After more than three months of discussion, Marie’s new group of four was now ready to unveil their plan of action. The setting was the lounge in Rev James’s manse. The chairs and the tables were pushed back against the wall, leaving a large carpet in the middle on which the group of fifteen or so sat cross-legged in a circle. With heads bent, they were reading the pink stencilled sheets just distributed by Marie. Dr Jones, sitting among the students, put on his glasses, leaned against the wall and stretched his legs into the middle of the circle in order to read in a more comfortable position. Egalitarianism was to be the hallmark of this group which proclaimed that it would not differentiate on the basis of wealth, status, age or experience as commonly found in bourgeois groups. In theory, a student’s words weighed as much as a lecturer’s, although in practice, most students deferred to Dr Jones and Mr Mak.
Marie sat next to Hans, leaning against the red leather armchair, as she waited for the group’s reaction. She had spent many weekends writing up this project and wanted it to be accepted. Hans smiled reassuringly and his eyes said that he was proud of her, causing a warm glow to seep through her and the light to shine out of her dark eyes. She was free. Whatever fears she had had of him had largely disappeared. He had been kind, warm and understanding. He would not push her into anything, and they would be very good friends without allowing fear of their own feelings to hamper the development of trust, honesty, and the sharing of a deep commitment to the community. She reached out and touched Hans’s fingers. Their eyes met, locked for a fleeting moment, then they turned their attention back to the group.
Paul Tan, sitting in the circle, jerked to attention, stung by the meeting of those eyes. Once again, he was cut by the pain of rejection. He had not come to witness this and was not prepared for it. He sat up stiffly, examined his usurper, as he recalled what he had read in the confidential files in his office. Hans Kuhn used to be called Chuck before he decided to reclaim his German roots. As Hans, he seemed somehow more serious and committed than as Chuck who tried to be as American as apple pie. Confused American. Paul tried to dismiss him as Marie smiled across the room, pleased that she had managed to persuade Paul Tan, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, to attend today’s meeting. She was to be congratulated on her foresight. It would be good for everyone to hear a different point of view after months of supporting each other’s gripes against the alienating forces of modern society. Paul would provide the perfect balance. Besides, being an outsider, he would be in a better position to point out the weaknesses, if any, in her proposal. And, of course, she was glad to see him again after his two years’ sojourn in the United States.
Paul shifted his position and tried to cross his legs into a less uncomfortable position. Why didn’t they use the armchairs, he thought irritably. Yean, sitting next to him, sensed his discomfort and was sympathetic. He had come straight from work and his office attire gave him an air of awkward formality, a contrast to the casual dressing of the academics and students who worked in the more genial atmosphere of the Bukit Temasek campus. Paul flicked through the pink-stencilled sheets in his hand.
“What a lot of waffle.”
THE STUDENT-WORKER ALLIANCE PROJECT
Statement of belief
We believe that students will be confronted with the problems of rapid industrialisation, changes, progress and dehumanisation when they join the managerial elite upon graduation.
The industrial process so vital to our economy has undoubtedly created a higher standard of living and provided more jobs for the people. The economy boasts of a leap in its GNP over the past few years. But industrialisation has also meant:
1.an expanding but miserably paid proletariat—200,000 workers in the pioneer industries
2.miserable working conditions—many in the electronics industry suffer from poor eyesight and girls in the textile sector are paid a low daily wage of $2.40
3.exploitation of immigrant workers—many live in overcrowded rooms in the industrial estates without CPF, medical benefits and insurance
4.rising foreign investments with the inevitable attendant increase in foreign control of consumer and labour markets
5.implementation of anti-labour laws—strikes are banned and the centralised union leadership is no longer aware of the feelings and needs of workers.
Under these circumstances of strict governmental control, there is little or no opportunity for the rectification of these serious defects which are the results of rapid industrialisation within a meritocratic system. It is therefore imperative that a project like the Student-Worker Alliance be implemented here to fill the widening gap left by the ritualistic and conformistic education. It will provide a framework for meaningful Christian involvement in the context of economic oppression in Singapore.
