If you’re at all surprised that politicians in Singapore can be social media-savvy (despite all the incidents that seem to befall their Facebook accounts), then this list will show you that Instagram isn’t just for 20-somethings with a penchant for #ootd shots.
From photographs of bak chor mee to campaigning on the ground to selfies — and trust us, there are a lot of selfies! – here are the top 10 Singaporean politicians to follow on our favourite photo sharing app.
Lee Hsien Loong / @leehsienloong
Did you think we would start our list with anyone else? Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who was among one of the first politicians to join Instagram, uploads snapshots of his life regularly onto the social media platform with warm captions, allowing followers to engage him through comments. Also, check out his #guesswhere photographs, which often showcase a less mainstream image of Singapore (basically, not MBS!).
Baey Yam Keng / @baeyyamkeng
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEFIWwdxY1K/?taken-by=baeyyamkeng
It’s evident that Instagram’s selfie king, Baey Yam Keng, who is the Parliamentary Secretary, and MCCY MP for Tampines GRC, hasn’t lost his gut instincts for what makes a great shot. From his Instagram page, we can deduce that Baey is a fitness nut who has even got his colleagues to work out with him (we feel for you, Grace Fu and Koh Poh Koon…). Oh, and he’s on Snapchat too!
He Ting Ru / @tingruhe
Dressed in blue most of the time, He Ting Ru, who is the Secretary of Workers’ Party, and ran in the last General Election last September, is definitely one to follow on Instagram. Being a cat lady (her family was reported to have taken in 8 strays), her updates are down-to-earth and extremely personal. You’ll find shots of her lunch, cats, more cats, and what you can basically expect from your next door neighbour who’s super busy but still manages to find time to post updates.
Kevryn Lim / @kevryn_lim
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEBbvRvJt-a/?taken-by=kevryn_lim
Kevryn Lim’s Instagram page says one thing: badass, although her Instagram bio reads a little pseudo-Machiavellian: “You can’t make people love you, but you can make them fear you!”. She made her debut in last September’s General Election when she ran as a candidate under the National Solidarity Party, and has made quite the impression ever since. Best photographs on her Instagram page include shots of her abs at the gym, skylines of Singapore, and her adorable toddler.
Sylvia Lim / @sylvialim65
Sylvia Lim, a member of Workers’ Party, and a Member of Parliament representing Aljunied GRC, is a regular on Instagram. Her posts, which can get up to hundreds of likes, often offer followers a peek into the heartlands — be it mee suah stalls that come highly recommended or traditional theatre that may not be as popular in today’s day and age. However, what struck us as the most Singaporean shot of the city-state may just be that rooster on a vehicle.
Teo Ser Luck / @teo_serluck
Bak chor kway teow soup? Hell yeah! PAP’s Teo Ser Luck, who is the country’s current Minister of State at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, as well as the mayor of the Northeast District, is no stranger to Instagram, although his posts are quite sporadic. Plus, his hashtags are seriously hilarious, what with “MPsofreepostfoodagain”, “nohorserun” and “talksomuchyouMPorfoodcritic”.
Seah Kian Peng / @seahkianpeng
Seah Kian Peng, a PAP member and the MP representing Marine Parade GRC, isn’t one to shy away from telling his followers about his enthusiasm regarding sports, from rugby to running to football. You will definitely be able to find photographs of him stretching away in between lots and lots of people shots – from residents to family to Cai Shen Ye strutting it during Chinese New Year.
Tan Chuan Jin / @chuanjin1
If you want a little more colour in your life, why not follow Tan Chuan-Jin? The country’s Minister for Social and Family Development has got a rather vibrant Instagram page, featuring beautiful shots of Singapore Airlines’ planes at Changi Airport, foodporn, and flowers. And if you think that’s not enough, guess what… the guy posts photographs of cats and dogs as well. Can’t beat that.
Are there other politicians you think we should have highlighted? Drop us a tip!
(Header image credit: familyandlife.sg, words by editor)
Also read: Surprise! 8 Interesting Things You Didn’t Know About PM Lee!
