( CNN ) -- A Singapore lawmaker was in intensive care Monday after a man set him on fire at a community event , a hospital official told CNN . Seng Han Thong of the ruling People 's Action Party underwent skin graft surgery at Singapore General Hospital Monday morning and was in stable condition , said hospital spokeswoman Junaidah Hameed . Seng suffered burns to his face and chest after a man in his 70s came up behind him as he was sitting down for lunch , poured thinner on him and set him on fire , party official George Tan told reporters . An event organizer who rushed to Seng 's aid and tried to douse the flames was also injured , the hospital said . Seng had gone to the community center in his parliamentary district to hand out money to residents -- a tradition among many politicians ahead of the Chinese New Year , which falls on January 26 this year . The attacker was a 70-year-old former cab driver who has been in and out of a mental clinic in recent months , the English-language daily newspaper the Straits Times reported . Tan , the party official , said the man had met Seng at several meet-and-greets and complained about `` evil spirits in his house . '' `` No matter what the reason is , and whatever condition the person is in , that is no reason to commit such a crime against anyone , not just against an MP [ member of parliament ] , '' Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng told reporters at the hospital . Two years ago , Seng was attacked at another community event by another cab driver , the newspaper said . In that incident , the cab driver punched Seng because he was upset that the lawmaker was not helping him get his revoked license reinstated . CNN 's Saeed Ahmed contributed to this report .
Man in his 70s poured thinner on lawmaker and set him on fire while he had lunch . Seng Han Thong of the ruling People 's Action Party is in intensive care . He suffered burns to his face and chest and underwent skin graft surgery . Attacker is a former cab driver who has been in a mental clinic , media says .