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On February 8, Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin posted his thoughts on the panic buying that had ensued the day before.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8THqoGFbsY/

He posted those remarks a day after dorscon orange was announced, when Singaporeans went out for a supermarket spending spree.

Specifically, Tan took aim at those who had packed their trolleys or baskets with items, only to abandon them after seeing the length of the queue.

He also tweeted the link to his Instagram post on Twitter. It had less engagement than his Instagram post, which is usually par for the course for a tweet.

But then on February 19, one particular Twitter user, Alex, decided to do all the engagement.

The crux of this man's beef with Tan appears to be him having "passing unwanted remarks" on Singaporeans who were "well prepared" aka hoarding.

He then criticised Tan for calling some Singaporeans aka hoarders "idiot".

Now, as the more astute of you might have realised, Tan didn't actually say the word "idiot" in his Instagram post. The date which the man replied, almost 10 days after the initial tweet might suggest another trigger that earned his ire.

Here it is.

Tan was equally baffled.

And you are directing this at me because? https://t.co/JQQLmkc0Od

— Tan Chuan-Jin (Blue Ticked) (@chuanjin1) February 20, 2020

And asked Alex to talk to the right person.

I suggest you actually read up on what is said and being done. You have issues with language and what was said. Fine. But that doesn’t negate everything else that is done. And anyway. Please write to the right person. 🤷🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️ https://t.co/Sp1do7iUpu

— Tan Chuan-Jin (Blue Ticked) (@chuanjin1) February 20, 2020

Tan attributed the man's responses to his "inner beng".

Pardon the recent exchanges with I’m not sure who. Here I am minding my own business & kena assaulted by this ranting monologue. Must be my bengness that attracted the response. Must restrain my inner beng. Om 🙏🏻

— Tan Chuan-Jin (Blue Ticked) (@chuanjin1) February 20, 2020

Although he did end up finding some common ground with Alex.

This one I also say. Agree 👍💪🇸🇬 https://t.co/Eu69G6N299

— Tan Chuan-Jin (Blue Ticked) (@chuanjin1) February 20, 2020

The speaker then decided to engage with the people.

Here are some choice tweets.

Hello. I hope my dialogues never see light of day... https://t.co/caJlfUUKJX

— Tan Chuan-Jin (Blue Ticked) (@chuanjin1) February 20, 2020

He also once again touched on the issue of panic buying, and how some still try to justify their acts.

Looks like majority of people’s psychological defence mojo was steady. We are so PC these days, we can’t call out any actions at all. So it’s ok to hoard and buy more than you need? And that begins to impact on collective well being? https://t.co/uiyWuBO9H7

— Tan Chuan-Jin (Blue Ticked) (@chuanjin1) February 20, 2020

Vast vast majority of people didn’t react like that. Many remained calm. These days it’s almost like no one takes personal responsibity for their actions. It’s always someone else’s fault that’s why I’d to behave like that. We all have a choice. Many chose not to behave like that https://t.co/TOLbQEh9SP

— Tan Chuan-Jin (Blue Ticked) (@chuanjin1) February 20, 2020

Why he was on Twitter at this hour (12am-ish).

Long day. Leadership dialogue. Work in Parl. Meeting on Mandai. House Visit. Porridge (again?!) unwinding on Twitter for the first time. ✅👍

— Tan Chuan-Jin (Blue Ticked) (@chuanjin1) February 20, 2020

He then touched on the subtext behind what Chan Chun Sing's leaked dialogue session evoked, how should our leaders communicate with their people?

I wonder if tweeting with you guys would be seen as unbecoming? That Speaker of Parliament shouldn’t do this? Or that my grammar should be better? I’m sure there will be 🧱thrown my way for this. As always. But serious question though. Thoughts?

— Tan Chuan-Jin (Blue Ticked) (@chuanjin1) February 20, 2020

Because it is perhaps inevitable that what goes on online influences how new laws and realities are shaped.

Engagement is engagement. Whatever the platform. Feedback and ideas surfaced on my FB have definitely found its way into my own policy thinking and making whilst in the Ministries https://t.co/X9K5s0u1sm

— Tan Chuan-Jin (Blue Ticked) (@chuanjin1) February 20, 2020

It is also interesting to note that, perhaps due to how Tan manages all of his social media, here's what he had posted on Facebook around the same time.

You can go check out all his other tweets yesterday, there are some on Parasite (Lurved it) and Atletico players.

Related articles and videos

https://mothership.sg/2020/02/chan-chun-sing-leaked/

Cover photo from Tan Chuan-Jin Facebook