Update 29 Mar 2023: SMS Sim Ann criticised for alleged late arrival at show and distraction caused while artist was performing
A local musician took to Instagram to highlight how ministers allegedly came late for a show and distracted the audience while another artist was performing on stage. The post by Singapore jazz musician Daniel Alex Chua was posted as a disappearing message on Instagram but was screenshot by a netizen and shared on Twitter. The original post reads as follows:
Context: ministers came late for show, stood up to shake hands, take photos,chatter, distract audiences who actually wanted to watch and do watever Cetf formalities, not showing respect to our sg artist @bleuebyrd performance at allPls give every artist, local or not, the respect and love they deserve, at a timewhere local music’s potential is at its highest to grow and be appreciated, it isessential.
Who were the ministers that the musician was referring to? Well, we are not really sure exactly who, but the screenshot shows a person who resembles Ms Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State for National Development. And true enough, Ms Sim herself made a post of her attending the event, with photos of her wearing the same clothing as the person featured in the post.
The event in which Ms Sim showed up was the launch of the symbolic 1-hour Switch Off last Saturday (25 Mar) and at Esplanade, where the Earth Hour Festival at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay took place from 24-26 March. The WWF Singapore’s write-up would also suggest Ms Sim was the only guest of honour for the event. She wrote, “Happy to have joined everyone at @esplanadesingapore last evening to count down to the @wwfsg Earth Hour Switch Off event, in which over 1,000 establishments all over Singapore – including the Orchard Road shopping belt – dimmed their lights in support of the environment.”
Sim Ann 沈颖 Sunday 26 March at 01:25 · Instagram ·
Happy to have joined everyone at @esplanadesingapore last evening to count down to the @wwfsg Earth Hour Switch Off event, in which over 1,000 establishments all over Singapore - including the Orchard Road shopping belt - dimmed their lights in support of the environment.
While turning the lights off for an hour is a symbolic move, we hope this will help raise awareness of the various environmental challenges we face.
As we work towards Singapore’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050, your individual actions can contribute to a better environment for everyone.
Sign up for the @wwfsg Kosong Plan, and make small actionable changes in your daily life – such as reducing usage of single-use plastics, consuming more sustainably farmed seafood and produce, or choosing eco-friendly alternatives to e-commerce packaging when shopping online.
Sim Ann clarifies incident at Esplanade after allegations she had disrespected artistes
Ms Sim said it was not her intent to convey any disregard for the performers on stage and the audience. PHOTO: SIM ANN/FACEBOOK
The entrance of a guest of honour in the middle of a music performance has drawn criticism from several netizens and those in the music community.
During the WWF Earth Hour Festival at Esplanade event on March 25, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and National Development Sim Ann was led to the front row to take her seat in the midst of an acoustic set at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre. Videos and photos of the incident posted on social media show her being introduced to and greeting other attendees in the reserved seats at the front row, while a singer was performing metres away on the stage.
The incident sparked criticism online, with some saying Ms Sim’s actions were disrespectful of the artistes. Ms Sim has since reached out to the artistes to clarify the matter. The event, co-organised by WWF-Singapore and Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, involved a Switch Off, when the Singapore skyline went dark for an hour in support of Earth Hour at 8.30pm.
Sim Ann explains herself after being criticised for disrupting Esplanade performance
Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and National Development Sim Ann has been criticised for interrupting an acoustic music performance during the WWF Earth Hour Festival at Esplanade on Saturday, March 25. She was slammed by the music community and audience members for her actions that were deemed inconsiderate and disrespectful.
The incident was caught on videos and photos. She was seen standing at the front row reserved seats to shake hands with other attendees. Her presence blocked the view of some other guests, and audience members who were upset shouted at her to sit down. Sim was the guest of honour and was guided to her seat at about 8:10pm. She was led to the front row at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre.
The singer on stage was performing a few metres away at that time. The piece being performed was a quiet number, but camera shutters could be heard going off. The singer was described as looking affected by what was going on off-stage, according to The Straits Times, which quoted an audience member. Singer-songwriter Bernice Lee, 22, who goes by the moniker Benny's, was playing her acoustic song on stage.
worse is here is minister ... and the connotation is traditional values, which respect is part of. ok la you can argue maybe its a small thing but to me, to many of us, it isnt.
ministers alr got a bad rep when it comes to music scene ever since watain and blu jazz so this doesnt help them gain our trust. in fact its doing the opposite. just seems like they dk how to be sensitive to us.
Over 10,000 Singaporeans join the WWF Earth Hour Festival weekend 2023 at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
Between 24th – 26th March 2023, over 10,000 people in Singapore will come together for WWF-Singapore’s (World Wide Fund for Nature Singapore) Earth Hour Festival at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.
A robust schedule of thematic art performances, educational booths around climate change, and talks by WWF-Singapore’s subject matter experts culminated in the symbolic 1-hour Switch Off at 8:30PM SGT on Saturday 25th March. This year, the likes of FairPrice Group, CapitaLand, Fullerton Hotel, and ORBA (Orchard Road Business Association) joined iconic landmarks like Esplanade, Jewel Changi Airport, ION Orchard and Marina Bay Sands, to switch off in support.
Senior Minister of State, Ms Sim Ann, who led the countdown to the Switch Off, said, “It is specially meaningful because the intention is to raise awareness. It is something where building owners, as well as the people who do businesses and work in the buildings can come together and focus our minds on the importance of honouring our climate targets.”
What is Earth Hour?
25 March 2023 at 8:30pm
Started by WWF and partners as a symbolic lights-out event in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour is now one of the world's largest grassroots movements for the environment. By switching off your lights on March 25 at 8:30pm, you will join millions of others in 190 countries in support of our planet.
A POWERFUL SYMBOL OF UNITY, HOPE AND POWER
25 MARCH 2023 8:30PM
The Earth Hour Switch Off remains as a powerful symbol of unity and hope in collective action.
On 25 March 2023, thousands of individuals and establishments in Singapore and around the globe will show their support for a climate-resilient planet by switching off all non-essential lights for an hour.
Earth Hour 2023 is a moment for global solidarity, the opportunity to come together to advocate for our planet., Whether you’re an individual, school, business, or community group, we are all active stakeholders in shaping our future.
