Lee Hsien Yang has been accompanying candidates from the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) at walkabouts in various estates over the last few days.
Speaking to the media on June 28, Lee was asked for his response to criticism that he was getting involved in politics for personal reasons.
He said:
"I have spoken up about my personal problems without being in politics. The party's position is clear, and I have no need to use the party to be my mouthpiece for anything."
Lee, together with his sister Lee Wei Ling, have been involved in a public feud with their brother, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong over various matters, such as the family's Oxley Road home, and their late father Lee Kuan Yew's will.
PSP's secretary general, Tan Cheng Bock, had previously explained Lee's recently-announced membership in the PSP, saying that Lee was "not very happy with his brother’s performance.
Unconfirmed if Lee is a candidate
It remains to be seen if Lee will stand for election, though he was not introduced as one of the PSP's 24 candidates.
Tan added the caveat that "in politics, change can happen", saying that a switch of candidates was still possible.
The official list of candidates will be known on Nomination Day on June 30.
Lee had said that it is "quite possible" that he would be contributing financially to the party.
He has also appeared in a video posted on the party's Facebook page, in which he contended that "the PAP has lost its way" and said "it is possible to be loyal Singaporeans... and yet to not vote PAP".
Walkabout took place in Tanjong Pagar GRC
The walkabout, which covered both Tanglin Halt and the nearby Tanglin Food Centre, took place in Tanjong Pagar GRC, where the late Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew had been MP for many terms.
Tan Cheng Bock and A'bas Bin Kasmani at a walkabout on June 28. Photo by Nigel Chua.
PSP candidates A'bas Bin Kasmani and Michael Chua, who had been introduced as candidates for Tanjong Pagar GRC previously, were at the walkabout as well.
They exchanged greetings and fist bumps with residents, while PSP volunteers distributed flyers and packets of tissue with PSP branding.
A'bas said that the reception from the residents in the area was "very welcoming", though Chua said that elections being called shortly after Singapore moved into Phase 2 of reopening meant that there was limited time for candidates to walk the ground.
"As much as we get a warm reception in all these crowded public areas, a lot of Singaporeans are actually hard at work", Chua said, explaining constraints faced when doing house visits.
Tan once again declined to confirm the list of candidates in each of the constituencies where PSP would be contesting, saying to the media, "basically, you all can speculate and I will have to confirm".
Called attention to uneven playing field
Lee, Tan, and Chua called attention to the constraints on campaigning due to the election being held amid the Covid-19 pandemic, which they said resulted in disadvantages for the opposition.
The guidelines for these broadcasts, the Elections Department said, would be issued to parties by June 25.
Lee and Tan, on the other hand, called into question the need for the scripts of e-rally speeches to be submitted two days in advance.
However, in response to this claim, the Singapore government issued a statement that there is a need to submit scripts ahead of recording to ensure that there are no "libellous statements or statements that may cause racial or religious tensions".
The statement read:
Mediacorp is required to have political parties submit their scripts ahead of recording their Party Political Broadcasts on TV. This is to ensure that contents do not contain libellous statements or statements that may cause racial or religious tensions. This has been the same arrangement in place since the 1980s. Parties and candidates have also been briefed on this during the briefing on Friday 26 June 2020.
Political parties and candidates should conduct election campaigning in a responsible and dignified manner that befits the seriousness of the election process.
Top photo by Nigel Chua