Addressing his independence, Mr Tharman referenced former President Ong Teng Cheong’s legacy to underscore the importance of political experience in a head of state.
Singapore’s rare political scandal sparks humor and debate on Have You Been Paying Attention?
SINGAPORE: The affair involving former People’s Action Party Members of Parliament Tan Chuan Jin and Cheng Li Hui has reached international pop culture, featuring on the Australian game show Have You Been Paying Attention? (HYBPA?).
The news and comedy show, hosted by Tom Gleisner, quizzes panellists on notable stories from the past week. In a recent episode, Gleisner asked, “Singapore’s been rocked by a rare political scandal. Why have these two lawmakers resigned?” while showing photos of Mr. Tan and Ms. Cheng.
A clip of the segment, shared on Reddit and Instagram, showcases a mix of humor and misconceptions. Contestant Aaron jokingly linked the pair to Australian politician Gladys Berejiklian before host Gleisner clarified the affair accusation. Another panellist, Kitty, added humor, commenting on their looks and age gap—although inaccurately, as Mr. Tan is 54 and Ms. Cheng is 47.
Permanent panellist Sam Pang later questioned the necessity of their resignations, asking, “Just because you had an affair, why does it mean you have to resign?”
The resignations, announced on July 17, followed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s acknowledgment that both had been warned but continued their relationship. Mr. Tan, a former Speaker of Parliament, and Ms. Cheng, have since faced scrutiny in both political and public spheres, with this latest appearance on HYBPA? highlighting the international interest in Singapore’s rare political scandal.
