PAP activist Joseph Tan dies suddenly during badminton event in JB

Punggol grassroots leader Joseph Tan passed away unexpectedly in Johor Bahru on Sunday (18 August), at the age of 44.

According to Shin Min Daily News, Tan was participating in a badminton event in Malaysia over the weekend when he suddenly collapsed and died in the bathroom.

The exact circumstances of his death are still under investigation.

Tan, the founder of Play Sports! School, a swimming institution established in 2007, was also widely recognised for his active involvement in local grassroots organizations.

His widow, Ms Chua, shared in an interview that her husband had been engaged with Toastmasters International since 2022, joining various branches worldwide to enhance his public speaking skills.

Recently, Joseph Tan had joined the Johor Bahru branch, and last Saturday, during “Family Day,” all members were invited to play badminton.

Ms Chua said, “He was very excited and said it had been a long time since he last played badminton. We left early at 6 a.m., and after playing two games, he went to take a shower.”

After a considerable wait without seeing Tan, Ms Chua went to check on him and found him unconscious on the bathroom floor.

Friends assisted in carrying him out and immediately performed CPR. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead at the hospital, having suffered a heart attack.

Minister of State for Social and Family Development Sun Xueling was among those who paid tribute to Tan, recalling him as a loving husband and a good man.

“It was a shock to all who knew him. He was young, loved his wife deeply and was a good man,” MOS Sun wrote.

Ms Sun noted that Mr Tan volunteered at meet-the-people sessions (MPS) regularly and worked closely with community members.

Joseph Tan was previously noted for his association with the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) as part of their “Internet Brigade” (IB).

The PAP IB, often discussed in Singapore’s political landscape, is a group of online activists who support the ruling party’s agenda by engaging in online discussions in a way that blends with general netizens, subtly influencing public discourse without overtly identifying as PAP members.