Dr Vivian expressed “regret” over comment made on needy Singaporeans in 2007

Four years after making the infamous remark in parliament in 2007, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan suddenly realize he was wrong and expressed ‘regret’ over it to portray a ‘soft’ side of him in order to win sympathy votes ahead of the coming election.

PAP MP Dr Lily Neo had made an impassioned appeal to Dr Vivian Balakrishnan to increase the monthly allowance for recipients of Public Assistance by $1 a day to which he retorted callously:

‘How much do you want? Do you want three meals in a hawker centre, food court or restaurant?’

 In a rally speech last night, Dr Vivian urged Singaporeans to read the entire parliamentary exchange, in which he had gone on to point out that a targeted approach to help needy families who needed additional help was better as the needs of individual families were different.

“I am stating that I believe in helping people; whether it’s cooked food that comes to you or whether it is in a food court,” he insisted.

The entire transcript of Dr Vivian’s exchange with Dr Lily Neo can be read here. It is pretty obvious that Dr Vivian thought that the pittance was enough for for “most families to get by.

With polling day only two days away, PAP leaders have been making last-minute half-hearted apologies and shedding crocodile tears to win the support of undecided voters.

Netizens should remember the veiled threat issued by Dr Vivian in 2007 to them:

“Anonymity in cyberspace is an illusion. You will remember in 2007, we prosecuted three persons under the Sedition Act because of the blogs they put up which denigrated the religion of one of our communities in Singapore. The reason we did that was to send the message that your words have an impact; if need be, we can identify you, and if we have to, we will be prepared to prosecute you.” (Source: CNA)