SINGAPORE — The People’s Action Party’s (PAP) vice-chairman Masagos Zulkifli on Friday (June 26) addressed online criticism of the party’s new candidate Ivan Lim, saying it is important for candidates to prove themselves against any allegations.

Shortly after Mr Lim, 42, a general manager at Keppel Offshore & Marine, was introduced on Wednesday as a new PAP candidate, criticism of his conduct as an officer during in-camp training surfaced.

More accusations have emerged since, including claims that he lacks compassion and is arrogant and elitist.

“GE (general election) is the time where people who have been introduced will also elicit responses (such as these), which are not surprising,” said Mr Masagos in response to a question on the matter at a virtual press conference to introduce the party’s final batch of eight candidates.

“But I also think it is important for the candidates who may have been alleged to be something or other, to also prove themselves,” he added.

“(It is) also an opportunity for them, if they have done something in the past, to redeem themselves, because we have seen qualities in all our candidates that make them, what we think, good leaders that will serve our people well.”

Mr Masagos did not specify how candidates can redeem themselves, but he added that a person is not defined by a moment in their career or with people, but by their conduct throughout their life.

TODAY has reached out to Mr Lim for comment.