Refuting this account, Ms Indranee: "Since I had moved on once he said he did not want to be disturbed, there was no opportunity for further conversation."
She also noted that while many people at the hawker centre are regular patrons living in the neighbourhood, many are also from elsewhere in Singapore or visiting from abroad. She usually asks where they are from to get a sense of their profiles, she added.
"I have learned however not to be deterred by such online things," said Ms Indranee, who is also 2nd Minister for Finance & Education.
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Indranee Rajah July 1 at 6:21 PM
Did my monthly walkabout at Tiong Bahru market today. It’s a very useful way to keep in touch with people and the ground. Many take it as an opportunity to give feedback and suggestions. People with specific appeals also find it helpful as they can approach me for assistance.
Many at the hawker centre are regular patrons living in in the neighbourhood but many are also from elsewhere in Singapore as well as visitors from abroad. I usually ask where they are from to get a sense of the profile of the customers.
Different people have different reactions. Some are surprised. Many are warm. Some want to take photos. A number even offer to share their breakfast which is very kind.
A very small number however prefer not to be engaged. For example this morning, I approached an older couple and introduced myself as MP for the area. The wife was friendly. The husband said he preferred not to be disturbed, a decision which I respected and hence smiled and moved on.
Somewhat oddly, a short while after my walk about, an online article appeared referring to this encounter and purporting to set out a whole conversation which allegedly took place after he said he did not want to be disturbed. Since I had moved on once he said he did not want to be disturbed, there was no opportunity for further conversation.
I have learned however not to be deterred by such online things.
Being on the ground and reaching out to people is what all MPs must do.
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Comments in Indranee Rajah's Facebook July 1 at 6:21 PM
Richard Ho Something spectacular happened this morning (Sunday, July 2018) in Tiong Bahru Market and Food Centre.
MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC and Minister in PMO, Indranee Rajah, was making her rounds at the food center crowded with people having breakfast and lunch.
She approached a table occupied by a senior couple having their lunch with outstretched hands introducing herself as Minister and MP.
The gentleman sat firmly and told her off "I don't care who you are and I don't want to be disturbed when I am having my meal."
Indranee than asked "Are you a Singaporean or a Malaysian?"
The gentleman replied "I am a born and bred true blue Singaporean and I am in deep thoughts about the second tranche of water price increase of 15 per cent and the 6.9 per cent of electricity tariffs increases starting today."
Watched earnestly by the crowd, she clumsily hurried away.
Hats off to that senior gentleman.
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Irked Singaporeans question why Indranee Rajah asks the people she meets during walkabouts where they are from
Hundreds of Singaporeans have shared that they were irked by ruling party parliamentarian Indranee Rajah’s explanation that the reason why she asked patrons of a food centre she visited during a recent walkabout where they are from is so that she could “get a sense of the profile of the customers.”
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office offered that explanation as she rebutted claims that she was spurned by a “true blue Singaporean” during walkabout at Tiong Bahru market last Sunday.
The Minister had been responding to Facebook user Kelvin Ling’s post that claimed that a senior man who was approached by the Minister at the market yesterday not only rejected Indranee’s attempt to talk but also called out the Government over rising costs.
related: The Sad State of Singapore
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MP Indranee Rajah writes back against private Facebook post that claims she ‘disturbed’ senior couple during Tiong Bahru lunch walkabout
A Facebook post about how Indranee Rajah, minister at the Prime Minister Office, ‘disturbed’ an elderly couple has led to her refuting these claims on her own Facebook page.
The private Facebook post described a People’s Action Party (PAP) lunch walkabout at Tiong Bahru market on Sunday. Indranee Rajah, Member of Parliament in Tanjong Pagar GRC met an older couple during her rounds. In her Facebook post, Ms Rajah wrote, “The wife was friendly. The husband said he preferred not to be disturbed, a decision which I respected and hence smiled and moved on”.
Ms Rajah then added in her post, “Somewhat oddly, a short while after my walk about, an online article appeared referring to this encounter and purporting to set out a whole conversation which allegedly took place after he said he did not want to be disturbed.”
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Indranee Rajah refutes account that she was spurned by a “true blue Singaporean” during Tiong Bahru market walkabout
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah has refuted an allegation that she was spurned by a man claiming to be a “true blue Singaporean” during a walkabout at Tiong Bahru market yesterday.
The Minister had been responding to Facebook user Kelvin Ling’s post that claimed that a senior man who was approached by the Minister at the market yesterday not only rejected Indranee’s attempt to talk but also called out the Government over rising costs. The post alleges that the man who Indranee approached bluntly told her that he doesn’t care who she is and that he does not want to be disturbed as he has his meal. To this, Indranee allegedly asked whether the man was a Singaporean or Malaysian. The post then claims that the man responded, “I am a born and bred true blue Singaporean and I am in deep thoughts about the second tranche of water price increase of 15 per cent and the 6.9 per cent of electricity tariffs increases starting today.”
