Don't call him 'uncle' when you know his name, says two-time presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian
Don't call two-time presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian "uncle".
That is, unless you're his nephew, niece or a friend of his children's.
In a Facebook post on June 22, the 76-year-old former NTUC Income CEO wrote: "It is rude to address me as 'uncle' when you know my name. You can call me 'Mr Tan' or 'sir'."
Someone commented: "Uncle is a term of endearment. Why do you see it as rude? Is it a status thing? Should taxi drivers be offended to be called 'uncle'?"
Mr Tan, who ran unsuccessfully for president in 2011 and 2023, replied: "It is rude to call me 'uncle' on my Facebook page."
He elaborated in another post two days later that he objected to people calling him "uncle" or "Ah Tan" or "Ah Lian" on Facebook.
"They often follow with some nonsensical comment," he said.
"They are rude. They know my name, and can address me properly by my name.
"My children's friends call me 'uncle'. So do my nephews and nieces. There is a relationship, so 'uncle' is appropriate."
He added that he would avoid calling a stranger "uncle", especially if the stranger is younger than him.
"I would call 'mister' or 'sir'," said Mr Tan.
"It depends on the context. Some people call another person "uncle" as a sign of respect. Other people use it in a rude, insulting or mocking manner."
His post was shared and discussed on Hardware Zone, Complaint Singapore and Reddit.
One Redditor pointed out: "Everyone in SG calls older people uncle and auntie. So your point is moot."
A Facebook user commented on Mr Tan's post: "Since when calling a senior person 'uncle' regarded as rude? When we were young, our parents and teachers taught us to call a senior adult as 'uncle' or 'auntie' and the term 'uncle' was never be construed as rude or demeaning.
"The whole nation of Malaysia addressed the ex-founder of Genting Group, the late Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong as Uncle Lim in spite of his 'Tan Sri' title and had earned the very respect of the people from all walks of life."
Mr Tan himself later commented on his own post: "Some people said that addressing another person 'uncle" is a sign of respect. I disagree.
"Do they address their boss 'uncle'? Do they address their MP, minister or PM 'uncle'. They don't.
"It is disrespectful to address another person as 'uncle' when you know their name."
It could be worse.
As another Redditor said: "People already respect him by calling him 'uncle' and not 'Ah Pek'."
