Gan Siow Huang apologises for not initially shaking man's hand at Bishan event

Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Industry, has apologised for not initially shaking the hand of a man who approached her to exchange greetings.

"I sincerely apologise to the man in the red shirt for the delay in shaking hands with him,” she told The Straits Times on Jun. 8.

A video of the incident was uploaded recently, which was watched approximately 239,000 times in slightly more than a day.

Gan, who is overseas, added that she has requested the event organiser to convey her apologies to the man in the red shirt, ST reported.

Other videos featuring the same content uploaded to other social media platforms received between tens and hundreds of thousands of views each.

Wanted to shake hands

The clip showed her exiting her car and being surrounded by nine men, one of whom was in a red shirt.

The man in the red shirt closed the car door for Gan and extended his hand for a handshake.

She did not shake his hand, but shook the hand of another man she was introduced to.

She appeared to look around before she shook the hand of the man in the red shirt. This all took place in about six seconds.

Commenters who responded to the video said Gan appeared disrespectful in the video.

Gan explains herself

Gan, who is the MP for Marymount SMC, told ST that the incident occurred on May 17.

She was at Peck San Theng in Bishan for the inaugural Peck San Theng Cultural Festival.

The Cantonese cultural festival was organised by Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng, which is managed by 16 Cantonese clan associations.

Gan said she was "trying to identify the host of Peck San Theng" and greet him first.

She also said she was overwhelmed by the "big group" that had come to greet her, and it was her first visit to Peck San Theng.

Gan then apologised to the "man in the red shirt" for the delay in shaking hands with him.

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