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Agence France-Presse

A Singaporean minister has sheepishly admitted to saying that cotton came from animals rather than plants in a slip-up during an interview that triggered bleats of mockery online.
Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing made the error in a video interview on Saturday while attempting to explain tiny Singapore’s reliance on foreign trade.
He gave face masks – which are widely used in the city state to fight the spread of the coronavirus – as an example, suggesting there were not many components that Singapore could produce itself.
“(We) don’t have too many sheep in Singapore to produce cotton,” he said.
Internet users quickly lined up to lambast him over the mistake.
“Baba black sheep have you any wool? Simple nursery rhymes to remember OK,” said one Facebook comment.
It was not long before Chan cottoned on to the error, and said he had a “good laugh” when he realised what he had done.


“To any one (especially young children) watching the video – cotton definitely doesn’t come from sheep, it comes from cotton plants!” he said in a Facebook post.
“I should catch up on some sleep,” he added – prompting a netizen to respond: “I heard counting sheep helps.”
It was not Chan’s first virus-related gaffe.
In February, Chan was criticised over a leaked recording in which he said panic buyers were behaving like “idiots” during a closed-door meeting with members of a commerce chamber.
Meanwhile, Singapore said it was curbing the use of face shields as a substitute for masks, as its residents look for ways to protect themselves from the coronavirus and avoid discomfort on hot, humid days.
Singapore’s domestic workers faced heavier workloads during ‘circuit breaker’
The Southeast Asian nation is one of several states globally that have made masks in public compulsory, but transparent shields attached to headbands or glasses that do not touch the face have become a popular replacement.
Singapore is due to reopen schools and some businesses on Tuesday, the first tentative steps in emerging from a two-month lockdown.
“The design of face shields typically leaves a gap … Masks that are worn closely and completely over the nose and mouth do not have such gaps,” the health ministry said.

“With the reopening of our economy and society, we can expect more activities and close contact among people, including on public transport. So masks will now be required as the default.”
Face shields would only be allowed for children under the age of 12, those who face medical difficulties wearing masks or persons speaking to a large group, such as in a classroom.
First-time offenders caught without a mask in Singapore are fined S$300 (US$212).
Singapore confirmed 408 new coronavirus cases on Monday, its health ministry said, bringing the city state’s tally to 35,292.
Additional reporting by Reuters


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Singapore minister Chan Chun Sing mocked for saying cotton comes from sheep

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The trade and industry minister made the error in an interview while attempting to explain the city state’s reliance on foreign trade
‘Baba black sheep have you any wool? Simple nursery rhymes to remember OK,’ said a Facebook user



The trade and industry minister made the error in an interview while attempting to explain the city state’s reliance on foreign trade.


Coronavirus Singapore

Singapore minister Chan Chun Sing mocked for saying cotton comes from sheep

The trade and industry minister made the error in an interview while attempting to explain the city state’s reliance on foreign trade ‘Baba black sheep have you any wool? Simple nursery rhymes to remember OK,’ said a Facebook user

The trade and industry minister made the error in an interview while attempting to explain the city state’s reliance on foreign trade

‘Baba black sheep have you any wool? Simple nursery rhymes to remember OK,’ said a Facebook user