If you swiped an iPhone before reading a book as a baby, you’re probably too young to know who veteran politician Goh Chok Tong is.
The 79-year-old was the Singapore’s second prime minister, taking over the reins after the late Lee Kuan Yew stepped down.
The former prime minister is many things: an economics major, an MP who served for 44 years, and a celebrity of sorts who has a wax figure at Madame Tussauds’s Singapore museum.
But unbeknownst to many people, Goh has recently embarked on a career that not many would have expected, as a savage burn artist.
Ex-PM Goh Chok Tong’s Instagram Post Unknowingly Burns Fellow Former PAP MP
On Monday (8 Sept), Goh uploaded a photo of a meal he shared with former Sembawang MP, Amrin Amin.
They two were separated by glass partitions and had what looks like a lovely Japanese meal.
Netizens, however, were quite amused by Goh’s caption for the post. For those that can’t see it, he said:
“Two retired MPs – one voluntary, the other involuntary – reminiscing over lunch. Thanks, @amrinamin. — gct ”
Whether Goh intended it or not, Amrin must be at the hospital right now, to get treatment for his third-degree burns.
Context
For those who don’t understand what the heck he’s referring to, here’s some context.
In 2015, Amrin, who was a lawyer at the time, entered politics and was elected as an MP for Sembawang GRC, replacing the outgoing PAP MP Ellen Lee.
During his tenure, Amrin also served as the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Health.
In GE2020, Amrin was part of a PAP team led by Ng Chee Meng that contested in the newly-formed Sengkang GRC against the Worker’s Party (WP).
As you probably know, unless you’ve been asleep for the last two months, the WP won 52.13% of the votes, knocking out the incumbent MPs.
Amrin became only the third PAP MP to lose a re-election after a single term in parliament, joining Ng Pock Too and Seet Ai Mee.
This explains why Goh humorously referred to him as an “involuntary” retired MP.
But don’t worry, the involuntarily-retired MP has gotten not just one, but two jobs already.
Netizen Reaction
It’s unknown whether Goh intended for the burn to be this painful, but netizens certainly found it amusing nonetheless.
Goh must have made the post in jest, of course, as there are surely no ill-feelings between the two.
Retired After 44 Years of Service
As previously mentioned, Goh has had a rather long career in politics.
His tenure as an MP started in the 1976 general election when he was just 35.
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He represented Marine Parade SMC for 12 years and then Marine Parade GRC for another 32 years after it was absorbed.
After 14 years of being Prime Minister, Goh stepped down in 2004 and became Senior Minister in the Cabinet of Lee Hsien Loong.
He was also given the honorary title of “Emeritus Senior Minister” in 2011.
But all good things must come to an end, as they say.
On 25 June, Goh announced his retirement from politics in a Facebook post, after 44 years of service in Parliament.
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We can only hope that the former prime minister continues to burn his colleagues as he establishes himself as a true burn artist.