PROFILE /
ALL THINGS POLITICAL RUTHE KEE |
30.09.2011
|
He slips in and out of the mass of people in campus unnoticed, not caring much for attention. Earphones plugged into his ears and eyes narrowed towards the ground, Bernard Chen walks solo, deep in thought.
What constantly runs through his mind, however, are issues no one can miss – transport, housing, and many other socio-political issues. Chen, 25, is especially prolific on these issues, updating his Twitter account multiple times a day with thought provoking questions and insights. To the third-year undergraduate, “politics is the most direct way to be able to help someone.”
Besides being a history major at the National University of Singapore, Chen is better known as secretary of the Workers’ Party Youth Wing and legislative assistant to Low Thia Khiang, Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC.
Consumed in the world of politics where politicians are typecast as hard-talking and controlling, Chen’s unimposing demeanour is unexpected. On the day of the interview, he walks into the room briskly, almost like clockwork, and his eyes never once lifted off the ground.
Interviews are nothing new to the ex-president of the NUS History Society. According to The Kent Ridge Common, Chen was already politically active even back in his days at Temasek Polytechnic – he was the chief organiser for the “National Petition for Fairer Transportation Fares for Polytechnic/Tertiary Students”, an activity which drew the attention of the media.
Last year, Chen made news when he invited Vincent Cheng, an alleged Communist of the 1987 Marxist Conspiracy, as a guest speaker at the History Seminar 2010. At the request of the National Library Board, one of the sponsors for the seminar, Cheng was ultimately taken off the list of guest speakers due to his background. For this, Chen received calls from the media and was quoted by local newspapers, Lianhe Zaobao and The Straits Times.
Faced with the customary questions of his reasons for joining politics, the seasoned political activist’s answers were an almost verbatim repeat of his online blog profile. Chen also asked for the interview questions, or sections of them, multiple times before the interview.
When asked on why he chose to join the Workers’ Party, Chen answered immediately, as if from the recesses of his memory, “I come from a lower-middle class background. I was born into a proper family … after flunking my A-levels ... it caused for some form of reflection. I realised it’s more than yourself existing in this world. What’s more important are the people around you. That’s my first idea of how by being just one person [I] can help others. ”
He slouches backwards in his chair, hands clutched in the pockets of his sweatshirt.
“There’s no better time to be involved in politics than when you’re young,” he said.
While undergraduates are supposed to be the “agents of change in the society”, Chen felt university undergraduates are too self-centred to understand the importance of activism. To him, this is because undergraduates are unaffected by the national issues that working Singaporeans face, such as housing prices and the costs of the high standard of living.
In Chen’s opinion, the obsession to do well in studies is what hinders students from active participation and activism in social or political issues. And he is not alone in thinking this way. Koay Yi Jing, ex-president of Kent Ridge hall’s environmental committee, agrees.
“I think the general culture in Singapore of putting studies first is the main reason why most people don’t participate in such activism,” Koay said. The Green Committee is a student organisation concerned about environmental issues.
Contrary to the lukewarm student activism in Singapore, student activism overseas has proven itself to be a strong impetus for change. An instance of this is the May 1968 demonstrations in France, where students led the societal shift from a conservative moral ideal to a more liberal one.
“I respect his dedication towards activism,” Farhan M. Idris, 24, said, “because it takes a lot of dedication to juggle dual roles.”
Farhan, a third-year NUS philosophy major, met Chen at informal political discussions Farhan and a friend organised in 2009.
“He’s willing to take up issues no student is willing to refer to ... just refer to the NUSSU saga,” Farhan said.
The “NUSSU saga” refers to Chen’s push for individual voting rights in the election of NUS Student Union leadership. In 2010, Chen questioned the rationale of having constituent groups instead of the common student voting for the student union’s leadership.
Besides the call for individual voting rights, Chen also brought to awareness about the inactivity of the organisation when he tweeted messages like “NUSSU: 14 days of silence and still counting……” in wake of the fee hike announced in Jan.
As Chen speaks about these political and social issues, the same hands that were previously tucked in his pockets come alive.
“Politics in and of itself, is a very enriching exercise. It helps to remove ‘self’ and put ‘self’ in the shoes of others,” Chen said, his hands moving animatedly in tandem with his speech.
Often, Chen anticipates questions related to his answers and replies them before any question is fielded.
When asked what he foresees himself doing in the future, Chen fields a question back, “do you want a one-liner?” before continuing, “to contribute to the scripting of the nation-building process,” in a deliberately slow pace.
“Sometimes, he rubs off and presents himself like Singapore’s last patriot, though,” Farhan said, citing that while he admires Chen for his passion, he may not agree with the manner by which he functions.
Throughout the interview, his brows are tensed and his lips tightly pursed. But when asked to share another side of himself that is non-political, his face softens up. He pauses for a long time, as if hesitant to share, and finally brushes it off. “Don’t have,” Chen said.
