SINGAPORE: Four men were charged on Wednesday (25 September), with one count each of causing public nuisance and using abusive language against a police officer following an incident at a crime scene in Little India.

The scene was cordoned off by law enforcement as they investigated an alleged murder.

The incident, which took place around 5:10 a.m. on 22 September, was captured in a nearly two-minute video that was uploaded to the Facebook page ROADS.sg, garnering over 434,000 views.

The men charged are Md Din, 32o Marciano Abdul Wahab, 44; Alex Kumar Gnansekaran, 37; Mohamed Eusof Mohamed Yahiya, 32; and Mohanan V Balakrishnan.

Court documents indicated that they shouted at police officers, using phrases such as, “You talked like a gangster you know, we all scared you know”, “we are paying tax, we are paying our f***ing tax” and “I can show you 100 per cent gangster”.

Observing the video, the individuals appear to be arguing with two police officers about the absence of officers stationed at the road entrance to direct pedestrians to an alternative route while the police ordered them to leave the scene.

As one individual accused the officer of acting like a “gangster,” he encouraged his friend to record their altercation. The man can later be heard telling the officer, “If you want to show gangsterism, this is Singapore; it’s not gangsterism for you.”

The altercation took place in a back lane on Sam Leong Road, near the site where a 25-year-old man was allegedly murdered.

The alleged perpetrator, Muhammad Sajid Saleem, 22, was charged with the murder on Monday, alongside five other individuals related to the incident.

Notably, the four men charged on Wednesday are not connected to the murder case.

In court, the men expressed their intention to seek legal representation.

The police prosecutor noted that investigations are ongoing and that additional charges could be forthcoming.

According to a police press release, the four men approached the cordoned-off area and were advised to take an alternative route.

Despite this, three of the men allegedly taunted the officers and used abusive language, while the fourth recorded the interactions on his mobile phone.

The police stated that officers exercised restraint and attempted to de-escalate the situation amid the ongoing murder investigation.

The group only used the alternative route after significant persuasion from law enforcement.

The police emphasised that they would not hesitate to take action against individuals obstructing public servants in their duties or using abusive behavior towards officers.

Under the law, those found guilty of using abusive language against a public servant could face up to a year in jail, a fine of up to S$5,000, or both.

Offenders of public nuisance can be sentenced to up to three months in jail, a fine of up to S$2,000, or both.

The four men are scheduled to return to court on 8 October.

SINGAPORE: Lam Pin Min, the branch chairman of the Sengkang West branch of the People’s Action Party (PAP), showcased a unique twist on local politics by presenting a Labubu doll dressed in a full PAP uniform.

The doll, humorously referred to as his team’s “latest and cutest volunteer,” is catching the attention of netizens and toy collectors alike.

The Labubu doll, which has gained immense popularity among collectors, is known for its versatility as a keychain plush that can be dressed up like a traditional doll.

This particular version is outfitted in a t-shirt emblazoned with the PAP logo, matching pants, and sneakers, complete with a stylish pair of black-framed glasses.

A TikTok video featuring Lam alongside fellow PAP members Elmie Nekmat, Marcus Loh, and Theodora Lai, further popularized the doll.

They were seen passing the Labubu down the line at an HDB void deck before Elmie placed it in front of blue and red NTUC Fairprice tote bags.

The video aimed to highlight a grocery distribution welfare project aimed at assisting senior citizens in Compassvale Crescent.

@vpmlam

Groceries distribution to Sengkang senior citizens at Compassvale Crescent #TeamSengkang #SengkangGRC #PAP4SG #everyvotecounts #TogetherWeCan

♬ original sound – Lam Pin Min – Lam Pin Min

Netizens Advise PAP to Prioritize Policies Over Using Soft Toys to Win Votes

Mixed reactions emerged among TikTok users in the comments section of TikTok and Mothership’s Facebook post.

Some humorously wondered if Labubu had agreed to join the party, while another quipped, “I want the Labubu but without the clothes, can?”

Several comments suggested that the Labubu was a strategic move to attract the Gen Z audience, with one user noting, “Labubu to attract the Gen Z, good move.”

However, A comment cautioned against politicising cartoon characters like Labubu in Singapore’s political landscape.

He questioned whether the PAP team had secured the necessary copyright authorisation to use the cartoon character.

In a more critical tone, some users sarcastically accused the PAP Sengkang team of resorting to desperate measures to win votes ahead of the upcoming General Election in a Workers’ Party ward, while others scrutinised the funding behind the doll’s production.

Additional comments urged the PAP team to focus their campaign on the strength of their policies and their ability to serve residents effectively.

One comment remarked that most seniors would prefer a meal over a doll, questioning the wisdom of spending money on such initiatives for the election.

The Labubu character, an elf with sharp teeth, a mischievous grin, and long bunny-like ears, was created by Hong Kong-born, Belgium-based artist Kasing Lung.

Initially introduced in children’s books in 2015, Labubu has since transformed into a designer toy after Lung secured a licensing agreement with the billion-dollar Chinese toy company, Pop Mart.

Labubu’s popularity skyrocketed earlier this year, particularly in Southeast Asia, following its association with Blackpink’s Lisa, leading to sell-outs in countries like Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore.