Sylvia Lim Instagram post

Sylvia Lim Instagram

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean fired his party’s latest salvo at the opposition Workers’ Party, demanding that the party prove it is “at least able to run a town council” and taking issue with one of party chairman Sylvia Lim’s Instagram posts in a report by Channel NewsAsia.

DPM Teo was referring to the ongoing Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) saga. The opposition-run town council has faced questions related to the management of its accounts. Teo pointed at Punggol East SMC, which had been managed under the same Pasir Ris-Punggol town council until WP won the seat in a 2013 by-election, saying that that town council had gone from a surplus to a deficit.

“Essentially what happened was this: Hougang town council was running a deficit, they took over Aljunied, a town council which was in surplus (following the 2011 General Election). They took over Punggol East from Pasir Ris-Punggol town council which was also in surplus. Now the whole Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council is in deficit,” Teo told Channel NewsAsia.

Turning his attention to WP chairman Sylvia Lim’s new Instagram account, the deputy prime minister went on to say: “Now we see the chairman of the town council saying that Fengshan SMC looks quite delicious. What’s going to happen? You’re going to swallow up Fengshan? For what purpose? To serve the residents of Fengshan? Or is Fengshan delicious because you want to add it to the pot? And help the town council with the deficit?”

Lim had shared a photo of herself eating an oyster omelette, presumable in a hawker centre somewhere in Fengshan SMC. Her caption read: “The taste of Fengshan – heavenly! #reasontowin”

While some agreed with Teo that WP’s running of town councils should be further scrutinised, Teo’s remark has since been criticised as petty and unprofessional by commenters on Channel News Asia’s Facebook post.

Screen Shot 2015-08-14 at 9.13.48 pm Screen Shot 2015-08-14 at 9.12.59 pm Screen Shot 2015-08-14 at 9.12.45 pmScreen Shot 2015-08-14 at 9.22.34 pm Screen Shot 2015-08-14 at 9.22.11 pm

WP supporters on Instagram also expressed their distaste for Teo’s comments:

Screen Shot 2015-08-14 at 8.51.53 pm

 

Teo had other criticism for WP too, saying that they were “rabble-rousing” and “inflaming emotions” during the elections only to remain silent on certain issues in Parliament. He also said that WP leader Low Thia Khiang’s reaction to Transport Minster Lui Tuck Yew’s retirement from politics were merely “crocodile tears” and that it was “very characteristic of Mr Low to squeeze the most political mileage out of anything.”

The Straits Times also reported that Teo had said in a closed session with the media that the general election was not about getting opposition voices in Parliament, as the Singapore Constitution already guarantees nine opposition members as Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMPs).

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
You May Also Like

选举局终于出台疫情下竞选活动指南! 允政党不超过五人一组拜访选民

在早前在野党不断敦促下,选举局终于出台疫情下的竞选活动指南。根据今日(18日)发布的文告,选举局坦言,有鉴于疫情可能持续至超过明年4月(即召开选举期限),故此该局拟定上述指南,以保障选民、候选人和工作人员的安全。 根据选举局规定,各政党可挨家逐户拜访选民,但一组人不得超过五人,各组人员也不得接触,需遵守一米安全距离。 至于提名日则将透过电视或网络直播,只有候选人、提名人、附议人、媒体等出席,支持者不得在提名中心外聚集。开票日当晚也不允许支持者在中心外等候结果,开票成绩将透过直播公布。 另一方面,政党可在竞选期间用竞选广播车,但候选人不能现场发言、播放短片和音乐,避免吸引群众聚集。然而,投票日隔日则不能用广播车谢票。 当局称,不受疫情影响的宣传方式,则包括海报、横幅、冷静日和竞选费用。

Ms Teo: Govt, unions and employers all agree retirement, re-employment ages of elderly should be raised

In Parliament today (5 Mar), Manpower Minister Josephine Teo told Parliament that…

总理称未来数月可能更多公司倒闭、更多员工被裁

在昨日(9日),新加坡总理李显龙发表2020国庆献词,坦言面对放前疫情和经济衰退,仍需坚韧不拔,国人难免会对未来感到焦虑和担忧。在接下来的几个月,更多公司可能会倒闭、更多员工会被裁退。 他认为,要走出冠病危机还要一段时间,许多国家放宽管制措施后又疫情复发,“尽管我们已经做足防范措施,这种情况也可能在新 加坡发生。” 他预计,我们可能还要等多一两年,才会看到各国广泛使用冠病疫苗,成功 摆脱病毒的威胁。 李显龙的国庆中文献词,由副总理兼财政部长王瑞杰代读。 他指出,这并非我国首次面临经济危机,过去也曾遇上亚洲金融风暴、911空袭、全球金融危机等,但我国都能稳住阵脚挺过。及时此次危机可能更持久,但相信我国仍能克服。 有别于往年,我国今年是在冠病疫情下庆祝,规模也缩小,在全岛七个地点庆祝,包括在国家传染病中心,向前线医护人员致敬;在终身学习学院,象征协助工友提升技能、保住工作;在德新中学象征学生持续学习,和海军部村庄的庆祝活动,代表社区精神等。 李显龙感谢国人、前线人员为抗疫无私付出,也认可国人发挥互助精神,“一些人沿家挨户,为年长人士或低收入家庭派送食物和日用品。善心人士捐赠的手提电脑,经改装后让有需要的学生可以居家学习。”

President’s powers to appoint ISEAS board members now given solely to minister

Despite being questioned by the Workers’ Party (WP), the Institute of Southeast…