If you thought the end of the Presidential Election would see Mr Tan Kin Lian return to a normal life, think again.
He has recently raised $560 for charity by selling his used posters.
He has also spoken about GE2025.
Here’s what he had to say.
Raised $560 From Selling Posters
Mr Tan previously indicated interest in selling his campaign posters following the end of this year’s Presidential Election.
On 9 September, he organised the sale at Bedok Hawker Centre.
According to a Facebook video, he raised $560 from selling the posters.
He said he managed to sell more than 30 used posters and a few mini posters.
He will be donating the amount to the Jamiyah Muslim Charity.
The photo attached to the post showed Mr Tan signing one of the used posters.
According to a follow-up post, he counted the donations in front of journalists.
He then handed the money to Mr Abdul Rahman, a stall owner at the Yio Chu Kang bus interchange canteen.
Mr Tan said that Mr Abdul Rahman would make the donation to the charity on his behalf.
He would need to send Mr Tan a photo as proof.
Another post on Mr Tan’s Facebook page said he was selling the posters for $15 each.
There were even A5 and A6 posters for sale.
Mr Tan also announced that there will be another round of poster sales next Saturday.
From 9 am to 11 am, he will be at Bendemeer Market & Food Hawker Centre near Boon Keng MRT to sell the posters.
Commented on GE2025
Besides pretty girls, another thing that seems to be occupying Mr Tan’s mind is the upcoming GE2025.
He detailed his thoughts in a video titled “Get Ready for 2025”, which he uploaded to his TikTok page and Facebook account on 9 September.
It sounds like a GRWM (get ready with me) video, but politician-style.
Mr Tan said, “The General Election has to be held by 2025, but will likely to be held earlier.
“The non-PAP (People’s Action Party) parties have to prepare early for this General Election. The voters of Singapore also need to get ready. The ordinary people are suffering from the high cost of living, unaffordable housing and insecure jobs. They have to elect a government that can address these challenging issues.”
He then turned the conversation to focus on the youths of Singapore.
“For the young people of Singapore, you have many years of your life ahead. Your future depends on getting a government that can set the right policies that can make life better for you.”
He then addressed the older people of Singapore.
He said, “For the older workers, you want to be able to live a better life without having to pay for the high cost of living or living with a limited paycheck.
“For our retirees, you want to be able to live gracefully on your past savings and not have to continue to work long hours on a low wage just to survive.
“I will be inviting the leaders of several political parties to give their views on how their parties can help the ordinary people to cope with these challenges.
“I hope you will listen to their messages and ponder on that. Thank you.”
Notably, he was wearing a button from his presidential campaign throughout the video.
Mr Tan was previously affiliated with the PAP from 1977 to 2008.
He has yet to reveal which political parties he will be inviting to share their thoughts.
However, Dr Tan Cheng Bock, the chairperson of Progress Singapore Party (PSP), previously endorsed Mr Tan as a presidential candidate, if that’s any indication of who may be invited to speak.
Tan Kin Lian: Importance of Social Media
On 10 September, Mr Tan uploaded another video on his Facebook page discussing campaign methods.
He said, “I want to build a social media platform to help the non-establishment parties to bring their campaign messages effectively to the voters.
According to him, these parties should utilise a grand total of seven essential services.
Firstly, such parties should have a microsite to feature their party’s manifesto and introduce their candidates.
Secondly, parties should “have a weekly podcast for selected speakers to broadcast their messages”.
Thirdly, each party should have a rapid response team to “bring out the positive points of the candidates and combat negative smears against them”.
Do you think Mr Tan was referencing the pretty girl saga?
He also suggested that party members should have “candidate cards” used by walkabout teams to support the candidates’ campaigns.
Besides that, he suggested that parties should have a “small number” of mobile posters and banners to “be used as backdrops for campaign events”.
He also said that parties should enlist the help of a flyer distribution company to distribute flyers three days before cooling off day.
Finally, parties should coordinate with the Elections Department.
He added, “These services will help the candidates to broadcast their messages to the voters effectively and relieve them of the administrative and logistical burden.
“I hope this will be useful to them. Thank you.”
If you weren’t already aware, Mr Tan used social media pretty casually following his loss in the 2011 Presidential Election.
Besides the comments about pretty girls, he would post random updates about his daily life.
However, it seems like he is using social media more politically nowadays.
Mr Tan’s TikTok page currently has over 4,300 followers, and he has been posting multiple videos on various topics daily.
He is also recruiting volunteers for his social media account(s).
In a Facebook post posted on 9 September, he posted a link to a Google form, writing, “I need volunteers for my social media platforms. It will not be part of any political party but will help any political party to spread their messages to the people at large.”
He has yet to explain how this volunteering scheme will work.
On 10 September, Mr Tan posted a link to another Google form.
Clicking on the link will bring you to a form titled “Campaign slogan”, where you can choose a slogan for Mr Tan.
Notably, you are only allowed to submit the form once.
