New MP Picked Rubbish to Show Example & Publicly Said She Did it ‘For Show’


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When a politician does a good deed, it’s hard to tell whether they do it because they’re actually a decent person or because they want to score some political points.

For instance, when a political leader uploads a picture of him rescuing a kitten that was stuck in a drain, some might praise him for his kindness, while others might wonder why the kitten looks so dry and why the politician is smiling so unnaturally widely.

Also, who took the photo?

But even though most politicians keep up this pretense, some are willing to actually admit to it.

New MP Picked Rubbish to Show Example & Publicly Said She Did it ‘For Show’

Carrie Tan, a new PAP MP who was elected into office as a representative of Nee Soon GRC, has admitted to something that not many politicians would: that she did something “for show”.

On Sunday (2 Aug), Tan participated in a cleanliness exercise around coffee shops in Nee Soon South where she picked up used tissue paper and other waste products in an effort to keep the neighbourhood clean.

Detailing her cleaning adventures on Facebook, the new MP also reminded patrons and residents to dispose of their used tissues carefully after eating, to prevent them from being blown around by the wind and fan.

She warned residents that used tissues carry germs and “when tissues fly around, germs spread too”.

“I promised to support the Public Hygiene Council and our coffeeshops with community education so that all users of communal premises will also do their part to keep Nee Soon South clean and green and healthy!”

“Let’s cooperate and keep our used tissues in our pockets or throw them in the bin. This will also help the cleaning aunties and uncles. Don’t make them work so hard”, she wrote.

Did it “For Show”, But So She Could be an Example

Tan, in addition to being a part-time used-tissue-retriever, is a politician, and it’s essentially obligatory to take a picture of everything you do in public, especially if it’s perceived to be a noble act.

Image: Facebook (Carrie Tan)
Image: Facebook (Carrie Tan)

Tan admitted to this, however, saying in an update that she’s aware of how wayang the litter picking looks.

“Haha I knew a lot of people will say this litter picking very wayang. It’s ok. My purpose is to show that if we treat our neighbourhoods like our own home, we will pick up litter after ourselves.”

The 38-year-old said that 40% of the emails she receives from residents every day are “related to municipal cleanliness and littering”.

So, she hopes to initiate the change necessary to solve the littering problem in the area.


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While she confessed that what she did was “for show”, it was also meant to serve as an example.

“Yes, I do this indeed for show, to show by example that no matter what role or title we hold, we should pick up after ourselves and I don’t mind picking up after others”

Tan added that she will be at coffee shops every month to pick up trash.

“I hope that by being an example, I will also cultivate this good habit along with everyone else.”

It’s unclear if her photographer will be with her every month too.


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Who is Carrie Tan?

Did you know that former US President Barack Obama once praised Tan for her humanitarian work?

Back when he met Tan in Malaysia at a YSEALI summit, the former president described how impressed he was with Tan’s commitment to helping the underprivileged and building a better world.

Image: Facebook (K. Shanmugam)

“When Carrie talked about coming together with young people from across Southeast Asia, she said, ‘we bonded in our common endeavour to seek, to understand, and learn from one another in pursuit of our aspirations to a better world’. “Young people like Carrie give me hope”, Obama said.

Image: Facebook (K. Shanmugam)

Tan is the founder of the charity organisation Daughters of Tomorrow (DOT), and was once featured in a CNA documentary called “A Singaporean Abroad”, that showcased her humanitarian work in India.

According to the documentary, Tan left her 10 thousand dollars per-month-job to focus on her social enterprise DOT.

She may be new to the political arena, but at least she’s exhibiting a trait that is as foreign to politicians as common sense is to Donald Trump: honesty.


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