Low Thia Khiang Speech

Speech by Low Thia Khiang 劉程強

Politicians in Singapore sometimes make speeches in Chinese “dialects”. In the past, it was necessary to do so to be understood by their electorate, as a large part of the ethnic Chinese population in Singapore only spoke their respective “dialects” and were not fluent in Mandarin. Today, fewer residents communicate primarily in “dialects”. As a result, it is more unusual to find a politician who can speak fluently in Teochew, Hokkien, or Cantonese.

Low Thia Khiang 劉程強 (T: Lao5 Tian7kiang5, M: Líu Chéngqiáng) is a politician in the Worker’s Party (WP), which he led as Secretary-General from 2001 to 2018. He was first elected to Singapore’s Parliament in 1991, representing Hougang constituency. In the 2011 election, he led his party’s team to win the group constituency of Aljunied, which was a major upset for the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP). In the Singapore political system, Members of Parliament are also responsible for running the town councils of their districts, which provide many municipal services. The two WP-held constituencies formed a joint town council, to which was later added the neighboring Punggol East constituency that the WP also won in a 2013 by-election. This Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol-East Town Council (AHPETC) was later accused by the PAP of mismanaging funds and awarding contracts without putting them out to tender. These accusations became a running issue during the 2015 general election and related lawsuits are still (2019) working their way through the courts.

In this speech, delivered at an election rally on 2 September 2015, Low defends the WP’s position against the PAP’s claims. As a prepared speech, the language here is influenced by written Chinese and Mandarin. The inclusion of this speech here does not imply any endorsement of its political or other views.

(Used by kind courtesy of Mr Low Thia Khiang)

A very good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

I will first speak in Teochew, and later in Mandarin.

kak⁵ ui¹¹ au¹¹ kaŋ⁵² / au³³ dziu³³ ni⁵⁵ / poŋ³³ kou¹¹ taŋ³³ kai¹¹ suaŋ³³ meŋ⁵⁵ kah5 tai¹¹ ke³³ kaŋ³³ naŋ¹¹ taŋ⁵² kai¹¹ tsi³³ tsʰi¹¹ tsia⁵² / muŋ²⁵ tsĩõ¹¹ ho⁵²

Gag4(8)-ui7 Ao6(7)gang2, Ao1riu1ni5, Bong1gou7-Dang1 gai5(7) suang1mêng5 gah4(8) dai6(7)gê1 Gang1nang5(7)dang2 gai5(7) zi1ci3 zia2, mung2(6)zion7 ho2!

各位後港，Aljunied，Punggol東個選民佮大家工人黨個支持者，晚上好！

Voters of Hougang, Aljunied, Punggol East and supporters of the Worker’s Party – good evening!

zi1ci3 支持 – Hokkien pronunciation. Teochew: zin1ti5

Gang1nang5(7)dang2 工人黨 – Workers’ Party (WP), the opposition party in Singapore with the most seats in Parliament.

[0:30]

sia⁵² sia⁵² tai¹¹ ke³³ tsio⁵² tsoi¹¹ ni¹¹ lai⁵⁵ kai¹¹ tsi³³ tsʰi²¹³ / kaŋ³³ naŋ¹¹ taŋ⁵² tsĩã⁵² u¹¹ kĩã²⁵ dzik⁵ kai¹¹ tsiŋ⁵² pou¹¹

Sia2sia2 dai6(7)gê1 zio3(2)zoi7 ni5(7) lai5 gai5(7) zi1ci3, Gang1nang5(7)dang2 zian2 u6(7) gian2(6)rig8 gai5(7) zing3(2)bou7.

謝謝大家照濟年來個支持，工人黨正有囝日個進步

Thanks to your support these past years, the Worker’s Party has been able to achieve its current progress.

dzi¹¹ kʰaŋ⁵² iau³³ iau³³ ni⁵⁵ kai¹¹ suaŋ³³ tsɯ³³ au²⁵ / au¹¹ kaŋ⁵² / au³³ dziu³³ ni⁵⁵ / poŋ³³ kou¹¹ taŋ³³ kai¹¹ suaŋ³³ meŋ⁵⁵ tui⁵⁵ kaŋ³³ naŋ¹¹ taŋ⁵² kai¹¹ tsi³³ tsʰi⁵² pek⁵ kĩã¹¹ toŋ¹¹ taŋ⁵² kai²⁵ piaŋ²¹³ tseŋ⁵² tsʰek¹

Ri6(7)kang3(2)iao1iao1 ni5 gai5(7) suang1 ze1ao6, Ao6(7)gang2, Ao1riu1ni5, Bong1gou7-Dang1 gai5(7) suang1mêng5 dui3(5) Gang1nang5(7)dang2 gai5(7) zi1ci3(2) bêg4(8) Gian5(7)dong6(7)dang2 gai2(6)biang3 zêng3(2)cêg4.

二空幺幺年個選之後，後港，Aljunied，Punggol東個選民對工人黨個支持逼行動黨改變政策。

After the election in 2011, the support given by the voters of Hougang, Aljunied, and Punggol East to the Worker’s Party have forced the People’s Action Party to change its policies.

Hougang / Ao-gang is actually a Teochew or Hokkien name, meaning “back of the river”. The river referred to is the Sungei Serangoon, which was fully dammed in 2011.

Gian5(7)dong6(7)dang2 行動黨 – People’s Action Party, the governing party in Singapore since Independence, usually referred to simply as the “PAP”.

[1:00]

tsĩã⁵² i³³ kai¹¹ kai²⁵ piaŋ²¹³ tui⁵⁵ seŋ³³ kia³³ po³³ tsʰuaŋ¹¹ kok⁵ kai¹¹ naŋ³³ meŋ⁵⁵ loŋ²⁵ tsoŋ⁵² u¹¹ ĩã¹¹ tsʰu⁵²

Zian2 i1-gai5(7) gai2(6)biang3 dui3(5) Sêng1gia1bo1 cuang5(7)gog4(8) gai5(7) nang1mêng5 long2(6)zong2 u6(7) ian5(7)cu2.

正伊個改變對新加坡全國個儂民攏總有贏處。

These changes have benefitted all citizens throughout Singapore.

tsia⁵² si¹¹ seŋ³³ kia³³ po³³ naŋ³³ meŋ⁵⁵ kai¹¹ seŋ³³ li²⁵

Zia2 si6(7) Sêng1gia1bo1 nang1mêng5 gai5(7) sêng1li6.

者是新加坡儂民個勝利。

This is a victory for the citizens of Singapore.

tsʰiaŋ⁵² tai¹¹ ke³³ kʰoih2 au¹¹ kaŋ⁵² / au³³ dziu³³ ni⁵⁵ / poŋ³³ kou¹¹ taŋ³³ kai¹¹ suaŋ³³ meŋ⁵⁵ lai¹¹ kai¹¹ tsiaŋ¹¹ sĩã³³

Cian2 dai6(7)gê1 koih8(4) Ao6(7)gang2, Ao1riu1ni5, Bong1gou7-Dang1 gai5(7) suang1mêng5 lai5(7)-gai5(7) ziang7sian1!

請大家乞後港，Aljunied，Punggol東個選民來個掌聲。

Will everybody please give the voters of Hougang, Aljunied, and Punggol East a round of applause.

[1:30]

tsi⁵² si⁵² ni¹¹ lai⁵⁵ / tseŋ⁵² hu⁵² to¹¹ tseŋ⁵² tsʰek¹ tsi⁵² ĩõ¹¹ tso⁵² liau²¹³ ho⁵² to³³ kai¹¹ koi²⁵ piaŋ¹¹ / ia¹¹ koi²⁵ siaŋ⁵² liau¹¹ seŋ³³ kia³³ po³³ naŋ⁵⁵ kai¹¹ sẽ³³ uaʔ⁵

Zi2 si3(2)-ni5(7) lai5, zêng3(2)hu2 do6(7) zêng3(2)cêg4 zi2-ion7 zo3(2)liao3 ho2-do1 gai5(7) goi2(6)biang7, ia7 goi2(6)siang3(2) liao7 Sêng1gia1bo1-nang5 gai5(7) sên1uah8.

只四年來，政府在政策只樣做了好多個改變，也改善了新加坡儂個生活。

In these four years, the government has made many changes in its policies, and have improved the lives of Singaporeans.

tsia⁵² si¹¹ ho²⁵ sɯ¹¹

Zia2 si6(7) ho2(6)se7.

