Interview with 3 SGs CHARGED FOR SPEAKING UP ON THE CPF
[h=1]EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH 3 SINGAPOREANS CHARGED FOR SPEAKING UP ON THE CPF[/h]
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30 Oct 2014 - 2:50pm
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[photo credit: Tan Yunyou]
Last week, there was a flurry of activity amidst the protest scene in Singapore. Fourteen Singaporeans were questioned by the Police for “unlawful assembly” for their participation at the #ReturnOurCPF protest on September 27.
Six of them were later accused of “public nuisance”. Roy Ngerng and Han Hui Hui were saddled with an additional accusation of demonstrating without a permit, under the Parks and Trees Act (which by the way, does not regulate free speech).
On Monday, they went to court to face the accusations levied against them. Their case has been adjourned to November 24 at 3pm.
Why did the six stood and fight for their rights to speak? Why were they eventually penalised for speaking up for their rights?
The Real Singapore caught up with three of them to have a chat and a peek into who they really are, as people.
(1) Thank you everyone for taking the time out to have a chat with us. First off, how are you feeling?
Mr Goh: Thank you. I am doing fine.
Ms Chua: I am upset with the charge. We were just trying to speak the truth and got charged.
Ms Janet Low: I feel trapped. It is making me wonder if true justice exists. I feel like I have to live in fear in a communist country. It feels like I am an innocent victim charged by my employee. I am actually paying the employee to charge the boss.
(2) You have been prosecuted because you were speaking up for your rights. How do you feel about it?
Janet: I wonder – is Singapore really a democratic country? I don’t feel human rights are practised here even though we are a so-called “democratic” country. People are living in fear. What is worse is that people can be charged for speaking at the Speaker’s Corner, which has been designated as the lawful place for protests. What’s more, we actually have an approval for the protest.
Goh: I believe that the Singapore government needs to change.
(3) Let us ask you a very specific question about the CPF. We understand that you have been taking part in the #ReturnOurCPF protests. What motivates you to want to speak up about the CPF?
Chua: I agree with what Hui Hui and Roy have been saying. I do not think that the government is doing the right thing on the CPF policy.
Goh: We believe that our CPF money should be returned to us when we reach the age of 55 years old.
Janet: CPF is our own money. We have the right to get back our money. It is like when we buy an insurance policy and when it matures, the insurance company has to pay us back all the money. It is the same with fixed deposits. For CPF, the maturity is 55 years old, so the CPF Board has no right not to return us all the money. It is considered as a breach of contract. If the bank or company owes a person money and refuses to return the money, he can report to the Police. So, I wonder if we should consider reporting to the Police if the CPF Board refuses to return us all our money when we reach 55 years old. Why should we work until we die? We are not slaves of work.
(4) If there can be one change made to the CPF, what would you like it to be?
Chua: The Singapore government is holding our CPF and is unwilling to let us withdraw more of our own money. I think we should be allowed to withdraw a higher amount. If 55 is too early to withdraw, then we should be allowed to withdraw at 60. 65 is too long.
Janet: There is no need to split the CPF into so many accounts (Ordinary Account, Special Account, Medisave Account etc). It should not be made so complicated. If someone has enough inside the CPF, they should be able to deduct their medical expenses from the CPF. The government should return our CPF money at 55. I believe we need transparency on how our CPF is being managed.
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(5) Can we ask you if you are working now?
Goh: Yes
Chua: Yes, in an office position.
Janet: Yes. I hope to retire at 60 because I have a health problem.
(6) Would you be comfortable with sharing how much you earn with us?
Chua: Below $1800.
Goh: Less than $1,500.
(7) Many of you are in low-paying jobs. Are you worried about the legal fees and fines?
Goh: Most of us are in low-income jobs. We are worried that we will lose our jobs and won’t be able to find another job. Also, we are reaching 45. It will be even more difficult to look for a job later.
Janet: Of course, even the rich will also worry. It does not feel right to be charged for protesting when there is an approval for protesting at a place which allows lawful protests.
Chua: There are of course worries. We wanted to speak up and let more Singaporeans know the truth about the Singapore government. The Hong Lim Park is meant for the expression of speech. The government should be able to accept criticism from the people, because it is the people’s voices. Now, each of us have to fork out at least $6,000: $1,000 for the fine and $5,000 for the legal fees. The legal fees are too expensive and is higher than the fine. I do not know if I can afford to hire the lawyer. It might be better to just pay the fine.
(8) Many of you are earning low incomes. What made you so brave to stand up and speak up, even though you might "have a lot to lose", as some people have put it?
Chua: If I realise that the Singapore government has made a mistake, I will speak up. If the government does something wrong and is unreasonable, the people should know. If a government does not take care of its own citizens as the priority, it will not be loved by its citizens. If they are not doing their job, we should vote them out.
Janet: I just want to bring across my views on life. Political parties are elected to serve the people, not to serve themselves. If we want change, we would need two-third of parliament seats to be taken by the other parties. We need to create solutions to improve our system. Lastly, we have to be reminded of our pledge – for truth, justice and equality. I hope the civil servants remember that they are not working for one person or one party. The paymasters are the taxpayers. We should not have to feel threatened or to live in fear. If so, we need to change the government.
(9) Many Singaporeans support the six of you for standing up and speaking up. What do you have to say to them?
Janet: I am very thankful to everyone for being with us and to unite together with us to fight, even while against the odds. We want to see changes so that there will be no abuse of power. We want to see checks and balances, transparency and accountability. We want to improve the welfare of the people.
Chua: Hui Hui and Roy know that Singaporeans have been taking advantage of Singaporeans for a year already. We cannot continue to let the Singapore government hold on to our CPF savings. Now, the Singapore government is unwilling to do the things that the people want to be done. Our CPF and our lives are being controlled. If they are not doing their job, why are we still keeping them in government for?
Goh: We speak up not only for ourselves. We speak up for everyone in the nation.
(10) We applaud you for your courage. You are fighting for the future of Singapore and for your children. Can you share with our readers what your hope for Singapore is?
Chua: The government should put its own citizens as the first priority. Any rules and regulations should be made for the people, and not for the government. The Singapore government right now focuses on how to let themselves become rich, but they are not thinking of how to help Singaporeans become rich. This is not working for the people. The government also treats us like outsiders. The government spends money to give financial assistance to foreigners for their university education but it’s difficult for Singaporeans to get scholarships. Other countries are not like this. We should not allow Singaporeans to be bullied. The government also should not keep increasing rental fees, HDB flat prices should be reduced and so should food prices and other products and services.
Janet: I have a list as well. I would like to see true justice and equality, and true democracy. There shouldn’t be an abuse of power. There should be better welfare for Singaporeans. We should subsidise our children. There should be cheaper housing for the young, singles and single parents. They shouldn’t have to wait until 35. The MRT shouldn’t be packed like sardines and there should be shorter waits to see the doctor. We shouldn’t have propaganda news from the media and we should stop brainwashing our children.
Chua: There should also be fair elections. The GRC should be revoked and there should only be SMCs. Also, the government shouldn’t be so arrogant.
(11) One last question before we end! How do you think Singaporeans can achieve the dream of a better Singapore?
Goh: We hope that the environment in Singapore will change and salaries will increase.
Chua: Don’t vote the PAP. Let more opposition parties enter the parliament so that there will be various parties which make up government, other than the PAP.
Janet: Vote PAP out.
We thank you for your time and we hope for the best for you! Do stay strong and keep fighting. Singaporeans will be watching the government's next steps!
