In a surprising turn of events, a 30-year-old man caused a disruption during presidential candidate Ng Kok Song’s walkabout at Clementi Central. The incident, which unfolded on a Tuesday evening, led to the man voluntarily seeking assistance from the police and subsequently being taken to the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) for assessment.
The Disruption and Police Involvement
According to official sources, the police received distress calls at approximately 7:05 PM on Tuesday, alerting them to an incident involving a man who had reportedly shouted at presidential candidate Ng Kok Song outside a shopping mall along Commonwealth Avenue West. However, by the time the police arrived at the scene, the man had already left the area.
Diligent work by officers from the Clementi Police Division eventually led to the identification of the individual. Coincidentally, around the same time, the man went to the Clementi Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC) on his own accord to report the incident at around 7:45 PM.
Concerns for His Well-being
During his interaction with the police officers at the NPC, the man expressed thoughts of self-harm, prompting the officers to assess that he posed a risk to himself. In light of this assessment, he was taken into custody and subsequently transported to the Institute of Mental Health (IMH). His next-of-kin was informed about the situation.
The Walkabout Incident
The incident occurred while presidential candidate Ng Kok Song and his campaign team were conducting a walkabout at the fountain area behind Clementi MRT station. At approximately 7 PM, the disruptive individual rode his bicycle into the crowd and approached Mr. Ng’s team. He raised his voice, directed vulgarities at the team, and gestured aggressively. Despite efforts to calm the situation, the man’s behavior escalated, prompting Mr. Ng’s team to escort him away.
Response from the Political Sphere
Presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian’s team released a statement following the incident, urging all supporters to conduct themselves respectfully toward candidates and the public. Mr. Tan Kin Lian himself, unaware of the incident at the time, later responded, indicating that the individual in question was not part of his regular support base.
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