"Png Eng Huat 'stirring hate and anger' with Facebook post: Tan Chuan-Jin - CNA 19 July 2016
SINGAPORE: Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan Jin said on Tuesday (Jul 19) that Hougang Member of Parliament Png Eng Huat was "stirring hate and anger" in a Facebook post about how Mr Tan and his entourage were given expedited clearance at the immigration checkpoint at Tuas.
On Sunday, Mr Tan and a group of residents and volunteers returning from a durian trip to Johor Bahru were able to skip the immigration queue.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Mr Png wrote that he too, had been at the checkpoint with his residents after a trip to Desaru, and that they were among other travellers at who had had "to wait patiently for hours for their turn". Mr Png added that one of his residents was 89 years old and another had been injured during the tour.
The opposition Workers' Party MP wrote: "If these two elderly residents can wait in queue patiently for their turn, so can all my volunteers and grassroots members."
In response, Mr Tan wrote on Facebook on Tuesday: "It was not about the old folks," he wrote. "It was aimed at stirring hate and anger, not only to be directed at me, which I can understand politically, but also at my residents and volunteers (who organised as well as helped guide each bus), as well as our officers who secure our borders. It's unfortunate that (Mr Png) and his colleagues chose to politicise the issue."
Mr Tan stated that he had been on an official visit to the Malaysian Deputy Home Affairs Minister's Hari Raya open house but that he travelled by bus so that he could be with his residents and volunteers during the trip. He added that on their return journey, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) facilitated the clearance for him and his security officers who were carrying their firearms, as well as the residents and volunteers on his bus.
In a statement earlier on Tuesday, the ICA clarified that it is normal practice for ministers on both sides of the Causeway, as well as members of the Malaysian royalty, to be given expedited clearance at the land checkpoints.
In his post on Monday, Mr Png also commented that "most people in the queue probably did not mind" that Mr Tan was given expedited clearance, but took issue with his "entourage of grassroots leaders and members with shopping bags in tow" who were also given fast clearance.
Responding in a Facebook post on Tuesday evening, Mr Png reiterated that he was taking issue not with Mr Tan, but with the treatment of the grassroots leaders travelling with him. "I wasn't even interested in my own wait time but since ICA and Minister Tan seem to suggest that the wait time to clear custom on the night of 17 July was 'all of 30 mins' only, why was there a need to accord the people travelling with the Minister expedited clearance then?"
He said he has been on the "receiving end of hate and anger" for bringing the issue out in the open. "I don't have an issue with Minister Tan, personally or politically. I have an issue with inequality," Mr Png said.""
Hmm. I am a bit dumbfounded by this exchange of words between Minister Tan and MP Png.
Seriously, it is a bit much for Minister Tan to intone that MP Png is 'stirring hate and anger' with his 'comments or complaint' that Minister Tan's grass-root leaders and residents who were on that bus were given 'expeditious immigration custom clearance'.
A politician and a Minister at that should not be so careless with his words. Opposition MPs are still Singaporeans and there is no need to be so 'petty' even if he really thinks that MP Png is being petty and envious that he and his entourage got expeditious custom clearance while MP Png, being just a MP and not a cabinet Minister, and his entourage just have to wait their turns like any ordinary citizens!
So, my take are:
1. Minister Tan need not be so 'sharp' and overly dramatic on his description of MP Png's FB post. Singaporeans are known for complaining. So, Minister Tan should had been more streetwise about this. Describing MP Png's intention is to 'stir up hate and anger' is simply not helpful and for what purpose? If MP Png did not complain, Minister Tan, if he truly bothered to listen to such petty complaints, would have an earful on complaints about 'unfair' treatment of ordinary citizens and Ministers! Not just him but ANY Minister, including the PM!! He should just laugh it off or respond calmly with: 'MP Png did not realise that I took the bus AFTER my official visit with the Malaysian officials and the ICA officers have to clear me and the folks in the same bus. That is no unfair treatment here.". Seriously. If he had responded in this manner, I would have a lot MORE respect for Minister Tan!;
2. MP Png's FB comments of: 'waiting patiently for many hours' is not exactly true since the ICA CCTV revealed that he and his entourage were cleared within 30 mins. IF MP Png had clarified that he and his entourage had waited for more than 30 mins instead of generalising 'would have to wait patiently for hours for their turns', HE would have gained some points with rational thinking folks too! Alas, he did not but instead asked: 'if it was just 30 mins wait, why do Minister Tan and his entourage need to be expedited?' This is also NOT on lah!!
3. on balance, based on seniority and expectations, I do expect a bit more from Minister Tan as he is, after all, a cabinet Minister. Not just a PAP MP but a Singapore government official. He has to be MORE careful with his words. Accusing an Opposition MP of stirring 'hate and anger' (towards who? Minister Tan? Or PAP grass-root leaders? or the poor residents who happened to be on the bus for a durian trip?) is 'Trump-like accusation'! Overblown?!
As for MP Png, you need to be more big hearted. An MP does not get expeditious custom clearance. A Minister does. So, aim to be a Minister in the next GE!
