Kf Seetoh: If you let ‘sweet promises determine your life in next 5 years, you may get just desserts'
Kf Seetoh joked in an Apr 25 (Friday) Facebook post that he heard so many promises from candidates the day before that he 'got struck down with diabetes yesterday' as his blood sugar shot through the roof.
'The deluge of sweet rhetoric from the political candidates assailed my ears and into the system. All the air punching and cloud nine pointing… Oh man!!,' he wrote but warned that if people let the 'next 7 to 8 days of hustings with the sweet promises determine what your life will be the next 5 years, well, you may get (your) just desserts.'
On a more serious note, the Makansutra founder advised that it would be better to instead ignore the next seven to eight days of campaigns and choose instead to see what they've done as professionals or, simply as human beings or, when applicable, during their terms as incumbents.
'Google them,' he enjoined readers.
Although he did not name names, Mr Seetoh pointed out that an opposition Member of Parliament raised a full motion on the issues that hawkers face, while another 'created a coup in the region by getting Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga' to perform in Singapore, to the dismay of other Southeast Asian countries. Others, meanwhile, from the ruling and opposition parties, have advocated for sports, education, healthcare, and other issues.
He went on to zero in on what he believes is important to determine in selecting whom to vote for.
'But are your daily common man interests and concerns and small business needs, addressed? Did they deliver on what you needed and deserve? Did they act on what you don't even know you needed? I know they're gonna make a lot of promises. Just like at the last elections. I am still waiting for one particular MP to make good on his promise to address manpower and rising cost concerns of the F&B and retail sectors.'
He asked voters not to 'look at beautiful portraits and online portrayals' but to 'look into their hearts and minds and past deeds, judge them, then go make the best decision for your next five years. '
Mr Seetoh added that a reminder that no politician is perfect but appears to find it a reasonable request for them to 'strive to be better' and make tomorrow 'a little better than today.
This world today is very fragile cos of you know who and why. Vote wisely, folks.' /TISG
Read also: KF Seetoh: Why can't the government give a discount or lower HDB prices for those deserving first-time buyers?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
AsiaOne
3 hours ago
- AsiaOne
'Politics should stop at the water's edge': PAP on Pritam's recent media engagement in Malaysia, Singapore News
The People's Action Party (PAP) has raised concerns over the Workers' Party (WP) engagement with Malaysian media, saying that domestic politics should remain within Singapore's boundaries, the ruling party said in a statement on Thursday (July 3). In particular, PAP took issue with WP secretary-general Pritam Singh's appearance on Keluar Sekejap — a Malaysian political podcast hosted by former Malaysian health minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Shahril Hamdan — on June 24, saying that his choice to speak on foreign soil "raises serious questions". "It touches on a fundamental principle — that Singapore's domestic affairs should be debated and decided by Singaporeans, within Singapore," said PAP. The ruling party quoted Chiam See Tong, a former Opposition MP, who said that the Opposition must be "truthful…good patriotic Singaporeans…and not go around the world denouncing Singapore". PAP also listed WP's prior interactions with Malaysia-based religious leader Noor Deros during GE2025, who previously claimed that he had spoken to candidates from WP about prioritising the rights and concerns of the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore. [[nid:717255]] "Despite public interest, the WP has not explained what transpired in that meeting, or why Mr Deros subsequently expressed public support for WP candidates during GE2025," PAP alleged. It also highlighted how members of Malaysia's political party Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) endorsed WP candidates on social media during GE2025. PAP alleged that PAS' support for WP was charged with "racial and religious overtones, designed to encourage segments of Singaporean voters to vote along racial and religious lines". The party questioned Singh's silence during the incident, saying that his response following Government intervention "left many critical questions unanswered". Harpreet Singh, a WP candidate for Punggol GRC during GE2025, was also criticised for making "misleading statements" about the PAP's stance on a prime minister from a minority group. "This pattern of misrepresentation is worrying," PAP said, questioning Singh's claims to not "score political points based on race or religion". The ruling party subsequently said that Singapore and Malaysia must "refrain from commenting on each other's politics, and from using each other's media to influence public opinion". In respecting each other's sovereignty, both countries must respect the "longstanding understanding" and "place national interest above partisan gain". "Politics should stop at the water's edge. Singapore's affairs are for Singaporeans to decide, based on what is best for our national interests." AsiaOne has reached out to WP for comments. [[nid:719076]]
