Update (Jul 20): MP Png Eng Huat responded in a FB post that the post wasn't about him or the Minister. He said that it was "about the treatment of grassroots leaders travelling with the Minister". He added that he cannot control how people feel and was also on the receiving end of hate and anger for bringing up the issue. 

Tan Chuan-Jin, Minister for Family and Social Development, has responded to the online brouhaha started by Workers' Party (WP) MP Png Eng Huat's Facebook post.

With a 557-word essay Facebook post.

Here's the tl;dr version:

Tan was on a one-day durian trip cum official visit to the Deputy Home Affairs Minister's Hari Raya Open House. He praised his grassroots leaders for organising the trip.

He also thanked the immigration officers of both countries in facilitating the regular visits by the Singaporean and Malaysian Ministers. He noted that the ICA had to facilitate the clearance for him and his security officers who were carrying their firearms, as well as the residents and volunteers with him on his bus.

In case you are away in JB for the past 48 hours, here's a quick recap:

Both Tan and Png were on a one-day durian trip to JB with their grassroots leaders and residents last Sunday (what are the odds?).

Tan got a fast pass at Tuas checkpoint while Png didn't (He waited for 30 minutes).

Png is :( on FB and said that a new counter was opened just for Tan.

ICA responded and said that it's normal practice.

Tan then proceeded to poke Png:

"I understand that Mr Png and his companions were cleared in 30 minutes. He seemed to recognize in his post that it is a standard process for ICA to clear Ministers through the customs. He also lamented about old folks having difficulties in the queues.

I had the impression Mr Png waited a very long time. ICA checked their cameras to ascertain the waiting time. He carefully omits to mention that he waited for all of 30 mins.

If he accepts that it's reasonable that our office holders get facilitated, then surely the others in that bus need to be cleared as well so that the bus can leave and not add to the vehicular queues there.

But the purpose of his post, and that of his compatriots, was clear. It was not about the old folks. It was aimed at stirring hate and anger, not only to be directed at me, which I can understand politically, but also at my residents and volunteers (who organised as well as helped guide each bus), as well as our officers who secure our borders. It's unfortunate that he and his colleagues chose to politicise the issue.

Mr Png knows that it is standard procedure, all around the world, that Ministers, both from the home country and from visiting countries, get facilitated through immigration. When our Ministers visit overseas officially, they get facilitated, and likewise when Ministers from overseas visit us, they also get facilitated.

And oh, by the way, any traveler who requires special assistance can approach our ICA officers on duty. I believe it is more effective and real to assist our fellow Singaporeans in this way."

This concludes our Durian-gate episode.

The end.

Top photo from Tan Chuan-Jin Facebook page.

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