UPDATE: Mr Tan has since released a statement on Facebook in response to the matter.
https://www.facebook.com/kinlian/posts/2348726971866608?__xts__[0]=68.ARC8WI-QbnbGatGCnUFwGhNjkNjcjfdeZOVE_dzdKCC5I1YEMtzQY1OtkysoSXhuXtElA-o2qNE8EKzJ_Zuo1CwdZA5Z29V8IPO7OQQGWDzMDBkhDAAbhfdebP1yLszWGb_4brtOmGVx0VmO6_JN2M_kxL29GbsB56T3_wEGrRCUNZN3E2kkIOd5QnwqNRAKURez5QlTCrmqCNr7vcvQHa0IO0IR70C99GTfRTYYR2D8IsMw1e3vdG4BFq-mI50r7UAoRgIUFT1VAHgagrAnfme-I10DVuP6FYKo_NUjSOMraIkDoXnKyQL8-EJq6mwQfmQFh7EyGlY1ZCGLl0tMwg&__tn__=-R
He also clarified that his statement intended that, “We can spend less than $15 billion” on defence.
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Former presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian is often rather active on Facebook, commenting on current issues, polling the people on their thoughts and generally being up to-date with affairs of the nation. Earlier today, Mr Tan posted about the water situation with Malaysia, and Singapore’s expenditure.
He wrote, “If we pay $15 million a year for water from Johore, we do not need to spend $15 billion on defense”.
Mr Tan also expressed other opinions on his Facebook page such as, “My experiment with the female Betta (S$3) failed. When I put her with the male Betta (RM3), the male attacked her. Why MY Betta so aggressive to SG Betta? Problem with water price?”.
https://www.facebook.com/kinlian/posts/2348348415237797?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAgC-kL-ALGe-yiNQU-1tAsqLXZIJ6M_9yS5gJkHZwwOO0jVUhDiz2dQvb3Y8ZBQ74j7ORCDQGHWxHxRwzjxXHakRbONu4krpfBwyXaijfqnGwsasYEwdQ53TEorexVlvBtUSgukEc-3M0GLmabEj9GnJkeWjvNZ3GLAlhxhQQSKkQbdvu9mW5Xasa6Ui7qbLFFycwqoCmQcaUnss4Qbs3xZfawqCmWkpnqPjiZ61_tUB6OkSKy82aSHyGpfWkLuRJ6Mn7X5Hizv18jl0wKnZX730fk1vbZPGV12qT_ny2ORnYEbXFGenL1yrtP61oe7e1DufVMKMrfed1cAR111w&__tn__=-R
In a post yesterday morning, he also wrote, “Abolish GST and reduce excessive spending on infrastructure and weapons”.
https://www.facebook.com/kinlian/posts/2345757002163605?__xts__[0]=68.ARD58W4T-HtkL6UV449jUHWJH7BtxUFCEOZtOreEDmbHoWbT1YrB-AQgJxY3T64_uw46zOLwNcH3vLushoKFxemHwavOR_D3amuE4V7dbm42inmEkCka6EhT4LQ2ugpJcJStixNZ02_LAsF7m3BfSUEM2t2jojxpbQ3X9VYsh6eh6civw246j4hrw–ek488gWqxIY7M7FVdQp4iS45JUupYN7P9PzVK2dEAJIsNQEqof3U2kCdrrcgSPyYQWun8-4LAGLDjDziJyQd2GmZZOLtg6SdN62Pz1MeFxwQuQGWXW-LVzf1MynKq6CvbCHiPqJAEqvqa9qWc7awC3AyYPg&__tn__=-R
His post was picked up by many Facebook pages, where Singaporeans were offended by his suggestion.
https://www.facebook.com/kinlian/posts/2348034295269209?__xts__[0]=68.ARCk0RiKEnA2Kz6FK92dTRE9Alu6lfKs_Ce1TWjC8NgWMT7eujx6t4hA_A1R_EKXoy9j5owb0GQw85wC4VjVOlkW-RMDTmOwB12jp4dRY9-K5v1RAwWx59jijFw49TeNutBDB1BFz_agyQU_Zo7F3vKKREEFm7xhUDSGBLq2Xz8kibyBzAQowA5t8c0BM6g7ejw_Laz2L_P0Jj1k6GeySH_C1Y9a8PwiEY_DE8THRJCLnjww97DtfnjYAt8e21LfqBPTKIA2Ui54YpPYN1tMEwsB0K6xSMAAPx2gpIIHnOrLpfMiEFnkIsBWGEfr2P39VPnwHr4Firnfjm2YeC8Gyg&__tn__=-R
Most agreed that it was indeed an imperative that the nation spend money on defence, to guard ourselves in the event of strife with other nations.
TISG contacted Mr Tan for comment on the issue, however he declined, and said that his views and thoughts are expressed in his videos found on his YouTube channel.
Read related: Former presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian polls S’poreans: Who will be a better prime minister?
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obbana@theindependent.sg