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
PAP questions Pritam's interview with Malaysian podcast, says politics should stop at water's edge
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE – The PAP has raised questions about Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh's decision to share his views on local politics with a Malaysian podcast. Politics should stop at the water's edge, with domestic affairs debated on and decided by Singaporeans in Singapore, said the ruling party in a statement on July 3. Mr Singh, who leads the Workers' Party, had made his first podcast appearance on Keluar Sekejap, a popular political podcast hosted by former Malaysian health minister Khairy Jamaluddin and former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan. The almost two-hour-long session, filmed while Mr Singh was on a family holiday to Malaysia, was uploaded to YouTube on June 24. The podcast covered topics such as the WP's strategy during the May 3 general election and the party's role in Singapore's political landscape. Mr Singh had reiterated his view of WP's role as a check and balance to the ruling party, given the appetite of Singapore voters today. The PAP said in its statement that Mr Singh had 'strikingly' chosen a non-local media outlet to 'share his views on our domestic political landscape', in what was his most extensive post-election interview. 'It raises serious questions about why the Secretary-General of the Workers' Party would choose to speak about Singapore's politics on foreign soil, to a foreign audience,' it said. 'This is not merely a matter of platform preference. It touches on a fundamental principle – that Singapore's domestic affairs should be debated and decided by Singaporeans, within Singapore.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore $500 in Child LifeSG credits, Edusave, Post-Sec Education Account top-ups to be disbursed in July Singapore Man to be charged after he allegedly damaged PAP campaign materials on GE2025 Polling Day Singapore Scoot launches flights to Da Nang, Kota Bharu and Nha Trang; boosts frequency to other destinations Singapore Electrician who bit off part of coworker's ear during fight gets 6 months' jail Asia 4 dead, 30 missing after ferry sinks on way to Indonesia's Bali Singapore $1.46b nickel-trading scam: Ng Yu Zhi's bid for bail midway through trial denied by High Court Business Singapore six-month T-bill cut-off yield tumbles from 2% to 1.85% The Straits Times has contacted Mr Singh for comment. The PAP's statement comes days after it put up a similar post on its website. In that post, it also questioned Mr Singh's decision to go on the Malaysian podcast and underscored that Singapore's affairs are for Singaporeans to decide. The PAP said on July 3 that the importance of this principle is not new. It cited former opposition politician Chiam See Tong, who said that Singapore's opposition must be ' patriotic not go around the world denouncing Singapore.' Mr Chiam was MP for Potong Pasir from 1984 to 2011 and is one of Singapore's longest-serving opposition politicians. The PAP also said that concerns had been raised about the WP's past interactions with Mr Noor Deros. The Singaporean self-styled religious teacher based in Malaysia is 'known for views that are at odds with Singapore's commitment to multiracialism and religious harmony', it said. On the third day of the hustings, the authorities had issued a warning that foreigners must not influence Singapore's elections in any way, and blocked Facebook posts from three individuals on these grounds. One of the individuals had shared posts by Mr Noor. Mr Noor, in a series of Facebook posts, claimed he had spoken to all the Malay candidates from the WP , and that the party had agreed to take up concerns regarding the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong then called a press conference and asked political parties to make clear their position on religion and politics . Mr Singh was among the party leaders who agreed that religion and politics should not mix. On the podcast, Mr Singh was asked about multiracialism and multiculturalism in Singapore. Among other things, he said race should not be something to score political points on. The PAP's July 3 statement said that despite the public interest, the WP had not explained what transpired in the meeting with Mr Noor, or why the preacher subsequently expressed public support for WP candidates during the general election. The PAP also made reference to statements from WP's Punggol candidate Harpreet Singh about the PAP's stance on a minority prime minister, calling it a worrying 'pattern of misrepresentation'. Mr Harpreet Singh claimed the PAP had said that then-DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam would not be put up as PM as some Singaporeans were not ready for a non-Chinese PM, and 'you would never, ever hear that from the WP'. The ruling party also noted that politicians from Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) – an Islamist opposition party in Malaysia – had endorsed WP candidates on social media during the election. 