PM Lee launches own Facebook, Twitter accounts
In a sign of the times, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong now has his own Facebook and Twitter accounts.
In a short one-line tweet on Friday afternoon, PM Lee tweeted on his official @leehsienloong account, "Just launched my Facebook and Twitter pages. Do visit me at https://www.facebook.com/leehsienloong! -- LHL"
In the one hour since his tweet, he quickly gained over 800 Twitter followers.
He posted a longer six-paragraph welcome message on his Facebook page which started with, "Hello everybody, Welcome to my Facebook page! :-))"
He went on to write how "governments all over the world will not be the same again" due to the changes in the way people connect through social media.
He said he would use his social media accounts to "talk about some of the things I am doing, and thinking about, but I would also like to hear from you".
Calling on Singaporeans to come together in a constructive way, he went on to say, "Let's use this page to help shape ideas and understanding of what we can do together to improve our lives."
Referring to himself as a "Facebook newbie", he welcomed advice, suggestions and "most of all, your patience" from his fans.
He assured his followers that although his staff would help him update his page, he would "post as often as I can myself" with initials LHL.
In less than an hour, his post received over 230 comments and his profile received over 3,500 likes.
On his "About" section, he listed down his interests as "reading, walking, listening to classical music, tinkering with computers".
Under his Timeline, he also posted photos from key milestones in his life. His first photo is of his Primary 6 graduation class in 1958, when was attending the primary co-ed section of Nanyang Girls' High School.
He also shared photos of himself as an SAF Platoon Commander in 1993, of his graduation in 1974 from the University of Cambridge, at his first introduction as an elected Member of Parliament in 1984 and even his marriage to Ho Ching in 1975. His last photo was of him at the opening of the 12th Parliamentary session in October 2011.
Singaporeans were quick to welcome the PM's foray into social media.
Civil servant Derick Koh told Yahoo Singapore that he was impressed because "he wasn't born into an era of social media. He has been very humble in his approach and it speaks volume that the Prime Minister is willing to engage citizens on a new platform."
On what he would like to see PM Lee do on social media, Koh hoped to see PM engage netizens in a "sincere and open manner while providing more explanation of policies and decisions."
Nanyang Technological University student Charlene Chew, 23, was impressed by PM Lee's welcome note, calling it "cute and funny".
“It’s nice to know he’s getting closer to people, but (the FB and Twitter) doesn’t feel natural, very PR-like, especially with the smiley face. It’s quite cute and funny. I’ll read (his posts) but wouldn’t really dare to comment anyway.”
National Solidarity Party member, Nicole Seah, also welcomed PM Lee to Facebook.
"Good afternoon Sir, nice to see you on Facebook. Look forward to reading your posts. Have a good weekend," she wrote under his comments.
Others were also generally positive about the move and said they hoped for genuine personal engagement on his Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Sales executive Janice Tan, 23, said, "It's encouraging he is trying to engage Gen Y by following in the steps of the younger ministers. But then again, since he’s so busy, it’s likely that he has a PR to assist him. In that case, he may be portrayed differently as well, so I’m not sure how effective his goal to engage the younger audience will be."
National University of Singapore undergraduate Lim Yan Han, 23, agreed.
"I hope to see status updates and comments with a personal touch, and also things from his own point of view rather than words that are ‘politically correct’. It’d be even better if he can reply to people’s tweets or Facebook comments," she said.
David Law, business development manager, 38, said that it's important PM Lee takes the time to read all the feedback he gets on social media.
"I really hope he takes time to read and reply his fans and not some PA. There are more unhappy people than he thinks there is. And the "noise" is growing in volume," he said.
