Several hundred people attended the second edition of the Return Our CPF event at Hong Lim Park to protest Central Provident Fund (CPF) and Medishield Life, the government’s new plan for universal healthcare insurance.

Organiser Han Hui Hui did not give an official estimate of the number of people who came yesterday but the crowd size was roughly similar to the previous edition.

The protest was organised to call for greater transparency in the CPF system, specifically on Medishield Life. Speakers took to the stage to protest against additional premiums and loopholes in Medishield Life.

Many of the speakers were familiar faces from the last protest – ex-presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian, Reform Party (RP) chief Kenneth Jeyaretnam, social activist Vincent Wijeysingha and bloggers Ariffin Sha, Leong Sze Hian, Han Hui Hui and Roy Ngerng. Singapore Democratic Party (SDP)’s treasurer Chong Wai Fung was the only new face in the lineup.

Singapore Democratic Party's treasurer Chong Wai Fung

The protest however turned into a political rally, with activists and politicians urging for political change and support for the opposition.

RP Chief Jeyaretnam said that there was no longer any need to ask the PAP any questions.

“I want you to do a thought experiment. I want you to look into the mirror, and say ‘Am I prepared to vote the PAP out? Am I prepared to do what is right for my children, and my children's children?" he said.

Reform Party (RP) chief Kenneth Jeyaretnam

SDP’s Chong Wai Fung offered her party’s alternative healthcare proposal – the SDP’s National Health Investment Fund (NHIF), which proposes to scrap the 3Ms and institute the NHIF as a common source of payment, where the NHIF subsidises 90% of the hospital bills of Singaporeans.

“We seek your active support to get us into Parliament,” she said to the crowd, announcing that the SDP will present their alternative policy at the next General Elections.

Social activist Vincent Wijeysingha

Social activist Vincent Wijeysingha called for citizens to become more active politically. “My sense is that if change is truly going to come in Singapore… the change must find itself on the floor of the House of Parliament.”

“One of the key tasks of our citizenship in the coming period is to ask ourselves how each of us can contribute to sending 27  (opposition MPs) into the House… It is not sufficient for us to just come to Hong Lim Park,” Wijeysingha, who was formerly treasurer of the SDP, said.

Han Hui Hui, the organiser, told the crowd in her speech that she "invited the opposition" for both editions. "(But) who came? You can see for yourselves who cares for the people and who will speak up.”

RP and SDP were not the only parties that were slated to come for this protest – the Singapore Democratic Alliance, led by Desmond Lim, was slated to speak from 4.15pm to 4.30 pm at the protest, but they backed out at the last minute. Han did not reveal why.

Blogger Roy Ngerng did not engage in talk about politics and elections. Instead, he focused on changing Singapore to a more inclusive economy for its citizens.

“Now, I am not against the PAP. What I want is for a future where all Singaporeans… can shower in our glory and in our achievements together,” he said. “If we want change to happen, change starts from us."

Much emphasis was also placed on Ngerng’s ongoing defamation suit laid out by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. PM Lee had filed an application for a summary judgment against Ngerng on Friday – if the PM succeeds, Ngerng’s defamation suit will not go through a full trial with a cross-examination.

Blogger Ariffin Sha said angrily, “Even Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong were willing to go into court and get cross-examined… This is cowardly behaviour. PAP, your summary judgment will come in 2016!”

Ngerng himself however declined to comment further on the application of summary judgment filed by the PM. Instead, he thanked his supporters, saying, “I hope that we will be able to find the best way forward with this together.”

Earlier, The Online Citizen reported M Ravi as saying that he “will be making submissions to vigorously resist the prime minister’s application for summary judgement.”

Bloggers Roy Ngerng, Leong Sze Hian, Ariffin Sha and Han Hui Hui became emotional during the National Anthem. 

The protest ended with the recital of the Pledge and the National Anthem, which coincided with the national flag flying past Hong Lim Park on its way to a National Day Parade ceremony – as well as the Les Miserables song “Do You Hear the People Sing?”

Lyrics of “Do You Hear The People Sing” were given out at the protest.

Photos by Ng Yi Shu

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