Better make things clear, he thought, as he typed out an email reminder.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has taken some time off this Sunday to craft a gentle email reminder to his remaining 82 Members of Parliament from the People’s Action Party.

The 64-year-old leader of Singapore’s only democratically elected party to hold majority power for more than 50 years, considered his options for the breezy afternoon in his favourite chair before deciding it would be appropriate to reiterate his stance in light of what happened.

“Dear Esteemed Members of the House,” he began typing, pausing to include “All PAP MPs” in the CC option. “I couldn’t have written this email reminder at a less opportune moment.”

He continued: “I’m sure you have by now seen the news on social media that Bukit Batok MP David Ong had to step down because of his personal indiscretion.”

“But if you would kindly refer to the front cover of the PAP manifesto, the party’s slogan clearly reads, ‘With you, for you, for Singapore’.”

“I would like to reiterate that at no point does it say ‘With you, for you, in you’.”

“Any confusion up until yesterday would be forgiven, as I, in my capacity as leader of this party, probably had not made my stance clear.”

“Please feel free to email me if you have any queries or outstanding issues, especially regarding any pre-existing relationships you have with grassroots leaders, volunteers, supporters or a fellow MP from this party or the opposition.”

“Your candour is greatly appreciated, my fellow Comrades.”

“Yours sincerely, Hsien Loong.”

After he finished sending his email, PM Lee went back to reading a book about computer coding as the rest of his Sunday slowly wound down.