Connect with us

academy

NUS Asst Prof apologised for POFMA-ed article and retracts it from East Asia Forum

Dr Chan Ying-Kit, author of “A Spate of Scandals Strikes Singapore” on East Asia Forum has retracted his article from the online publication and apologized through Singapore’s TODAY media.

This follows a correction directive from the POFMA office on 13 September, issued under the instruction of Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

Published

12 months ago

on

SINGAPORE: Dr Chan Ying-Kit (陈英杰), the author of an article on the Australia-based academic website East Asia Forum, has reportedly issued an apology through Singapore’s media TODAY.

Earlier on 18 August, Dr Chan who holds the position of assistant professor at the Department of Chinese Studies, National University of Singapore had his article titled “A Spate of Scandals Strikes Singapore” published on the website.

On 13 September, Singapore’s Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) issued a correction directive to the East Asia Forum under the instruction of Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

PMO highlighted that the article contained “false statements” concerning the independence of the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s methodology in addressing extramarital affairs among parliamentarians.

East Asia Forum faces access blocking for non-compliance with Singapore’s POFMA correction direction

Following a breach of the Correction Direction issued on 13 September regarding misinformation in the article, the Minister for Communications and Information on 16 September directed the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) to execute Access Blocking Orders against East Asia Forum.

The Correction Direction served to the East Asia Forum demanded the presentation of correct information alongside the alleged falsehoods, enabling Singaporeans to discern the truth by comparing both versions.

Contrary to this directive, East Asia Forum positioned the Government’s response within the comments section at the end of the article.

This arrangement did not comply with the stipulated positioning of the Correction Notices at the article’s beginning and the website’s main page.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has stated that if East Asia Forum later adheres to the Correction Direction’s full requirements, the Access Blocking Orders will be rescinded.

Article retracted from the website at author’s request

According to the website, the article has since been retracted at the request of the author as of 18 September.

In response to TODAY’s inquiries on the night of Monday (Sept 18) night, Dr. Chan released a statement, expressing his “sincere and unreserved apologies” for the errors, omissions, and false statements made in his article, which was written independently without the knowledge of NUS.

“I am remorseful and deeply sorry to the prime minister, CPIB (Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau), NUS, and all the persons whom I have named for my actions and the distress my article has caused.”

Regarding the aspects of his article related to the CPIB, Dr Chan admitted that he had “failed to consider the fact that the Government approaches allegations of corruption and misconduct in personal lives differently, and that the PM has indeed not conflated the issues of corruption and marital infidelity”.

“I have also neglected to mention the safeguards that are indeed in place to ensure that the CPIB can independently conduct and decide on investigations.”

Regarding his comments on a controversial 1990s case involving the purchase of properties by the late founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and then-Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, where they were given unsolicited discounts by Hotel Properties Limited, Dr Chan admitted overlooking open parliamentary debates that had disclosed the full facts of the episode.

He also noted that both the CPIB and Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean were responsible for investigating the Ridout Road case, which had been openly debated in Parliament.

“My neglect and oversight of the facts have resulted in a flawed and biased article, which lacked academic rigour and conveyed false and misleading information to its readers.

“I will exercise greater prudence in my scholarship and hereby undertake that I will not contribute to speculations and unverified rumours.”

In conclusion, Dr. Chan expressed his gratitude to the PMO for the corrections and stated, “I am truly sorry and have retracted the article from East Asia Forum.”

It is unknown if the retraction of the article would result in the unblocking of the website.

PMO’s clarification on “Factually” regarding the article

In a detailed clarification on the Singaporean government’s website, “Factually,” the PMO addressed several points from the article, including claims about PM Lee, the independence of CPIB, and potential cover-ups involving property acquisitions and bungalow rentals by ministers.

