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POFMA Office issues correction direction over TikTok post claiming votes can be traced

Mr Chan Chun Sing, overseeing the Ministry in-charge of Public Service, directed the POFMA Office to issue a Correction Direction to TikTok user “dr.ishhaq.jay”. This follows a TikTok video’s false claim about the government tracing voters’ choices. ELD emphasized the rigorous measures in place ensuring voting secrecy.

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SINGAPORE: The Minister in-charge of the Public Service, Mr. Chan Chun Sing, has directed the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) Office to issue a Correction Direction to TikTok user “dr.ishhaq.jay” and a Targeted Correction Direction to TikTok Pte. Ltd.

A Targeted Correction Direction is issued to an internet intermediary that has been used to communicate a falsehood. This direction mandates the intermediary to display a correction notice to all users in Singapore who encountered the falsehood on its platform.

The instruction from Mr Chan comes as a response to a TikTok video posted by the user on 17 July.

The Elections Department (ELD) has identified a misleading statement in the said TikTok video. The content of the video suggests that the Government has the capacity to trace individual voters’ choices in the polling booth and can subsequently penalize voters based on their vote.

The ELD refutes this claim, highlighting several important points:

  1. The Parliamentary Elections Act 1954 (PEA), including provisions from its predecessor acts, emphasizes the importance of vote secrecy. It’s paramount to understand that the Government, along with the ELD, has rigorously adhered to the policies and practices ensuring voting secrecy.
  2. The procedures set to ensure voting secrecy are stringent. All individuals, be it officers, clerks, interpreters, candidates, or agents present at polling stations or during the vote counting, must swear an oath of secrecy prior to their involvement.
  3. For votes recorded in person, the ballot papers follow a continuous chain of custody. They are transported from the polling stations to counting centers, then to the Supreme Court. After safe custody for six months, these ballot papers are destroyed, ensuring no tampering or misuse. This process is transparent and allows monitoring by election candidates and their representatives.
  4. The presence of a serial number on the ballot paper is to maintain the sanctity of the electoral procedure. This number aids in accounting for every ballot paper, acts against any fraudulent activity, and verifies voters as per the register.
  5. While the voter’s serial number is mentioned on the ballot paper counterfoil, this is only for potential vote tracing in situations like fraudulent voting allegations. The sealed votes can only be inspected upon an order from the General Division of the High Court and that too in very restricted circumstances. This ensures the vote remains secret unless there’s substantial evidence pointing towards a fraudulent act.

Therefore, it is said that the Government cannot trace who a voter has voted for, as it wishes.

This comes as Singapore looks forward to the nomination day for its presidential candidates on 22 August, with polling day set for 1 September if there are more than two contesting candidates.

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Crime

Singaporean fugitive deported from Thailand, to be charged with drug trafficking

A Singaporean fugitive arrested in Thailand, was deported to Singapore on 19 September 2024 and faces drug trafficking charges. Authorities expect him to face the death penalty under Singapore’s tough drug laws for running a smuggling operation between Thailand, Australia, and Singapore.

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10 hours ago

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19 September 2024

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A 31-year-old Singaporean man, wanted for drug trafficking offences, was arrested in Thailand and deported to Singapore on 19 September 2024.

The fugitive, identified as Benny Kee Soon Chuan, was apprehended by Thai police at his residence near Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and will face charges in court on 20 September.

Kee, described as a high-level trafficker, ran a smuggling operation that trafficked crystal methamphetamine, ketamine, and Ecstasy to Australia and Singapore using Thailand as a transit hub, according to Pol Lt Gen Panurat Lakboon, secretary-general of Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB).

Cross-Border Investigation and Arrest

The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) of Singapore had issued an arrest warrant for Kee following investigations into two drug trafficking cases in December 2020 and November 2022.

He had been on the run since 11 April 2016, prompting CNB to collaborate with its international counterparts, including the ONCB. Thai authorities were tipped off by CNB on 12 August 2024, and after weeks of investigation, Kee was apprehended on 17 September.

