Parliament’s Brawl Turns Into a Public Apology
The Singapore Parliament on 14‑Sept was a bit like a wrestling match more than a policy discussion. MPs traded back‑handed remarks over jobs and the flow of foreign workers, and in the middle of that chaos the Minister for Foreign Affairs, 60‑year‑old Vivian Balakrishnan, found himself in a hot‑mic predicament.
Apology That Made the Social‑Media Stage
On the evening of 15‑Sept, the minister posted a brief note on Facebook to Leong Mun Wai of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP). He said:
“I called Mr Leong Mun Wai today to apologise for my private comments to a colleague in Parliament yesterday. I disagree with him on the issue, but I should not have said what I said. Mr Leong has accepted my apology.”
While that is a tidy and straightforward text, the story becomes richer once you realise the minister had to dodge a tangled web of political words and a live YouTube stream.
When “Illiterate” Boomed Through the Microphones
During a section of the debate, the opposing candidate, NCMP Leong, asked Manpower Minister Tan See Leng for clarity about the data on foreign workers. The scene turned to a classic radio moment when some nearby audiences heard a stray voice shout, “He’s illiterate.” It followed up with the audacious line, “Seriously, how did he get into Raffles Institution? Must have been a lousy school.” These remarks, it seemed, were picked up because the mic hadn’t been muted after Dr Tan stepped up.
That’s a little reminder that public forums, especially those streamed online, can turn into a live‑action comedy when a speaker leaves a mic on.
Back‑to‑Back Fallout
- Vivian Balakrishnan apologises privately and publicly for inappropriate remarks.
- Dr Tan’s orphaned mic leads to an unexpected rant about education quality.
- MPs & media call for tighter mic‑management at parliamentary sessions.
While the immediate headline was the minister’s apologetic Facebook note, the larger takeaway is that Parliament’s televised debates can be as unpredictable as a reality‑TV game show. The hot‑mic moments remind us that in today’s age, a single stray whisper can be heard by millions, sparking both humor and criticism.
