A Facebook user, Serene Ho, posted online alleging that Singapore Minister for Law and Home Affairs K Shanmugam had attended an event for only 5 minutes because he wanted to avoid questions on the Ridout Road saga.
Shanmugam has since taken to his Facebook page to refute Ho’s allegations and clarified that he spent about 25 minutes at the event, before explaining to the residents that he had to attend another event.
He also pointed out in his post that Ho “seems” to be an anti-vaxxer and an opposition supporter, and called her out for “put(ting) out untruths”.
Shanmugam responds
I notice active efforts to spread falsehoods.
The post below (by one Serene who was not present at the event) is an example.
I went for four events in Chong Pang, this evening, starting with Goodlink Park, where I was when the photo in the post was taken.
At Goodlink Park we had organised an event for residents to have some durians together.
Went around the tables, residents here always friendly. Very warm reception. Took photo with everyone. Spent about 25 minutes, then explained to the residents that I had to go to the next event.
Went for three more events , tonight was busy.
All four events: very warm- typical of Chong Pang residents. Some photos attached.
Will put up posts on these events in due course
Serene seems (from her posts) to be anti-vaxxer, and an opposition supporter. That doesn’t however require her to put out untruths.
Serene Ho responds to response
I think it is kind of petty for a minister to dedicate a post to me and to accuse me of spreading falsehood just because I estimated that he was at an event for 5 minutes but he said he was there for “about” 25 minutes.
No reason to mention that I am an opposition supporter and anti-vaxxer. It is a lie to say I am anti-vaxxer just because I disapprove of the Covid vaccines, which have caused deaths and vaccine injuries. I am not opposed to other vaccines which have undergone full clinical trials and have a good track record of preventing infection. So many took the Covid vaccines but still got infected. It is untrue that I am anti-vaxxer just because I am opposed to experimental Covid vaccines. I also do not agree with the restrictions placed on the unvaccinated to coerce them to take the jabs.
There is nothing wrong with being an opposition supporter. Singapore is a democracy and we should have alternative voices in parliament. It is not healthy to have no opposition. Quite disappointed that a respected minister would take such a cheap potshot at me. Maybe I became collateral damage to distract people from the Ridout saga.
Adds that “5 minutes is a figure of speech”
5 minutes is a figure of speech for a short period of time. “About 25 minutes” at an event is really quite short so why is there a need to take my words literally and blow it out of proportion? Is this how ministers shame citizens? Just because of “about 20 minutes” he had to check the attendee list to the event and call out my vaccination and political view. This is so unwarranted.
I am very disappointed that a minister is so petty to target me this way. Not once have I said anything negative about his performance as a MP. Even my posts about Ridout are just general questions and I have never been disrespectful or insulting. I leave it to people to judge for themselves what they make of Shanmugam’s post.
I will take this positively. I am getting so many page views. Free advertising and publicity.
Ridout Road saga
On the Ridout Road bungalow rentals by Shanmugam and Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, a review was conducted by senior minister Teo Chee Hean and no misuse of power or conflicts of interest were found.
The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) also conducted investigations into the matter and found no evidence of corruption by the duo.
The saga is set to be discussed further in Parliament later this month.