SINGAPORE: Transport Minister and MP for Bishan–Toa Payoh Chee Hong Tat, was criticized online for how he responded to a commenter on one of his posts who questioned him about a house visit earlier this month.
On June 11, Mr Chee posted on Facebook about being happy to reconnect with the residents at Blk 208 Toa Payoh North, adding that their feedback would help improve the environment for those who live at Toa Payoh West-Thomson.
He was questioned, however, by a netizen named Ace Chew.
“The key word is reconnect, so when was the last time you first connected with the family? 5 years ago just before the last GE? Let’s vote this useless minister out in the coming GE and see if he will reconnect with the family as opposition.”
Mr Chee did not take kindly to his remark. After telling Mr Chew that it was the second time he had visited the block since GE 2020, he proceeded to write that the commenter was:
“obviously trying to make false allegations to create the wrong impressions.” Furthermore, he called him a troll.
This exchange has since been shared online on other platforms, such as Reddit, where the Minister has been criticized for his response.
So this is the standards of Party Against People MPs? They can anyhow call people names uh? No wonder Amin is voted out. Will CHT be voted out next?
byu/Lighted_Cigarette inSingaporeRaw
“Attacking the electorate. Bold move let’s see how it works out for them,” wrote one.
Others characterized his response as overly “sensitive,” “defensive”, and “low level,” saying that there were so many civil ways he could have responded.
“Can’t believe the current transport minister engaging in online bickering,” wrote another.
Mr Chee’s response sparked comparisons with former Senior Parliamentary Secretary and Sengkang MP Amrin Amin, who once famously called a commenter on one of his social media posts a “snowflake.”
In a different comparison, others have pointed out how Workers’ Party MP Jamus Lim responded in a similar situation.
Back in April, Assoc Prof Lim wrote on social media about having treated estate cleaners and conservancy workers to a Nasi Lemak buffet lunch to thank them for their hard work.
“As always, I’m immensely thankful for the unceasing efforts these dudes put in, on a daily and often nightly basis, to keep #SengkangGRC clean.”
In a comment on his post, a Facebook user who goes by Ed Zach wrote that there had been no sweepers in his corridor or floor washing done at Block 370 and 380 in Anchorvale since Chinese New Year.
Assoc Prof Lim told him there’s a schedule that the workers keep for cleaning these areas, and Mr Zach was possibly not home when the maintenance was carried out, but he nevertheless said he would look into it.
However, he said that there are no such blocks in Anchorvale. Mr Zach then apologized and corrected his comment, saying he had meant Blocks 307 and 308. /TISG
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