'Mr (Pritam) Singh remained silent until the Singapore Government called out these acts of blatant foreign interference. Even then, his response left many critical questions unanswered,' said the PAP. Mr Pritam Singh said during the campaign that his party could not be successful if it plays 'the race and religion card' , and that it had not made promises to anyone in exchange for political support. He also said Mr Noor had turned up unannounced at a meeting that the WP had with Malay/Muslim religious leaders. The PAP said Singaporeans are therefore 'entitled to ask' if Mr Singh truly stands by the principles he has stated, or if they are only invoked when convenient. 'Does he believe foreign involvement is acceptable when it benefits his party?' it said. The PAP added in its July 3 statement that Singapore and Malaysia share close historical ties, 'but we also respect each other's sovereignty'. 'In the wake of the painful racial unrest of the 1960s, both sides have observed a careful boundary: we refrain from commenting on each other's politics, and from using each other's media to influence public opinion,' it said. 'This is a longstanding understanding that has served both nations well. Maintaining it requires political leaders of integrity who place national interest above partisan gain.'
Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Straits Times
Over 40% of Singaporean seniors have claimed SG60 vouchers: Low Yen Ling
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Each Singaporean will receive an SG60 postcard in the mail designed by differently abled artists, containing a message from Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and a QR code to claim the vouchers. SINGAPORE - More than 450,000 Singaporeans aged 60 and above have claimed their SG60 vouchers since July 1 . This means more than 40 per cent of the 1.1 million seniors have already done so, said Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Low Yen Ling in a Facebook post on July 2. The SG60 vouchers, which are a one-off initiative, were released on July 1 to celebrate Singapore's 60th year of independence. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in a social media post on July 1 that the vouchers are 'our way of recognising the contributions of all Singaporeans in our nation-building journey'. Those aged 60 and above can claim $800 worth of vouchers, while those aged between 21 and 59 will be able to claim $600 worth of vouchers from July 22. Unlike the CDC vouchers issued to households , the SG60 vouchers are distributed to individual Singaporeans, and are part of a broader SG60 package that PM Wong announced at Budget 2025. Some three million adults will receive the vouchers, which are estimated to cost the Government $2.02 billion. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore No train service across entire Bukit Panjang LRT line due to power fault Asia 4 dead, 38 missing after ferry sinks on way to Indonesia's Bali Singapore $500 in Child LifeSG credits, Edusave, Post-Sec Education Account top-ups to be disbursed in July Singapore Pedestrian-only path rules to be enforced reasonably; focus on errant cyclists: Baey Yam Keng Singapore 17-year-old youth charged with trespassing on MRT tracks; to be remanded at IMH Business Microsoft cutting 9,000 jobs companywide in second major wave of layoffs this year Asia Malaysian nurses following the money abroad for more opportunities World Trump tax Bill stalled by Republican rebellion in Congress They can be used at all businesses that accept CDC vouchers and are valid until Dec 31, 2026. Half of the vouchers – $400 for seniors and $300 for adults – can be used at participating supermarkets, and the other half at participating hawker stalls and heartland merchants. In her post, Ms Low said seniors who need assistance claiming the vouchers digitally can seek help at community centres and SG Digital Community Hubs, of which there are 36 islandwide. She added that official updates and information will be disseminated through Ms Low also cautioned against falling for scams related to the vouchers, stressing that no banking information or financial transactions are required to claim them. In the event of uncertainty, she advised the public to call the ScamShield helpline on 1799. If a scam is suspected, she said a police report should be made.
