SINGAPORE, Jan 25 — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong held his first live question-and-answer session on his Facebook page today (January 24), answering a range of questions — from the casual (like what camera and editing software he uses for photos), to some contentious issues (like the recent increase in public transport fares and CPF savings).

The session, which was scheduled for 45 minutes (from 11.45am to 12.30pm), went on for about an hour.

There were over 2,100 comments made on his Facebook post. PM Lee took on questions in English, Mandarin and Malay; but was unable to answer a majority of the questions during the time period, and apologised to users via a video message immediately after. He also promised to “do this again one day”.

Facebook statistics covering the start of the Q&A and over the next few hours show that about 363,500 were reached by the live Q&A post, which received some 89,000 clicks, likes, comments and shares. A total of 811,700 saw Lee’s Q&A-related posts on Facebook, which drew 166,359 clicks, likes, comments and shares on Facebook, revealed the social networking site’s head of communication in Southeast Asia, Tim Inthirakoth, today.

This was Lee’s first live Facebook Q&A session since his personal Facebook page was set up in 2012. In 2011, Lee had hosted a web chat on the People Action Party’s (PAP’s) official Facebook page during the lead-up to the General Election.

Here is a selection of topics that Lee touched upon today:

Increase in public transport fares

Facebook user Alanna Si Jia Tan asked Lee why public transport fares have gone up again this year, even though oil prices have gone down.

Lee’s reply: “This is a difficult problem everywhere. Nobody likes to pay more for train and bus rides. Yet it costs money to run the trains and buses, and to improve the service standards. It is not true that SBS Transit earns huge profits. In fact in recent years their bus operations have not been making money. The government subsidises public transport heavily - we are spending billions every year building MRT lines, and also spending almost a billion on the BSEP (bus services enhancement programme). But commuters to have to pay a fair share.

“This year fuel prices have dropped. According to the formula, fares should go down too. But we have half an adjustment left over from last year, so overall fares have to go up a bit. Hope you will understand.”

On labour, jobs, foreign workers, businesses

Several questions posted to Lee were on manpower issues. Regarding foreign talents and immigrants, Lee said that Singapore “will continue to accept talent” and although “we have tightened on foreign workers...we have not shut them off.”

Lee added that Deputy PM and Minister for Finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam would be looking into several economic policies.

On healthcare

Lee answered two healthcare related questions — one regarding the cost of universal healthcare and another on subsidies for non-standard medication.

On large dogs in HDB

In one of his more-well ‘liked’ replies, Lee answered a mom, who had posted a question on behalf of her 9-year daughter. The 9-year-old girl, Charlotte, wanted to ask Lee why she could not keep a golden retriever as a pet in a HDB. Lee initially replied with an explanation of HDB’s concerns with large dogs, but added shortly after that HDB and the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) is reviewing its policy.

Other national issues

Lee replied to a question in Mandarin whether Singapore would have ever have a female Prime Minister one day. His answer: “With female ministers, of course there’s an opportunity for a female deputy prime minister.” — Today