Paul stopped reading after the first page. Such shortsightedness. Why couldn’t they just be patient and let things evolve? Singapore is still barely four years old. He was resolved not to comment aloud on the proposal, but would listen to what the others had to say. Folding his arms and leaning against the wall, he stared straight ahead for he knew that Marie would eventually try to catch his eye and get him to say something. He was not going to give her that opportunity.
“Well, any reaction?” Marie asked tentatively as she looked round the room. The circle of people did not look up, and in the silence, Hans gave her a look of encouragement so she asked again, “Well? Still no reaction?”
Papers rustled as people shifted and changed their positions. Then the shuffling subsided and the silence in the room solidified. Disappointment was beginning to show on her face; the group seemed reluctant to comment on the proposal.
“Fantastic!” Dr Jones exclaimed. “If accepted and implemented, it could change the face of education in Singapore. I like your Phase 1, Phase 2 strategy. It’s very methodical.”
Mak saw his chance to intervene. “Phase 1 is devoted to the conscientisation of students from Temasek, Yuan Tung and the Ramakrishna Poly who will form the core group and broaden the student base in these campuses. In Phase 2, the students will establish contact with the workers in Jurong and establish a power base for the Student-Worker Alliance.” The idea of applying Mao’s writings to Singapore gave Mak a heady feeling. He would be the first Singaporean to achieve this. Nothing would be beyond him. He would be the Alliance’s ideologue and strategist.
“Fantastic!” Robin Fox, a foreign journalist invited to the meeting by Hans who wanted to show him something exciting, added his praise. “I never thought Singaporeans would dare come up with such an adventurous proposal. Your government is in for a rude shock!”
The group of four smiled, and Marie was glad that the foreigners realised that they were not as submissive as the international press made them out to be. Paul watched as the pleasure of being bold and daring subsided, and caution returned.
“Are you all aiming for a Communist revolution?” Ken asked.
This blunt question cut through the general chatter. Everyone stopped talking. Mak turned to take a good look at Ken. Marie was too trusting. This boy could be one of the Administration’s spies. Mak checked his rising anger. One more provocation from that boy and he, Mak, would throw him out. This kind of questioning could ruin everything.
“No, no, this has nothing to do with revolution but everything to do with education,” Hans replied hastily. “What Mak said about a power base is something in the far-off future. In the immediate future, the workers and students in Phase 2 would develop a mutual education programme which would sharpen their awareness of the harsh realities of their society. What they intend to do after being made aware is entirely up to them.”
Hans sounded reassuring but as Paul noted with satisfaction, Ken was unconvinced. Not wanting to meet Marie’s eyes, Paul continued to stare into space. He was determined to stick strictly to business. His heart was not as strong as he had thought.
“Hey, what about all our names here?” Peter almost shouted. “This is the first time we’ve heard of our involvement in this project.”
The others were glad that the question had been raised. Marie hastened to explain.
“I naturally trusted that all of you will support this project after going through so many discussions on the defects of the system here.”
“Yes, but you didn’t consult us,” Kim pointed out.
“I’m consulting you now ... but I knew somehow you will agree since we all share the same values. And besides, this is not the final version, you’re free to change any part of it.”
Marie was sounding a little defensive, and Paul Tan, sitting in his corner, suppressed a smile. She had taught them well, and the students were being discriminating. Paul was also pleased that he was getting his feelings under control.
“What if we don’t want any part of this project?” Ken asked, almost wickedly as if to test Sis’s patience.
“There’s nothing I can do. You’re free to leave.”
Again there was a forced casualness in the way she shrugged her shoulders. Hans patted her lightly to remind her not to lose her cool. Yean was watching her. She knew that Marie wanted the group’s support very badly. Her face had become a mask and her eyes no longer twinkled. She had always had difficulty handling opposition. So Yean felt obliged to support her since she herself was also part of the new group of four.
“Look, you guys, what are you quibbling about? Do you think this is a worthwhile project or not? Do you want to support it?”
Ken and Peter kept quiet. Her questioning attack was a good defence. Aileen spoke up. “Yes, we do, but it’s so sudden.”
