The rumor mill is abuzz of a possible alliance between former presidential candidate Tan Cheng Bock — who has now submitted an application to start a new political party — and Lee Hsien Yang, the brother of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
On Saturday, the duo met publicly for a second time for breakfast at the Ang Mo Kio Market and Hawker Centre, which is located in the ward that is controlled by PM Lee, reported The Independent Singapore and other local media.
Lee Hsien Yang has publicly backed Tan Cheng Bock’s intent on setting up a new political party in a recent Facebook post, as the former continues to be embroiled in a sibling rivalry with his brother over the house of their late father Lee Kuan Yew.
The first time Lee and Tan met was in November at another hawker center in West Coast, and the pair met up again for a few slurping bowls of mee siam, reported The Online Citizen.
According to a report by Today, the duo declined to be interviewed but Tan slipped out his choice verdict over the food: “Breakfast was good”.
The duo also bumped into another Member of Parliament for the Ang Mo Kio constituency, Ang Hin Kee, who was giving out Chinese New Year red packets to residents having a peaceful Saturday meal.
Not to worry though, because the Today report added that both parties exchanged light-hearted banter and exchanged wishes for the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations. Phew.
In case you’re wondering why all this hullaballoo over hawker centers, the ubiquitous eating spots usually are the center of attraction for residents as well as politicians who engage with residents during walkabouts.
The meeting has even more significance over rumors that a general election could be called in Singapore as early as this year although it is due for early 2021.
Tan was previously a member of the ruling People’s Action Party before he stepped away to contest as a presidential candidate in 2012, losing to candidate Tony Tan by a razor-thin margin of votes in the thousands.
Interestingly, Tan has been documenting his series of hawker visits as of late, posting photos of him eating in Geylang Serai, Tampines, and Chong Pang hawker centers, even bumping into ministers from the ruling party such as Desmond Choo and K Shanmugam.
Whether he intends to contest the wards he has visited remains something to be seen as more news unfolds. We’ll be watching the case unfold, alongside dissident blogger Roy Ngerng who posted this on his Twitter page:
Good to see Dr Tan Cheng Bock, Lee Hsien Yang and Ting Choon Meng having breakfast together. https://t.co/uUSxk81YtB
— Roy Ngerng (@sexiespider) February 2, 2019
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