Alex Tan sells toothpicks/T-shirts online raise funds for hi
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Temasek Review - 30 January 2010
Alex Tan sells toothpicks and T-shirts online to raise funds for his election campaign
Written by Our Correspondent
Vocal online critic of the PAP Mr Alex Tan, who embarrassed two PAP MPs with his sharp and pointed questions during a YPAP Forum last month, had started selling tooth-picks and T-shirts on his blog, according to a report by Lianhe Wanbao:
Alex had just joined the Singapore People’s Party led by veteran opposition leader Mr Chiam See Tong. The 22 year old is currently working as a project engineer and he has indicated his interest to take part in the next general election.
The proceeds from the sales will go to paying the $15,000 deposit each candidate has to put up to stand for election. He has raised $772 so far with one donor paying $400 for a toothpick.
The toothpicks cost $1 each while the yet to be printed T-shirts cost $12 each.
Alex first shot into fame last month over his protracted online “flame war” with YPAP members which subsequently led to his eviction from its Facebook.
He has been making the headlines for his relentless criticisms of the PAP as well as a complaint he lodged against YPAP member Sear Hock Rong over possible conflict of interest between his business interests and grassroots work at Eunos.
Despite the (usual) attempts by the mainstream media to portray him as a “radical”, Alex has won the support of many netizens. His “Vote the PAP out” has garnered more than 2,800 members in less than two months and already exceeded the membership of the YPAP Facebook.
Most of the friends on his Facebook are young Singaporeans between the age of 18 to 30. This is unimaginable a year ago.
Alex wrote on his Facebook that he would continue to fight for as long as it takes till he enters Parliament one day to speak up for Singaporeans.
Though Alex may have limited financial resources right now, there are many Singaporeans out there, especially retirees who will have no qualms contributing to his election campaign.
The Malaysian political tsunami in 2008 was triggered partly by fresh, young graduates like Alex Tan who toppled senior politicians in their maiden election like Tony Pua, Jeff Ooi and Jernice Tan.
If the opposition has more Alex Tans joining them, they will stand a good chance of winning a few more seats in the next general election.
Based on public sentiments at least in cyberspace alone, the tide is turning against the PAP. What is lacking now is a platform to link the IT-savvy young Singaporeans with the disgruntled Singaporeans who do not surf the internet which may snowball into a wider people’s movement on the ground.
If you are keen to support Alex Tan’s efforts, please visit his blog here.
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Hi, people , please support Alex, Mr Chiam and SPP.
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hmmm... good good.. with ah chiam support i think it's legally sound.....same as my idea posted previously.. but they added in a item (toothpick)... making it not so purely as a donation...
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Originally posted by I-like-flings(m):
hmmm... good good.. with ah chiam support i think it's legally sound.....same as my idea posted previously.. but they added in a item (toothpick)... making it not so purely as a donation...
I wonder how much money can be made by selling toothpick. -
Probably it is a good idea for them to have auction besides selling these online.
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Originally posted by Fantagf:
I wonder how much money can be made by selling toothpick.
toothpick is just for insult lah....proposely get something cheap and small..... as long as both are willing seller and buyer then it's ok what.. a peanut can cost 600K.... maybe this toothpick can sell till 100K leh.. -
Originally posted by Fantagf:
Probably it is a good idea for them to have auction besides selling these online.
Sell in eBay or amazon.com?
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Wait the incumbent party disqualify him from election if he sells his stuff in ebay.
Can claim it is "foreign donations".
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Originally posted by Chew Bakar:
Sell in eBay or amazon.com?
Whatever website that is effective and attract more people to buy and so on is good. What they need to do is give more publicity to it if not not many got to know about it. Especially this has got to do with Chiam, many sgporeans would love to support it. Chiam is many of our favourite opp, you know -
If the opposition has more Alex Tans joining them, they will stand a good chance of winning a few more seats in the next general election.
Not trying to pour cold water.
The above statement...if AT has strong support at his ground, then he stand a good chance in the GE.
If his strong support is scattered all over spore, it will make it hard for AT for win in the next GE.
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Originally posted by charlize:
Wait the incumbent party disqualify him from election if he sells his stuff in ebay.
Can claim it is "foreign donations".
how about ebay.sg?
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Originally posted by likeyou:
Not trying to pour cold water.
The above statement...if AT has strong support at his ground, then he stand a good chance in the GE.
If his strong support is scattered all over spore, it will make it hard for AT for win in the next GE.
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Originally posted by charlize:
Wait the incumbent party disqualify him from election if he sells his stuff in ebay.
Can claim it is "foreign donations".
hmm that's possible.... but what his website saying???? anything to do with the election??
if he just say that he is doing an honest living selling toothpick online and it's not link to the election then it's still ok i think...come on.. selling toothpick also not a crime right??
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Originally posted by I-like-flings(m):
hmm that's possible.... but what his website saying???? anything to do with the election??
if he just say that he is doing an honest living selling toothpick online and it's not link to the election then it's still ok i think...come on.. selling toothpick also not a crime right??
"The proceeds from the sales will go to paying the $15,000 deposit each candidate has to put up to stand for election. He has raised $772 so far with one donor paying $400 for a toothpick."
That's is for the party.
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Originally posted by Chew Bakar:
"The proceeds from the sales will go to paying the $15,000 deposit each candidate has to put up to stand for election. He has raised $772 so far with one donor paying $400 for a toothpick."
That's is for the party.
hmmm that must see the election law or guide line already.... if got any restriction on the source of donation then maybe got problem... -
Originally posted by Chew Bakar:
how about ebay.sg?
Eh my bad, I thought ebay sg closed down.
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Originally posted by I-like-flings(m):
hmm that's possible.... but what his website saying???? anything to do with the election??
if he just say that he is doing an honest living selling toothpick online and it's not link to the election then it's still ok i think...come on.. selling toothpick also not a crime right??
You know what the people at the top can do.
They can claim this and say that - can you beat them even if it is a ridiculous rule?
Like 1 person standing alone can be charged for illegal assembly.
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Ah Chiam is a lawyer what.. he may have a solution... but.. i really think it's better not to state the money from sales of toothpick will go to the deposit.. just say i'm a honest toothpick seller lor
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Originally posted by Fantagf:
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You dont get me? -
I am finding him a little bit weird with all those selling of stuffs. Hope he isnt another Chee Soon Juan. =X
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If he really in GE and lost, all money deposited will be gone.
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Originally posted by likeyou:
If he really in GE and lost, all money deposited will be gone.
If he won at least 25% of the votes, he will get a refund. Am I right?
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Originally posted by likeyou:
If he really in GE and lost, all money deposited will be gone.
hey, this applies to all parties, be it PAP or others.
Come on, have some faith, if not you can only bang hope on PAP. PAP is not for the people, you should know them by now.
What is so bad about oppositions and Chiam's party?
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maybe they should sell emblems and statues of SDP etc stuff instead of stuff that some ganang guni man would sell!!
thats probably whats wrong with political leaders...they have no class and resources.u dont need that much money for ther above.....some knowledge and ideas!for less than $50 he could at least have sold badges of SDP instead of toothpicks obtained from a pasar malam.in that aspect most political opposers of PAP have not made much sense and sadly credibility.
to get the resources for SDP badges....they can go to toys r'us at tampines mall or orchard road and get one for $20.theres a lil plastic machine thats able to make at least 50 badges of any size.it comes with easy to understand pictoral diagrams too!
maybe i should come and setup an opposition party too from the lack of diligence and effort on the opposition side.
toothpicks??!!why not a slipper or someones ps2 game?