Singapore Politicians Use Hawker Food to Connect with Voters

In Singapore, where food is a unifying cultural force, politicians are increasingly turning to hawker meals to bridge the gap between themselves and the electorate. From Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s casual breakfast of bak chor mee at Tiong Bahru Market to opposition leader Pritam Singh’s discussions over mee siam, images of politicians dining at humble hawker centers are flooding social media feeds. These posts, often garnering thousands of likes, raise a critical question: are they genuine glimpses into personal lives, or calculated moves to appear relatable ahead of elections?

The Power of a Shared Meal

Food, particularly hawker fare, holds a special place in Singaporean society. As a melting pot of cultures, the city-state’s cuisine reflects its diverse heritage, with dishes like char kway teow, prata, and bak chor mee serving as symbols of communal identity. Politicians across the spectrum, from the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) to opposition figures like Chee Soon Juan of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), are tapping into this cultural resonance. By sharing images of their meals at local stalls, they project an image of accessibility, signaling to constituents that they are not detached elites but everyday Singaporeans.

Dr. Saifuddin Ahmed, an assistant professor at Nanyang Technological University’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, notes that food is a “safe” and apolitical topic. “It helps politicians cut through several divides to appear more approachable” he explains. This strategy seems to pay off—Prime Minister Wong’s post about his jet-lagged craving for local breakfast racked up over 21,000 likes, making it one of his most popular updates. Similarly, Tampines GRC MP Baey Yam Keng uses Instagram stories of hawker meals to challenge the stereotype that politicians indulge in lavish dining, emphasizing that “even though we’re MPs, we’re just everyday Singaporeans at heart.”

Beyond individual relatability, food serves as a tool for community integration. Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, during a walkabout in Joo Chiat on March 23, 2025, hinted at using culinary commonalities to unite his ward with East Coast GRC. “The food on both sides of the border is equally good, so we are looking to use that to enhance the offerings for residents” he told reporters. Such efforts underscore how politicians view food not just as sustenance, but as a bridge to foster social cohesion.

Strategic or Sincere? The Debate Over Authenticity

While the public often responds positively to these food-centric posts, there is a lingering skepticism about their authenticity. Some netizens question the timing of these displays, particularly during election seasons. A comment on a post by former Sengkang West MP Lam Pin Min, who runs a weekly #TastyThursday series on Facebook, pointedly asked why “when come election period suddenly all MP from the ruling party start to come and eat hawker food.” This sentiment reflects a broader concern that such gestures might be performative, designed to curry favor rather than genuinely connect.

Dr. Ahmed warns that overly staged content risks backfiring if audiences perceive it as inauthentic. Historical examples from the West, such as former UK Labour leader Ed Miliband’s infamous 2014 bacon sandwich gaffe, illustrate how food-related missteps can become fodder for ridicule. In Singapore, while no politician has faced such a viral blunder, subtle missteps—like captions clashing with political slogans or overly polished imagery—can erode trust. Cookbook author Pamelia Chia, 34, expressed mistrust of posts that feel forced, contrasting them with more genuine efforts like Minister Josephine Teo’s reference to mee tai mak as “comfort food” or Prime Minister Wong’s casual attire in his hawker photos.

The ruling PAP, in particular, faces pressure to counter perceptions of elitism. Political commentator Joel Lim, 32, who hosts the podcast Political Prude, argues that PAP MPs have a stronger incentive to showcase their love for local fare. “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. This dynamic suggests that for the PAP, hawker meals are not just personal anecdotes but a deliberate strategy to maintain public trust.

Food as Policy and Platform

Beyond relatability, food offers politicians a platform to highlight policy achievements. Collaborations with food bloggers like Miss Tam Chiak, who recently partnered with several PAP MPs to explore neighborhood eats, provide an opportunity to showcase initiatives such as budget meal schemes for vulnerable communities. Dr. George Wong, an assistant professor of sociology at Singapore Management University, emphasizes the deeper significance of these efforts. “It’s not just about food, it’s about how food can be made possible with policies” he observes. By linking meals to tangible outcomes, politicians translate abstract governance into relatable, everyday impacts.

Sembawang GRC MP Mariam Jaafar, who appeared in Miss Tam Chiak’s Chiak With Us series, sees her participation as a way to champion local hawkers. “Hawker food is close to my heart. I have spoken on supporting hawkers in Parliament, and have driven many local initiatives to support our hawkers during and after Covid-19” she states. Her comments reflect a broader trend among politicians to align personal gestures with legislative advocacy, amplifying the impact of their social media presence.

Yet, not all reactions to these collaborations are positive. Some followers, like associate sales director John Han, 46, criticize the perceived bias in such content, noting that bloggers often feature only incumbent politicians. This raises questions about fairness and neutrality in how food narratives are shaped online, potentially alienating segments of the electorate who value impartiality.

Hawkers and Voters: Mixed Impacts

For hawkers themselves, the attention from politicians is a double-edged sword. While any publicity is welcome, especially from figures with large followings, it does not always translate into sustained business. Melvin Chew, 47, who runs Jin Ji Teochew Braised Duck & Kway Chap in Chinatown Complex and founded the Hawkers United – Dabao 2020 group, appreciates the awareness generated by such posts. “Hopefully can see more politicians visit the hawker centres. They can discover wonderful comfort food and understand the problems hawkers are facing” he says. However, Delonix Tan, 27, a fishball seller at Toa Payoh’s Kim Keat Palm Market, notes that while endorsements are nice, long-term support comes from regular customers, not one-off political visits.

Similarly, voters remain discerning. Undergraduate Tang Kean Seng, 22, argues that while food posts may humanize politicians, elections are ultimately decided by “the substance of what the party or MP has to offer—concrete policies and promises.” This perspective suggests that while a shared plate of cai png or a cup of kopi can start conversations, as Red Dot United member Ben Puah suggests, it is no substitute for meaningful governance.

Evolving Notions of Relatability

As Singapore’s demographic evolves, so too does the definition of authenticity. While hawker food remains a powerful symbol of heartland identity, younger, well-traveled millennials appreciate diversity in culinary representation. Sengkang GRC MP Jamus Lim’s posts of home-cooked international dishes like sailor’s mussels and carbonara have drawn both criticism for being “atas” (high-class) and praise for resonating with a cosmopolitan audience. One Instagram comment lauded his approach: “I love that you’re sharing that you actually cook food from other cuisines, and it’s not beehoon and bak chor mee all the time. Stay relatable with millennials, king!”

This shift indicates that authenticity is no longer tied solely to local fare. Politicians must navigate a fine line, balancing traditional symbols of Singaporean identity with the globalized tastes of younger voters. As Pamelia Chia points out, social media posts are “very revealing” in shaping public perceptions, especially for those who lack the time to engage with lengthy policy discussions.

A Recipe for Connection or Division?

In a nation where food is both a pastime and a passion, Singapore’s politicians have found a potent tool in hawker meals to humanize their public personas. Yet, the strategy is not without risks—authenticity remains paramount, and any hint of artifice can undermine trust. As social media continues to shape political discourse, these culinary snapshots offer a window into how leaders position themselves in an increasingly connected, yet discerning, electorate. Whether this trend will sway votes remains uncertain, but for now, a simple bowl of bak chor mee might just be the most powerful campaign prop in town.