Latest news with #HamsterSocietySingapore
Independent Singapore
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
PAP candidate accused of "glossing over" hamster controversy with "neither here nor there" post
SINGAPORE: Despite acknowledging a viral call-out by Hamster Society Singapore (HSS), the criticism against People's Action Party (PAP) candidate for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC Edward Chia has yet to abate, with critics continuing to ask why the one-term MP would glorify backyard breeding as a way to appear relatable. The controversy stems from campaign material distributed on 25 April, in which Mr Chia recounted breeding and selling hamsters to pet shops at the age of 10. The flyer framed the experience as the start of his 'entrepreneurial journey,' highlighting how it sparked a 'lifelong passion for creating value.' The anecdote raised eyebrows online, and HSS soon published a statement, condemning Mr Chia's actions. In a Facebook post, the group stressed that unlicensed breeding and sale of pets is illegal in Singapore and warned against treating animals as commodities. 'Animals are not products,' the organisation wrote, 'Whether it's hamsters, dogs, cats, or rabbits—lives should never be reduced to dollar signs. Breeding without a licence isn't just illegal. It's irresponsible.' Under the Animals and Birds (Licensing of Premises for Pet Shop and other Purposes) Rules, anyone who breeds animals for commercial purposes in Singapore must obtain a valid licence. HSS also highlighted the darker consequences of irresponsible breeding practices and shared harrowing accounts from past rescue efforts, describing hamsters abandoned in unsanitary conditions—crammed into filthy plastic containers, suffering from cancerous tumours, severe neglect, and in some cases, found discarded in shoeboxes, food containers, and paper bags. 'Entrepreneurship is important,' the group said, 'but compassion and responsibility must come first, especially when lives are involved.' HSS also noted that the story was not limited to the flyer. It had appeared on Mr Chia's profile on the official PAP website but has since been removed. Urging voters to reflect on the values of the candidates they support, the group called for a shift away from outdated mindsets towards a future that prizes ethics, compassion, and accountability. The post by HSS sparked a flurry of responses online. Some defended the ruling party politician, arguing that his actions should be viewed in the context of his age at the time. Others disagreed sharply, pointing out that the issue lies not just in what he did as a child but in how he chose to present it decades later, as part of his campaign narrative. Several netizens expressed concern that celebrating such behaviour could normalise irresponsible breeding, potentially encouraging young people to see animals as a way to make money. Some PAP supporters accused HSS of launching a smear campaign, but the group pushed back and said that they are simply pointing out why promoting backyard breeding, even as a childhood story, sends the wrong message in 2025. Following the backlash, Mr Chia addressed the issue on his Facebook page. He said he had a good discussion with Hamster Society Singapore and acknowledged their concerns. He added that he would look for opportunities to support the society's work in the future. Despite his acknowledgment, the criticism has continued mounting online, even in the comments section of his post. Some have accused him of glossing over the issue, while others observed that he had not expressed remorse in acknowledging HSS's concerns. Some observers pointed out that while Mr Chia pledged to support HSS, he did not respond definitively to whether he realized how irresponsible backyard breeding is. Neither did he expressly dissuade his supporters from following his example. One netizen pointed out, 'The issue is not about what you did in childhood, but about it being used recently, as an example of entrepreneurship. Would be glad if you can clarify your stance on illegal pet breeding.' Another commenter noted, 'I think the issue here is that an MP like you is wearing this behaviour as a badge of honour in your campaigning materials, not what you did as a child. And now, more alarmingly, glossing over the issue when it could have been a chance for self reflection.' One commenter asked the politician directly, 'So do you agree with their concerns, and that you were wrong to glamourise backyard breeding? Your statement says nothing about remorse at all.'
AsiaOne
27-04-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
PAP's Edward Chia responds to accusations of breeding hamsters at age 10, Singapore News
People's Action Party (PAP) candidate Edward Chia has responded after he was called out by non-profit group Hamster Society Singapore over an anecdote where he bred and sold hamsters at the age of 10. This comes after the animal welfare group called him out in their Facebook post on Friday, condemning a fun fact he had shared about himself on the PAP website and in an unnamed publication. Chia, 41, had previously shared that his entrepreneurial journey began at age 10 when he bred hamsters and sold them to pet shops at $3 each, "sparking his lifelong passion for creating value". The information had since been taken down from the PAP website. Hamster Society Singapore said in their post that unlicensed breeding and selling of pets is illegal in Singapore. Adding that his past venture is "not something to celebrate", they wrote: "Animals are not products. Whether it's hamsters, dogs, cats, rabbits, lives should never be reduced to dollar signs. Breeding without a license isn't just illegal. It's irresponsible." They also shared that they had encountered many cases where the hamsters were abandoned and in poor health condition as a result of irresponsible breeders. "Entrepreneurship is important, but compassion and responsibility must come first, especially when lives are involved," said the society. In a Facebook post yesterday (April 26), Chia, who is standing for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC in the upcoming General Election, wrote: "I had a good conversation with the Hamster Society of Singapore regarding a childhood experience I had shared. "They expressed concerns that the sharing may inadvertently encouraged the breeding of hamsters. I look for opportunities to support the work of Hamster Society Singapore in the future." Netizens were divided on Chia's actions with some concerned about his actions, adding that they wouldn't vote for someone who has a "lack of compassion and empathy". There were others, however, who shared that it happened when he was a child, and rules and regulations about animal breeding may not have been available then. A few netizens also pointed out that while Chia's story should have been framed more thoughtfully, it should be seen as a "reflection of youthful curiousity" and not a "malicious act of animal cruelty". [[nid:717209]] For our GE2025 microsite, visit here.
