Ownself praise ownself? Netizens mock PAP Aljunied GRC candidate for “wayang” about how he’s not paid to do community work

Ruling party member Victor Lye Thiam Fatt’s recent Facebook post does not appear to have gone over very well with some netizens. Writing on his social media page today, Victor – who contested Aljunied GRC at the last election and directly faced Workers’ Party veteran Low Thia Khiang only to lose – recounted an exchange he had with a young resident at the opposition ward.

Revealing that the resident had asked him how much he was paid for doing community service as he made his rounds in Aljunied GRC, Victor wrote:

“The answer is “not a cent”. I told him we as volunteers even spend our own money doing community work. He was surprised, but appreciated the truth. Seems he was told something different by others. He then asked me when I started volunteering. The answer is “since 1999″ when I wanted to help those who lost jobs in the Asian Financial Crisis.”

Victor then shared that another resident asked him why the PAP Aljunied GRC team did not receive Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seats, even though they “lost by the smallest margin”:

“Later, another resident asked if the best losers in the elections are paid for their unelected seats in Parliament. [For background, Singapore has a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) scheme that ensures up to 9 seats for unelected opposition voices alongside the 89-seat Parliament. This will be increased to 12 at the next election. Plus, NCMPs will be given the same voting rights as elected MPs.]

“I answered, “yes”. Then, he laughed, “but actually, you guys in Aljunied GRC lost by the smallest margin (of less than one percent). Yet, opposition losers gets paid and sit in Parliament while you still walk the ground with no pay and no Parliament seat? Better you join opposition! Le siow ah!” (translated as “are you crazy?”)

“I decided to let him have the last laugh while I focused on resolving problems faced by a resident. Another day in Aljunied GRC…”

Several netizens poked fun at Victor’s post, opining that he is simply praising himself. Asserting that this is just a “wayang” or an act, netizens opined that Victor appears “proud and arrogant” and that he may just be gunning for the high salaries elected politicians are paid here:

Victor was last in the news two years ago when he released this Chinese New Year music video – a project by the People’s Action Party’s Bedok Reservoir-Punggol Branch that he chairs:

Victor distributed limited edition DVD copies of the music video over the Chinese New Year weekend in 2016, during his usual rounds at Aljunied GRC as part of his preparation for the next General Election.