The user who posted the video clarified that the mood at the table was "entirely cordial".
Minister for Culture, Community & Youth Edwin Tong said on Mar. 23 that a video that showed a man making a gesture during his recent walkabout in Marine Parade was used "out of context" to "push an agenda" for a "political objective".
The clip
The
video, shared to Facebook on Mar. 22, showed Tong going from table to table in a coffee shop in the Marine Terrace area to engage residents.
As Tong was speaking with some patrons, an elderly man at the same table raised his hand and made a gesture.
Screenshot from Kent Lau/Facebook
Later in the video, one of the volunteers in Tong's entourage was seen speaking to Tong.
He also looked directly at the person filming and pointed a finger at them.
Screenshot from Kent Lau/Facebook
In the caption, the user said he briefly interacted with Tong during his walkabout and thanked him for the visit, but opined that he found Tong's entourage "a bit overwhelming".
Screenshot from Kent Lau/Facebook
"I do believe there are warmer, more authentic ways to connect with neighbourhood or kopitiam (coffee shop) folks," the user added.
The clip was subsequently shared on the social media pages of socio-political platforms such as "Wake Up Singapore" and
The Online Citizen.
Video taken out of context: Volunteer
The volunteer in the clip, who identified himself as Delane Lim, took to his
Facebook the same day to address the incident.
Lim, who has been volunteering with Tong for a few months, wrote in a post that the video was "taken out of context" to paint a picture of Tong being "unwelcome".
According to Lim, Tong was briefed by volunteers that a particular table "seemed unfriendly".
However, Tong responded that "they are our residents" so he "must engage them and hear their concerns”.
A "serious face"
Tong then spoke to the patrons at the table and discussed issues like cost of living and the price of their coffee, Lim wrote.
As for the part where he was seen speaking to Tong, Lim said he simply reminding Tong that there was a table of residents they had not greeted yet.
"I admit, I do have a serious face, so maybe it came across as more intense than it really was… Haha. I promise to smile more next time!" Lim wrote.
The user (not Delane Lim) who posted the original video later clarified that the mood at the table with the elderly men was "entirely cordial" and the man was not in fact showing the middle finger.
"It’s disappointing that some people have taken my video out of context and twisted the truth," he wrote.
Screenshot of post from Kent Lau/Facebook
Tong's response
When Tong was asked about the matter at a subsequent
walkabout in East Coast GRC on Mar. 23, he said he was aware of the video filmed during his walkabout which was circulated online.
Tong observed that he received a warm reception during the Marine Parade walkabout, where he chatted with many residents, caught up with old friends and made new ones.
"Unfortunately, the video was then taken by some sites and used out of context in a way which cast me in a negative light, I think, obviously to push an agenda...quite clearly, for a political objective," said Tong.
Noting that the original user has since clarified the matter, Tong said "I think we can let that clarification speak for itself".
Tong added that it's "unfortunate that it happened" but highlighted that his team will continue to engage residents, even those who might be unfriendly or have difficult issues.
"I told my team, let’s not get distracted by these things. Focus on what is the real work, hard work on the ground, connecting with people, and continue to win trust and confidence. That’s the most important."
Top image from Kent Lau/Facebook