When probed further, Chen did not relent.
Is he then made up of all politics?
He had this to share, “Man is by nature a political animal.”
What constantly runs through his mind, however, are issues no one can miss – transport, housing, and many other socio-political issues. Chen, 25, is especially prolific on these issues, updating his Twitter account multiple times a day with thought provoking questions and insights. To the third-year undergraduate, “politics is the most direct way to be able to help someone.”
Besides being a history major at the National University of Singapore, Chen is better known as secretary of the Workers’ Party Youth Wing and legislative assistant to Low Thia Khiang, Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC.
Consumed in the world of politics where politicians are typecast as hard-talking and controlling, Chen’s unimposing demeanour is unexpected. On the day of the interview, he walks into the room briskly, almost like clockwork, and his eyes never once lifted off the ground.
Interviews are nothing new to the ex-president of the NUS History Society. According to The Kent Ridge Common, Chen was already politically active even back in his days at Temasek Polytechnic – he was the chief organiser for the “National Petition for Fairer Transportation Fares for Polytechnic/Tertiary Students”, an activity which drew the attention of the media.
Last year, Chen made news when he invited Vincent Cheng, an alleged Communist of the 1987 Marxist Conspiracy, as a guest speaker at the History Seminar 2010. At the request of the National Library Board, one of the sponsors for the seminar, Cheng was ultimately taken off the list of guest speakers due to his background. For this, Chen received calls from the media and was quoted by local newspapers, Lianhe Zaobao and The Straits Times.
Faced with the customary questions of his reasons for joining politics, the seasoned political activist’s answers were an almost verbatim repeat of his online blog profile. Chen also asked for the interview questions, or sections of them, multiple times before the interview.
When asked on why he chose to join the Workers’ Party, Chen answered immediately, as if from the recesses of his memory, “I come from a lower-middle class background. I was born into a proper family … after flunking my A-levels ... it caused for some form of reflection. I realised it’s more than yourself existing in this world. What’s more important are the people around you. That’s my first idea of how by being just one person [I] can help others. ”
He slouches backwards in his chair, hands clutched in the pockets of his sweatshirt.
“There’s no better time to be involved in politics than when you’re young,” he said.
While undergraduates are supposed to be the “agents of change in the society”, Chen felt university undergraduates are too self-centred to understand the importance of activism. To him, this is because undergraduates are unaffected by the national issues that working Singaporeans face, such as housing prices and the costs of the high standard of living.
In Chen’s opinion, the obsession to do well in studies is what hinders students from active participation and activism in social or political issues. And he is not alone in thinking this way. Koay Yi Jing, ex-president of Kent Ridge hall’s environmental committee, agrees.
“I think the general culture in Singapore of putting studies first is the main reason why most people don’t participate in such activism,” Koay said. The Green Committee is a student organisation concerned about environmental issues.
Contrary to the lukewarm student activism in Singapore, student activism overseas has proven itself to be a strong impetus for change. An instance of this is the May 1968 demonstrations in France, where students led the societal shift from a conservative moral ideal to a more liberal one.
“I respect his dedication towards activism,” Farhan M. Idris, 24, said, “because it takes a lot of dedication to juggle dual roles.”
Farhan, a third-year NUS philosophy major, met Chen at informal political discussions Farhan and a friend organised in 2009.
“He’s willing to take up issues no student is willing to refer to ... just refer to the NUSSU saga,” Farhan said.
The “NUSSU saga” refers to Chen’s push for individual voting rights in the election of NUS Student Union leadership. In 2010, Chen questioned the rationale of having constituent groups instead of the common student voting for the student union’s leadership.
Besides the call for individual voting rights, Chen also brought to awareness about the inactivity of the organisation when he tweeted messages like “NUSSU: 14 days of silence and still counting……” in wake of the fee hike announced in Jan.
As Chen speaks about these political and social issues, the same hands that were previously tucked in his pockets come alive.
“Politics in and of itself, is a very enriching exercise. It helps to remove ‘self’ and put ‘self’ in the shoes of others,” Chen said, his hands moving animatedly in tandem with his speech.
Often, Chen anticipates questions related to his answers and replies them before any question is fielded.
When asked what he foresees himself doing in the future, Chen fields a question back, “do you want a one-liner?” before continuing, “to contribute to the scripting of the nation-building process,” in a deliberately slow pace.
“Sometimes, he rubs off and presents himself like Singapore’s last patriot, though,” Farhan said, citing that while he admires Chen for his passion, he may not agree with the manner by which he functions.
Throughout the interview, his brows are tensed and his lips tightly pursed. But when asked to share another side of himself that is non-political, his face softens up. He pauses for a long time, as if hesitant to share, and finally brushes it off. “Don’t have,” Chen said.
When probed further, Chen did not relent.
Is he then made up of all politics?
He had this to share, “Man is by nature a political animal.”