPLE’S POWER IS HERE TO STAY!
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Won’t the stagnant water after the party breed mosquitoes???? Dengue Fever!! We should report this to ministry of environment
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Typical! the above two comments basically is representative of the kind of spinelessness that exists here. I guess Zephs and wat? dont have the nuts to show up, they only know how to complain and bitch but not actually do something. Heck i dont even live in that constituency but i will go down and support Aurora!! and I will wear black!
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if the money doesn’t go into sponsoring foreign festivals, can it go into reducing the price of “HIP” (the new name for hdb upgrading because the old name wasn’t hip enough) ?
then most old citizens can save money instead of diverting it again to the cause of new citizens.
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It really does little to blow this out of proportion. More like exploitation of a non-event. Are there really so many irate citizens out there? Or sensationalisation?
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to [email protected]
date Mar 26, 2010 11:14 AM
subject Enquiry on police actions against wasting water
mailed-by gmail.com
To: Singapore Police Force
Dear Sir,
I would like to verify with the police an incident in the 80s. It was reported that during the 80s in Boon Lay area, some Thai workers were celebrating their Water Festival (Songkran) then. Somehow the Police came to know about it and stepped in to stop them from celebrating. The reason given was that they were wasting water under the Public Utilities Act (CAP 261). Can I confirm that this is indeed the stand of SPF?
Yours sincerely,
Kojakbt
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Sometimes it takes drastic action to get results. I do not support violent but honestly have our government ever listen to us? We had brought matter to them in the non violent ways yet they just totally ignore us. Sometimes don’t blame the peasants for taking action in a negative manner.
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‘Reason given was it was a waste of water to do that. Please please, someone from the SPF come in and clarify if I am wrong regarding this matter.’
This time the event is sanctioned by the MIWs.
If the MIWs say so, anything goes with the Police or whatever
authorative body her
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Why need to gatecrash?
If it is to “integrate” foreigners and locals, then surely all locals are, if not must, be invited.
I have not seen the details of the event, but if locals have to gatecrash to participate, then it more than “integration” that is going on, at the locals’ expense of course.
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Aurora, don’t waste time lah.
They have plenty of RC members all over the island with a secondary role as wayang actors / actresses who will be there to grace such events at the snap of the fingers. Just wave some goody bags & freebies at them.
Conduct some interviews and the media would air mostly those positive ones in the tele to give the impression that a lot of singaporeans are very very very supportive of it. Modus operandi a la Singapore.
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Yippy…i’m bring my dirty laundry along
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Martin
You are correct , i was staying in boon lay blk 185 from 1976 to
1985 . Men in blue stop Thai from throwing water ,for wasting H20 or from creating nuisance at public place i am not too sure.
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Just fill your super soaker or water pistol with pee and aim at grace fool. Maybe she will appreciate the golden shower
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One PAP MP say save water.
“Singaporeans’ response to the dry spell last month was to use even more water,” Mr Yaacob said. “This is certainly not desirable should Singapore experience a prolonged dry spell. It is therefore timely to remind ourselves of the need to use water wisely.”
Another MP say celebrate Water Festival, using Singaporean Taxpayer money and Singaporean Water. Splash splash, play play, all have fun. To let foreigners feel welcome in Singapore.
At such event to allow Foreigners to feel welcome. Singaporeans have to suffer? Using Singaporean Money and Singaporean Water.
Where is the justice? Where is the logic?
One hand say save water, while the other hand slap yourself in the face.
Is Singapore MP trying to make a fool out of yourselves or what are you trying to proof?
Moreover, Mr. Yaacob comment was on 21 March within this week. And immediately another MP go and think of another way to waste water.
Unless, Singapore really have many natural resources of clean water supply, then we really got nothing to say.
This is basic logic, common sense and is it fair to Singaporeans???
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disGRACEFUL needs salvaging grace….. she better quit gracefully.
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Cooler heads must prevail.
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Observing comments by user wat? over the past months, I’ve come to guess that the person is from one of the “approved” opposition parties – either WP or SDA.
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Well, we cannot expect anything less can we. The opposition, TOC, TR, and even most bloggers have become a mutually supportive fascist and racist organism. Not surprising since the whole lot of them have been racists for quite a while as evidenced by their apathy in the face of the PAP’s pro-chinese policies and the opposition’s silence, at most times, when it comes to the interests of the non-chinese.
