SINGAPORE : Member of Parliament (MP) for Yio Chu Kang, Seng Han Thong, is in hospital with 10 per cent burns after a man poured flammable liquid on him and set him on fire on Sunday.
Mr Seng was at a bursary and hong bao presentation ceremony at Yio Chu Kang Community Club when the attack happened.
The chairman of a nearby Chinese temple, Aw Swee Seng, also suffered burns.
Both men are now at the Singapore General Hospital.
Yio Chu Kang Community Club was filled with police and Civil Defence officers who were going about their investigations, but reporters were barred from entering the premises.
It is believed that a 70-year-old man approached the MP and Mr Aw from behind, poured the flammable liquid on them and set them on fire using a lighter.
A caller to the MediaCorp Hotline, Mr Zhang, said: "A man ran in, lit a bottle of kerosene and threw it at Mr Seng. Half of Mr Seng's hair was burnt...his back suffered burns as well. The man who threw the bottle tried to escape, but some people caught him and brought him to the CC."
Police have arrested the assailant.
Temple officials said the man was disgruntled for not being selected to receive the hong bao containing S$200.
Residents in the area whom Channel NewsAsia spoke to said the man is a familiar face in the neighbourhood, but not much else is known about him.
The charity event was organised by the chairman of the nearby Chu Sheng Temple.
Mr Aw has been the temple chairman for more than 10 years. He is also a popular and prominent figure in the community, with his temple giving out bursaries and red packets annually for 28 years.
As for Mr Seng, this is not the first time he has been attacked.
He was assaulted by a disgruntled taxi driver in 2006.
The man, who had sought Mr Seng's help about a revoked taxi licence, was acquitted after he agreed to Mr Seng's undisclosed terms. - CNA/ms