  1. The article allegedly claimed Mr Lee “conflated marital infidelity and corruption.” Refuting this, the PMO stated: “This is untrue and Mr Lee did not conflate the issues.” The PMO also pointed out that “Any concurrent mention of both the CPIB investigations and extramarital affairs related only to the close proximity of the timing in which the incidents were made public, and not the substance of these incidents.”
  2. Addressing the PMO’s stance on corruption versus personal misconduct, it was reiterated that the government “took different approaches towards allegations of corruption or other wrongdoing in the discharge of official duties on the one hand, and cases involving misconduct in personal lives on the other hand.”
  3. On the independence of CPIB, the PMO highlighted that the article “conveys that CPIB is not independent in deciding whether to carry out investigations because it reports directly to the Prime Minister alone.” The PMO explained: “CPIB, like all other agencies, has to be accountable to somebody. A state agency cannot operate without any oversight or governance.”
  4. The article is also said to have alluded to a potential cover-up involving former finance minister Richard Hu’s discussion with Mr. Lee and founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew regarding property acquisitions. The PMO clarified, “This matter was openly debated in Parliament in 1996,” and no wrongdoing was found in the subsequent investigation by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
  5. Addressing claims of a cover-up involving Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean’s inquiry into bungalow rentals by ministers, the PMO stated: “CPIB did conduct an investigation and found no evidence of corruption or wrongdoing.”

 

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

academy

Former Singapore President Halimah Yacob to assume role of SUSS Chancellor on October 1st

Madam Halimah Yacob, Singapore’s former President, is set to become SUSS Chancellor on October 1st, succeeding Stephen Lee, who held the role since 2018.

Her appointment follows her recent resignation as the country’s eighth President on September 13th.

Published

12 months ago

on

26 September 2023

By

SINGAPORE: On Monday (25 Sep), the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) revealed its new chancellor, former President Halimah Yacob, who will officially assume the role starting October 1st.

She takes over from Stephen Lee, who has held the position since 2018.

Following her recent resignation as Singapore’s eighth President on September 13th, Madam Halimah Yacob now embarks on her new role as SUSS Chancellor, with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam succeeding her in the city-state’s highest office.

SUSS extends its heartfelt gratitude to Mr Stephen Lee for his steadfast support during his tenure as SUSS Chancellor, where he brought dignity and weight to SUSS’ convocation ceremonies, marking a significant milestone for thousands of SUSS graduates.

Renowned for her advocacy on critical social issues and her dedication to lifelong learning, Madam Halimah expressed her deep honor at her appointment as SUSS Chancellor.

“I am honoured to be appointed as the new Chancellor of SUSS. This university has a unique place in Singapore, with its mission to inspire learning for life. It is something I firmly believe in, as it is a mindset that empowers individuals to embrace change in an ever-evolving world and to continue growing throughout their lives. ”

“I look forward to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure SUSS’ continued success in impacting society through applied social sciences.”

SUSS underscores that Madam Halimah’s wisdom, leadership, and unwavering commitment are perfectly aligned with the university’s values, undoubtedly serving as a wellspring of inspiration for the SUSS community on its journey toward excellence.

Madam Halimah’s career is marked by several groundbreaking achievements. In 2013, she became the first woman to be elected as the ninth Speaker of Parliament. Subsequently, she made history as Singapore’s first female President, presiding over the nation from 2017 to 2023.

Madam Halimah holds patronage over more than 40 charitable and community organizations, including SUSS.

She has graced several university events, including the renaming ceremony for SUSS’ School of Human Development & Social Services to the S R Nathan School of Human Development.

On the other hand, Stephen Lee, the outgoing chancellor, boasts a distinguished career in both the private and public sectors.

Currently, he chairs NTUC Income Insurance Cooperative and Shanghai Commercial Bank (Hong Kong) and serves as a member of the Council of Presidential Advisers.

He also holds directorships with prominent organizations such as Temasek Holdings (Private) Ltd, CapitaLand Limited, and the Singapore Labour Foundation.

Reflecting on these transitions, SUSS President Tan Tai Yong expressed the university’s privilege in welcoming Madam Halimah Yacob as the new chancellor.