The singapore chinese are extremely well-practiced in the art of self-absorption, racism, etc, to the point that it is to be expected that we get the likes of Aurora spouting such rubbish. She is, after all, just one example of the xenophobics and racists whom form the majority of ‘netizens’. When one thinks about it, there are no variants of ‘democrats’ in singapore, only ‘fascists’. Products of the PAP, all of you.
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@ A2ed
Speak for yourself and do not assume the collectively “we”.
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Well personally I dont care one way or another – if the Bukit Batok wishes to waste money this way it is up to them.
The surest way to stop this is to have the SDP infiltrate the crowd and simultaneously distributing flyers on site.
Since the PAP is so “anti-anarchy” and afraid of riots happening, presto – no more Water Festival.
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To A2ed
We could not care less if our tax dollars are not used to
celebrate any damn festival. We prefer our tax dollars to
be used on Singapore’s needy. Misuse of our money is what
make us angry.
Ask MP Grace something to take out her own money, and celebrate all the festivals she likes, we could not give a damn.
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It is disgraceful to know that when our government is concern of water shortage during the dry, humid and hot season and ask the public to save water or get penalized but here we have PAP MP Grace Fu organizing “Water Festival” as the way of telling foreigners that we “respect” them? She can’t think of other better options?
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I think it is an excellent idea.
But I suggest car/vehicle owners should be there instead.
Use the free water to clean your car/vehicle.
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If you want to protest, I suggest something less violent. Go there and
1) Eat as much as you can
2) Drink as much as you can
3) Da Pao as much as you can
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Foreigners pay taxes too.
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As a true educated Singaporean, we do not do such a thing as gatecrashing or throw stones. So long as they do not break Singapore laws and cause inconveniece to others, let the Police / Government Authorities handle it.
But we still can report unusual activity or disturbance to the public to the our Police and Local Authorities.
Let us be nice to foreigners, as we Singaporeans also do go to their Country for holidays. We don’t want them to do the same to us would we?
Martcrab58
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Bukit Batok residents, GOOD LUCK hah! Watch out for your water bills in the coming months, hor! Sure toa kong, one!
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Basically there are two types of law: (1) A just law and (2) an unjustice law.
There are also two types of justice (1) A blind justice following the master and (2) A gut justice following God’s command. I am sure all Gods’s command demands doing right rather than seen to be right.
Grace is not grace unless it takes first the concern of its people. What then is grace?
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Nothing to do with spoiling the Opposition cause. If the people decide that they want to rise, it is only to the Opposition benefit. Look at Reformasi in Indonesia and Malaysia. The Opposition just took advantage of the people’s frustration. But in the end, it was the people who decided what should be done.
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Hmmm… We Chinese in Singapore has be asking our gahment to allow us to let off red-crackers during CNY at the basketball courts (as it is mainly concrete) and they give thousands of excuses. Now they can afford to spend S$10 million on celebrating PR/FT holidays… might was well make it official, make it a public holiday. We can celebrate all China Public holidays since we have so many PRC in Singapore. This will help them decide to be Singaporeans as they will enjoy PRC holidays and none of the Communist rules.
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A2ed
Wat you talking ? Lu cucup apa ? Lu kong si mi?
Knn Are you Singaporean ?
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If you go there and do something stupid, they can get the police to arrest you. If you just go there and eat all the food, there is nothing they can do. I don’t think they will even ask you to leave since it is a community event that is open to all.
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We can always take a hint from our neighbours up north. If they commit an offence, just file a police report. 1 report maybe not enough. 2? 3?
All you need to do is to get yourself down there and observe the the process and you’re a witness to the offence which gives you the right to file the report.
Note that it’s a FOREIGN CULTURAL event and is not covered by religious act. Let’s see if men in blue will accord special preferences and how the whole TC is going to defend the act of wasting water when they’re before the magistrate.
If the TC is fined, you win. If TC gets a kelong, you still win also- because this can be documented and publicised.
Cheers.
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I doubt there is going to be a lot of food but tons of water. And the money will be mostly spent on the police crowd control for 3000 people.