者是好事。

This is a good thing.

puk⁵ kue²¹³ / tui⁵² kaŋ³³ naŋ¹¹ taŋ⁵² / PAP tse⁵² si⁵² ni¹¹ lai⁵⁵ tso²⁵ to³³ ui¹¹ naŋ⁵⁵

Bug4(8)guê3, dui3(2) Gang1nang5(7)dang2, PAP zê2 si3(2)-ni5(7) lai5 zo2(6) do1 ui5(7)nang5:

不過，對工人黨，PAP 這四年來阻多為難：

However, in these four years, the PAP has been making life difficult for the WP:

[2:00]

naŋ⁵² soi²⁵ pa³³ saʔ¹ / ke³³ meŋ⁵⁵ bo¹¹ tsĩ³³ kʰiam⁵² tsap² hui²¹³ / tsʰi¹¹ tiŋ⁵² hue²⁵ kai¹¹ siau⁵² mak⁵ kai¹¹ muŋ¹¹ tõĩ⁵⁵

nang2 soi2(6) ba1sah4, ge1mêng5 bho5(7)zin1 kiam3(2) zab8(4)hui3, ci6(7)ding3(2)huê6 gai5(7) siao3(2)mag8 gai5(7) mung7doin5,

俺洗巴殺、居民無錢，欠雜費、市鎮會個數目個問題，

when we clean the market, when residents have no money to pay service fees, when there are questions about the town council’s accounts,

ba1sah4 巴殺 – loan word from Malay “pasar”, also meaning “market.

kau²⁵ tsi⁵² tsuŋ³³ a / pak² naŋ⁵⁵ kai¹¹ koŋ³³ si³³ tʰaŋ⁵² tsĩ³³ / i³³ ia¹¹ ãĩ⁵² uaŋ⁵⁵ ua²⁵ naŋ¹¹

gao3(2) zi2zung1 a, bag8(4)nang5 gai5(7) gong1si1 tang3(2)zin1, i1 ia7 ain3(2) uang3(5) ua2(6)nang5(7).

到只陣 a，別儂個公司趁錢，伊亦愛怨我儂

even now, when someone else’s company is making a profit, they also want to blame us.

puŋ³³ lai⁵⁵ / naŋ⁵² tai¹¹ suaŋ⁵² eŋ³³ kai³³ / ãĩ⁵² tã⁵² kai¹¹ si¹¹ kok⁵ ke³³ kai¹¹ tua¹¹ sɯ¹¹

Bung1lai5, nang2 dai6(7)suang2 êng1gai1, ain3(2) dan3(2)-gai5(7) si6(7) gog4(8)gê1 gai5(7) dua7se7:

本來，俺大選應該，愛呾個是國家個大事：

Actually, what we should be discussing at an election are the big issues of the day:

Dai6 in dai6(7)suang2 is the literary pronunciation of 大, but dua7 in dua7se7 is vernacular.

[2:31]

naŋ¹¹ meŋ⁵⁵ kai¹¹ tsõĩ¹¹ tou⁵⁵ / kai¹¹ ke³³ kai¹¹ bue¹¹ lai⁵⁵

nang5(7)mêng5 gai5(7) zoin5(7)dou5, dai6(7)gê1 gai5(7) bhuê7lai5.

儂民個前途，大家個未來。

the people’s aspirations, everybody’s future.

puk⁵ kue²¹³ / PAP ãĩ⁵² eŋ¹¹ tsi⁵² ko⁵² tsʰi¹¹ tiŋ⁵⁵ li²⁵ sɯ¹¹ hue²⁵ kai¹¹ sɯ¹¹ lai¹¹ puaʔ¹ ou³³ kaŋ³³ naŋ¹¹ taŋ⁵²

Bug4(8)guê3, PAP ain3(2) êng7 zi2go3(2) ci6(7)ding3(5)-li2(6)se7huê6 gai5(7) se7 lai5(7) buah8(4)-ou1 Gang1nang5(7)dang2.

不過，PAP 愛用只塊市鎮理事會個事來抹烏工人黨。

However, the PAP wants to use this issue of the town council to smear the WP.

so²⁵ ĩ⁵² / ua⁵² kiaŋ³³ kim³³ me⁵⁵ puk⁵ tek⁵ puk⁵ kai⁵⁵ sek²

So2(6)in2, ua2 giang1 gim1mê5 bug4(8)dêg8 bug4(8)-gai3(5)sêg4.

所以，我將經夜不得不解釋。

Therefore, I can’t avoid giving an explanation tonight.

bug4 不 – “no”, more prevalent in prepared speeches or when reciting a written text, in colloquial speech the “native” Teochew negatives dominate (see “Negatives”).

Okay / naŋ⁵² tsʰi¹¹ tiŋ⁵² hue²⁵ kai¹¹ siau⁵² mak⁵ si¹¹ u¹¹ so³³ sek¹

Okay, nang2 ci6(7)ding3(2)-huê6 gai5(7) siao3(2)mag8 si6(7) u6(7) so1sêg4.

Okay，俺市鎮會個數目是有疏失。

Okay, our town council’s accounts do have discrepancies.

[3:00]

i³³ tseŋ⁵² hu⁵² ne / pʰai⁵² naŋ¹¹ lai¹¹ tsʰe¹¹ siau²¹³

I1 zêng3(2)hu2 nê, pai3(2) nang5(7) lai5(7) cê5(7)siao3.

伊政府 ne，派儂來查數。

The government has sent people to do an audit.

tsʰe¹¹ siau²¹³ / i³³ tã⁵² u¹¹ kai¹¹ mueʔ² kĩã²⁵ tioʔ² ãĩ⁵² koi²⁵ tsĩã⁵²

Cê5(7)siao3, i1 dan3(2) u6(7) gai5(7) muêh8(4)gian6 dioh8(4) ain3(2) goi2(6)zian2.

查數，伊呾有個物件着愛改正。

In this audit, they told us that there were things that had to be corrected.

liau⁵² / i³³ huak⁵ tsʰuk⁵ liau¹¹ tsik¹ kai¹¹ po⁵² kau²¹³

Liao2, i1 huag4(8)cug4(8) liao7 zig8(4)gai5(7) bo3(2)gao3,

了，伊發出了一個佈告，

Then, they put out a report,

tsik² kai¹¹ po⁵² kau²¹³ lai¹¹ põĩ⁵⁵ so²⁵ ki³³ tsʰo⁵² kai¹¹ muŋ¹¹ tõĩ⁵⁵ / kau⁵² mak²tsõĩ⁵⁵ ui¹¹ tsi⁵² naŋ⁵² tai¹¹ to³³ siau²¹³ ĩ²⁵ keŋ³³ si¹¹ kai²⁵ kue²¹³ liau⁵²

zig8(4)gai5(7) bo3(2)gao3 lai6(7)boin5 so2(6) gi1co2-gai5(7) mung7doin5, gao3(2) mag8(4)zoin5 ui5(7)zi3(2) nang2 dai6(7)do1siao3 in2(6)gêng1 si6(7) gai2(6)guê3 liao2.

只個佈告內爿所基礎個問題，到目前為止俺大多數已經是改過了。

the most important issues in the report have largely been dealt with by now.

puk⁵ kue²¹³ / u¹¹ kai¹¹ mueʔ¹ kĩã²⁵ su³³ iau³³ si¹¹ kaŋ³³

Bug4(8)guê3, u6(7)-gai5(7) muêh8(4)gian6 su1iao1 si5(7)gang1.

不過，有個物件需要時間

However, some things do need time.

tso⁵² ni¹¹ ne⁵⁵

Zo3(2)ni5(7)-nê5?

做呢 ne？

Why is this so?

[3:30]

iŋ³³ ui¹¹ tsi⁵² miʔ² siau⁵² mak⁵ kai¹¹ mueʔ² kĩã²⁵ / si¹¹ kaʔ⁵ sõĩ³³ tiaŋ³³ si⁵⁵ naŋ⁵² tsiak⁵ tsʰiu⁵² tsɯ¹¹ tsõĩ⁵⁵ kai¹¹ siau⁵² mak⁵ u¹¹ kuaŋ³³ liaŋ⁵⁵ kai¹¹

Ing1ui5(7) zi2-mih4 siao4(2)mag8 gai5(7) muêh8(4)gian6, si6(7) gah4(8) soin1diang1si5 nang2 ziag4(8)ciu2 ze6(7)zoin5 gai5(7) siao3(2)mag8 u6(7) guang1liang5 gai5(7).

因為只乜數目個物件，是佮先珍時俺接手之前個數目有關聯個。

This is because in the matter of these accounts, they have to do with the accounts from before the time that we took over [the town council].

tsi⁵² tsuŋ³³ / naŋ⁵² tsiak1 tsʰiu⁵² kai¹¹ tseŋ³³ tiam⁵² a / tiaŋ¹¹ nau⁵² / loŋ²⁵ tsoŋ⁵² kʰoiʔ¹ i³³ pũã³³ pũã³³ kʰɯ²¹³ a

Zi2zung1, nang2 ziag4(8)ciu2-gai5(7) zêng1diam2 a, diang6(7)nao2, long2(6)zong2 koih8(4)-i1 buan1buan1 ke3 a!

