Petition drive HIJACKED by SPH and Mediacorp journalists!!!
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Petition drive HIJACKED by SPH and Mediacorp journalists!!!
June 6, 2009
From The Field Report Team
[NOTE: The CNA report (read here ) that there were less than 20 signatures collected is INACCURATE. There were 56 signatures collected for the petition to remove Lee Bee Wah as STTA President and 37 signatures for the petition to DPM Teo Chee Hean to give the special award to Liu Guodong. The turnout will definitely be greater had not for the huge media presence at the booth.]
It was supposed to be a low key event with an expected turnout of less than 100. Even so, it did not stop SPH and Mediacorp journalists, complete with a TV crew to turn up in force at the first outreach event organized by this blog and its axillaries.
Our three freelancers were absolutely stunned by the presence of the media which kept hounding them from the very moment they were spotted - they were descended upon and literally ‘devoured’ by a pack of ‘hungry wolves’.
In spite telling them that they were only paid to do a job, they were bombarded repeatedly with questions about the identities of the organizers, pestered to reveal their particulars and stopped from manning the booth.
With the journalists filming their every single movement and taking photos of them without permission, they had to walk away from the booth instead of stationing themselves there as was planned.
When one of our freelancers told them straight off to stop it, a lady journalist rebuked that “Hong Lim Park is a public place and they have no right to stop her from following them.”
Harrassed, flustered and traumatized by the relentless stalking of these journalists, two of them left after 15 minutes. Another was recalled elsewhere to keep watch on the booth at a distance.
Though our petition booth was unmanned subsequently, members of the public and Singaporeans who heard about it from the internet still turned up to sign on it. A few of them were interviewed by the journalists who were unwittingly manning the booth on our behalfs.
The event ended at 6.30pm sharp with the journalists still hanging around the booth. It was really an eye-opener for the two of us who were dancing with the Pinoy rock band nearby. We would have thought that Singapore journalists are better behaved compared to their Western counterparts. It turned out that they are no different from the paparrazi.
Our freelancers are not some super stars. They are simply students being paid to do a job. We had made an announcement here earlier that no Wayang Party columnists will be present and our temporary staff are not obliged to answer any questions other than those pertaining to the petition.
What special scoop will these journalists gain by snapping at them non-stop with their cameras? Can’t they just do what was required of them without causing disruption to the event?
Despite the low turnout, our petition has achieved its primary objective of heaping continued pressure on Lee Bee Wah to resign as STTA President and keeping the issue alive in public consciousness through the mainstream media.
Till now, Lee Bee Wah has not come out to clarify her statements on Liu Guodong. She must be praying hard that Singaporeans will soon forget about her mistake. Unfortunately, she will be stirring MORE public FURORE and OUTRAGE in the weeks ahead………
MORE TO COME TOMORROW:
1. Photo Gallery of Petition Drive at Hong Lim Park, 6 June 2009.
2. An encouraging response from Singaporeans: some handwritten comments.
EDITORS’ NOTE:
We apologize for the unexpected turn of events which had thrown our freelancers off guard. All three of them were newbies who were overwhelmed by the occasion. We had refrained from using seasoned old birds in this event as they are still needed as our undercover reporters. We thank all Wayang Party readers and Singaporeans for turning up to lend support to our petition drive. Though the turnout is less than expected due to the huge media presence which may have turned some people away, it is nevertheless a small, positive step forward. In the future, we will organize all events INDOORS at hotel function rooms. All journalists will be BANNED from entry to prevent a recurrence of this unfortunate episode.
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Sorry seems to be the hardest word.
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maybe... maybe..
maybe no one gives a shit... i know i don't for this whole sordid affair... and i bet loads of people don't give a rat's ass either...
as much as i don't like LBW's behaviour, i could not be stuffed to go there and sign a pointless petition which is idiotic at best and utterly naive if you think it'll change anything...
do not blame the media... they thought people actually gave a shit enough to want to make a news story out of it...
what the hell do you want? if none of them turned up, would you kpkb about them not giving this "story" any air-time?
grow the hell up... or wake the hell up..
stop looking at politicians as if they mean anything... they're just pointless attention-whoring parasites... just like the other side, CSJ... who is another attention whore...
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I noticed the story on Channel 5 news. The reporter really had a mocking tone about the number of signatures. The story was immediately followed by one on the high turnout at the SG Idol auditions, as if to really stick the point.
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Thanks for the posting.
Through this posting, it made me and my fellow citizens more aware of certain things. They are:-
1. The 'wayangparty' team dares to be vocal only behind the computer screen, but do not have the guts to face the public even in a neutral ground for signing of a simple petition, in such a place as Hong Lim Park. Despite all their high flaunting criticisms, they dare not make a stand in open and neutral ground.
2. Despite their calls for freedom, they disgustingly wish to enfore a 'BAN' on journalist, whom are citizens of this free country as well, from turning up. Why the double standards. talking in fork tongue? Where is their credibility? Or is it as usual, plain hot air?
