To me, politics on the internet is just one word to describe - Atrocious.
If you have seen the recent uproar about 27 year-old youngest candidate running for GE this year, named Tin Pei Ling, you will know what I'm talking about.
I feel that something the internet brings things a tad too far-fetched. I mean, she is afterall, a 27 year-old young adult who is enjoying the peak of her life, taking photos, buying items she can afford and chasing her dream of contesting for a space in the cabinet.
Frankly, I'm quite disgusted at how unforgiving and petty Singaporeans can be at such politics. We always enjoy digging up the private life of anyone and everyone who are in the limelight. Especially if they are young, attractive and is chasing a dream which is deemed to 'help her continue her extravagant lifestyle'.
So who are the culprits that is causing Ms. Tin to suffer such humiliation on the Internet and the new?
1. THE KATE SPADE BAG
Just because of one picture of Ms. Tin posing with the atas Kate Spade brand, everyone is making so much noise! For goodness sake, it's not like as if its Louis Vuitton or Chanel. Or the even more expensive Hermės handbag. It is just a Kate Spade bag which is SO COMMON among girls of her age. Is it wrong for her to actually be trendy and fashionable just because she wants to be in the cabinet?
One thing I don't understand about Singaporeans. Why must it be so that they carry a mindset that 'being poor means reflecting humility'. I mean, what kind of nonsense is that? We are born in this world to not be poor and needy, but rich and properous! I don't understand why netizens are flaming Ms. Tin for a freaking bag!
2. HER HUSBAND IS THE PRIVATE SECRETARY TO PM LEE
Why oh why are we so fast to make judgments that she went in by the back door just because her beloved works closely with PM Lee? What do we know exactly to even make statements like, "I woudn't fault her for marrying someone I presume is more successful. It's a survival instinct in every woman to do that. But what is wrong is going through the back-door entry to become a MP when her husband is the principal private secretary to PM Lee. And hiding behind a GRC to get elected because she wouldn't stand a chance running in a SMC." Why can't she have her own abilities to climb up, why is she assumed and persecuted to by the back-door entry of her husband?
Well, PM Lee was quick to defend her by rebutting that, she was ‘talent-spotted’ by the autocratic PAP regime during a speech she made during the party convention in 2007.
“As for Tin Pei Ling, we first noticed her in this (NUS) hall in 2007 when we had a party convention. She was one of the speakers and she impressed the audience. We made the right decision. It looks like she’s going to MacPherson and she’ll be a good MP in due course,” he said.
He also slammed netizens for ‘flaming’ Tin Pei Ling:
“As far as the Web is concerned, all the flaming, that’s the way it is but unfortunately in Singapore, people get carried away. Vitriol….doesn’t add anything, no credit to debate, to people doing that or raise quality of debate,” he was quoted as saying in Channel News Asia.
The air has been cleared by the man himself. But unfortunately, the rumours and circulations of her Twitter account have not died down.
It is hilarious how people actually think that she private her Twitter because her 'shots were too sexy'.
In this way, NO ONE in Singapore can actually have a proper life.
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I still think that Ms. Tin deserves some niceness from all of us. Because no matter what one may think of her, going into politics is something to be applauded, especially for someone as young as her! I would applaud the same for young opposition members as well.
I feel that she should go on and do her work. And she should learn that being a politician in the public eye, she should be mindful of how she will be perceived if she slips up again – as she did when she didn’t privatised her Facebook page.
Her concern for the elderly is something she should continue to work on. If or when she gets into Parliament, she should lend her hand to Dr Lily Neo who has been fighting for more help for the poor, especially the elderly.
She is young and has has lots of energy! Ms. Tin can afford to take time off from her company and concentrate on helping the elderly. I feel that would be the best thing she could do to prove her sincerity and seriousness in the heat of the competition.
Ms. Tin can easily turn the ball game to her advantage by simply doing one thing: do what her heart tells her.
If it is a sincere thing, she will be vindicated naturally.
If not, then she should be prepared for even worse criticisms.
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I feel that when politics reached this stage of the Internet usage in our modern times, it is an inevitable consequent that flaming would occur, no matter what you are, an actress, a teacher, a comedian or even President of Singapore.
Well, it goes to show that firstly, netizens are speaking up more on socio-political issues and are far from apathetic. Perhaps the closeness of the general election date has a lot to do with the increased participation.
Secondly, it is heartening to note that the internet community is articulating its views in a stronger voice than ever before and more people are logging on to read, react and interact with others concerning current issues.
Thirdly, cyber community will only grow and become exponentially more vocal over time. Thus, the authorities must know that they had better started paying even closer attention to what is being circulated on the net, because the .
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