Ng Chee Meng to halt further action against Facebook user Rich Sng for now; Ong Ye Kung and Chee Hong Tat acknowledge apology

SINGAPORE: Labour chief Ng Chee Meng said on Friday (May 16) he would not pursue further action against a Facebook user over comments made about his appearance in a photo with a convicted money launderer.

Mr Ng's announcement came after Mr Sng Chia Huat, who also goes by Rich Sng on Facebook, deleted several posts and issued an apology to Mr Ng, as well as Health Minister Ong Ye Kung and Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat.

"Mr Sng has published an apology in which he has accepted that the allegations in his Facebook posts were baseless, false and completely without foundation. Mr Sng has also undertaken not to make any allegations or publish any further posts containing any false allegations to the same or similar effect," said Mr Ng in a statement.

"To close matters and move forward, I do not intend to take any further action at this point."

Separately, Mr Ong and Mr Chee said it is impractical for ministers to ensure they never meet - or are photographed with - individuals who may be “bad persons”.

"It was necessary for us to take legal action against Mr Sng,” said the ministers in a joint statement. "While an individual has the right to disagree with government policies, this does not extend to making baseless accusations against policymakers that impugn their honesty and integrity."

In his apology on Friday, Mr Sng said he had taken down the posts. He also offered to perform a total of 300 hours of community service in lieu of paying damages, citing financial hardship after closing his business earlier this year.

The joint statement by the ministers did not address Mr Sng's apology and his offer of community service.

Mr Sng had alleged in social media posts that Mr Ong, Mr Chee and Mr Ng were aware that convicted money launderer Su Haijin had broken the law but chose to condone his actions. All three denied the claims and issued legal letters demanding a public apology, withdrawal of the posts and damages, which they said would be donated to charity.

The ministers noted that political office holders regularly interact with a wide range of people as part of their duties, including at Meet-the-People Sessions, community events and dialogues.

"This is part and parcel of the job," they said. "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."