By Kway Png
As part of the Remaking BG Lee campaign, Singapore Technologies has
launched a line of action figurines based on Deputy Prime Minister
Lee Hsien Loong.
According to spokesman for the Deputy Prime Ministers Office Mr.
Yew Lai Ler, Many people view DPM Lee as very atas. We hope these
toys will change his public image to someone people feel they can
play with.
Play, can, Mr. Yew clarified. But cannot play-play.
Dubbed the Hello BG series, the toys will be distributed the
usual way: as free accompaniments with McDonalds meals. Mr. Yew
said that McDonalds has designed a special meal dubbed the
PAPpy meal with which to give the toys away. The PAPpy meal
will consist of hash browns, French fries and a bottle of
Newater.
Why so heavy on the potatoes? Mr. Yew explained, DPM Lee is a big
supporter of the Speak Good English Movement, and thinks everyone
in Singapore should chiak kantang.
The figurines will be patterned on existing pop culture icons such
as Luke Skywalker, the X-Men, Capt. Jean-Luc Picard and Harry
Potter. This is apparently to associate DPM Lee with a more heroic
image.
We thought of having toys of him in more ordinary dress, you know,
like a business suit, or red polo t-shirt or, of course, his
all-white walkabout combo, said Mr. Yew. But we felt that if it
looked too much like the regular DPM Lee, people might be tempted
to stick pins in the doll or donno what. But were still thinking
about it.
BG Lee will not be the only figurine. There are also limited
edition figures of DBS Chairman S. Dhanabalan (whom DPM Lee was
rumoured to have slapped) and his father, Senior Minister Lee Kuan
Yew.
