With a caveat that none of his posts are sponsored, he says: “This has further inspired me to continue with the search for more food recommendations and post them regularly every Thursday.”
Likewise, comments on the TikTok video of Dr Chee handing out food in Bukit Batok praised him for his generosity, while the WP’s Singh and Sylvia Lim, both MPS for Aljunied GRC, received plenty of clapping and heart emojis on their posts featuring hawkers and hawker food.
Then there is Jurong GRC MP Rahayu Mahzam, who endeared herself to netizens wit
“Al dente”, “tangy”, “succulent” and “flavourful”. These are not necessarily words one might expect from someone campaigning for a seat in the gastronomic void that is Singapore’s Parliament House.
But once in a while, a plate of char kway teow or a stack of prata wedges its way into the mosaic of resident handshakes and party group shots crowding the feeds of Singapore’s politicians. Usually composed around a simple meal at a humble hawker table, these photographs depict everyday life as most Singaporeans might recognise it.
Casual update or calculated strategy? The Straits Times breaks down how politicians have approached the nation’s favourite pastime: eating.
‘I’m one of you’
Regardless of race, language or allegiance, everyone needs to eat.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong grabs a breakfast of bak chor mee when “jet-lagged and craving” local food. Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo seeks solace in a bowl of mee tai mak during a hectic period. Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh discusses international affairs over a plate of mee siam.
These meals are documented on social media and tend to perform well – PM Wong’s Tiong Bahru Market breakfast, for instance, is one of his most popular posts, having racked up more than 21,000 likes.
“It’s not surprising that politicians post about food,” says Saifuddin Ahmed, an assistant professor at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at Nanyang Technological University. “It can be considered a ‘safe’ and apolitical topic, helping politicians cut through several divides to appear more approachable.”
Universally appreciated, food has proven to be a useful way for politicians to reach their constituents. Case in point: Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan revved up his campaign by handing out bowls of rice with curry to residents in Bukit Batok in November 2024.
Now that he intends to contest in Sembawang West SMC instead, he plans to use food once again to sweeten the deal, getting to know residents at home over cake and coffee.
Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong may also wield it as a bridging tool to integrate his Joo Chiat ward into East Coast GRC. During a walkabout on March 23, he told reporters: “The food on both sides of the border is equally good, so we are looking to use that to enhance the offerings for residents.”
On top of that, food is culturally significant, regarded as a hallmark of Singapore’s heritage as an immigrant society and its diverse cultures, says Carol Soon, associate professor of practice at the Department of Communications and New Media at the National University of Singapore.
Hawker food, in particular, possesses special resonance as a visceral symbol of the heartland. The message it conveys is simple and communal, says Joel Lim, 32, who hosts Political Prude: The Podcast and manages a digital media company.
“It’s a way of saying ‘I’m one of you’ without needing to say it directly.”
Tampines GRC MP Baey Yam Keng hopes that his Instagram stories of hawker or coffee shop meals help dispel the notion that politicians “always eat very elaborate or sumptuous meals” and make it easier for residents to relate to him.
“I’m just reminding people that even though we’re MPS, we’re just everyday Singaporeans at heart,” he says, adding that such quick and affordable dishes are still the most convenient option for him.
Though it is not a phenomenon unique to the PAP, the party’s candidates might have the strongest incentive to parade their love for local fare, Lim says.
“Because they’re the ruling party, PAP MPS do face the pressure to show that they’re not out of touch. That’s probably why you mostly see them posting about hawker food – it feels familiar and very ‘on the ground’,” he says.
Relatable or trying too hard?
On the whole, positivity seems to beget positivity. These life updates, after all, are about as light-hearted as they come.
Former Sengkang West MP Lam Pin Min, who runs a #TastyThursday series on Facebook highlighting his hawker pick of the week – “al dente” bak chor mee and char siew with a “charred aroma”, just to name a few – says the response to his posts has been “very encouraging, attracting many likes and words of thanks”.