只陣，俺接手個鐘點 a，電腦，攏總乞伊搬搬去 a！

Now, at the time that we took over, they shipped out all the computers and took everything with them!

[3:58]

liau⁵² tsi⁵² tsʰoʔ⁵ siau⁵² mak⁵ / tiaŋ¹¹ nau⁵² kʰoiʔ² i³³ pũã³³ kʰɯ²¹³ / tsɯ³³ liau¹¹ to¹¹ lai¹¹ põĩ⁵⁵

Liao2 zi2coh4(8) siao3(2)mag8, diang6(7)nao2 koih8(4) i1 buan1-ke3, ze1liao7 do6(7) lai6(7)boin5.

了只撮數目，電腦乞伊搬去，資料在內爿

How can we deal with the accounts, when the computers have been taken away, with all the records in them?

u¹¹ kai¹¹ mueʔ¹ kĩã²⁵ ua⁵² tʰaŋ²⁵ pak² lɯ⁵² tã²¹³ la³³ / ua⁵² kaʔ⁵ tseŋ⁵² hu⁵² tã²¹³ / bo¹¹ piaŋ²¹³ kai⁵² kuaʔ² / si¹¹ lɯ²⁵ kai¹¹ muŋ¹¹ tõĩ⁵⁵ / m¹¹ si¹¹ ua⁵² kai¹¹ muŋ¹¹ tõĩ⁵⁵

U6(7) gai5(7) muêh8(4)gian6 ua2 tang2(6)bag8(4) le2 dan3 la1, ua2 gah4(8) zêng3(2)hu2 dan3, bho5(7)biang3 gai3(2)guah4, si6(7) le2-gai5(7) mung7doin5, m6(7)-si6(7) ua2-gai5(7) mung7doin5!

有個物件我坦白汝呾 la，我佮政府呾，無變解決，是汝個問題，唔是我個問題！

There are some things that I should tell you candidly. I told the government, I’ve no way to fix this: this is your problem, not my problem!

puk⁵ kue²¹³ / siaŋ¹¹ toŋ¹¹ iau²¹³ kai¹¹ si¹¹ / i³³ to¹¹ tseŋ⁵² hu⁵² tsʰe¹¹ siau²¹³ kai¹¹ kue⁵² tʰĩã⁵⁵ tsɯ³³ taŋ³³ / bo¹¹ tsʰe¹¹ tioʔ² u¹¹ si¹¹ miʔ⁵ hui³³ huak² kai¹¹ hu⁵² kʰuaŋ⁵²

Bug4(8)guê3, siang6(7) dong7iao3-gai5(7) si6(7), i1 do6(7) zêng3(2)hu2 cê5(7)siao3 gai5(7) guê3(2)tian5 ze1dang1, bho5(7) cê5(7)dioh8(4) u6(7) si6(7)mih4(8) hui1huag4 gai5(7) hu3(2)kuang2,

不過，上重要個是，伊在政府查數個過程之中，無查着有是乜非法個付款，

However, the most important thing is, in the course of the government’s investigation, they never uncovered any illegal payments,

[4:29]

ia¹¹ bo¹¹ huak⁵ iaŋ²¹³ naŋ⁵² li²⁵ sɯ¹¹ hue²⁵ kai¹¹ tsĩã¹¹ uaŋ⁵⁵ u¹¹ tʰam³³ u³³

ia7 bho5(7) huag4(8)iang3 nang2 li2(6)se7huê6 gai5(7) zian5(7)uang5 u6(7) tam1u1.

亦無發現俺理事會個成員有貪污。

nor did they find that any of our councillors were corrupt.

so²⁵ ĩ⁵² PAP tã⁵² kau⁵² naŋ⁵² si¹¹ m¹¹ si¹¹ huaŋ¹¹ si¹¹ miʔ² huak² / tai¹¹ tsi²⁵ tua¹¹ tiou³³ a / tã⁵² kau⁵² kʰi³³ ki³³ kai¹¹ kʰi²⁵ pẽ¹¹

So2(6)in2 PAP dan3(2) gao3(2) nang2 si6(7)-m6(7)-si6(7) huang6(7)-si6(7)mih4-huag4, dai7zi6 dua7diou1 a! Dan3(2) gao3(2) ki1gi1 gai5(7) ki6bên7!

所以 PAP 呾到俺是唔是犯是乜法，代誌大條 a！呾到 XX 個 XX！

dai7zi6 代誌 – Hokkien for “affair, matter”.

puk⁵ kue²¹³ / kĩã²⁵ dzik⁵ naŋ⁵² hũã³³ si¹¹ tsai¹¹ tsai²⁵ kʰia²⁵ to¹¹ tsi⁵² ko²¹³

Bug4(8)guê3, gian2(6)rig8 nang2 huan1si6(7) zai6(7)zai6 kia6-do7 zi2go3.

不過，囝日俺還是在在徛在只塊。

Nonetheless we are still standing here today.

[5:00]

tai¹¹ ke³³ / lɯ⁵² sĩõ¹¹ tʰõĩ⁵² / do¹¹ seŋ³³ kia³³ po³³ ko²¹³ / a¹¹ si¹¹ naŋ⁵² tseŋ³³ kai¹¹ u¹¹ si¹¹ miʔ² tso⁵² si¹¹ miʔ² hui³³ huak² kai¹¹ sɯ¹¹ a / tioʔ⁵ lou¹¹ / tsa⁵² tsu¹¹ kʰɯ⁵² pẽ⁵⁵ lou¹¹

Dai6(7)gê1, le2 sion6(7) toin2. Do6(7) Sêng1gia1bo1-go3, a7-si6(7) nang2 zêng1gai5(7) u6(7) si6(7)mih4 zo3(2) si6(7)mih4 hui1huag4 gai5(7) se7 a, dioh8-lou7: za2 zu6(7) ke3(2) bên5 lou7!

大家，汝想睇。在新加坡塊，若是俺真個有是乜做是乜非法個事 a，着𡀔：早就去棚𡀔！

Why don’t all of you think about it: In Singapore, if there was really any hint of illegal activity, yes that’s right, we would have sent to jail long ago!

a¹¹ si¹¹ u¹¹ tʰam³³ bu³³ a / tam³³ bu³³ tiau¹¹ tsʰai¹¹ tse³³ tsa⁵² tsiu¹¹ lai¹¹ tsʰe³³ lou¹¹ / hũã²⁵ lau⁵⁵ lɯ¹¹

A7-si6(7) u6(7) tam1bhu1 a, Tam1bhu1-diao7cai7zê1 za2 ziu6(7) lai5(7) cê1-lou7, huan6 lao5 le3?

若是有貪污 a，貪污調查局早就來查𡀔，還留汝？

It there was corruption, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau would have come knocking long ago. They wouldn’t keep you waiting.

[5:31]

i³³ PAP tã⁵² tsio⁵² sẽ³³ tsoi¹¹ / ua⁵² kaʔ² lɯ²⁵ tã²¹³ / tua¹¹ sĩã³³ boi¹¹ tsu⁵² a

I1 PAP dan3(2) zio3(2)sên1 zoi7, ua2 gah4 le2(6) dan3, dua7sian1 bhoi6(7)-zu2 a!

伊 PAP 呾照生濟，我佮汝呾，大聲袂XX a！

The PAP has said so much; let me tell you: it’s just a lot of hot air!

kaŋ³³ naŋ¹¹ taŋ⁵² si¹¹ tsek² kai¹¹ hu¹¹ tseʔ⁵ dzim²⁵ kai¹¹ tseŋ⁵² taŋ⁵²

Gang1nang5(7)dang2 si6(7) zêg8(4)gai5(7) hu6(7)-zêh4(8)rim6 gai5(7) zêng3(2)dang2.