Thai immigration officials revealed that Kee had entered Thailand earlier in 2024 using a Vanuatu passport.

Following his arrest, Kee’s Thai visa was cancelled, and assets worth 15 million baht (S$585,000), including luxury watches, gold pieces, and a luxury car, were seized during a raid on his residence in Samut Prakan.

Lt Gen Panurat confirmed that the fugitive had been living an affluent lifestyle in Thailand despite lacking legitimate employment.

Links to Broader Drug Network

Kee is believed to be linked to other Singaporean traffickers involved in the smuggling of drugs from Thailand.

In March 2021, Thailand’s Anti-Trafficking in Persons Task Force (AITF) intercepted packages containing Ecstasy and ketamine destined for Singapore, as well as crystal methamphetamine bound for Australia.

Two other Singaporean men, aged 21 and 29 at the time of their arrests, were later sentenced to imprisonment and caning in Singapore for their involvement in these operations, which were connected to Kee’s trafficking network.

Death Penalty Under Singaporean Law

Kee’s deportation to Singapore brings him under the jurisdiction of Singapore’s severe drug laws, which prescribe the death penalty for those convicted of trafficking substantial amounts of controlled substances.

Singaporean authorities have indicated that he could face the death penalty under the country’s strict drug trafficking laws. Pol Lt Gen Panurat indicated that Singaporean authorities are expected to seek the maximum penalty for Kee’s alleged offences.

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Arts & Culture

Epigram Books to close SAM bookshop amid low sales and footfall

Epigram Books will shut down its bookshop at the Singapore Art Museum on 26 January 2025, citing low sales and foot traffic. The independent bookstore, known for supporting local authors, will continue to operate its online store, but its future in brick-and-mortar retail is uncertain.

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10 hours ago

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19 September 2024

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Epigram Books, a major supporter of Singaporean literature, will close its Epigram Coffee Bookshop at the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) on 26 January 2025.

The decision comes after years of struggling with low sales and foot traffic at the Tanjong Pagar Distripark location, marking the end of the bookstore’s three-year lease.

The announcement on 19 September follows Times Bookstores’ closure of its final outlet in Holland Road, highlighting the growing challenges faced by brick-and-mortar bookstores in Singapore.

Edmund Wee, publisher at Epigram Books, expressed disappointment, stating: “We tried everything to make this work. Over the past three years, we’ve often asked ourselves, how many people even knew our bookstore existed here, let alone visited?”

Despite efforts to boost traffic, including operating shuttles to increase accessibility, the bookstore struggled to attract visitors consistently.

Epigram Coffee Bookshop, previously located at the Urban Redevelopment Authority Centre on Maxwell Road and later in a pop-up at Beach Road, relocated to SAM in May 2022 in partnership with Balestier Market Collective.

The 20-seater store featured towering shelves showcasing local and Southeast Asian titles, including books from other independent publishers like Ethos Books and Math Paper Press.

However, the location’s industrial setting, which only saw spikes in visitors during major exhibitions like Olafur Eliasson’s, limited consistent footfall.

The closure coincides with the end of Eliasson’s exhibit on 22 September 2024. Although the exhibition provided a temporary boost to the bookshop’s sales, Epigram noted that the increased traffic was short-lived.

Epigram’s future in physical retail remains uncertain. Mr Wee indicated that high rental costs make reopening a physical store unlikely: “Unless rent prices relent, it’s unlikely we’ll move into another space.”

Epigram Books has been a significant presence in Singapore’s independent book scene, promoting local authors and holding literary events.

The bookshop was also a community hub for the literary arts, hosting numerous book launches and events supporting local writers. “These spaces are special to our literary arts community. They’re where book lovers gather, where literary events and book launches happen in support of our writers,” said Mr Wee.

Despite the closure of the SAM store, Epigram will continue to operate its online store. The publisher emphasized the need for continued support from readers: “We’ve come this far with everyone’s support, and we look forward to continued support from our readers as we transition to focus on online sales.”

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