SINGAPORE, Aug 22 — Moments after his presidential candidacy was confirmed, Tan Kin Lian apologised to women who "think that they are uncomfortable" over his social media posts about "pretty girls" but again asked his critics to explain why the posts were offensive.
Speaking to the media today at the People’s Association Headquarters along King George’s Avenue, Tan said he had a discussion with rival candidate Tharman Shanmugaratnam over his claims Tharman was behind what Tan called a "smear campaign".
“Tharman was quite gracious. He assured me that they are not from his team. And he assured me that he will not want all these malicious attacks from his team,” said the former chief executive officer of insurer NTUC Income.
“Of course I am not too sure whether he knows what somebody else (is) doing (this) on his behalf.”
Nevertheless, Tan soon removed mention of Tharman from his comments about the "smear campaign" allegedly being mounted against him.
Tan has been getting online flak after his Facebook posts about women he saw when he was out jogging or at shopping malls resurfaced online.
In one post, for example, he photographed a woman from behind, apparently without her consent, and wrote a caption that read: "My walk today was interrupted by heavy rain. Got pretty jogger, before rain came."
Yesterday, women's advocacy group Aware had cited concerns about what it called Tan’s penchant for “objectifying women” in his Facebook posts.
The Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) said hours later that it had not been aware of Tan's social media posts before issuing him with a Certificate of Eligibility.
Tan also issued what amounted to a qualified apology over the posts while continuing to question whether they were offensive.
“But in case some other ladies after reading this think that they are uncomfortable, I want to apologise to them,” said Tan at the nomination centre.
“I have no intention. I have got a wife, two daughters and three granddaughters.”
Tan did not explain how having female relatives had any bearing on the claims made by Aware.
He also said that the posts were made more than 10 years ago but people only “feel uncomfortable” about it now.
“If you take a look at the number of people who watched the posts over 10 years — I believe it is more than 100,000 (views) — And yet and during that time, (they) don't have any objection,” he said.
He also challenged Aware to further explain the rationale for its position: “Please, what exactly do you find offensive?
“I don't know why somebody would want to use that as a negative point.”
When Tan’s wife, Ms Tay Siew Hong, was asked about her thoughts on his “pretty girls” comments, Tan interjected and said that his social media posts had nothing to do with her. — TODAY