工人黨是一個負責任個政黨。

The WP is a responsible political party.

naŋ⁵² to¹¹ dzi¹¹ kʰaŋ⁵² iou³³ iou³³ ni⁵⁵ tsiap⁵ kuaŋ²⁵ tsʰi¹¹ tiŋ⁵² hue²⁵ kai¹¹ si¹¹ hau¹¹

Nang2 do6(7) ri6(7)kang3(2)iou1iou1 ni5 ziab4(8)guang2(6) ci6(7)ding3(2)huê6 gai5(7) si5(7)hao7,

俺在二空幺幺年接管市鎮會個時候，

When we took over the Town Council in 2011,

so²⁵ tso²¹³ kai¹¹ tʰau¹¹ tsek² kai¹¹ kuek⁵ tĩã¹¹ tsu¹¹ si¹¹

so2(6) zo3 gai5(7) tao5(7)-zêg8(4)-gai5(7) guêg4(8)dian7 zu6(7)si6(7),

所做個頭一個決定就是，

the first decision that we made, was,

[5:59]

iŋ³³ ui¹¹ naŋ⁵² ui³³ tsiŋ³³ kuaŋ²⁵ li⁵² koŋ³³ si³³ lai¹¹ kaʔ² naŋ⁵² kuaŋ²⁵ li⁵² naŋ⁵² kai¹¹ tsʰi¹¹ tiŋ²¹³

ing1ui5(7) nang2 ui1zing1 guang2(6)li2 gong1si1 lai5(7) gah4 nang2 guang2(6)li2 nang2-gai5(7) ci6(7)ding3,

因為俺已經管理公司來佮儂管理俺個市鎮，

because we already had a management company to manage our Town Council,

naŋ⁵² kai¹¹ kuek⁵ tĩã¹¹ si¹¹ / kuaŋ²⁵ li⁵² koŋ³³ si³³ kai¹¹ cheque / i³³ kai¹¹ tsĩ³³ pʰio¹¹

nang2-gai5(7) guêg4(8)dian7 si6(7), guang2(6)li2 gong1si1-gai5(7) cheque, i1-gai5(7) zin1pio7,

俺個決定是，管理公司個 cheque，伊個錢票，

our decision was, that for any cheque made out to the management company,

a³³ si¹¹ bo¹¹ naŋ⁵² tsʰi¹¹ tiŋ⁵⁵ li²⁵ sɯ¹¹ hue²⁵ kai¹¹ tsu²⁵ si³³ a³³ si¹¹ hu⁵² tsu²⁵ si³³ tsʰiaŋ³³ mĩã⁵⁵ / si¹¹ boi¹¹ sai⁵² kue²¹³ kai⁵⁵

a1si6(7) bho5(7) nang2 ci6(7)ding3(5)-li2(6)se7huê6 gai5(7) zu2(6)si1 a1si6(7) hu3(2)-zu2(6)si1 ciang1mian5, si6(7) bhoi6(7)sai2 guê3-gai5.

a是無俺市鎮理事會個主席阿是副主席簽名，是袂使過個。

if it didn’t have the signature of the chairman or vice-chairman of the Town Council, it wouldn’t be valid.

boi²⁵ / bo¹¹ piaŋ⁵² kue⁵² siau²¹³ kai⁵⁵ / ŋɯŋ¹¹ haŋ³³ boi¹¹ kue⁵² siau²¹³ kai⁵⁵

Bhoi6… Bho5(7)biang3(2) guê3(2)siao3-gai5, ngeng5(7)hang1 bhoi6(7) guê3(2)siao3-gai5.

袂，無變過數個，銀行袂過數個。

Then it could not be cashed [without their signature], the bank would not honor it.

so²⁵ ĩ⁵² / i³³ to¹¹ po⁵² tsua⁵² lo²⁵ tã²¹³ / i³³ tã²¹³

So2(6)in2, i1 do6(7) bo3(2)zua2 lo6-dan3, i1 dan3:

所以，伊在報紙囉呾，伊呾：

So when the newspapers say:

ua⁵² / niŋ⁵² kuaŋ²⁵ li⁵² koŋ³³ si³³ lai¹¹ põĩ⁵⁵ aŋ³³ bou⁵² no¹¹ kai⁵⁵ mueʔ² lai⁵⁵ mueʔ² kʰɯ²¹³ tsio⁵² sẽ³³ tsiu¹¹ kue²¹³ a / ka³³ ki¹¹ ko⁵² ka³³ ki¹¹ tsĩ³³ a

“Ua2! Ning2 guang2(6)li2 gong1si1 lai6(7)boin5 ang1-bhou2 no6(7)-gai5 muêh8(4)lai5-muêh8(4)ke3 zio3(2)sên1 ziu6(7) guê3 a, ga1gi7 go2 ga1gi3 zin1 a!”

“Ua！恁管理公司內爿翁𡚸兩個物來物去照生就過 a，家己管家己錢 a！”

“Wow! Your management company was run by a married couple, they must have approved anything they wanted. There was no oversight.”

[6:32]

si⁵² sũã⁵² tã²¹³

Si3(2)suan2 dan3!

四散呾！

Nonsense!

hũã²⁵ u²⁵ a / i³³ PAP tã⁵² naŋ⁵² kuaŋ²⁵ li⁵² kai¹¹ seŋ¹¹ pau³³ kai¹¹ haʔ² ioʔ² ho / kʰoiʔ² pʰeŋ¹¹ iu⁵² tso²¹³ la

Huan6-u6 a: i1 PAP dan3(2) nang2 guang2(6)li2 gai5(7) sêng5(7)bao1-gai5(7) hah8(4)ioh4 ho, koih4 pêng5(7)iu2 zo3 la.

還有 a：PAP 呾俺管理個承包個合約 ho，乞朋友做 la。

There’s more: the PAP said that our management contract was just parceled out to friends.

tsia⁵² kai¹¹ si¹¹ ou³³ peʔ⁵ tã²¹³

Zia2-gai5(7) si6(7) ou1-bêh8 dan3.

者個是烏白呾。

This is reckless talk.

ou1pe’8 烏白 – Reckless, careless. Hokkien word.

naŋ⁵² tsiap⁵ tsʰiu⁵² tʰau¹¹ tsek² ni⁵⁵ kue⁵² tou¹¹ si¹¹ kʰi⁵⁵ bo¹¹ loʔ¹ pio³³

Nang2 ziab4(8)ciu2 tao5(7)-zêg8(4)-ni5 guê3(2)dou7 si5(7)ki5 bho5(7) loh8(4)bio1.

俺接手頭一年過渡時期無落標。

For the first year after we took charge, there were no contracts put out to tender.

[6:59]

haʔ² ioʔ⁵ / ne / u¹¹ kaʔ² kok⁵ ke³³ huak⁵ tiaŋ²⁵ pou¹¹ po⁵² kau²¹³

Hah8(4)ioh8, nê, u6(7) gah4 Gog4(8)gê1 Huag4(8)diang2(6)bou7 bo3(2)gao3.

合約，ne，有佮國家發展部報告。

The contracts made were all reported to the Ministry for National Development.

Kok8ke1 Huak8diang6bou7 國家發展部 – Ministry for National Development, responsible for the oversight of town council management.

kue⁵² au²⁵ loʔ⁵ lai¹¹ kai¹¹ tsʰi¹¹ tiŋ⁵⁵ li²⁵ sɯ¹¹ hue²⁵ loŋ²⁵ tsoŋ⁵² kai¹¹ tsia⁵² kʰi³³ haʔ⁵ ioʔ² / loŋ²⁵ tsoŋ⁵² si¹¹ koŋ³³ kʰai³³ tau¹¹ pio³³ kai⁵⁵

Guê3(2)ao6 loh4(8)lai5(7)-gai5(7) ci6(7)ding3(5)-li2(6)se7huê6 long2(6)zong2-gai5(7) zia2-ki1 hah4(8)ioh4, long2(6)zong2 si6(7) gong1kai1 dao5(7)bio1-gai5.

過後落來個市鎮理事會攏總個者起合約，攏總是公開投標個。

After this period, all the contracts entered into by the Town Council, all of these were put to public tender.

tsia2ki1 者起 – ki1 is used here as a classifier for ha’iou’ “contract”.

koŋ³³ kʰai³³ tau¹¹ pio³³ si¹¹ miʔ⁵ naŋ⁵⁵ a³³ oi¹¹ sai⁵² kaʔ² lɯ⁵² / oi¹¹ sai⁵² lai¹¹ pio³³

Gong1kai1 dao5(7)bio1 si6(7)mih4(8)-nang5 a1 oi6(7)sai2 gah4 le2… oi6(7)sai2 lai5(7) bio1.

公開投標是乜儂 a 會曉佮汝⋯⋯ 會曉來標。

In a public tender, anyone can put in a bid.

lɯ⁵² loʔ² pio³³ kai¹¹ kek⁵ kue⁵² a³³ tioʔ² ãĩ⁵² koŋ³³ kʰai³³

Le2 loh8(4)bio1-gai5(7) gêg4(8)guê2 a1 dioh8(4) ain3(2) gong1kai1.

汝落標個結果也着愛公開。

The results of the bidding must also be published.