Online Citizen
26-04-2025
- Online Citizen
Hamster Society Singapore calls out Edward Chia over childhood hamster breeding story in election campaign
SINGAPORE: Hamster Society Singapore has called out Edward Chia, a People's Action Party (PAP) candidate for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC in the General Election 2025, over a childhood anecdote in which he bred and sold hamsters at the age of 10. According to the group, Chia's story was printed and circulated in a public flyer on 25 April as part of his campaign material. The flyer described the start of his 'entrepreneurial journey' as breeding hamsters and selling them to pet shops for S$3 each, claiming this experience sparked 'his lifelong passion for creating value.' However, Hamster Society Singapore strongly disagreed with the framing of this anecdote. 'It's not something to celebrate,' the group said. 'It's something we need to talk about.' 'It's Not Only Illegal, but Irresponsible' The organisation stressed that unlicensed breeding and selling of pets is illegal in Singapore and described Chia's actions as 'irresponsible.' 'Animals are not products. Whether it's hamsters, dogs, cats, or rabbits—lives should never be reduced to dollar signs. Breeding without a licence isn't just illegal. It's irresponsible,' the group stated. Under the Animals and Birds (Licensing of Premises for Pet Shop and other Purposes) Rules, a valid licence is required to breed animals for commercial purposes. They added that the society frequently rescues hamsters abandoned in dire conditions, many of which suffer from tumours, cancer, or severe neglect—often due to irresponsible breeding practices where animals are sold without proper screening and later discarded. In a subsequent post, the group detailed the grim realities they have encountered from hoarding and backyard breeding cases, including hamsters packed in filthy plastic boxes covered in their own waste, mothers forced to breed continuously with their babies dead beside them, untreated cancerous tumours the size of their heads, missing limbs, rotting skin, and eyes either falling out or sealed shut with pus. Some rescues were found in rubbish bins, shoeboxes, food containers, and even a Hai Di Lao paper bag. 'Entrepreneurship is important, but compassion and responsibility must come first, especially when lives are involved,' the group emphasised. They urged voters to reflect on the values of candidates they choose to support. 'With polling day just around the corner, let's be more thoughtful about the people we vote for. Should we be reinforcing outdated mindsets? Or should we be shaping a future that values compassion, ethics, and accountability?' The group also noted that the hamster-breeding anecdote had appeared on Chia's official PAP website profile, suggesting it had been intentionally included. However, as of the time of writing, the anecdote has been removed. Chia, 41, is the co-founder of the Timbre Group and entered politics in 2020 as part of the victorious PAP team contesting Holland-Bukit Timah GRC. He has served as the MP for the Zhenghua ward over the past five years. In GE2025, he is again standing in the same GRC alongside Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Senior Minister of State Sim Ann, and Deputy Speaker Christopher de Souza. It Sends the Wrong Message, Says Hamster Society Singapore The Facebook post by Hamster Society Singapore received mixed reactions from netizens. While some criticised Chia's past actions, many others excused them, arguing that he was only ten years old at the time—a child. Hamster Society acknowledged that the incident happened long ago but maintained that romanticising such acts—and presenting them as entrepreneurial inspiration during an election—is not appropriate. 'Sharing a story about unlicensed breeding as something admirable in 2025, through official platforms, sends the wrong message about how animals should be treated,' the group said. One user accused Hamster Society Singapore of running a smear campaign. In response, the organisation clarified, 'We're simply pointing out why promoting backyard breeding, even as a childhood story, sends the wrong message in 2025.' Chia responds, saying that he will support Hamster Society Singapore Following the post gaining prominent attention, Chia said in a Facebook post that he had a good conversation with the Hamster Society of Singapore regarding his childhood anecdote. Acknowledging their concerns that his story might inadvertently encourage hamster breeding, Chia added that he would look for opportunities to support the society's work in the future. Netizens Challenge the Justification Despite some defending Chia, others pushed back strongly against that view. They questioned whether a ten-year-old should be given a free pass to do whatever they want. One user pointed out that while Chia may have been 10 when he did it, he is 41 now—and still boasting about it. One commenter argued that since Chia is a public figure, any statements he makes will be publicly accessible and widely read. They questioned whether such a story is truly worth celebrating, especially when it is portrayed as a stepping stone to starting a business. 'Is this equivalent to encouraging people to learn from him and start backyard breeding?' the user asked. Others warned that the message could encourage young people to replicate the same behaviour. 'Children may start breeding their hamsters and selling them as their first foray into entrepreneurship,' one noted. Another user expressed dismay at the number of people justifying Chia's actions solely based on his age at the time. 'It is unethical and unacceptable no matter the age,' the user said. They added that there is no need to justify such actions on behalf of others.
