PAP MP draws flak for occupying reserved seat in MRT even though another seat is available

A photo of Geylang Serai MP Dr Fatimah Lateef taking an MRT ride has been making the rounds on social media today. While some have praised the MP for taking public transport, a large proportion of netizens responding to the photo appear to remain unimpressed.

Several netizens pointed out that the parliamentarian is occupying the priority seat – which is typically reserved for the elderly, pregnant women, people with children or disabled folks – despite the fact that another empty seat is clearly available:

Others largely felt that this train ride was simply a “wayang” or act and expressed wonder that the train is so empty when an MP is on it, compared to the usual crowds most commuters are used to:

Dr Fatimah last met public criticism almost exactly one year ago, over her comments concerning the annual bazaar at Geylang Serai that coincides with the month of Ramadan every year.

Attempting to parry concerns that some stalls at the bazaar do not have Halal certification, Fatimah Lateef revealed that the Bazaar is not actually named the Ramadan Bazaar as people believe it to be. She clarified that the annual fair has been called the Geylang Serai Bazaar for a number of years now and that it is open to all in the multi-racial community, only to draw criticism from some in the Malay-Muslim community:

https://theindependent.sg.sg/geylang-serai-mp-comes-under-fire-for-claiming-that-annual-fair-is-not-ramadan-bazaar/