SINGAPORE - Hong Lim Park last Wednesday as it played host to two very different takes on civic action.

In the morning, civil society group Stand Up For Singapore held a community-bonding picnic.

A few hundred Singaporeans - mainly in their early 20s and friends of friends - took part in games designed by the organisers to bring people together.

Participants played to win points that unlocked fun stations, like free ice cream, a bouncy castle and a ukulele performance.

Three hours later Hong Lim was transformed. The folksy tunes of the morning were replaced by music with loud and heavy beats, a precursor to the more serious tone the next event would take on.

Balloons carrying words like "graciousness" and "less cynicism" had long floated away, and in their place were signs screaming "Singapore for Singaporeans" and "Made in Singapore means born in Singapore".

Read full story here.



Go to Singapolitics for more stories.

Click on thumbnail to view (Photos: TNP, ST, BH, Reuters)