3. More despicable, and for that alone, I despise them to the core of my heart - the use of innocent students - to fulfill their political aims. This is an absolutely abominable and beastly thing to do. SPARE THE NAIVE KIDS, WILL YA, YOU F*KING BUNCH OF REVOLTING BASTARDS!!!
It seems we as a society still have a long way towards political maturity. Anyone who seeks for petitions would welcome the press, regardless if the report is later good or badly written, for it is the AWARENESS that is to be created that is most vital. Politicians woo the press, but it seems the opposition would have to buck up on their public relations if they ever aspire to 'uplift' the lives of our society, not thru hot air but real peaceful and intelligent actions.
As it is, wayangparty and its contributors had only shown themselves vile and sleazy, the very kind of politicians not welcome in our society. Perhaps they should try instead to write for porn sites or apply for jobs as pimps from CID.
PS: was that senior looking man in the pic the famous you, Uncle Chia?
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what's the point of this thread? you on drugs again? LOL. making a mountain out of a molehill.
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Originally posted by Firefish:
what's the point of this thread? you on drugs again? LOL. making a mountain out of a molehill.
Who's the mole?
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SPARE THE NAIVE KIDS, WILL YA, YOU F*KING BUNCH OF REVOLTING BASTARDS!!!
PAP from kindergarten brainwash already leh.
Who is more bastard?
The schoold kids are just doing what they pledge to do every morning.
Uphold democracy.
We, the citizens of Singapore
Pledge ourselves as one united people
Regardless of race, language or religion
To build a democratic society
Based on justice and equality
So as to achieve happiness, prosperity & progress for our nation -
Originally posted by Chew Bakar:
Who's the mole?
figure it yourself.
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Originally posted by Firefish:
figure it yourself.
The Chinese dilemma?
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Originally posted by Ah Chia:
PAP from kindergarten brainwash already leh.
Who is more bastard?
i can also say you kena brainwash by chee hong juan what. LOL. you experience a childhood trauma is it? which explains all your unhappiness towards the government? all you need is a counsellor actually, like seriously. HAHAHA.
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Originally posted by Chew Bakar:
The Chinese dilemma?
if you say so.
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Originally posted by Firefish:
if you say so.
To win or to lose?
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Originally posted by Chew Bakar:
To win or to lose?
it doesn't matter.
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i can also say you kena brainwash by chee hong juan what.
No, I think I brainwashed by the national pledge.
We, the citizens of Singapore
Pledge ourselves as one united people
Regardless of race, language or religion
To build a democratic society
Based on justice and equality
So as to achieve happiness, prosperity & progress for our nation
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Originally posted by Firefish:
it doesn't matter.
Hell freezes over.
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Originally posted by Ah Chia:
No, I think I brainwashed by the national pledge.
We, the citizens of Singapore
Pledge ourselves as one united people
Regardless of race, language or religion
To build a democratic society
Based on justice and equality
So as to achieve happiness, prosperity & progress for our nation
We, the citizens of Singapore
Pledge ourselves as one united people
Regardless of race, language or religion
To build a democratic society
Based on justice and equality
So as to achieve happiness, prosperity & progress for our nation
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ya lor hor, kill those who speak against PAP lor. They make so much noise hor. ha ha ha haha! as if people have no freedom to express themselves.
manipulating figures again, nothing new! dirty dirty! dirty harry!
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Ya lor to build a democratic society is to shut people's mouths when they speak against PAP. Kill them kill them! ha ha ha ha!
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Originally posted by Chew Bakar:
Hell freezes over.
hiak.
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We, the citizens of Singapore
Pledge ourselves as one united people
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persistent noise.
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Originally posted by Ah Chia:
No, I think I brainwashed by the national pledge.
We, the citizens of Singapore
Pledge ourselves as one united people
Regardless of race, language or religion
To build a democratic society
Based on justice and equality
So as to achieve happiness, prosperity & progress for our nation
You call manipulating innocents kids by paying them money to do something which by right should be the job of those sleazeball whiners is 'building a democratic society'?
Uncle Chia, you really test my patience, more so when you use kids for your mad propaganda. Please, I beg you, leave them out. Kid do not choose the kindergartens to go to, amongst many in our land of the brave and the free.
Wanna blame, go blame the parents. Furthermore, that sacred pledge vowed and taught is to our nation - our society which is made up of you, me, our families, relatives and friends. Please, please, do not tar it and smear it. It is an honourable pledge that rise beyond politics.
If you want to perform sacriledge or hell bent on destruction, do it to yourself and not to others whom are innocent. Is there nothing that is sacred to you? Have you no care for our society at all, espacially our young?
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Originally posted by Firefish:
hiak.
Game over.
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Originally posted by Fantagf:
persistent noise.
me? haha you people say freedom of speech marh. anyway i realise you are a female. don't wanna disturb you liao.