Speaking at a People's Action Party (PAP) rally at Yusof Ishak Secondary School, Gan expressed his admiration for Punggol's thriving community and innovative design. However, his comments sparked controversy when he stated that he would discuss the possibility of allocating additional funds for covered walkways with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who also serves as Finance Minister. Many netizens criticized Gan's remark as an inappropriate attempt to use financial incentives to sway voters.
A Reddit post rapidly gained traction, with the original poster expressing concern that budget allocations may be influenced by personal connections with the Prime Minister. "I thought we had moved beyond blatant politicking with taxpayers' funds," the post read, "but it's 2025 and we're here again."
Other Redditors and Facebook users echoed the outrage, describing Gan's comments as "outrageous," "arrogant," and an abuse of public funds for political gain. Many emphasized that infrastructure development is a fundamental government responsibility, not a privilege reserved for those with political loyalty.