Facebook user apologises, deletes defamatory posts on Ong Ye Kung, Chee Hong Tat and Ng Chee Meng

Facebook user Sng Chia Huat apologised on May 16 to ministers Ong Ye Kung and Chee Hong Tat, and labour chief Ng Chee Meng for making defamatory statements against them.

Mr Sng, who goes by Rich Sng on the social media platform, also took down his offending Facebook posts that had falsely accused the two ministers and Mr Ng of being involved with Fujian gang member Su Haijin.

In two new Facebook posts, Mr Sng said he received letters of demand from lawyers acting on behalf of Mr Ong, Mr Chee and Mr Ng on May 15 requesting that he remove his earlier posts, and that he has complied with their demands.

Mr Sng also put up photos of his signed apology to Mr Ong, Mr Chee and Mr Ng, where he admitted and acknowledged that the allegations he had made about the three of them were "baseless, false and completely without foundation".

Following Mr Sng's apology, the two ministers released a statement that said it was necessary for them to take legal action, given that an individual's right to disagree with government policies does not extend to making baseless accusations against policymakers that impugn their honesty and integrity.

"Ministers come into contact with a wide range of people, including through Meet-the-People Sessions, home visits, community visits, dialogues and various events and gatherings," said the statement. "This is part and parcel of the job. It is not practical for ministers to ensure they never meet, or have their photos taken with, individuals who may be or potentially may be bad persons.

"The key is we do not do anything wrong in the way we discharge our duties, even as we make ourselves accessible to all segments of society."

Mr Ng also released a statement late on May 16 that he did not intend to take any further action at this point, after Mr Sng's apology. The statement read: "Further, Mr Sng has offered to perform 100 hours of community service for each public servant named in his Facebook posts. Mr Sng says he has no financial means to pay any damages, and he is on the verge of bankruptcy."

Mr Ong, Mr Chee and Mr Ng had been photographed at dinners with Su, who was one of the 10 people convicted in the billion-dollar money laundering case in 2024. The Cypriot national was sentenced to 14 months' jail in April 2024.

On May 9 and 10, Mr Sng had put up two posts on Facebook alleging that Mr Ong, who is Health Minister, and Mr Chee, who is Transport Minister, had been aware that Su had broken laws but condoned it. He falsely accused Mr Ong and Mr Chee of dishonestly pretending not to know Su, being involved in or susceptible to corruption or bribery, and being part of a system that protects criminals like Su.

Mr Sng had also put up several posts about Mr Ng on May 8, 9 and 10.

On May 6, Mr Ong and Mr Chee addressed the pictures circulating online. They said that, as ministers, they meet a diverse range of people at various events. They said they attended the dinners where Su was present at the invitation of a friend, and did not know Su personally.

"The PAP Government upholds a high standard of integrity and the ministers are determined to uphold this, even though in the course of their work, they may inadvertently come into contact with people who are later established to be unsavoury," said a joint statement issued by their press secretaries.

Also on May 6, Mr Ng said it is part of his work as secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress to engage with different companies and private sector leaders. He said his meeting with Su took place some time back. Mr Ng later learnt about the police investigations and subsequent criminal charges against Su, and thereafter they had no further interactions.

On May 12, the ministers said in another joint statement that they had sent lawyers' letters to Mr Sng, alleging defamation over posts accusing them of corruption. They asked him to apologise, withdraw his false allegations and pay damages by May 16. On the same day, Mr Ng - who is a newly elected MP for Jalan Kayu SMC - issued a statement saying that he had demanded the same course of action from Mr Sng, with the same May 16 deadline. All three parties also said the damages would be donated to charity.

Mr Sng said on May 16 that he has apologised unreservedly to Mr Ong, Mr Chee and Mr Ng for the distress and embarrassment he had caused the three men by publishing the Facebook posts. "I have removed the Facebook posts, and undertake not to make any allegations or publish any posts containing any allegations to the same or similar effect," he said.

Mr Sng did not say in his posts whether he would be paying damages to the three men.