Raffles vs Labourers

While being in the vicinity due to the screening of Invisible City, saw this really interesting display along Singapore River put up facing our Raffles statue.

Look at how the statue/sculpture mirrors and contrasts against Raffles' statue. It did look a bit eerie, but it also had some tragic feel about it, like some unsung hero...look at the missing arm. What was really interesting was the inscription on its pedestal.

Here are the words inscribed:

"On this obscure site

and many others

we landed on Singapore soil

since time immemorial

with our labour and toil

changed your genius and perception

from a mere idea to a concrete reality"

And here's the inscription on Raffles':

"On this historic site

Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles

first landed in Singapore

on 28th January 1819

and with genius and perception

changed the destiny of Singapore

from an obscure fishing village

to a great seaport and

and modern metropolis"

As my friend said, it was a reaction to the original Raffles statue. Mark the words & the re-phrasing. Wonder how long it'll be there.