Singapore Issues Correction Order to East Asia Forum for False Statements on Governance
SINGAPORE – The Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) office has issued a correction order to the online academic platform East Asia Forum for publishing an article containing multiple false statements regarding Singapore’s governance. The article, titled "Singapore’s new prime minister entangled in old politics," was authored by Associate Professor Michael Barr of Flinders University and contained several inaccuracies concerning key issues, including the 38 Oxley Road dispute, the trial of Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh, and the handling of the Keppel Offshore & Marine bribery case.
The POFMA office, acting on the instructions of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Indranee Rajah, directed East Asia Forum to append a correction notice to the top of the article and share it across its social media platforms. This notice provides a link to the government’s fact-checking website, Factually, allowing readers to compare both versions of the story and form their own conclusions. The PMO highlighted the article’s false assertions, including the claim that the government misused resources to pursue a private agenda against Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s siblings regarding their family home at 38 Oxley Road. The PMO clarified that police investigations involving Mr. Lee Hsien Yang stemmed from a disciplinary tribunal’s findings of perjury, and that SM Lee has been recused from all related discussions. Furthermore, no decision has been made concerning the property’s future.
The article also falsely alleged that the prosecution of WP chief Pritam Singh was baseless and politically motivated. The PMO countered this claim, explaining that Mr. Singh’s conduct, along with that of WP vice-chairman Faisal Manap, during a Committee of Privileges hearing was referred to the public prosecutor, leading to charges against Mr. Singh. The court’s decision to call Mr. Singh to enter his defense on both charges confirms the presence of grounds for prosecution. The trial was conducted publicly, with Mr. Singh and other witnesses providing evidence. A verdict is expected on February 17.
Regarding the Keppel Offshore & Marine bribery case, the article falsely claimed that six executives involved were not charged due to a lack of evidence. The PMO clarified that stern warnings were issued to the six individuals, a decision made based on professional judgment considering evidentiary difficulties, including the international nature of the case and the inability to compel overseas witnesses to testify in Singapore. Only one individual was prosecuted in the US, and the US Department of Justice did not charge or publicly identify any other Keppel O&M executives.
The article’s assertion that Singapore lacks laws requiring political office-holders to declare financial interests, assets, or conflicts of interest was also debunked by the PMO. Citing the 2005 Code of Conduct for Ministers, the PMO affirmed the existence of rules mandating such declarations, as well as rules concerning gift acceptance and conflict of interest. Ministers are required to recuse themselves from decision-making in related matters upon declaring a relevant interest.
Furthermore, the PMO refuted the article’s portrayal of the reduction of charges against former transport minister S. Iswaran as improper. The PMO characterized Prof. Barr’s allegations as “mendacious,” noting the relatively minor nature of the original charges and emphasizing that Singapore has “zero tolerance for corruption.” The PMO also addressed the article’s broader accusations against Singaporean leaders, reiterating the government’s commitment to integrity and public service, and its dedication to investigating any evidence of wrongdoing.
This incident marks another instance of East Asia Forum facing scrutiny under POFMA. In September 2023, the website was temporarily blocked in Singapore for non-compliance with a previous correction order. Access was restored after the retraction of an article by NUS Assistant Professor Chan Ying-Kit. The PMO criticized Prof. Barr’s long-standing pattern of making "acerbic and biased" comments about Singapore, often disconnected from facts. The PMO emphasized Singapore’s high ranking in the Corruption Perceptions Index and reiterated the government’s commitment to upholding public trust and countering the spread of falsehoods.