Politically-affiliated sanitisers? Politicians unveil disinfectants on social media

Amidst a global pandemic that’s easily spread via dirty hands and unhygienic objects, local leaders across the political divide are making damn sure that everyone notices their efforts in keeping the country sterile and their constituents clean. 

Somehow connected to an upcoming general election? Regardless of motive, the end result is still pretty beneficial to everyone. You can’t say that disinfected HDB lifts are a bad thing. 

And it’s residential estate lift lobbies that get a big highlight on the social media pages of various Members of Parliament (MPs). Here’s Tampines MP Cheng Li Hui showcasing how block cleaning is being handled in her neck of the woods. 

It’s the same for Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Yuhua MP Grace Fu, with reassuring pictures of workers conducting cleaning operations in estates. 

Workers’ Party Secretary-General and Aljunied MP Pritam Singh posted a pre-emptive hygiene measure during the early days of the coronavirus outbreak. 

People’s Action Party member Victor Lye, who has been active in Aljunied group representation constituency, made sure to appear in public with PAP-branded sanitiser in hand. Here’s him at Hougang Bus Interchange helping to clean the hands of a senior citizen — although honestly it’s the auntie telling the man not to rub his alcohol-doused hands on his eyes who stole the limelight.

He's not the only one keeping people's hands clean. Singapore People’s Party Secretary-General Steve Chia has been pretty busy as well walking around Bishan and Toa Payoh disinfecting people’s hands, distributing what seems to be DIY sanitisers.  

Not to be outdone by political party-branded sanitisers, the National Solidarity Party is prepping its own bottles of the stuff to keep “fellow Singaporeans safe”. 

Progress Singapore Party — the fledgling faction formed by former presidential candidate Tan Cheng Bock — doesn’t have its own sanitiser, but it does have an adorable otter mascot that can help pump the solution onto your hands. 

But the award will have to go to Jalan Besar MP Lily Neo for going one step beyond anyone else. She dropped by Beo Crescent Market and Chinatown Complex, where she personally wiped down tables with disinfectant for patrons.

By the time the election season arrives proper, the whole country will probably smell like Dettol. Which ain't such a bad thing.

For the latest updates on the coronavirus, visit here.

ilyas@asiaone.com