Jamus Lim “warm the cockles of my heart”

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"Warms the cockles of my heart" is a political catchphrase and internet meme that originated from Workers' Party (WP) politician Jamus Lim during the first televised political debate of the 2020 General Election on 1 July 2020.[1][2]

Context

The 2020 General Election political debate

On 1 July 2020, Mediacorp hosted Singapore's first-ever televised political debate during a General Election campaign period.[3] The debate featured representatives from the four parties fielding the most candidates:[4]

  • Vivian Balakrishnan: People's Action Party (PAP), Minister of Foreign Affairs
  • Jamus Lim: Workers' Party (WP), Associate Professor
  • Chee Soon Juan: Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), Party Leader
  • Francis Yuen: Progress Singapore Party (PSP)

The debate covered critical issues including social mobility, foreign workers, SMEs, and education policy. It was broadcast live on Channel 5, Channel News Asia, and various online platforms, reaching a massive audience across Singapore.[4]

The moment that went viral

The original quote

During the debate, SDP's Chee Soon Juan highlighted inequalities in Singapore's education system. Responding to this point, Lim said:[5][6]

"Dr. Chee mentioned as well about education and, as an educator myself, that warms the cockles of my heart. But unfortunately we have moved away. When I was in school, we used to have an educational system where really there was equality of opportunities. But if you look at the schools now, you don't see that. And Dr. Chee mentioned one of the elements where we can actually bring about a greater equality by ensuring that the schools that are not the elite schools actually get a disproportionately higher amount of educational spending."

The phrase was delivered naturally and with genuine emotion, as if using such an archaic expression in everyday conversation were completely normal.[2]

Meaning of "Cockles of My Heart"

The expression "warms the cockles of my heart" has a long history in the English language. The term was first coined in 1671 and is based on the Latin words for the ventricles of the heart, "cochleae cordis."[7]

The etymology of "cockles" derives from the ancient Greek word "konkhule," which refers to a screw-shaped object like a snail, through the Middle French "coquille" and Middle English "cockille," both referring to a shell. An alternative explanation suggests the phrase's origin lies in the resemblance cockles (a bivalve mollusc with a strong ribbed shell) have to the shape of the heart.[7]

The idiom conveys a feeling of affectionate happiness that arises from deep inside one's heart, with the warming metaphor suggesting an increased heartbeat that enhances the intensity of emotions and love.[7]

The "Blank Cheque" quote

While "warms the cockles of my heart" became Lim's signature phrase, he delivered another equally impactful line during his closing statement:[8]

"What we are trying to deny the PAP is not a mandate. What we're trying to deny them is a blank cheque."

This "mic-drop moment" was described as "the night's most memorable moment" and "possibly one of the winning quotes of GE 2020."[9] One commentator noted it was "a really elegant way to avoid that old, boring, technocratic phrase: accountability."[10]

The parallel structure of the quote, using "what we're trying to deny" twice, was expertly deployed to create a simple yet powerful reframe that resonated with voters.[11] PAP candidates Chan Chun Sing and Indranee Rajah fired back the next day, asserting that the PAP would never have a blank cheque due to its accountability to Singaporeans, but by then Lim had already captured the nation's attention.[9][12]

Netizens' reactions

The overwhelming majority of netizens reacted positively to both Lim's debate performance and his use of the phrase. Supporters praised his eloquence, knowledge, and ability to communicate complex policy ideas in accessible language.[13] Netizens were particularly impressed by Lim's academic and professional credentials, with one user posting: "Went to Dr Jamus Lim's LinkedIn profile and I just wanna say: I wish I was this motivated."[14] Another wrote: "jamus lim for real dominated this debate."[14] The phrase helped Lim connect with voters on an emotional level. One analysis noted that the "Jamus Lim effect" demonstrated the effectiveness of creating a buzz organically rather than through traditional advertising.[15]

The "Jamus Lim Effect"

Lim's debate performance created what became known as the "Jamus Lim effect", a phenomenon where a political newcomer rapidly gained widespread popularity through authentic communication and relatable charisma.[15] Despite being a first-time candidate, he held his ground against veteran PAP minister Vivian Balakrishnan, appearing composed and knowledgeable in a high-pressure, fast-paced situation.[15]

What endeared people to Lim was that on top of his self-confidence, he was able to express intellectual ideas in language everyone understood and even charm his opponents.[11] His vocal tonality was described as "very engaging, listenable" with varied pitch that made audiences pay attention, and his passion was clearly felt by both the audience and his opponents.[11]

Fan culture

Lim quickly developed what some described as a "fan culture," with supporters creating content, sharing his credentials, and defending him online. Screenshots of "Jamus stans" on Twitter showed enthusiastic support using language typically reserved for pop culture celebrities.[2] Some critics warned against the "celebritisation of politicians," but others argued this was simply "personality politics" a concept dismissed by some as "a lofty concept thrown around by haughty armchair critics."[2] Supporters countered that GE2020 proved Singaporeans aren't the "straight-laced, frigid folks" they're often made out to be.[2]

During the election season, dating app profiles on platforms like Tinder featured politically charged dealbreakers such as "PAP supporters, swipe left" and "swipe right for Jamus."[2]

Post-Election

The "Ban" on saying "Cockles"

After winning Sengkang GRC in a stunning upset that unseated three political office-holders, Lim used the phrase again in his victory speech. Calling back to his debate comments, he said:[16]

"It warms the cockles of our hearts to be able to work for the people of Singapore, and for all Singaporeans," while making a finger heart gesture.

However, Lim later revealed in a viral video published by Singapore Tatler that he had been "banned" from using the word "cockles."[1][17] The video featured Lim giving viewers a tour of his Anchorvale division of Sengkang GRC. At a hawker center, when ordering char kway teow (a dish that typically includes cockles), he carefully said:[1][17]

"Here is the famous Armenian Street Char Kway Teow. Well, obviously char kway teow is characterised a lot by the presence of certain kinds of shellfish."

This playful acknowledgment of the phrase's overwhelming association with him was described as "hurting the cockles of our hearts" by commenters who hoped he could still say "cockles" without facing bans.[1]

The "Cockles" mask

In November 2020, Lim posted photos of himself working out at Sengkang Sports Centre gym while wearing a black face mask emblazoned with the word "Cockles."[18] The mask caught immediate attention, with followers calling him "Mr Cockles" and asking where he got it.[18]

The incident demonstrated that even months after the election, the phrase remained completely associated with Lim, becoming an inescapable part of his political identity.[18]

Ongoing references

Even in 2022, when interviewed about his favorite foods by HungryGoWhere, the interviewer noted: "If you were to ask any Singaporean what food item they'd associate with Jamus Lim of the Workers' Party, it'd probably be 'hum' (cockles)."[19] The article continued: "He famously used the phrase 'warms the cockles of my heart' during a debate ahead of the 2020 General Election, and hasn't managed to shake off that link ever since."[19]

References/Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Stolarchuk, Jewel. "Jamus Lim says he has been banned from using the word 'cockles' in viral video" The Independent Singapore, 12 August, 2020. Accessed 21 January 2026.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Tan, Ashley. "Dear Singapore, here are five things I never knew about you till GE2020" Southeast Asia Globe, 24 July, 2021. Accessed 21 January 2026.
  3. ↑ CNA. "GE2020 political debate: Question and answer session" Youtube, 1 July, 2020. Accessed 21 January 2026
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Daud, Sulaiman & Wong, Kayla. "Vivian Balakrishnan trades blows with Chee Soon Juan & other GE2020 debate highlights" Mothership, 2 July, 2020. Accessed 21 January 2026.
  5. ↑ Beatrice Del Rosario. "Online GE Chatter: Election anime-style, Jamus Lim teased, Gerald Giam knows BTS" The Independent Singapore, July 8, 2020. Accessed 21 January 2026.
  6. ↑ "Jamus Lim: 'What we're trying to deny them is a blank cheque', Singapore GE2020 debate - 2020" Speakola, 13 July, 2020. Accessed 21 January 2026.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 “What is the origin of the phrase ‘it warms the cockles of my heart’?” English Stack Exchange, 14 June, 2017. Accessed 21 January 2026.
  8. ↑ “Mothership” Facebook, 2 July, 2020. Accessed January 21, 2026.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 MustShareNews. “Best Jamus Lim Moments In Singapore GE 2020 Debate” Youtube, 2 July, 2020. Accessed 21 January 2026.
  10. ↑ Pan Jie. "Singapore’s First Political Debate: More Like An Office Meeting, But We’ll Take It" Rice Media,  2 July, 2020. Accessed 21 January 2026.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Weiwen Leung. “This Is What Sets Jamus Lim Apart — and What Everyone Can Learn” Youtube, 26 April, 2025. Accessed 21 January 2026.
  12. ↑ Cheong, Danson. "Singapore GE2020: PAP will not have 'blank cheque' because of NCMP scheme, say Chan Chun Sing and Indranee Rajah" The Straits Times, 2 July, 2020. Accessed 21 January 2026.
  13. ↑ "First GE2020 Debate: Overwhelming support for WP’s Jamus Lim" The Independent Singapore, 2 July, 2020. Accessed 21 January 2026.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Suman Priya Mendonca. "Singapore GE2020: WP's Jamus Lim Wins Hearts Post Debate; Fans Amazed by His Degrees, Vocabulary" International Business Times Singapore, 2 July, 2020. Accessed 21 January 2026.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Choo, Daryl, Loke, Lena & Awang, Nabilah. "GE2020: Sengkang residents give reasons they plumped for WP, including a better connection with its candidate" Todayonline, 12 July, 2020. Accessed 21 January 2026.
  16. ↑ Tan, Ashley. "Jamus Lim on winning Sengkang GRC: 'It warms the cockles of our hearts to be able to work for S'poreans'" Mothership, 11 July, 2020. Accessed 21 January 2026.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Tatler Singapore. "Tatler Tours: Jamus Lim Takes You Around Anchorvale, Sengkang" Youtube, 9 August, 2020. Accessed 21 January 2020.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Anna Maria Romero. "Jamus Lim posts photos of workout, but it's his 'Cockles' mask that catches netizens' eyes" The Independent Singapore, 7 November, 2020. Accessed 21 January 2026.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Foo, Jia En. "My Must-Eats… with Member of Parliament Jamus Lim" Hungry Go Where, 2 December, 2022. Accessed 21 January 2026.
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