People’s Action Party ice cream giveaway criticized as election gimmick

SINGAPORE: Netizens have criticized politicians for distributing free ice cream, claiming the gesture is a tactic to garner support ahead of the upcoming general election.

On Thursday (1 Aug), People’s Action Party (PAP) Member of Parliament Low Yen Ling, representing Chua Chu Kang GRC and holding roles as Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, and the Ministry of Trade and Industry, shared a Facebook post about her recent ice cream distribution event at Jalan Remaja.

In her post, Ms Low described the event as a success, stating, “What a fantastic day it was at Jalan Remaja! The ice-cream distribution was a hit, and it was wonderful to see many residents enjoying the delicious ice cream we had prepared.”

Ms Low, who is also Chairperson of the Mayors’ Committee and Mayor of the South West District, expressed her pleasure in meeting residents who volunteered to help.

She added, “During the ice cream distribution, I was heartened to meet a few residents who stepped forward and expressed their intention to volunteer with us. Our team had a blast serving you all, and we’re already looking forward to our next community event.”

Concluding her post, the vice-chairwoman of the PAP Women’s Wing thanked the participants, saying, “Thanks for coming out and making the day so sweet and memorable.”

Critics slam ice cream giveaway as election gimmick

The re-uploaded video of Ms Low’s ice cream handout on the Facebook community page “SG Warehouse Sale & Events” — viewed close to 200k times — drew numerous comments from netizens, with many accusing the event of being a mere election gimmick.

One user questioned the decision to visit a landed property area, suggesting that the residents there could already afford ice cream.

The user suggested they go to the mall or nearby eateries where delivery riders wait for their jobs, engage with them, and distribute free ice cream.

Another user responded, speculating that the politicians wanted to ensure they were giving ice cream to residents who would vote for them, pointing out that delivery riders and workers might not live in that Group Representation Constituency (GRC).

They added, “You don’t really think they are here to do a good deed, do you?”

A different user criticized the choice of location, pointing out that distributing ice cream in high-end estates with bungalows and semi-detached houses seemed misplaced when most citizens live in HDBs.

They challenged the politicians to show courage and love by holding such events in HDB areas, which they called the real reality playground.

Another user observed that politicians only appear in the community when the General Election (GE) is approaching, questioning how often they engage with residents otherwise.

Netizens: No need for branding if politicians do their jobs well

Some netizens argued that if politicians performed their jobs effectively, there would be no need for such branding efforts and giveaways to win votes.

One user suggested that if someone does a good job daily, there’s no need for such gestures.

Another user commented that good deeds don’t need to be associated with a political party, implying that if people genuinely recognized and admired the politicians, they would naturally support them.

This sentiment was echoed by another user who stated that ministers don’t need to brand handouts or giveaways, especially ice cream.

If they fulfill their roles as representatives, that should be enough to retain their elected positions.

Criticism intensifies amid Minister’s sugar reduction efforts

Further criticism emerged as netizens highlighted the contradiction between the ice cream giveaway and the Minister of Health Ong Ye Kung’s stance on sugary treats.

One user questioned the health implications of ice cream, asking, “I thought ice cream was bad for health?”

Another user raised concerns about the inconsistency, noting that while there are taxes on sugary products for “health reasons,” politicians are now promoting more sugar consumption.

Users also pointed out Mr Ong’s previous statements about reducing sugar intake, noting the irony of his colleagues distributing ice cream to garner votes.

They included a screenshot of Mr Ong’s Facebook status from 2021 to reinforce their point.

On 30 March, Mr Ong addressed this issue during an appearance on Kiss92, where he responded to a young listener’s humorous suggestion about ice cream consumption.

Ong remarked that while ice cream with sugar is not advisable from a health perspective, he would approve of it without sugar.

The issue of diabetes is significant in Singapore, with over 400,000 people currently living with the condition and projections suggesting this number could rise to 1 million by 2050, according to CNA.