“I agree,” said another student who had been dragged to the meeting by Marie. “We haven’t had time to think about this. Once committed, we’ve got to put in a lot of time and work. What about our studies?”
This last question was almost apologetic since worrying about one’s studies was already considered a selfish bourgeois trait.
“Don’t worry. These details can be worked out later. Most of the activities will be during the vacation anyway.” Hans was reassuring.
Paul, however, viewed him with some suspicion. This foreigner was trying to be the harmoniser of differences in the group. Someone with nothing to lose. If things go wrong, he would just pack up and leave.
“Do you think the Admin and the Temasek Students’ Union would approve? I’m sure the Union chaps would want a piece of the action,” quipped Peter.
“We don’t need their approval!” Mak was adamant. “We’re independent of the Admin’s lackeys. Those sycophants are not to be trusted!”
“It’s a fact of life. Whether we like it or not, the Admin has its eyes and ears everywhere to keep tab on us,” Ken pointed out.
This admission convinced Mak that Ken was indeed a student spy. Mak glared at him for he wanted this face imprinted in his memory.
“But if we’re in the clear and in good conscience, doing what we believe is right, what do we have to fear?”
Marie clung to her belief that the rightness of one’s actions would eventually shine through. Paul smiled. She was still so naive, assuming that motives could never be misconstrued.
“What you think is right, they may not think so,” someone else pointed out.
“Ya, isn’t this the eternal tension in any community?” Marie answered.
Here she was raising again the eternal questions of life and living. Paul caught himself reminiscing before he sharply reminded himself that he should stick to the issue under discussion.
“Forget about the realm of philosophy. Let’s get back to the facts.” Yean, too, was impatient with Marie. “You guys, do you or do you not think this project is worth supporting?” Her eyes travelled round the circle and rested on Kim.
“Yes, yes, yes,” Kim gave in, “but we can’t commit ourselves fully to it yet. You people have had months of discussion while the rest of us have only come to the meetings on and off. How do you expect us to give an answer right now?”
“It’s alright,” Hans said soothingly. “We only want to use your names in this proposal. We need some local names for our sponsors abroad to convince them that we already have a student base.”
The students were silent. This was something new again. Paul watched them. This tussle between loyalty and natural suspicion interested him.
“Why not?” Kim asked, full of bravado as usual and perhaps of loyalty too.
The rest of the group followed Kim. If Sis needed some names for her project, hey, she could use their names. It was the least they could do after what she had done for them.
Marie was pleased. Her trust in her students had not been misplaced. Her eyes shone. She knew she could win them over when they adjourned for tea in the dining room. Everyone was talking happily except for Paul and Mak who eyed each other with dark suspicion. Paul glanced round the rest of the room. Marie was closeted in the corner with Hans and Dr Jones. Her chief supporters would be these foreigners. They would be the ones to support this kind of foolhardy thing in the name of liberty and progress. But Paul’s presence was disturbing to Mak. He did not trust anyone from the police force. He would convey his caution to Marie. Suddenly he burst out, “Government spies are everywhere! Everywhere! Everywhere!” and stormed out of the room leaving everyone astonished. He would report the night’s proceedings to his own group in Jurong.
Paul too left the manse. That guy was sick in the head and the rest of these people were fools! Did they really think they could change things with a three-year programme? And such bombast in their language! He was surprised Marie had written it. What had happened to the clearheaded girl he had once known? This proposal sounded like any other government project written by bureaucrats, forever thinking of three-year plans and five-year plans as if man could be changed by plans! He was disgusted with the whole thing. Power was what was at stake, and of course, Marie did not realise it. She trusted the workers and the students as if the mere act of bringing them together would lead to a better society! Idealistic fool and dangerously naive! She was ripe for the Communists! This whole project smacked of subversion. He would call Marie on the phone and arrange a private meeting with her. He felt a duty to warn her about her companions. Meddling foreigners were bad enough but that guy with the spectacles was not to be trusted on any account. He glanced back through the window at Marie, still talking animatedly with her American. She had forgotten him. Paul got into his car, slammed the door and drove away gunning the engine savagely.