ãĩ⁵² tso⁵² ni¹¹ mueʔ² kʰɯ⁵² po²⁵ liu⁵⁵ kʰoiʔ² pʰeŋ¹¹ iu⁵² a³³

Ain3(2) zo3(2)ni5(7)muêh8(4) ke3(2) bo2(6)liu5 koih4 pêng5(7)iu2 a1?

愛做呢物去保留乞朋友 a？

How could we have “set them aside” for our friends?

nia⁵² miʔ⁵ ou³³ tsʰẽ³³ ua²¹³

Nia2mih4(8) ou1cên1 ua3?

XX乜烏青我？

They want to bruise us?

[7:30]

(Someone in audience): ou³³ mak² kʰak²

(Someone in the audience): Ou1 mag8(4)kag4!

【某人】：烏目殻！

(Someone in the audience): A black eye!

ou³³ mak² kʰak² a³³ tioʔ⁵

Ou1 mag8(4)kag4 a1 dioh8.

烏目殻也着。

That’s right, a black eye.

i³³ tsi⁵² tsuŋ⁵⁵ a / ãĩ⁵² a³³ lai⁵⁵ ou³³ ua⁵² naŋ⁵⁵ tsʰi¹¹ tiŋ⁵⁵ li²⁵ sɯ¹¹ hue²⁵ tiam¹¹ lai¹¹ ou³³ a

I1 zi2zung5 a, ain3(2) a1 lai5 ou1 ua2nang5 ci6(7)ding3(5)-li2(6)se7huê6 diam7-lai5(7) ou1 a.

伊只陣 a，愛也來污我儂市鎮理事會惦來污 a。

At this time, they want to come and dig into our Town Council’s affairs.

i³³ kai¹¹ / tseŋ⁵² hu⁵² kai¹¹ tsʰe³³ siau²⁵ a³³ / to¹¹ ua⁵² naŋ⁵⁵ tsʰi¹¹ tiŋ⁵⁵ li²⁵ sɯ¹¹ hue²⁵ tsʰe³³ liau⁵² tsap² kai¹¹ gueʔ⁵ a³³ / Ten months, right? tsap² kai¹¹ gueʔ⁵ a³³

I1-gai5(7), zêng3(2)hu2-gai5(7) cê1siao2(6) a1, do6(7) ua2nang5 ci6(7)ding3(5)-li2(6)se7huê6 cê1-liao2 zab8(4)-gai5(7) ghuêh8 a1. Ten months, right? Zab8(4)-gai5(7) ghuêh8 a1!

伊個，政府個查數 a，在我儂市鎮理事會查了十個月 a。Ten months, right? 十個月 a！

They… the government’s auditors have been checking our books for ten months. Ten months, right? Ten months!

tsap² kai¹¹ gueʔ⁵ / lɯ⁵² tsai³³ m¹¹ tsai³³ boi²⁵

Zab8(4)-gai5(7) ghuêh8, le2 zai1-m6(7)-zai1 bhoi6?

十個月，汝知唔知袂？

Do you know this? Ten months.

so²⁵ ĩ⁵² naŋ⁵² kai¹¹ siau²¹³ bo¹¹ piaŋ⁵² tso⁵² / … / tsu¹¹ si¹¹ iŋ³³ ui¹¹ naŋ⁵² bo¹¹ i³³ kai¹¹ / bo¹¹ piaŋ⁵² i³³ kai¹¹ si¹¹ kaŋ³³

So2(6)in2 nang2 gai5(7) siao3 bho5(7)biang3(2) zo3(2) […] zu6(7)si6(7) ing1ui5(7) nang2 bho5(7) i1-gai5(7), bho5(7)biang3(2) i1-gai5(7) si5(7)gang1.

所以俺個數無變做⋯⋯ 就是因為俺無伊個，無變伊個時間。

Therefore we haven’t been able to do our accounts, because we don’t have them, we don’t have their time.

i³³ tsʰe³³ tsap1 kai¹¹ gueʔ⁵ kai¹¹ siau²¹³ / i³³ ãĩ⁵² ou³³ / ou³³ bo¹¹ mueʔ² kĩã²⁵ la³³

I1 cê1 zab8(4)-gai5(7) ghuêh8 gai5(7) siao3, i1 ain3(2) ou1, ou1 bho5(7) muêh8(4)gian6 la1.

伊查十個月個數，伊愛污，污無物件 la。

Despite checking our books for ten months, and wanting to do us in, they haven’t been able to find anything.

cê zab-gai ghueh kai siao – This is an example of a gai construction where a verb, in this case cê-siao, is split into two, and the modifier (zab-gai ghueh gai) is inserted in between.

[8:02]

i³³ ou³³ bo¹¹ mueʔ² kĩã²⁵ m¹¹ kam³³ ŋuaŋ²⁵

I1 ou1 bho5(7) muêh8(4)gian6 m6(7)-gam1nguang6!

伊污無物件唔甘願！

They couldn’t find anything, and are not happy about it!

i³³ tsi⁵² tsuŋ⁵⁵ ho⁵² / i³³ kʰɯ⁵² ou³³ hɯ⁵² kõĩ³³ kah2 naŋ⁵² kuaŋ²⁵ li⁵² a / kuaŋ²⁵ li⁵² koŋ³³ si³³ kai¹¹ siau²¹³

I1 zi2zung5 ho2, i1 ke3(2) ou1 he2-goin1 gah4 nang2 guang2(6)li2 a, […] guang2(6)li2 gong1si1-gai5(7) siao3,

伊只陣 ho，伊去污許間佮俺管理 a，⋯⋯ 管理公司個數，

Now, they have gone to dig into the accounts of our management company.

i³³ tã⁵² i³³ tʰaŋ⁵² tsiŋ³³ tsoi¹¹ tsĩ³³ a³³

i1 dan3(2) i1 tang2 zing1zoi7 zin1 a1.

伊呾伊賺真濟錢 a。

They say that they [the company] have been making too much money.

ua⁵² / tsia⁵² kai⁵⁵ si¹¹ kue⁵² au²⁵ maŋ⁵⁵ a

Ua2, zia2-gai5 si6(7) guê3(2) ao2(6)mang5 a.

Ua，～個是野蠻 a。

Now that is simply barbaric.

[8:31]

tʰaŋ⁵² tsiŋ³³ tsoi¹¹ tsĩ³³ a¹¹ ãĩ⁵² ua⁵⁵ ua⁵² naŋ¹¹

Tang3(2) zing1zoi7 zin1 a7 ain3(2) ua5 ua2nang7.

賺真濟錢也愛 XX 我儂。

They want to blame us for them making money.

tsĩ³³ si¹¹ i³³ tʰaŋ²¹³ m¹¹ si¹¹ ua⁵² tʰaŋ²¹³ li³³

Zin1 si6(7) i1 tang3 m6(7)si6(7) ua2 tang3 li1.

錢是伊賺唔是我賺 li。

They made the money, not me.

i³³ PAP i³³ sĩõ¹¹ tã⁵² ãĩ⁵² tũã³³ tũã³³ i³³ tsi⁵² kai¹¹ tsʰi¹¹ tiŋ⁵⁵ li²⁵ sɯ¹¹ hue²⁵ kai¹¹ tsʰai¹¹ bu²⁵ kai¹¹ kuaŋ²⁵ li⁵² ho / tsu¹¹ tã⁵² naŋ⁵² kaŋ³³ naŋ¹¹ taŋ⁵² boi¹¹ hiau⁵² kuaŋ²⁵ li⁵² tsʰi¹¹ tiŋ²¹³ hue²⁵ la³³

I1 PAP i1 sion6(7) dan3(2) ain3(2) duan1duan1 i1 zi2gai5(7) ci6(7)ding3(5)-li2(6)se7huê6 gai5(7) cai5(7)bhu6-gai5(7) guang2(6)li2 ho, zu6(7) dan3(2) nang2 Gang1nang5(7)dang2 bhoi6(7)hiao2 guang2(6)li2 ci6(7)ding3 huê6 la1.

伊 PAP，伊想呾愛單單只個市鎮理事會個財務個管理 ho，就呾俺工人黨袂曉管理市鎮會 la。

The PAP, they want to say with only this matter of the Town Council and the management, to say that the Worker’s Party doesn’t know how to manage a town council.

