Pofma order issued to SDP for claiming trio were prosecuted over support for Palestinians

The Singapore Democratic Party SDP) has been asked to put up a correction notice under the law against fake news, over its statement claiming that three women were prosecuted for organising support for the Palestinian people in the ongoing Gaza war.

- Wong Shiying

The SDP was issued a correction direction under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act Pofma) on June 29 on the instruction of the Ministry of Home Affairs MHA).

On June 27 and June 28, the SDP had put up a statement on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok commenting on the charges brought against three women who were allegedly involved in organising a procession without a permit along the perimeter of the Istana, which is a prohibited area.

In its statement, the SDP said the three women Mossammad Sobikun Nahar, 25, Siti Amirah Mohamed Asrori, 29, and Annamalai Kokila Parvathi, 35 were prosecuted for organising support for the Palestinian people and in doing so, expressed views the Government did not agree with.

Debunking this, MHA said in a statement on June 29 that the SDP’s claims were untrue as the decision to charge the three women was not in response to the views they had expressed, or whether these views aligned with the Government’s position.