Choong Hon Heng Thumbs Up Man (GE2015)

Thumbs Up Man is a Singaporean internet meme and nickname for National Solidarity Party (NSP) politician Choong Hon Heng, originating from a viral rally speech during the 2015 General Election. On 8 September 2015, Choong delivered an impassioned but confusing speech at the NSP's MacPherson SMC rally in which he used a convoluted handshake and fingers analogy that culminated in the catchphrase "Thumbs up man!" followed by shouting "BOO! BOO TO PAP!" while thumping the podium.

Context

The 2015 General Election

The 2015 General Election took place on 11 September 2015 and was notable for being held shortly after Singapore's Golden Jubilee celebrations and the passing of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in March 2015. The NSP fielded candidates in Tampines GRC and Sembawang GRC, as well as MacPherson SMC.

Choong Hon Heng was a 44 year old candidate for Tampines GRC, contesting against the People's Action Party (PAP) team led by then-Education Minister Heng Swee Keat. Choong was the Founder and Chief Executive of DCA Management and had previously contested in Tampines GRC during the 2011 General Election, where the NSP team garnered 42.8% of the vote.

The MacPherson rally

On the evening of 8 September 2015, the same night that PAP's Sim Ann delivered what was described as a "tipsy-sounding" rally speech, Choong spoke at the NSP's MacPherson SMC rally, where the party's humorous candidate Cheo Chai Chen was contesting. Contemporary observers joked that candidates appeared to be "trying to beat the drinking curfew of 10:30pm" given the unusual energy of the speeches that night.

The infamous speech

A snapshot of Choong’s iconic moment. Photo from Youtube video.

The handshake and fingers analogy

Choong attempted to deliver a metaphorical speech about political commitment using a handshake and fingers as symbols. The full speech was delivered with a straight face and went as follows:

"A handshake is basically a promise, commitment, a tall order. Means I must meet that tall order and it's for you!

And it's for you in sense that three fingers also pointing me, it's also for me! It's for us.

And if the result is good, thumbs up man! And if the result is lousy, what happens? BOO! BOO TO PAP!"

In a 2020 interview with Mothership, Choong explained the intended meaning behind his convoluted analogy:

• The pinky finger represented a promise, referencing the childhood gesture of locking little pinkies to keep promises
• The ring finger symbolized commitment, like a wedding ring representing marriage vows to stick together "in good times or bad times"
• Three fingers pointing back meant accountability to both voters and the candidates themselves
• Thumbs up indicated a good result and satisfaction with performance
• "BOO" represented a lousy result and dissatisfaction

Choong later clarified that the "boo" was not specifically meant to target the incumbent PAP party, but rather to illustrate the concept of disappointment in any relationship: "Actually, honestly, is boo to that relationship. It can be any relationship." He added that the rally stage delivery was different from one-on-one communication, where one wouldn't show such anger or frustration.

Initial perception

Contemporary media coverage described Choong's speech as "dripping with drunken fervour" and appearing to "up the ante in terms of tipsiness." The immediate reaction was captured in Mothership's headline: "Bro, are you ok?"

However, some observers later acknowledged that beneath the garbled delivery, Choong may have had a legitimate point to make about political accountability. One article noted: "At first, many people went 'Huh? Wth?'. On careful viewing, his speech is quite like Inception.

Confusing, convoluted, and filled with blaring sound effects." The article continued: "NSP's Choong Hon Heng probably had a very good point to make with his handshake and three fingers analogy. Perhaps under the bright rally lights and high emotions, he messed the delivery up."

How it went viral

Immediate online reaction

The speech went viral immediately after the rally, with the video spreading rapidly across social media platforms. According to Wikipedia, "Tampines GRC candidate Choong Hon Heng's rally on booing PAP had gone viral" on 8 September 2015.

The speech was described as "the most meme-ed opposition speech of GE2015" and became one of seven memorable moments from the 2015 election that made Singaporeans "go HAHAHAHA what the?"

Music remixes and parodies

Creative netizens quickly produced remixes and parody content. Most notably, a content creator named FallenSuperheroSG created a music remix of the speech that Mothership described as something "that should be played in the clubs." The remix transformed Choong's passionate delivery and podium-thumping into an electronic dance track. The speech also spawned GIFs, memes, and social media posts that circulated widely during and after the election campaign period.

Choong Hon Heng's Response

Embracing the Meme (2020 General Election)

When Choong returned to contest in Tampines GRC during the 2020 General Election, 5 years after becoming a meme, he demonstrated remarkable grace and self-awareness about his viral moment. In an interview with Mothership in July 2020, Choong showed he had fully embraced his "Thumbs Up Man" persona.

Choong told Mothership: "All those who like the meme of course I thumbs up to them man. *laughs* They see me they thumbs up, I also thumbs up what. It's like a handshake what. Furthermore, in this Covid season, don't need to handshake, just thumbs up what."

Public recognition

During the 2020 campaign, Choong noted that residents would recognize him instantly:

"They will just look at me then ding! A light bulb! You know like I think I know you."

He explained that more outgoing residents enjoyed the recognition because "it lightens their hearts."

However, Choong also acknowledged a downside to his viral fame: some people perceived him as an angry man due to his passionate rally delivery. He expressed surprise that residents weren't afraid of him despite this "portrayal of anger," noting the contrast between his rally persona and his actual personality.