Gan Kim Yong mocked online for taking car to airport a day after filmed LRT ride

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong's departure for an official visit to the United States on 12 April 2026 triggered a fresh wave of online mockery, after he posted a photograph of himself seated in a car on the way to Changi Airport — one day after a filmed Punggol Light Rail Transit (LRT) ride had already drawn widespread accusations of political theatre.

Gan shared the post on both his Instagram and Facebook accounts with the caption: "On my way to the US. Looking forward to meeting my counterparts as well as government and business leaders. Will be visiting Austin, Texas too."

By Sunday evening, the Facebook post had accumulated over 800 comments.

The vast majority pointed to the contrast between Gan's 10 April filmed LRT outing — itself a response to the viral circulation of a candid photograph of Workers' Party Secretary-General Pritam Singh commuting alone — and his reversion to a chauffeured vehicle within 24 hours.

The comment flood

The dominant theme running through the comment section was that the LRT ride had been a one-off performance with no bearing on Gan's actual commuting behaviour.

One commenter wrote simply: "Wayang over already la, now back to my car."

Another asked: "Why never take public transport there? Thought you took the Punggol LRT?"

A third observed that Gan appeared to have completed his public transport obligations in a single outing: "Take MRT one time finish ah? Post this for what since you not taking MRT."

Several commenters drew explicit attention to the irony given Gan's earlier parliamentary statement urging Singaporeans to use public transport and adopt energy-saving measures in response to rising fuel costs linked to the Middle East conflict.

Gan mocked online for taking car to airport a day after filmed LRT rideOne wrote: "How ironic — a day before showing the entire Singapore about taking public transport, next day probably on a business class flight to the US burning tons of carbon."

Another asked: "Yesterday take LRT, why never take bus 110 from Sengkang to the airport?"

The point about available public transport options featured prominently.

Multiple commenters noted that direct bus services connect various parts of Singapore to Changi Airport, with several citing specific route numbers.

One user wrote: "TPE can take bus 110 to the airport. Twelve stops only."

Another added: "Changi Airport got direct bus from Punggol. Why no take?"

A commenter offered a sardonic suggestion: "Remember to take photos and talk to people on the New York subway."

Another wrote: "Remember to promote the using fans instead of air conditioning strategy for saving the earth."

The air-conditioning angle

The reference to air conditioning was not incidental. Prior to the LRT controversy, Gan had drawn separate criticism for suggesting that Singaporeans consider using fans rather than air conditioning as part of energy conservation efforts during the supply disruption.

The remark had already become a running point of derision online.

Several commenters on the airport post carried that thread directly into the new context. One wrote: "Is the car aircon on or in fan mode?" Another asked him to "turn off the aircon and use fan."

 A third addressed him directly: "Pls refrain from using air-con. Can wind down the windows?"

One commenter was more pointed: "Millionaire does not care about the fuel price. Your car aircon what temperature? Why no get other people in the same car?"

Official purpose of the US visit

The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) confirmed in a media release on 12 April that Gan's visit would run from 12 to 17 April. He will travel first to Austin, Texas, where he will meet state leaders to explore economic cooperation opportunities between Singapore and Texas companies.

Gan will also engage private sector representatives in Austin and officially launch Enterprise Singapore's new Austin Overseas Centre, which is intended to support Singapore companies expanding into the United States market.

He will then proceed to Washington DC, where, in his capacity as chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), he will attend the plenary meeting of the International Monetary Fund's International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC).

He will also engage senior finance leaders on the sidelines of the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group.

The visit comes as Singapore and the United States mark sixty years of diplomatic relations in 2026.

Gan will be accompanied by officials from MTI and MAS throughout the trip.

Competing readings

A minority of commenters took a different view, arguing that senior ministers cannot reasonably be expected to commute to international departure points by public transport given the logistical and security requirements of overseas official visits.

One commenter wrote that it was unfair to demand he take a bus to the airport when most Singaporeans also opt for taxis or ride-hailing services for airport journeys with luggage.

Another said the overseas trip itself was the more important matter, and that critics were "missing the point" by fixating on his mode of transport rather than the substance of the engagements.

A small number expressed support for the visit, citing the importance of bilateral economic negotiations amid ongoing global trade uncertainty and rising tariffs.

However, those voices were in a clear minority within the comment thread.

Several users summed up the broader sentiment with variants of the same observation: that a single LRT ride accompanied by a media team, followed immediately by a return to a chauffeured vehicle, had done more to reinforce than to counter perceptions of ministerial distance from everyday Singaporean life.

As one commenter put it: "One day public transport for the whole year."