If you haven't got anything planned out today, here's something to consider: the "Silence Sit-in Protest – #Not My President" held at Hong Lim Park today from 4.30pm - 6.30pm.

And if you're contemplating whether such a belated angst over the recent reserved Presidential Election is worth watching out for, here's a point to consider - former 2011 presidential 1st runner-up Tan Cheng Bock (TCB) will be there.

A show of solidarity

In a Facebook update posted on Sept. 16, 1.50am, the former People's Action Party (PAP) MP wrote on his page:

I will be there..Silent Sit-in Protest

A Silent Sit-in protest will be held at Hong Lim Park today Saturday 16th Sep 2017,from 4.30pm to 6.30pm.l will be there.

Many Singaporeans have expressed their disappointment and anger about this Presidential Election after reading my last

fb post ( which reached more than half a million people within 2 days)

While l have congratulated President Halimah Yacob on her unopposed election, like many other Singapireans, we are disappointed that 2 other candidates with reasonable credentials were disqualified, making this 2017 PE a no contest

.

It is not President Halimah as a person that Singaporeans are unhapoy about.it is about the way our Government has conducted this whole walkover Presidential Election.

I share the frustrations of other Singaporeans at being deprived of voting at this EP..

My attendence at this Silent Sit-in protest is a show of solidarity with Singaporeans who are unhappy with the way the government has denied us the right to vote and elect our President.The Government must not take us citizens for granted.

For many, this will be their first peaceful protest.There is no need to fear .Responsibe peaceful expressionis is good for the maturity of democracy in our country.Lets believe that Singaporecan can be better when we are all united as one and are not afraid to show it.

"Career evolution" as a protest uncle

Coping as a perpetual presidential hopeful with many failed attempts isn't easy.

While many wonder if it's the end of the political road for him, TCB's move this time is a first of its kind in his political career.

Why so? The 77 year-old is now joining in the footsteps of his 2011 Presidential Election opponents: former civil servant and Secretary-General of Singaporeans First (SingFirst), Tan Jee Say (TJS), and former Chief Executive Officer of NTUC Income, Tan Kin Lian (TKL).

Both were special guests at Hong Lim Park before.

For instance, TJS attended a 2013 protest on the Population White Paper issue, and TKL participated in a 2017 protest on the water hike issue.

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Will protest turnout be larger than the first Population White Paper crowd?

The silent protest this evening is held by Gilbert Goh, a long-time activist and organiser of many of such protests at Hong Lim Park.

Whether or not such protests receive large attendance is an issue to him, as some have been a disappointment to Goh.

One of them was the untimely Population White Paper protest that was held two years after the Population White Paper issue set in as a local hot topic. It only drew a 500-strong crowd.

But others, such as the first Population White Paper protest held in 2013, had been considered a success as it had a turnout of a 4,000-strong crowd and was widely covered by the mainstream media.

The protest captured the zeitgeist of Singaporeans' frustrations, following a contentious General Election 2011.

Moreover, it featured prominent election candidates such as TJS and TKL, and also Singapore Democratic Party's (SDP) Vincent Wijeysingha, and former National Solidarity Party's (NSP) Secretary-General and current Singapore People's Party (SPP) member, Jeanette Chong-Aruldoss.

TCB, once a hot favourite among many for marginally losing to President Tony Tan in 2011, may just contribute to the protest's attendance this time, as it might draw fans and onlookers alike.

In fact, Goh highlighted TCB as one of the key attractions to his protest today.

In fact, Goh said that all three former PE 2011 candidates - TCB, TJS and TKL - will be present.

That said, the silent protest today will not use any stage or sound system to address the crowd properly, which is much different from Goh's previously organised protests.

Will today's protest outnumber Goh's earlier protests in terms of attendance numbers?

Let's hope that the F1 car engines do not disturb the silence at Hong Lim Park today.

Top image screenshot via here