On June 14, Member of Parliament Mr. Hri Kumar Nair held CPF — An Honest Conversation: Public Dialogue with Thomson-Toa Payoh Residents at the Thomson Community Club.
76-year-old Ms. Rene Yap had stood up that morning to ask that the government return the monies from her Central Provident Fund (CPF) account, which had been used to pay off her Bukit Brown land tax. In a video uploaded by one Jaclyn Teo (watch below), she is seen exceeding her assigned presentation time by about five minutes so she can relay her story in full. Most members of the audience are receptive, but a cheongsam-wearing woman in the front row of the meeting area can be seen making rude gestures at Ms. Yap.
In the days that have followed the video upload, netizens have dug out the identity of the "Cheongsam Lady"— an active PAP grassroots leader — and spoken aloud about what they think of her behaviour on online forums and Facebook comment threads.
The Reform Party's Kenneth Jeyaretnam, who was also at the event, shared a similar experience with the "Cheongsam Lady":
It was clear who'd gotten more out of the CPF dialogue: Ms. Yap, whose role in the video and sad plight was drawing sympathy and attention.
But a statement by Mr. Hri Kumar is changing all that.
According to The Online Citizen, Mr. Kumar had spoken to The Sunday Times after the dialogue. He said, “This is a resident who has an issue. I spoke with her personally after the dialogue and I’ll be doing my best to assist her. She’s a resident in one of the landed estates in Thomson.”
Netizens — notably the Fabrications about the PAP Facebook that is presumably in support of Singapore's ruling party — are now questioning Ms. Yap's financial position, considering she's in ownership of a hefty piece of real estate.
A TOC source who claims to have spoken to Ms. Yap says the house was inherited by Ms. Yap and her siblings, and due to her poor relationship with them, will be tricky to sell.
On June 14, Member of Parliament Mr. Hri Kumar Nair held CPF — An Honest Conversation: Public Dialogue with Thomson-Toa Payoh Residents at the Thomson Community Club.
76-year-old Ms. Rene Yap had stood up that morning to ask that the government return the monies from her Central Provident Fund (CPF) account, which had been used to pay off her Bukit Brown land tax. In a video uploaded by one Jaclyn Teo (watch below), she is seen exceeding her assigned presentation time by about five minutes so she can relay her story in full. Most members of the audience are receptive, but a cheongsam-wearing woman in the front row of the meeting area can be seen making rude gestures at Ms. Yap.
In the days that have followed the video upload, netizens have dug out the identity of the "Cheongsam Lady"— an active PAP grassroots leader — and spoken aloud about what they think of her behaviour on online forums and Facebook comment threads.
The Reform Party's Kenneth Jeyaretnam, who was also at the event, shared a similar experience with the "Cheongsam Lady":
It was clear who'd gotten more out of the CPF dialogue: Ms. Yap, whose role in the video and sad plight was drawing sympathy and attention.
But a statement by Mr. Hri Kumar is changing all that.
According to The Online Citizen, Mr. Kumar had spoken to The Sunday Times after the dialogue. He said, “This is a resident who has an issue. I spoke with her personally after the dialogue and I’ll be doing my best to assist her. She’s a resident in one of the landed estates in Thomson.”
Netizens — notably the Fabrications about the PAP Facebook that is presumably in support of Singapore's ruling party — are now questioning Ms. Yap's financial position, considering she's in ownership of a hefty piece of real estate.
A TOC source who claims to have spoken to Ms. Yap says the house was inherited by Ms. Yap and her siblings, and due to her poor relationship with them, will be tricky to sell.