“Watched earnestly by the crowd, she clumsily hurried away,” the alleged eyewitness wo wrote the post claimed with regards to Indranee.
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Singaporeans call on Indranee Rajah to be “more humble” even after she clarifies her side of the story
Several Singaporeans have opined that Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah should be “more humble” and that she still “lives in the ivory tower” even after she rebutted claims that she was spurned by a “true blue Singaporean” during a recent walkabout.
The Minister had been responding to Facebook user Kelvin Ling’s post that claimed that a senior man who was approached by the Minister at the market yesterday not only rejected Indranee’s attempt to talk but also called out the Government over rising costs.
The post alleges that the man who Indranee approached bluntly told her that he doesn’t care who she is and that he does not want to be disturbed as he has his meal. To this, Indranee allegedly asked whether the man was a Singaporean or Malaysian.
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Checking nationality of those she speaks to
There are overlaps in both accounts though. According to the Facebook post that is making its rounds, the older man was said to have talked about being a Singaporean.
In Indranee’s post, she acknowledged that she does ask the people she meets about their nationality to get a sense of their profiles in the neighbourhood that is frequented by foreign visitors as well.
Indranee, who is also Second Minister for Finance and Education, also wrote: “I have learned however not to be deterred by such online things.
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Facebook posts about PAP walkabout at Tiong Bahru – who do you believe?
A circulated private Facebook post about how a citizen responded to the walkabout session carried out by Indranee Rajah, minister at the Prime Minister Office, has spurred the minister to respond to the claims in her Facebook page.
The Facebook post wrote:
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Resident to Minister Indranee: I don’t care who you are
A courageous act of an anonymous elderly resident was greeted with cheers from the people after he admonished Minister Indranee Rajah for poorly-conceived government policies raising water and electricity prices by more than 15%.
The incident took place yesterday (Jul 1) when the elite ruling class minister did her monthly neighbourhood walkabout at Tiong Bahru market in her constituency. Surrounded by PAP grassroots members, the S$1.1 million-a-year Minister had a shock when she was told off by an elderly resident:
“I don’t care who you are and I don’t want to be disturbed when I am having my meal.”
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related:
From Sim Teo Wong to Indranee
From Alvin Intan Puthu to Zaqy
From Lim Neo Teo To Inderjit
From Gan Ng Phua to Shan
From Lim Lui Teo to Yaacob
From Heng Tan Yam to Halimah
From Fu Khor Lee to Hri
From Chan Khaw Teo to Vivian
From Baey Koh Tin to Tharman
There are overlaps in both accounts though. According to the Facebook post that is making its rounds, the older man was said to have talked about being a Singaporean.
In Indranee’s post, she acknowledged that she does ask the people she meets about their nationality to get a sense of their profiles in the neighbourhood that is frequented by foreign visitors as well.
Indranee, who is also Second Minister for Finance and Education, also wrote: “I have learned however not to be deterred by such online things.
read more
Facebook posts about PAP walkabout at Tiong Bahru – who do you believe?
A circulated private Facebook post about how a citizen responded to the walkabout session carried out by Indranee Rajah, minister at the Prime Minister Office, has spurred the minister to respond to the claims in her Facebook page.
The Facebook post wrote:
- Something spectacular happened this morning (Sunday, July 2018) in Tiong Bahru Market and Food Centre.
- MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC and Minister in PMG, Indranee Rajah, was making her rounds at the food center crowded with people having breakfast and lunch.
- She approached a table occupied by a senior couple having their lunch with outstretched hands introducing herself as Minister and MP.
- The gentleman sat firmly and told her off "I don't care who you are and I don't want to be disturbed when I am having my meal."
- Indranee then asked "Are you a Singaporean or a Malaysia,"
- The gentleman replied "I am a born and bred true blue Singaporean and I am in deep thoughts about the second tranche of water price increase of 15 per cent and the 6.9 per cent of electricity tariffs increases starting today."
- Watched earnestly by the crowd, she clumsily hurried away.
- Hats off to that senior gentleman.
read more
Resident to Minister Indranee: I don’t care who you are
A courageous act of an anonymous elderly resident was greeted with cheers from the people after he admonished Minister Indranee Rajah for poorly-conceived government policies raising water and electricity prices by more than 15%.
The incident took place yesterday (Jul 1) when the elite ruling class minister did her monthly neighbourhood walkabout at Tiong Bahru market in her constituency. Surrounded by PAP grassroots members, the S$1.1 million-a-year Minister had a shock when she was told off by an elderly resident:
“I don’t care who you are and I don’t want to be disturbed when I am having my meal.”
read more
related:
From Sim Teo Wong to Indranee
From Alvin Intan Puthu to Zaqy
From Lim Neo Teo To Inderjit
From Gan Ng Phua to Shan
From Lim Lui Teo to Yaacob
From Heng Tan Yam to Halimah
From Fu Khor Lee to Hri
From Chan Khaw Teo to Vivian
From Baey Koh Tin to Tharman
