Shawn Huang limits IG comments after alleged PAP grassroots plan to disrupt PSP walkabout surfaces

Shawn Huang, the People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate for West Coast–Jurong West GRC, has limited comments on his Instagram posts and allegedly removed Facebook comments after leaked chat messages suggested that grassroots supporters had planned to disrupt a Progress Singapore Party (PSP) walkabout.

The allegations emerged on 30 April, after The Online Citizen (TOC) reported on a series of WhatsApp messages, which were later deleted, involving a group linked to volunteers supporting Huang.

The group discussed plans to interfere with a scheduled PSP engagement in Taman Jurong during the 2025 General Election campaign.

According to TOC, screenshots from a WhatsApp group titled “TJ PAP” revealed members discussing tactics to disrupt the PSP’s walkabout planned for 20 April.

The messages, reportedly shared by a PAP network defector via Reddit, included claims that supporters would pose as residents and occupy hawker centre tables to delay the PSP team.

The group also discussed strategies such as ignoring PSP members and filming their outreach, particularly if flyers were being distributed.

Some participants characterised the effort as a “perfect strategy,” and the chat included militaristic language, describing the event as a political “battle.”

One group administrator, George Huang, was identified in the chat as having worked with Shawn Huang in Taman Jurong for over 15 years.

Group dismantled after public exposure of the messages

Once screenshots began circulating widely on social media, several posts were deleted. Members of the WhatsApp group were removed, and the group itself was eventually dismantled.

According to TOC, this included related sub-groups associated with outreach and volunteer coordination.

The disruption itself reportedly did not occur, and sources suggest the plan was dropped after the chats were exposed.

The entire community was deleted shortly after the controversy gained public attention.

Candidate’s silence draws criticism amid social media changes

Following the surfacing of these allegations, netizens observed changes to Shawn Huang’s social media behaviour.

On Instagram, comment sections on his posts have been restricted.

Meanwhile, on Facebook, TOC noted discrepancies between the number of listed comments and visible ones.

For example, a post made by Huang on 30 April 2025 displayed 13 comments, but only six were visible as of 1 May at 11 am.

This discrepancy has stirred speculation that comments questioning the disruption plan may have been selectively deleted.

Notably, a check on Huang's official TikTok account shows that the comments section has also been disabled.

TOC seeks official response from Huang and PAP

On 28 April, TOC sent an email to Shawn Huang seeking clarification on the incident.

The questions included whether he or his team were aware of the planning discussions, whether an internal investigation was launched, and whether he would comment on the group’s deletion.

The PAP’s media team was also included in the correspondence. As of the time of publication, no response has been received from either Huang or the party.

TOC will continue to monitor this development and publish any response received from Huang or the PAP in due course.