More than a month after the People’s Action Party (PAP) said on 13 April that it has stopped all ground activities, it still seems like there are certain PAP MPs who have continued their outreach in one way or another.
Only this morning on 23 May, West Coast GRC MP Foo Mee Har posted herself distributing face shields at the Teban Market.
She also put up a post on 22 May showing how she was distributing goodies in her estate.
In addition, the MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC Ms Sim Ann (green top) posted on 23 May how she was proud of her Team Bukit Timah and the Dunearn Neighbourhood Committee for its long friendship with the St Theresa’s Home.
The photo shows her posing with a box which one would presume is facemasks.
The question to ask is if it is even necessary for Ms Sim to be the person who makes the deliveries, just like Ms Foo in Teban Gardens.
In addition to Ms Sim and Ms Foo, PAP MP for Choa Chu Kang GRC Zaqy Mohamad posted a photo on 14 May showing himself involved in a food distribution exercise in Marsiling, an area he has been ‘looking after’ since the former MP Halimah Yacob was made President.
For those who have forgotten, PAP announced on it Facebook page on the evening of 13 April that it would be suspending its usual ground engagements such as market visits and home visits, as well as Meet-the-People Sessions, after netizens cried foul over Dr Chia Shi Lu‘s walkabout at a hawker center while the Circuit Breaker measures is still in place.
We need clarity on whether the PAP MPs are above what’s being prescribed for everyone else, in that we need to restrict our movements.
Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli said on 11 April that first-time offenders of the social-distancing measures will be issued a $300 fine instead of written warnings.
He wrote on his Facebook page, “Today our Enforcement Officers reported that there are still too many people not taking the circuit breaker measures seriously. We issued more than 3,000 stern warnings today, and more fines! Stiffer penalties are clearly needed.”
He went on to state, “The health and safety of Singaporeans are at risk. It is therefore our top priority and collective responsibility”
On 20 April, Mr Masagos shared that more than 200 people who did not comply with safe distancing measures, and 80 who did not wear a mask outside their home. All of them face fines.
“Regrettably, 9 will face a fine of $1,000 for committing these offences a second time. If these are acts of defiance and irresponsibility, they clearly undermine the efforts that everyone else has been making. What will it take to get them to understand that they are putting everyone’s safety at stake?” lamented Mr Masagos.
However, it seems for PAP MPs like Ms Sim, Ms Foo, Mr Zaqy, Mr Chia Shi-Lu and Mr Seah Kian Peng all seem to be able to continue their non-essential activities, and get away with it.