The 2012 NDP will probably go down in history as the most-watched National Day Parade in recent history.
Everyone was looking for one man to show up because rumors flew around online and offline that he was not around anymore.
A former Presidential hopeful weighed in, and got a ton of backlash. Mr Tan Kin Lian wrote on his Facebook page:
A rumor was circulating yesterday that a well known personality in Singapore, who is somewhat respected and generally feared, had passed away. That rumor turned out to be false.
I recall a story told by a Swedish friend. In a speech 20 years ago, he said, "During the dark days of the second world war, Norway was occupied by the German Nazis. Every few days, there was a rumor that the Allies had landed and that Norway would be liberated. It turned out to be another false rumor. After a while, the people became skeptical of these rumors, but felt that it was nice to hear them anyway! "
Ha, ha!. Happy 47th National Day!
Not many haha-ed with him and told him off for what they considered a post written in bad taste. Guess there were no high fives for that one.
Fake News and Satire site, New Nation, wrote a piece about the rumour and a Twitter personality who said he had credible sources about the Man. And even analyzed the Twitter dude's possible hidden message.
On the literary front, the witty Gwee Li Sui wrote an NDP Haiku:
Ah Kong is alive!
The nation sighs in relief.
Some say it's a clone.
Others contributed, like Eddie:
Clone he is not
But bodyguard grips him tight
When drugs wears off.
Duncan wrote:
An old man rises,
The Red and White cheer wildly,
We have much to say.
@Brendon_F wrote:
Bad retro nightmare
is what you get from P.A.
non-pro director.
@Emelia_LalaYuki wrote:
Go Marina Bay,
see all the people sitting
on the Floor. I LOL'D.
I also wrote one:
Limpeh Ka Li Gong
The news of my demise is—
I am Number Six.
There was a collective national sigh of relief when he showed up at the Floating Platform. People at the NDP cheered and clapped. The rumour was false after all.
Those who spread the rumours were ridiculed online mercilessly. I started a list of #gotrumour tweets:
1. I heard got rumour he was actually on Mars riding the Curiosity rover.
2. I heard got rumour that there are actually 19 versions of him already. This is version 20.
3. I heard got rumour that he was actually competing in the Olympics. As Usain Bolt.
4. I heard got rumour that got high level sources say that got info from inside that their friend of a friend of a friend told them it's true.
5. I heard got rumour that they are using the same 3D Tupac hologram technology to recreate his stand-in at the parade.
Of course, no disrespect was meant at all. I just wanted to take the piss at how quickly we believe and spread rumours and conspiracy theories.
Every Day Party, a satire Facebook page, posted this tongue-in-cheek caption to Seng Han Thong's photo on their page:
Yup, that about sums it up.