SINGAPORE: Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan Jin said on Tuesday (Jul 19) that Hougang Member of Parliament Png Eng Huat was "stirring hate and anger" in a Facebook post about how Mr Tan and his entourage were given expedited clearance at the immigration checkpoint at Tuas.
On Sunday, Mr Tan and a group of residents and volunteers returning from a durian trip to Johor Bahru were able to skip the immigration queue.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Mr Png wrote that he too, had been at the checkpoint with his residents after a trip to Desaru, and that they were among other travellers at who had had "to wait patiently for hours for their turn". Mr Png added that one of his residents was 89 years old and another had been injured during the tour.
The opposition Workers' Party MP wrote: "If these two elderly residents can wait in queue patiently for their turn, so can all my volunteers and grassroots members."
In response, Mr Tan wrote on Facebook on Tuesday: "It was not about the old folks," he wrote. "It was aimed at stirring hate and anger, not only to be directed at me, which I can understand politically, but also at my residents and volunteers (who organised as well as helped guide each bus), as well as our officers who secure our borders. It's unfortunate that (Mr Png) and his colleagues chose to politicise the issue."
Mr Tan stated that he had been on an official visit to the Malaysian Deputy Home Affairs Minister's Hari Raya open house but that he travelled by bus so that he could be with his residents and volunteers during the trip. He added that on their return journey, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) facilitated the clearance for him and his security officers who were carrying their firearms, as well as the residents and volunteers on his bus.
In a statement earlier on Tuesday, the ICA clarified that it is normal practice for ministers on both sides of the Causeway, as well as members of the Malaysian royalty, to be given expedited clearance at the land checkpoints.
In his post on Monday, Mr Png also commented that "most people in the queue probably did not mind" that Mr Tan was given expedited clearance, but took issue with his "entourage of grassroots leaders and members with shopping bags in tow" who were also given fast clearance.
Responding in a Facebook post on Tuesday evening, Mr Png reiterated that he was taking issue not with Mr Tan, but with the treatment of the grassroots leaders travelling with him. "I wasn't even interested in my own wait time but since ICA and Minister Tan seem to suggest that the wait time to clear custom on the night of 17 July was 'all of 30 mins' only, why was there a need to accord the people travelling with the Minister expedited clearance then?"
He said he has been on the "receiving end of hate and anger" for bringing the issue out in the open. "I don't have an issue with Minister Tan, personally or politically. I have an issue with inequality," Mr Png said.""
Hmm. I am a bit dumbfounded by this exchange of words between Minister Tan and MP Png.
Seriously, it is a bit much for Minister Tan to intone that MP Png is 'stirring hate and anger' with his 'comments or complaint' that Minister Tan's grass-root leaders and residents who were on that bus were given 'expeditious immigration custom clearance'.
A politician and a Minister at that should not be so careless with his words. Opposition MPs are still Singaporeans and there is no need to be so 'petty' even if he really thinks that MP Png is being petty and envious that he and his entourage got expeditious custom clearance while MP Png, being just a MP and not a cabinet Minister, and his entourage just have to wait their turns like any ordinary citizens!
So, my take are:
1. Minister Tan need not be so 'sharp' and overly dramatic on his description of MP Png's FB post. Singaporeans are known for complaining. So, Minister Tan should had been more streetwise about this. Describing MP Png's intention is to 'stir up hate and anger' is simply not helpful and for what purpose? If MP Png did not complain, Minister Tan, if he truly bothered to listen to such petty complaints, would have an earful on complaints about 'unfair' treatment of ordinary citizens and Ministers! Not just him but ANY Minister, including the PM!! He should just laugh it off or respond calmly with: 'MP Png did not realise that I took the bus AFTER my official visit with the Malaysian officials and the ICA officers have to clear me and the folks in the same bus. That is no unfair treatment here.". Seriously. If he had responded in this manner, I would have a lot MORE respect for Minister Tan!;
2. MP Png's FB comments of: 'waiting patiently for many hours' is not exactly true since the ICA CCTV revealed that he and his entourage were cleared within 30 mins. IF MP Png had clarified that he and his entourage had waited for more than 30 mins instead of generalising 'would have to wait patiently for hours for their turns', HE would have gained some points with rational thinking folks too! Alas, he did not but instead asked: 'if it was just 30 mins wait, why do Minister Tan and his entourage need to be expedited?' This is also NOT on lah!!
3. on balance, based on seniority and expectations, I do expect a bit more from Minister Tan as he is, after all, a cabinet Minister. Not just a PAP MP but a Singapore government official. He has to be MORE careful with his words. Accusing an Opposition MP of stirring 'hate and anger' (towards who? Minister Tan? Or PAP grass-root leaders? or the poor residents who happened to be on the bus for a durian trip?) is 'Trump-like accusation'! Overblown?!
As for MP Png, you need to be more big hearted. An MP does not get expeditious custom clearance. A Minister does. So, aim to be a Minister in the next GE!
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