An online petition started to call on the People's Action Party's new candidate Ivan Lim to not run this General Election is gathering steam.

The petition appeared on June 26.

By June 27 morning, it had about 1,800 signatures.

By 4:30pm later that day, it exceeded 10,000 signatures and counting.

Those who signed the petition left hundreds of comments regarding why they did so.

Many of the comments attacked Lim on a personal level.

But there are also comments that articulated why people are uncomfortable with Lim as a candidate for one of the highest offices in the land.

Developments

Criticisms of Lim's treatment of subordinates at work and during his military stint made the rounds on social media initially even without media reporting on it.

In response to the growing scrutiny and criticisms circulated online as a result of the anecdotes, the party via PAP vice-chair Masagos Zulkifli said it is standing by its candidate as the GE is a time for those contesting to redeem themselves.

Subsequently, PAP first assistant secretary-general and deputy prime minister Heng Swee Keat said Lim should clarify any complaints made against him.

Shortly after Heng's comments, Lim issued a statement via his political party addressing selectively some of the issues raised against his character.

As the criticisms snowballed, perhaps in part to counter it, glowing testimonials have been compiled and put up online supposedly by Lim's colleagues: