Offering table set up in front of Jalan Besar MPs' National Day billboard at Chinatown raises eyebrows

Three days after the beginning of the seventh lunar month, an offering table was discovered set up in front of a Jalan Besar General Election billboard. Visuals of the arrangement shared online displayed makeshift tables adorned with red cloths, incense, incense sticks, and food offerings such as fruits and even a whole roasted pig.

A billboard showcasing Jalan Besar GRC Members of Parliament Josephine Teo, Shawn Loh, Denise Phua, and Wan Rizal stood behind the offering table. The table was positioned at 5 Banda Street, close to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown, on August 15. The unexpected placement sparked reactions on social media, with many deeming the location inappropriate.

A manager at a nearby café confirmed to Shin Min Daily News that the setup was not orchestrated by their establishment; they presumed the organizers opted for the site due to its open space. No one initially raised concerns until photos were disseminated, according to the manager.

It remains uncertain whether a permit was procured for the setup, but the town council contacted the café. Onlookers were observed prostrating before the offering table, facing the billboard, as reported by Shin Min. A ceremony was also conducted around 5 pm on August 15. The setup was dismantled later that same day. Responding to the uproar, Shawn Loh remarked to Mothership, "We have to take things in the *right spirit* and be able to laugh at ourselves.

I was personally amused, and I am sure no one meant any offence." Mothership reached out to the Jalan Besar Town Council for further comment.