On 25 April 2025, People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate for Aljunied GRC, Faisal Abdul Aziz, addressed public reaction to his recent campaign item—a toothbrush featuring his name and photograph.
Speaking to media during a doorstop interview, the dental surgeon said the initiative aimed to break the ice with residents and provide something of practical value.
Faisal remarked, “First of all, I’m very happy that everyone’s very interested in their toothbrushes.”
While acknowledging the serious nature of political campaigning, he said distributing collateral items was one way to meaningfully engage residents.
Rather than handing out disposable trinkets, Faisal said he preferred offering something that would serve residents daily.
“So, being a dentist, I think a toothbrush was a natural choice,” he said.
Emphasising serious intent and resident engagement
Faisal reiterated that, despite the light-hearted nature of the giveaway, his focus remains on genuine resident engagement and seeking their mandate.
“We are here to engage the residents, to seek their mandates so that we can work with them with compassion, collaboration, and empathy,” he said.
He added that his campaign is focused on the ground realities and what his team can offer both to Singapore and the residents of Aljunied.
Opposition references spark further attention
The toothbrush giveaway, however, drew considerable attention not only from netizens but also from opposition figures.
At a Workers’ Party rally on 24 April 2025, party chief Pritam Singh made reference to the initiative while criticising the government’s timing of recent Goods and Services Tax (GST) hikes.
Singh commented, “It can make such serious errors in judgment of timing and then give out teddy bears, ice cream and toothbrushes,” appearing to lump the giveaway in with what he characterised as superficial gestures during challenging economic times.
The day before the media interview, on 24 April, Faisal posted on Facebook that he would be distributing limited edition PAP toothbrushes as part of his outreach in Aljunied.
He emphasised that the items were exclusively for residents of the constituency. The post included the slogan: “Clean Teeth, Clean Estate, Clean Government.”
Despite the message aligning with his professional identity as a dental surgeon, online responses were swift and critical.
Some Facebook users questioned whether the move unintentionally implied poor hygiene among residents, while others labelled it “tone-deaf” considering the years of ground engagement that Aljunied has seen.
Faisal is part of the PAP team contesting Aljunied GRC. The slate is led by Chan Hui Yuh and will go head-to-head with the incumbent team from the Workers’ Party, helmed by Pritam Singh.
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