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.

- Anjali Raguraman

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.