[8:59]

i³³ kaʔ² tsʰoʔ⁵ mueʔ⁵ tã²¹³ / niŋ⁵² mo²⁵ tau²¹³ kaŋ³³ naŋ¹¹ taŋ⁵² ho

I1 gah4 coh4(8)muêh8 dan3: ning2 mo2(6) dao3 Gang1nang5(7)dang2 ho,

伊佮撮物呾：恁孬投工人黨 ho，

They tell those people: Don’t vote for the WP.

iŋ³³ ui¹¹ i³³ boi¹¹ hiau²⁵ tsʰi¹¹ tiŋ⁵⁵ li²⁵ sɯ¹¹ / so²⁵ ĩ⁵² kuaŋ²⁵ tau⁵² lɯ⁵² tʰõĩ⁵² / … /siau⁵² a³³ boi¹¹ hiau²⁵ tso²¹³ la³³ / liau⁵² kaʔ² / sũã⁵² su³³ tsĩ⁵⁵ la³³ / ho

ing1ui5(7) i1 bhoi6(7)hiao2(6) ci6(7)ding3(5)li2(6)se7, so2(6)in2 guang2(6)dao3(2) le2 toin2, em… siao3(2) a1 bhoi6(7)hiao2(6) zo3 la1, liao2 gah4, suan2 su1-zin5 la1, ho.

因為伊袂曉市鎮理事，所以管到汝睇，em⋯⋯ 數也袂曉做 la，了佮，散輸錢 la，ho

Because they don’t know how to manage a Town Council, and look at what they have gotten themselves into: they can’t even balance the books, and are losing money.

i³³ m¹¹ ki³³ tek² kʰɯ²¹³ le³³

I1 m6(7)-gi1dêg4 ke3 lê1!

伊唔記得去 le！

They have forgotten!

i³³ naŋ¹¹ eŋ¹¹ kɯ³³ miŋ⁵⁵ so⁵² kau³³ kau¹¹ tsap² hui¹¹ kʰɯ⁵² tau¹¹ tsɯ³³ a

I1-nang5(7) êng7 ge1ming5 so2 gao1 gai5(7) zab8(4)hui7 ke3(2) dao5(7)ze1 a.

伊儂用居民所交個雜費去投資 a。

They [the PAP] have used the fees paid by residents to fund their investments.

tsek² tsʰõĩ³³ lak² peʔ² buaŋ¹¹ / a³³ lui²⁵ maŋ⁵⁵ hĩã³³ ti²⁵ kue⁵² tiau²¹³ hõĩ¹¹ i³³ hĩã³³ ti²⁵ / i³³ a¹¹ su³³ su³³ tiau²¹³ a

Zêg8(4)coin1 lag8(4)bêh8(4) bhuang7, a1 Lui2(6)mang5 Hian1di6 guê3(2)diao3 hoin5(7) i1 hian1di6, i1 a7 su1su1 diao3 a!

一千六百萬，a Lehman 兄弟過掉繯伊兄弟，伊也輸輸掉 a！

Sixteen million dollars, when Lehman Brothers went belly-up, they lost it all.

[9:32]

liau⁵² ua⁵² tsi⁵² tsuŋ⁵⁵ muŋ¹¹ tsi⁵² tsʰoʔ² PAP tsʰi¹¹ tiŋ²⁵ li²⁵ … PAP kuaŋ²⁵ li⁵² kai¹¹ tsi⁵² tsʰoʔ⁵ naŋ¹¹ meŋ³³ ho / liau⁵² lɯ⁵² meŋ²⁵ kʰɯ⁵² kaʔ² lɯ⁵² PAP to¹¹ tsĩ⁵⁵

Liao2 ua2 zi2zung5 mung7 zi2coh4 PAP ci6(7)ding3(6)li6… PAP guang2(6)li2-gai5(7) zi2coh4(8) nang5(7)mêng1 ho: liao2 le2 mêng2(6) ke3(2) gah4 le2 PAP do7-zin5?

了我只陣問只撮 PAP 市鎮理⋯⋯ PAP 管理個只撮儂民好：了汝免去佮汝 PAP 掏錢？

Now I ask those who are in PAP districts… those who live in districts they manage: Have you gone to ask the PAP for your money back?

i³³ PAP kʰioʔ² naŋ⁵² au³³ dziu³³ ni¹¹ kʰu³³ kai¹¹ kɯ³³ miŋ⁵⁵ kaʔ² naŋ⁵² to¹¹ tsĩ⁵⁵ ma³³

I1 PAP kioh8(4) nang2 Ao1riu1ni5(7)-ku1 gai5(7) ge1ming5 gah4 nang2 do7zin5 ma1.

伊 PAP 挈俺 Aljunied區個居民 ka 儂掏錢 ma。

After all, the PAP called on Aljunied residents to demand their money back from us.

liau⁵² i³³ tso⁵² ni¹¹ bo¹¹ ka2 i³³ to¹¹ tsĩ⁵⁵

Liao2 i1 zo3(2)ni5(7) bho5(7) gah4 i1 do7zin5?

了伊做呢無佮伊掏錢？

So why don’t they go and ask them for their money back?

i³³ meŋ²⁵ kʰioʔ² i³³ ka³³ ki¹¹ kai¹¹ kɯ³³ miŋ⁵⁵ kaʔ² i³³ to¹¹ tsĩ⁵⁵ tsia⁵² oi¹¹ tioʔ² / tsia⁵² oi¹¹ ŋam³³ / tioʔ² m¹¹ tioʔ²

I1 mêng2(6) kioh4 i1 ga1gi7-gai5(7) ge1ming5 gah4 i1 do7zin5 zia2 oi6(7)-dioh4, zia2 oi6(7) ngam1, dioh4-m6(7)-dioh4?

伊免挈伊家己個居民佮伊掏錢正有着，正會啱，着唔着？

Shouldn’t they have their own residents go and demand their money back from them? That would be right, wouldn’t it?

tsia⁵² kai¹¹ bo¹¹ tsui²⁵ tsuŋ³³

Zia2-gai5(7) bho5(7) zui2(6)zung1!

者個無水平！

This is a lack of standards!

[10:00]

ou³³ / u¹¹ ue¹¹ tã⁵² pak² naŋ⁵⁵ / bo¹¹ ue¹¹ tã⁵² ka³³ ki¹¹ a³³

Ou1, u6(7) uê7 dan3(2) bag8(4)nang5, bho5(7) uê7 dan3(2) ga1gi7 a1.

烏，有話呾別儂，無話呾家己 a。

They want to tar others with their words, but have nothing to say about themselves.

ua⁵² kaʔ² lɯ⁵² tã²¹³ / ua⁵² si¹¹ luŋ²⁵ i³³ tsiŋ³³ ku⁵² a

Ua2 gah4 le2 dan3: Ua2 si6(7) lung2(6) i1 zing1-gu2 a.

我佮汝呾：我是忍伊真久 a。

Let me tell you: I have put up with them for a long time.

[10:30]

puk⁵ kue²¹³ / naŋ⁵² tioʔ² ãĩ⁵² kek² tueŋ³³ tseŋ³³ seŋ⁵⁵ / ãĩ⁵² eŋ¹¹ si¹¹ kaŋ³³ / eŋ¹¹ siŋ³³ pa¹¹ tsi⁵² kai¹¹ siau²¹³ tso⁵² ho⁵²

Bug4(8)guê3, nang2 dioh4 ain3(2) gêg8(4)duêng1 zêng1sêng5, ain3(2) êng7 si5(7)gang1, êng7 sing1 ba7 zi2gai5(7) siao3 zo3(2)-ho2.

不過，俺着愛極端精神，愛用時間，用心把只個數做好。

Nonetheless, we have to remain alert, to use our time and carefully get our accounts done properly.

seŋ³³ tso⁵² ho⁵² sõĩ³³ / naŋ⁵² kʰiam¹¹ naŋ⁵² li²⁵ iu⁵⁵ ho / kẽ³³ tã⁵² bo¹¹ eŋ¹¹

Sêng1 zo3(2) ho2 soin1, nang2 kiam7 nang2 li2(6)iu5 ho, gên1 dan3(2) bho5(7)êng7.

先做好先，俺儉俺理由 ho，更呾無用。

First, do it well. If we skimp on our principles, there’s no use saying more.

hiaŋ¹¹ tsai²⁵ / naŋ⁵² kai¹¹ siau²¹³ tso²¹³ tsʰuk² lai¹¹ liau⁵²

Hiang5(7)zai6, nang2-gai5(7) siao3 zo3 cug8(4)lai5(7) liao2!

現在，俺個數做出來了！

Now, our accounts are finally done!

a¹¹ kau³³ kʰoih2 kok⁵ ke³³ huak⁵ tiaŋ³³ pou²⁵ kaʔ² kok⁵ hue²⁵

A7 gao1koih4 Gog4(8)gê1 Huag4(8)diang1bou6 gah4 Gog4(8)huê6.

也交乞國家發展部佮國會。

And they have been handed over to the Ministry for National Development and to Parliament.

