WP’s Png Eng Huat and Minister Tan Chuan-Jin spat over expedited clearance at Tuas
(Yahoo file photo)
An online spat has broken out between Workers Party’s Png Eng Huat and Minister Tan Chuan-Jin over the latter’s expedited clearance at the Tuas Checkpoint.
Png and Tan, who had gone on a day trip to Johor Baru with residents on Sunday to eat durians, found that the immigration checkpoints were crowded during the return to Singapore.
Png, the MP for Hougang, described the checkpoints as “overwhelmed”.
“In the long queue at the immigration check point yesterday were many travellers, some of whom are old and tired, but they all had to wait patiently for hours for their turn,” Png said in a post on Facebook on 18 July.
He added that also in the queue were two elderly residents who had been patiently waiting to clear immigration.
When an additional counter opened at Tuas, Png said “there was a certain excitement in the air”, only for everyone to realise the checkpoint was opened to clear Tan and his entourage.
“No one else could use that counter,” Png added.
Before Tan responded, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) issued a statement of Facebook on Tuesday saying, “it is normal practice for ICA to give expedited clearance to Ministers, on both sides of the Causeway as well as members of the Malaysian royalty.”
“Minister Tan, his security officers and the other passengers in his bus were given clearance, without having to queue, at the Tuas Checkpoint on 17 July at around 9.20pm,” the ICA said.
“Where they travel with others in a group, ICA officers will use their judgment on the clearance process.”
Reacting to Png’s Facebook post, Tan hit back saying the Hougang MP’s post was “aimed at stirring hate and anger”.
He also pointed out that Png failed to mention that he waited only 30 minutes to clear immigration and that ICA officers were on hand to help any Singaporeans who needed special assistance.
Png responded to Tan’s Facebook post at around 9 pm on Tuesday saying he understands this was a judgement call by the ICA, but at the same time questioned why Tan’s entourage needed to be expedited if the wait time was “all of 30 minutes only”.“I cannot control how people feel. I am also on the receiving end of hate and anger for bringing this issue out in the open. I don’t have an issue with Minister Tan, personally or politically. I have an issue with inequality,” Png said.
