Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah has responded to an online post circulating on social media about her getting rebuffed during her walkabout on Sunday.

The MP in Tanjong Pagar GRC said in her own Facebook post that she had indeed conducted her monthly walkabout at Tiong Bahru market on Sunday, July 1, but the incident did not play out as described:

What happened according to Indranee

• Indranee met an older couple.

• The wife was friendly to her, but the husband preferred not to be disturbed.

• Indranee smiled and moved on.

• There was no opportunity for further conversation once she had moved on.

What the online post said

The online post that described Indranee's encounter made it sound like it was from an eyewitness perspective, as it contained a conversation between Indranee and the older man.

The post was shared by many and credited to one Cheyenne Cherokee.

The main contention is the supposed conversation, where the man was allegedly overheard having gripes with the recent hikes in electricity and water prices.

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."

[related_story]