[11:02]

naŋ⁵² tsʰe³³ siau⁵⁵ kai¹¹ sim³³ kik⁵ tsɯ³³ tã²¹³ naŋ⁵² tsʰi¹¹ tiŋ²¹³ hue²⁵ kai¹¹ siau⁵² mak⁵ tɯ³³ liau²⁵ ku³³ siau²¹³ la / a³³ bo¹¹ piaŋ⁵² kai³³ koi¹¹ / ua⁵² tã⁵² kue²¹³ liau⁵² ha / kʰi¹¹ tʰa³³ kai¹¹ loŋ²⁵ tsoŋ⁵² hak² huak²

Nang2 cê1siao3(5)-gai5(7) sim1gig4(8)ze1 dan3 nang2 ci6(7)ding3 huê6 gai5(7) siao3(2)mag8 de1liao2(6) gu1siao3 la, a1 bho5(7)biang3(2) gai1goi7, ua2 dan3(2)guê3 liao2 ha, ki5(7)ta1-gai5(7) long2(6)zong2 hag8(4)huag4.

俺查數個審計書呾俺市鎮會個數目除了古數 la，也無變（？）改，我呾過了 ha，其他個攏總合法。

The auditors who have checked out accounts say, that our Town Council’s accounts – aside from those old accounts which can’t be changed, and I’ve talked about them already – everything else is completely in line with the law.

naŋ⁵² dzi¹¹ kʰaŋ⁵² iau³³ si²¹³ kaʔ⁵ dzi¹¹ kʰaŋ⁵² iau³³ ŋou²⁵ ni¹¹ tou³³ kai¹¹ siau⁵² mak⁵ bo¹¹ kʰui³³ suk²

Nang2 ri6(7)kang3(2)iao1si3 gah4(8) ri6(7)kang3(2)iao1ngou6 ni5(7)dou1 gai5(7) siao3(2)mag8 bho5(7) kui1sug4.

俺二空幺四佮二空幺五年度個數目無虧輸。

From 2014 to 2015, we did not register a loss.

[11:32]

a³³ si¹¹ sɯŋ⁵² tsʰek⁵ peʔ⁵ dzi¹¹ tsap² buaŋ¹¹ kai¹¹ tsiŋ³³ tʰiap² a / tsek² peʔ² dzi¹¹ tsap² buaŋ¹¹ kai¹¹ tsiŋ³³ tʰiap² i³³ tsi²⁵ tsuŋ³³ tseŋ⁵² hu⁵² kaʔ² lɯ⁵² kʰau³³ tioʔ² / mai⁵² kʰoiʔ² lɯ²¹³

A1-si6(7) seng3(2) cêg4(8)bêh4(8) ri6(7)zab8(4) bhuang7 gai5(7) zing1tiab4 a, zêg8(4)bêh4 ri6(7)zab8(4) bhuang7 gai5(7) zing1tiab4 i1 zi2(6)zung1 zêng3(2)hu2 gah4 le2 kao1 dioh4, mai3(2) khoih4 le3.

若是算七百二十萬個津貼 a，一百二十萬個津貼伊只陣政府佮汝 XX 着，莫乞汝。

If one counts the 7.2 million grant, 1.2 million of this is now being held by the government, who refuse to release it to you.

a³³ tsuŋ¹¹ tsõĩ⁵⁵ lɯ⁵² tʰĩã³³ puŋ³³ eŋ³³ huat4 tã²¹³ / i³³ PA a / naŋ¹¹ meŋ⁵⁵ hiap² hue²⁵ a³³ / i³³ kai¹¹ siau⁵⁵ mak⁵ a / ua⁵² piaŋ²⁵ gua¹¹ ni¹¹ tsõĩ³³ a / si⁵² sũã⁵² lai⁵⁵ a

A zung5(7)zoin5 le2 tian1 Bung Êng-huat dan3, i1 PA a, Nang5(7)mêng5-Hiab4huê6 a, i1-gai5(7) siao3(5)mag8 a, ua2-biang ghua7-ni5(7) zoin1 a, si3(2)suan3(2) lai5 a.

A 陣前汝聽方榮發呾，伊 PA a，人民協會 a，伊個數目 a，我XX 幾年前 a，四散來 a。

Just now you have heard Png Eng Huat tell you, that the PA, the People’s Association, their accounts, just a few years ago, they were all over the place.

Png Eng Huat – Hokkien name. A Worker’s Party MP who also gave a speech at the same rally.

i³³ meŋ²⁵ mai⁵² kʰoiʔ² i³³ / naŋ⁵² kai¹¹ i³³ tsu¹¹ mo²⁵ kʰoiʔ² / i³³ tã²¹³

I1 mêng2(6) mai3(2) koih4 i1, nang2-gai5(7) i1 zu6(7) mo2(6)-koih4, i1 dan3.

伊免莫乞伊，俺個伊就孬乞，伊呾。

[The government] didn’t refuse to give them [their grants], but they refuse to give us ours.

[12:01]

tsia⁵² kai¹¹ si¹¹ kio⁵² siaŋ³³ teŋ¹¹ piau³³ tsuŋ⁵²

Zia2-gai5(7) si6(7) gio3(2) siang1dêng7-biao1zung2.

者個是叫雙重標準。

This is called a double standard.

a¹¹ si¹¹ pau³³ kuak² tsi⁵² tsʰek⁵ peʔ² dzi¹¹ tsap² buaŋ¹¹ / naŋ⁵² tsʰi¹¹ tiŋ⁵⁵ li²⁵ sɯ¹¹ hue²⁵ hũã³³ u¹¹ tsek² peʔ² tsek⁵ tsap² buaŋ¹¹ kai¹¹ ŋɯŋ³³ ni / naŋ⁵² bo¹¹ kʰui⁵² suk⁵

A7-si6(7) bao1guag4 zi2 cêg4(8)bêh4 ri6(7)zab8(4) bhuang7, nang2 ci6(7)ding3(5)-li2(6)se7huê6 huan1 u6(7) zêk8(4)bêh4 cêg4(8)zab8(4) bhuang7 gai5(7) ngeng1-ni(?), nang2 bho5(7) kui3(2)sug8!

若是包括只七百二十萬，俺市鎮理事會還有七百七十萬個錢XX，俺無虧輸！

If one includes this 7.2 million, our Town Council actually has a surplus of 7.7 million, we haven’t made a loss!

PAP a / i³³ tsʰue¹¹ tioʔ² kai¹¹ soi⁵² kʰaŋ³³ / kai¹¹ kʰaŋ³³ kĩã⁵² tsiu¹¹ pĩã⁵² pĩã⁵² ou³³ a

PAP a, i1 cuê7 dioh8(4) gai5(7) soi3(2)kang1, gai5(7) kang1gian2 ziu6(7) bian3(2)bian3(2) ou1 a.

PAP a，伊揣着個小空，個空仔就偏偏 XX a。

The PAP looks for a small hole, and then keeps picking at it.

[12:30]

ua⁵² kaʔ² lɯ⁵² tã²¹³ la / lɯ⁵² oi¹¹ ki⁵² tek² boi²⁵ / PAP kai¹¹ ŋiau³³ tsʰɯ⁵² sua³³ ho

Ua2 gah4 le2 dan3 la, le2 oi6(7) gi3(2)dêg8(4) bhoi6, PAP-gai5(7) ngiao1-ce2 sua1 ho.

我佮汝呾 la，汝會記得袂，PAP個貓鼠山好。

Let me tell you, do you remember this time, when the PAP had a hill of rats?

An infestation of rats near a public transit station in Bukit Batok was reported in late 2014. Opposition parties have often criticized public service agencies, whether fairly or not, of prioritizing PAP-held constituencies.

kai⁵⁵ m¹¹ tsai³³ sua⁵² si¹¹ tua¹¹ sɯ¹¹ a³³ si¹¹ soi²¹³ sɯ¹¹ a

Gai5 m6(7)zai1 sua3(2) si6(7) dua7se7 a1si6(7) soi3 se7 a.

個唔知算是大事甲是細事 a。

One doesn’t know if this was a big issue or a small one.

soa 算 – Hokkien pronunciation, vs. the Teochew seung3.

NEA a³³ tsiu¹¹ me²⁵ me⁵² tʰiau⁵² tsʰuk² lai¹¹ / paŋ³³ paŋ³³ a / mo²⁵ sɯ¹¹ a / PAP kai¹¹ kʰu³³ a

NEA a ziu6(7) mê2(6)mê2 tiao3(2) cug8(4)lai5(7). Bang1bang1 a, mo2(6)se7 a, PAP-gai5(7) ku1 a.