Is this like those foam parties, where ladies get splashed with water? Is alcohol allowed at this party? I am sure a lot of Caucasian expatriates will be there as well.
If this is an invitation to the public, how can it be gatecrashing in the first place?
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Common guys,
gatecrash and wear black?
Thats so ungracious.
Its a festival to go enjoy.
Its not as if they make it exclusive for Singaporeans only.
I think you guys should just go there and enjoy yourself.
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disGRACEFUl…you should look at tonite’s WanBao…pic of Yunnan children drinking muddy water due to drought
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Please ! please !! please !!!
Don’t gate crash, is not worth it.
We will deal with them when the time comes.
Be calm
:0
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Splash water and have fun? Why dont they hold near the beach like foam party? Environmentally friendly as well.
I have a suggestion. Send this invitation to all the primary school and lower secondary school students. Organize it as a water gun competition.
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Why no story on Netizen up in arms to condemn 28 year old sch teacher who blame PAP for her unrealistic lifestyle?
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A2ed: You are spot on. What can you do to help reverse the tide of online racism and bigotry in Singapore? Can you talk to other bloggers?
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I fear that the “protest” by Aurora may be the beginning of more vocal show of disobedience. I guess while the Govt is so immerse in pleasing the foreigners, they forgot that their own citizens’ unhappiness is boiling over.
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PAP MP and Senior Minister of State for National Development Ms Grace Fu should not organize “Water Festival” as the way of telling foreigners that we “respect” them.
Recently, we have very dry and hot season and our government want us to curb water wastages or be penalized under the Public Utilities Act (CAP 261).
After getting Permanent Residents status, these foreigners are already happy at achieving their goals like in terms of better career opportunities and housing benefits. Income earned are transferred back to their own country.
There are many poor local singaporeans that are living below poverty line and committing suicides by jumping at oncoming MRT trains, jumping off HDB flats and drownings as a mean of escape from financial problems. We should focus more to help on these poor local citizens instead of allocating $10 million dollars organizing such wasteful activities welcoming the foreigners. A red carpet and appetizing buffet should suffice.
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I dont agree with the “gatecrash” thing.
The best thing to do is to IGNORE.
Daily activities should go as per normal.
BUT, if you get some splash from them, whack them with your umbrella, fist, shoes or whatever within reach.
Tell them that this is Singapore. They dont belong here.
We will see which side our Policemen be.
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Have fun!
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we should organise a SAF style blanket party for these parasites who come here without doing NS.
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How can Ms Grace Fu who is not only a PAP MP but also promoted to Senior Minister of State for National Development organize “Water Festival” as the way of telling foreigners that we “respect”them when we citizens are been told by our PAP government against water wastage during this dry season or be penalized.
She must be dumber than me to think of this welcoming activity to get respect from the foreigners and also to allocate $10 million to entertain them?
I have a better idea that to save on our precious water and money,she and and Bukit Batok grassroot organizations should roll out the red carpet and kowtow to the foreigners to respect them instead.
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violence against foreigners is totally wrong. It is not their fault that they are allowed to stay here and not doing NS right?
Just go to eat chicken wings.
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When I was in school, we classfied a moron with brain of a prawn or otak udang in malay. To be dumber than a moron is like the brain about same size as an amoeba?
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Foreigners get free food mah. I got no money to buy food so must go to event to get free dinner (oh, btw tax payed for it) .
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@abcd on Fri, 26th Mar 2010 2:36 pm
“Foreigners pay taxes too.”
Please do not make swift statement like that. I don’t care how much you pay but I suspect you don’t pay much at all. It does not show your intelligence by making statement like that. On the contrary it just show your ignorance to the frustrations of local people here.
Will your country let in 36% of foreigners, not including PRs and new citizens that easily pump the figure beyond 50%, all in a relatively short period of time?
And how much tax do you pay?
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Wow, this is a golden opportunity to help the MPs in attendance to wash away all their “troubles”. Remember to bring enough plastic bags and take aim accurately. An open invitation to all. Go for it!
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http://news.youku.com/xinanhanzai
China is suffering from their worst drought, we should have treasure every drops of water.
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SUPPORT WATER FESTIVAL!
http://www.according2ed.com/2010/04/anti-fascist-initiative-support-bukit.html
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