Singaporean politicians are walking on eggshells right now.
With Polling Day just two days away, one misstep in the public eye is all it takes to significantly affect their chances at the polls.
Just look at what happened to Ivan Lim.
Days after being introduced as a new PAP candidate for GE2020, Lim withdrew his candidacy after allegations of elitism and arrogance surfaced online.
Additionally, several police reports have been filed in the last few days against politicians as well as the People’s Action Party (PAP).
Now, one PAP candidate has been called out for a social faux pas.
PAP Candidate Called Out For Asking Resident to Take Image Without Headscarf
PAP MP Jessica Tan has apologised to a resident after asking her to take a picture without her headscarf.
On one of her party’s house visits in East Coast GRC, Tan came to a netizen’s house and spoke to her mother because the netizen was in a meeting.
After their conversation, Tan asked the resident for a picture, but she declined, saying she wasn’t wearing her scarf.
In response, Tan reportedly said, “No need la pretty already!”.
jessica tan from east coast grc came over to my house while i was having a meeting and so my mum talked to her. after the talk, she insisted on taking a pic with my mum but my mum declined bc she wasnt wearing her scarf. to which jessica tan replied “No need la pretty already!”
— haliza 🌻 (@nothaliza) July 7, 2020
As you know, many Muslim women wear a headscarf for religious or cultural reasons.
The netizen was puzzled as to why Tan thought her mother wore a headscarf for “beauty purposes” and not religious reasons.
this politician really thinks that muslim women wear the headscarf just for beauty purposes???? my mum was wearing her baju batik and no scarf, declined to take a picture with her and she insisted??
— haliza 🌻 (@nothaliza) July 7, 2020
Tan Apologises
After finding out about the netizen’s tweets, the MP reached out to the netizen and apologised.
Tan explained that she didn’t know her mother was referring to her “tudung” when she said scarf.
“It was an oversight and was never meant to be intentional or insensitive”.
Tan asked for the family’s understanding and forgiveness, saying social cohesion is what her team has been advocating for many years.
Netizen’s Response
While the netizen appreciated Tan’s apology, she still felt it was improper of her to insist on taking a photo with someone who wasn’t comfortable doing so.
She was also offended by Tan’s attempt to persuade her mother into taking the photo by complimenting her on the way she looked.
The netizen made the point that Tan is an experienced MP, with three terms under her belt, and should be more sensitive to such matters of “social cohesion”.
She felt that Tan’s oversight was “unacceptable” and that she “brushed it off with a Twitter apology”.
Everyone Makes Mistakes
Anyone who says that they haven’t made a dodgy or insensitive statement in their entire life would be lying through their teeth, because it’s an utterly human thing to do.
Then again, one has to hold politicians and civil servants to a higher standard, given that they are representatives of the country and are handsomely compensated for their work.
This is why smear campaigns are so effective: the moment a politician is no longer the benevolent angel you expect them to be, their ability to serve the people becomes questionable.
But what if they acknowledge their actions and apologise for their mistakes? Should we let them off the hook then?
And on a side note, candidates have been talking about NCMP (Non-Constituency Member of Parliament) in recent days. So, what’s an NCMP? Do you know that it’s just like an MP but the allowance is much lower? Watch this video to find out more:
Would you be jailed for being half-naked in public? Well, the answer will shock you. Seriously. Watch this to the end and you'll understand:
