Tan Cheng Bock and Lee Hsien Yang caused quite a ripple with their early morning breakfast today (June 24).
The two had wanton mee and coffee for about 20 minutes.
They were also joined by three other members from the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) Central Executive Committee, including assistant secretary-general Leong Mun Wai as well as members Yuen Kin Pheng, Francis Yuen, and Michael Chua. They then proceeded to answer some questions by the media.
They also took some safe distanced photos with supporters.
So what is the significance of this breakfast meeting exactly?
Member, not necessarily aspiring member of parliament
Tan confirmed to media that Lee had indeed been a member of Progress Singapore Party (PSP) for "quite some time" but due to Covid-19 was unable to have a proper membership ceremony.
When asked how Lee Hsien Yang would contribute to the party, Tan initially had this to say:
"By his presence, walking around with us, and there are many other ways."
However he also pointed out the lineage that Lee Hsien Yang carries.
"He's not just an ordinary person, his father is the founder of Singapore, so that's very important, so the fact that he has decided to join us is a clear indication that something didn't, maybe the current team didn't follow what his dad wanted."
That quote was one of the few chosen to be placed in a Facebook post introducing Lee as a member of the PSP.
"I told you, why I formed PSP? Because I was there, I saw what happened, I worked with Lee Kuan Yew, and I know his very very core principles of his accountability, independence, and transparency."
Tiong Bahru market
Which brings up the next interesting tidbit about the day, they had their breakfast at Tiong Bahru market, which is of course situated in Lee Kuan Yew's very own constituency of Tanjong Pagar in Tanjong Pagar GRC.
Image from National Archives of Singapore
Lee Hsien Yang also said that there were many issues that Singapore is facing that needs to be addressed, he also said he was drawn to PSP's focus on compassion.
When asked about the areas Lee Hsien Yang was interested in running, Tan replied that it was the Executive Committee's decision on where to place candidates.
Lee Hsien Yang also stated that he was not party to any discussions within the opposition of who might run where.
Which perhaps are answers by a man who just become a member three months ago, instead of a key candidate preparing for an election.
Lee Hsien Yang's lack of political ambitions have been highlighted in the past, most notably by Lee himself.
In a seven page joint statement by Lee Hsien Yang and his sister, Lee Wei Ling, during the Oxley Road saga in 2017.
"We are private citizens with no political ambitions. Indeed, we are not politicians and do not have huge media teams to write for us. We have no unfiltered access to mainstream media, and are not savvy with social media. We have made a lot of mistakes along the way; please forgive us."
In fact, Lee Hsien Yang's most prominent public foray might very well be his stance supporting the demolition of his father's house. If he does run, Lee Hsien Yang might need to convince the electorate he is doing it for more than the demolition of a house, to stand a chance at being elected.
In Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going, the late Lee explained why it was Lee Hsien Loong who entered politics, and not Lee Hsien Yang.
The late Lee reasoned that PM Lee was older and was exposed to the impact of riots on Singapore, noting that Lee Hsien Loong's "commitment to Singapore was total". The late Lee also said that Lee Hsien Yang's preference was to go into the commercial sector and was "very shrewd" in investing.
When asked what statement he was trying to send by coming to Tanjong Pagar GRC today? And what statement he was sending to PAP by joining PSP.
Lee said he was just "here to have breakfast, the wanton noodles were very good".
When pressed on what the significance of their breakfast location being his father's ward was, Lee Hsien Yang did not answer, instead pointing to Tan, who stated that he already "mentioned" the reason.
So while anything is possible, and Lee Hsien Yang might have had a change of heart about the world of politics, let's assume for now that he is not running.
So what can Lee Hsien Yang do if he's not running? Plenty.
The media coverage alone for a simple breakfast speaks volumes to how much interest a possible Lee-supported opposition party can generate.
The news of Lee Hsien Yang joining PSP was reported by the local media and even the foreign media (South China Morning Post, The Australian Financial Review, The Jakarta Post, and The Star).
Lee Hsien Yang had also said it is "quite possible" that he would be contributing financially to the party or appearing in PSP campaign videos.
Now this is not to say Lee Hsien Yang will not run as a candidate for the PSP, he very well might.
But as Tan himself said, politics is about timing, would the excitement generated by the breakfast meeting be muted rather quickly by the announcement that Lee was not running?
Why now?
On timing, the question on some people's minds is why did Tan choose to announce the three months old membership of Lee Hsien Yang only at this point in time?
If Lee Hsien Yang is not running as a PSP candidate eventually, Tan may have distracted Singaporeans from focusing on PSP's vision and its own candidates.
Some would consider this move by Lee Hsien Yang to inject his dissatisfaction in a GE something that had been brewing since the last election in 2015.
PM Lee made in a statutory declaration through his lawyers in 2017 that Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang "threatened to escalate their attacks against me, coinciding with the September 2015 General Elections".
So Lee Hsien Yang is doing what he had threatened to do five years ago - ensuring that the Lee family feud becomes part of a GE narrative.
On the question on whether Lee had joined PSP because of his feud with his elder brother Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Tan said,
"No, no...his family is incidental. The most important thing is our philosophy, what we stand for. And I believe Hsien Yang knows that".
Who knows?
We might even have to wait till June 30, nomination day, to find out if indeed a Lee will be running against the PAP.
Till then, why not eat some wanton mee at Tiong Bahru market, I heard it's very good.
Image from Julia Yeo and Livestram