NEA a 就猛猛跳出來。方方 a，孬事 a，PAP個區 a。

The NEA (National Environment Agency) quickly jumped into action: quickly, no worries, this is a PAP ward.

liaʔ² ŋiau²⁵ tsʰɯ⁵² kai¹¹ tsuaŋ³³ ke³³ a / mueʔ² liau⁵² kua¹¹ kai¹¹ loi²⁵ pai²¹³ la / ba¹¹ lu⁵² tsĩã⁵² kʰoiʔ² i³³ ŋiau³³ tsʰɯ⁵² liaʔ² liau⁵² a

Liah8(4) ngiao2(6)ce2-gai5(7) zuang1gê1 a, muêh8(4) liao2 gua7-gai5(7) loi2(6)bai3 la, bha7lu2 zian2 koih4 i1 ngiao1ce2 liah4 liao2 a.

掠貓鼠個專家 a，物了寡個禮拜 la，baru 正乞伊貓鼠掠了 a。

The rat-catching experts were at work for several weeks, and have only just managed to catch all the rats.

[13:01]

ua⁵² kaʔ² lɯ⁵² tã²¹³ a / dzu¹¹ kũã⁵² tsio⁵² ŋiau³³ tsʰɯ⁵² sũã³³ si¹¹ to¹¹ kaŋ³³ naŋ¹¹ taŋ⁵² kai¹¹ kʰu³³ a / ua⁵² kaʔ² lɯ⁵² si⁵² kaʔ² tsiŋ³³ pʰai²⁵ tʰõĩ⁵² a

Ua2 gah4 le2 dan3 a: ru5(7)guan2 zio2 ngiao1ce2-suan1 si6(7) do6(7) Gang1nang5(7)dang2-gai5(7) ku1 a, ua2 gah4 le2 si2 gah4 zing1 pai2(6)toin2 a.

我佮汝呾 a：如果照貓鼠山是在工人黨個區 a，我佮汝死佮真歹睇 a。

Let me tell you: had this hill of rats been in a Worker’s Party ward, I’d have died a very public death.

so²⁵ ĩ⁵² ho / ua⁵² kaʔ² tai¹¹ ke³³ tsʰam³³ siaŋ⁵⁵ tsek² e¹¹ ho

So2(6)in2 ho, ua2 gah4 dai6(7)gê1 cam1siang5 zêg8(4)-ê7 ho.

所以好，我佮大家參詳一下好。

So let me put this to all of you.

niŋ⁵² tai¹¹ ke³³ tioʔ² ãĩ⁵² sio³³ hu²⁵ la

Ning2 dai6(7)gê1 dioh8(4) ain3(2) sio1hu6 la.

恁大家着愛相輔 la。

You all have to help.

sio³³ hu²⁵ tau⁵² tʰõĩ⁵² a / mo²⁵ kʰoiʔ² i³³ paŋ⁵² ŋiau³³ tsʰɯ⁵² kue²¹³ lai¹¹

Sio1hu6 dao3(2) toin2 a, mo2(6) koih4 i1 bang3(2) ngiao1ce2 guê3 lai7!

相輔鬥睇 a，孬乞伊放貓鼠過來！

Help us keep an eye out, don’t let them sneak any rats over here!

Sio1hu6 相輔, dao3 鬥 – both meaning “help”

[13:33]

PAP si¹¹ boi¹¹ kam³³ uaŋ²⁵ kai¹¹ la / i³³ tĩã¹¹ tioʔ² tsʰue¹¹ kʰaŋ³³ tʰau⁵⁵ kue²¹³ la

PAP si6(7) bhoi6(7) gam1uang6 gai5(7) la. I1 dian7dioh8(4) cuê7 kang1tao5 guê3 la.

PAP 是袂甘願個 la。伊定着揣空頭過 la。

The PAP will never be satisfied. They will certainly keep looking for holes.

i³³ ãĩ⁵² mueʔ² tiau¹¹ ŋ⁵² ne

I1 ain3(2) muêh8(4)diao7 ng2 nê!

伊愛物掉阮 ne！

They want to do us in!

meŋ²⁵ kĩã³³ / meŋ²⁵ kĩã³³

Mêng2(6) gian1, mêng2(6) gian1.

免驚，免驚。

Don’t be afraid.

naŋ⁵² kaŋ³³ naŋ¹¹ taŋ⁵² keŋ³³ lek⁵ kue²¹³ a³³ ne³³ tsoi¹¹ tua¹¹ huaŋ³³ tua¹¹ hou²⁵ / naŋ⁵² oi¹¹ tua¹¹ tua¹¹ pou¹¹ kĩã⁵⁵ tsʰuk² kʰɯ²¹³

Nang2 Gang1nang5(7)dang2 gêng1lêg8-guê3 a1nê1 zoi7 dua7huang1-dua7hou6, nang2 oi6(7) dua7dua7-bou7 gian5 cug8(4)ke3!

俺工人黨經歷過按呢濟大風大雨，俺會大大步行出去！

We in the Worker’s Party have experience with big storms; we will stride out of it proudly!

[14:00]

tai¹¹ ke³³ a / ua⁵² kaʔ² lɯ⁵² tã²¹³ a / PAP a¹¹ si¹¹ dzu²⁵ / dzu²⁵ m¹¹ tsia⁵² ĩõ¹¹ la

Dai6(7)gê1 a, ua2 gah4 le2 dan3 a, PAP a7 si6(7) ru2(6)… ru2(6) m6(7)-zia2-ion7 la.

大家 a，我佮汝呾 a，PAP 是愈⋯⋯ 愈唔像樣 la。

Everybody, let me tell you, the PAP is becoming… ever more unseemly.

i³³ tso⁵² tseŋ⁵² hu⁵² ŋou¹¹ tsap² ni⁵⁵ / mueʔ² kau⁵² kĩã²⁵ dzik⁵ tã⁵² ue¹¹ ia¹¹ tã⁵² kau⁵² m¹¹ sã³³ m¹¹ si²¹³ la³³

I1 zo3(2) zêng3(2)hu2 ngou6(7)zab8(4) ni5, muêh8(4)gao3(2) gian2(6)rig8 dan3(2)uê7 ia7 dan3(2) gao3(2) m6(7)-san1 m6(7)-si3 la1.

伊做政府五十年，物到囝日呾話亦呾到唔三唔四 la。

They have been in government for fifty years, to the point that today, they don’t make any sense when they speak.

[14:35]

tã⁵² si¹¹ miʔ² koŋ³³ koi³³ la¹¹ / tã⁵² u²⁵ tã⁵² bo⁵⁵ tsu¹¹ tioʔ² la¹¹

Dan3(2) si6(7)mih4 gong1goi1 la7, dan3(2)u6 dan3(2)bho5 zu6(7) dioh4 la7.

呾是乜公雞 la，呾有呾無就着 la。

What with talk of roosters, it is all just idle talk.

gong1goi1 公雞 – Rooster. Directly using Mandarin gōngjī, whereas the Teochew words for “rooster” and “hen” would usually be goi1ang1 雞翁 and goi1bho2 雞母 respectively. In Teochew, the sex of an animal is typically marked with a suffix (here -ang1 and -bho2), whereas in Mandarin it is a prefix, e.g. gōngjī and mǔjī. The reference here is to a comment made by former prime minister and PAP head Goh Chok Tong, who said that opposition parties, such as the WP, were like a rooster who thought its crowing made the sun rise every morning, confusing cause and effect.

so²⁵ ĩ⁵² / ua⁵² kaʔ² lɯ⁵² tã²¹³ ho⁵² / ui⁵⁵ liau⁵² naŋ⁵² kai¹¹ kok⁵ ke³³ / ui⁵⁵ liau⁵² naŋ⁵² kai¹¹ kĩã²⁵ suŋ³³ kai¹¹ bue¹¹ lai⁵⁵ / kau²⁵ gueʔ² tsap² ek⁵ ho¹¹ / niŋ⁵² tioʔ² tau¹¹ kaŋ³³ naŋ¹¹ taŋ⁵² tsek² pio³³

So2(6)in2, ua2 gah4 le2 dan3 ho2, ui5-liao2 nang2-gai5(7) gog4(8)gê1, ui5-liao2 nang2-gai5(7) gian2(6)sung1-gai5(7) bhuê7lai1, gao2(6)ghuêh8(4) zab8(4)êg8 ho7, ning2 dioh8(4) dao7 Gang1nang5(7)dang2 zêg8(4) bio1!

所以，我佮汝呾好，為了俺個國家，為了俺個仔孫個未來，九月十一號，恁着投工人黨一票！

Therefore, let me tell you this, for the sake of our country, for the sake of our children’s and grandchildren’s future, on 11 September, vote for the Worker’s Party!

sia⁵² sia⁵² tai¹¹ ke³³

Sia2sia2 dai6(7)gê1!

謝謝大家！

Thank you, everybody!