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People's Action Party (PAP) candidate, Chan Chun Sing, has responded to leaked audio clips circulating on social media that allegedly has him implying that a crisis will save the PAP in the elections.

Update: Chan made another post with another update on the issue.

He responded in a Facebook post on July 8, clarifying the period in which the clip originated and the context in which the statements in the audio clips were made.

Clarification on three parts of the conversation

In the post, Chan clarified on three parts of the conversation. His clarifications on part three seem to correspond with the audio clip that has been published by sociopolitical site The Online Citizen.

He explained that he was warning "our people to never be complacent, thinking that a crisis will help PAP secure the votes at an election."

Chan wrote: "It may be true that historically during crises, there may be a flight to quality and stability. But we must never take it for granted. In fact, we must work hard to serve our people, take care of them and not depend on a crisis to secure the votes."

He also made clarifications on part one and part two of the conversation. He wrote that in part one, he was explaining the "implications of Malaysia restricting airspace access north of Seletar Airport." He added that in part two, he was clarifying that there were "deeper forces behind the various issues and that it was not personality-dependent".

Timing of the clip not coincidental

Chan also wrote in the post that "the timing of the release" of the clips is "surely not coincidental".

He wrote: "The points in the conversation are poignant reminders of our vulnerabilities as a small country, and the need for our people to keep serving with the right motivations and to put Singapore and Singaporeans at the forefront of everything we do."

"I trust Singaporeans will understand what was shared in context," wrote Chan.

You can read the full transcript of the audio clip here:

"... put our heads right, and do the right thing, then winning the election is inevitable.

Winning the election has nothing to do with the nine days of campaigning. We have four years, five years, to get ourselves ready by doing the right thing, to convince our people that we care for them more than others, we have the interest of the country, more than anyone else.

And we are the dependable (indistinct)

But our problem with today's world: people are fickle-minded. Dependability is not a virtue. Stability is not a virtue.

And if people feel itchy enough and say that ‘I have nothing to lose’, or ‘I can afford to risk a bit’, then PAP will be in trouble. So it’s very difficult.

Actually, PAP votes always drop one. Every election the PAP votes drop. You check back the 50 years’ history. Then suddenly a crisis will save us. Then we’ll start dropping again. Until the next crisis will save us, and we'll drop again.

You look at the last 40 years pattern, it’s the same one. Lee Kuan Yew’s death saved us. Before Lee Kuan Yew’s death, 9/11 saved us. Then before 9/11? (indistinct)

So unfortunately, this is the reality.

So doing the correct thing is necessary, but sometimes not sufficient."

Top image from Chan Chun Sing's Facebook