In the ever-entertaining theatre of Singapore elections, we're witnessing a masterclass in doublespeak that would make George Orwell reach for his dictionary.

Manpower Minister Tan See Leng has gifted us with a brilliant new political theorem: It's not "abandonment" if your constituency is won by walkover!

"I don't think I've ever abandoned Marine Parade. It was a walkover, it was a walkover. It was a walkover. I said it three times," Dr. Tan explained, apparently believing in the Dorothy principle that clicking your heels together thrice makes something true.

Let's deconstruct this logical marvel, shall we? If a child leaves their toy unattended because nobody else wants to play with it, they haven't "abandoned" it.

They've merely... strategically redeployed their attention elsewhere.

Makes perfect sense if you don't think about it too hard.

This comes just days after Health Minister Ong Ye Kung passionately condemned SDP's Dr. Chee Soon Juan for committing the heinous electoral crime of... changing constituencies.

The audacity! The nerve!

The completely standard political practice that both parties have engaged in since time immemorial!

What we're witnessing is a fascinating asymmetry in semantic framing:

• When PAP candidates change constituencies: Strategic national redeployment for the greater good

• When opposition candidates do exactly the same: Heartless abandonment worthy of public condemnation

One might reasonably wonder if our politicians think voters possess the memory capacity of a goldfish swimming in Kopi-O.

The mental gymnastics required to criticise an opponent for the exact behavior one's own party engages in requires flexibility that would impress even Joseph Schooling.

Dr. Tan further enlightened us with his explanation that "there's no abandonment here. We had a solid team there, right? And the fact is that because of the initiatives, I think that the opposition has chosen to redeploy their own talents elsewhere."

Ah, so it seems the opposition didn't contest Marine Parade because of Dr. Tan's brilliant initiatives, not because of boundary changes, strategic considerations, or resource limitations.

What a remarkable display of cause-and-effect reasoning!

I stubbed my toe this morning, and it rained in Tampines – clearly my toe-stubbing caused the precipitation.

Perhaps most impressive was Dr. Tan's touching story of DPM Gan's handover: "He specifically asked me, please take care of my Chua Chu Kang residents."

It conjures the image of a father entrusting his beloved children to a trusted guardian. One almost expects a tearful scene with swelling music in the background.

Meanwhile, in the parallel universe where opposition candidates exist, changing constituencies is portrayed as a betrayal of public trust akin to selling state secrets to foreign powers.

The bottom line? In Singapore politics, it seems abandonment, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder – or more precisely, in which party logo appears on your polo shirt.

As voters head to the polls, perhaps they should remember: If your MP suddenly appears in a different constituency, don't worry – they haven't abandoned you.

They're simply engaging in non-abandonment strategic redeployment for the greater national good.

Unless they're from the opposition, in which case they're probably untrustworthy scoundrels who should be tied to a single location in perpetuity.

Walkover, walkover, walkover. There, I've said it three times. Now it must be true.

🎧 Podcast

In this episode, we dive into the inspiring story of Daniel Sim⁠ , a former Army Major who transitioned into a successful property investor specialising in the UK market.

Daniel shares his motivations and challenges in climbing the corporate ladder and discusses his decision to leave the military for a career that offers more flexibility and fulfillment. He reveals key insights into building a passive income stream through property investment, debunking the common myth that millions are needed to retire comfortably.

Daniel also provides valuable tips on how to discern legitimate investment opportunities and avoid scams. This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in achieving financial freedom through smart property investments.

Daniel Sim is a Singaporean property investor specializing in UK real estate, focusing on generating passive income through strategic investments. With over a decade of experience in public service, including roles in the Military and the Prime Minister's Office, Daniel transitioned from investing in stocks, bonds, forex, and options to property, which he found provided greater security, peace of mind, and time freedom.

He has been involved in property transactions worth millions of pounds and has developed projects such as converting office blocks into residential apartments. Daniel manages a portfolio of over 50 units across 15 properties in the UK, creating substantial monthly passive income.

He is also the founder of Born Poor Die Rich (BPDR), an education and coaching platform launched in 2018 in Singapore that helps individuals invest in UK properties to maximise financial resources and focus on what truly matters in life.

Daniel is known for advocating investment in "ordinary properties for ordinary people" to ensure sustainable rental demand and cash flow, emphasising financial education and long-term stability in property investing.

This episode is brought to you by Deel, the all-in-one platform simplifying global team management with payroll, HR, IT, and compliance solutions, trusted by over 35,000 businesses worldwide. Learn more at ⁠deel.com/adriantan⁠.

Adrian Tan
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