“She has long been a champion of important social issues and an advocate for impacting lives. Her presence will make our university an even stronger force for doing good in society, encouraging learning for life, and positively influencing people’s lives.”
“We would also like to express our deepest appreciation to Stephen Lee for his strong support for SUSS over his five-year term as chancellor. Lee has always been supportive of SUSS’ endeavours, and we have benefited much from his wisdom and guidance during our early years as an autonomous university.”
Continue Reading

academy

NTU appoints Acting Head for Chinese Faculty amid plagiarism allegation against Assoc Prof Qu

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has named Assoc Prof Yow Cheun Hoe as Acting Head of the Chinese department, effective since last Friday (28 July), amidst investigations into alleged plagiarism by former head Assoc Prof Qu Jingyi (曲景毅).

The allegations were brought to light by a Reddit user, who highlighted similarities between a 2018 paper published by Assoc Prof Qu and a 2014 paper authored by NTU student Wang Yueming (王岳明).

Published

1 year ago

on

31 July 2023

By

SINGAPORE: Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has appointed an acting head for the Chinese department following an investigation into alleged plagiarism accusations against former head Associate Professor Qu Jingyi (曲景毅).

A check on NTU’s College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences official website indicates that Associate Professor Yow Cheun Hoe (游俊豪) has been appointed as Acting Head for the Chinese Faculty, effective last Friday (28 July).

Meanwhile, Prof Qu’s titles as the department head and deputy director of the Centre for Chinese Language and Culture have been revoked.

NTU investigating the plagiarism accusation

NTU responded to the issue last Thursday (27 Jul) through the media, stating that the School of Humanities is investigating the allegations.

However, they declined to reveal further details, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

According to Lianhe Zaobao, a spokesperson from NTU emphasizing that the university is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of ethics and professional conduct.

They stated that accusations of academic misconduct are taken very seriously.

On Tuesday (25 Jul), a user on the online forum Reddit pointed out similarities between a paper published in 2018 by Assoc Prof Qu and a paper written by NTU student Wang Yueming (王岳明) in 2014.

Assoc Prof Qu’s academic paper, titled “Escape as A Mode of Existence: Ruan Ji’s Escapism Complex,” was published in English in 2018, while Wang’s student paper was written in Chinese.

The user claimed that both are very similar and almost identical in many parts.

“Come to think of it, even though this prof is the thesis supervisor of this student, the prof doesn’t have ownership of this research right? shouldn’t the prof at least co-author with this student in the English essay?”

The student believes that this constitutes a clear act of plagiarism, with the professor allegedly taking credit for the student’s work.

Wang’s final year project in 2014

Wang’s paper, titled “Escapism in the Literary Works of Ruan Ji” (论阮籍诗文中的逃避主义), was his final year project, and Associate Professor Qu served as his supervisor.

Meanwhile, Assoc Prof Qu’s paper, which was previously posted on the online repository Academia, has been taken down.

However, it is still accessible for viewing on another website, available here.

According to The Straits Times, their investigation revealed that more than 50% of Professor Qu’s paper appears to be a direct translation of Mr. Wang’s 2014 paper, without giving proper attribution to the latter. These sections include analyses of poems and inferences drawn from related research papers.

Assoc Prof Qu originally from Tianjin, China

Born in Tianjin in 1979, Assoc Prof Qu Graduated from the Chinese Department of Anhui University in July 2006.

According to information available on NTU’s website, Assoc Prof Qu joined the university in 2010 and was the Head of Chinese and Deputy Director of the Centre for Chinese Language and Culture at NTU’s School of Humanities.

He has an impressive publication record with over 100 works published in both Chinese and English, including 49 journal articles and four books.

Assoc Prof Qu earned his doctorate degree from two prestigious institutions: Peking University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Throughout his academic career, he has been recognized for his achievements with scholarships and awards, such as the Fulbright Scholarship and NTU’s Nanyang Education Award.

Continue Reading

Trending