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Ministry of Finance (MOF)
Press Releases

Issuance of Correction Direction Under the Protection From Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act to Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam

Topics

POFMA

14 March 2025

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  1. The Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance Chee Hong Tat, has instructed for a Correction Direction1 under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act 2019 (“POFMA”), to be issued to Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam (“Mr Jeyaretnam”) in respect of his Facebook post on 3 March 2025. The post contains a false statement of fact.

  2. This is the ninth Correction Direction that has been issued to Mr Jeyaretnam. Mr Jeyaretnam’s website, The Ricebowl Singapore, as well as his accounts on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn have also been declared as “Declared Online Locations” under POFMA till 11 December 2025, for carrying three or more different false statements of fact that were the subject of one or more active POFMA directions at the material time.

  3. Notwithstanding these actions, Mr Jeyaretnam has continued to make false and misleading statements about Government policies and the operations of public agencies, despite publicly available facts, and having the falsehoods and their corresponding facts pointed out to him. He also has not returned to Singapore to account for his actions, and remains overseas. Members of public are advised to exercise caution and do additional fact-checking if accessing information on Mr Jeyaretnam’s platforms.

Clarifications regarding falsehood

  1. The post claims that the Government uses its monopoly control over the supply of land and control over demand of land through immigration policies to intentionally drive up land prices, including the prices of HDB flats, so as to increase the value of the reserves. This is untrue.

  2. The Government’s land sales and immigration policies are not used to drive up land prices, including the prices of HDB flats. It is also untrue that the Government is intentionally driving up land prices and prices of HDB flats so as to increase the value of the reserves. These policies are also not used for reserves management purposes.

  3. First, the Government’s approach to land management is based on Singapore’s planning and development needs, and not to intentionally increase land prices and prices of HDB flats. These facts have been made known to Mr Jeyaretnam through the POFMA Correction Direction of 4 July 2024.

  4. Second, the Government’s immigration policies are neither intended to increase land prices and HDB prices, nor informed by reserves considerations. The Government’s immigration policies are intended to moderate the impact of ageing and low birth rates on our citizen population.

  5. Third, the Chief Valuer (“CV”) determines the fair market value of land based on established valuation principles, taking into consideration relevant resale transactions on the open market, and other relevant factors such as specific parameters of the site. The CV makes her assessment independently, without influence from the Government. These facts have been made known to Mr Jeyaretnam through the POFMA Correction Direction of 4 July 2024.

  6. Mr Jeyaretnam is required to carry a Correction Notice on his Facebook page, which states that the post contains a false statement of fact and provides a link to the Government’s clarification. This will allow readers to read both versions and draw their own conclusions.

  7. For the facts of the case, please refer to the Factually article, Corrections regarding falsehoods published by Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam on 3 March 2025 at the following link: https://www.factually.gov.sg/corrections-and-clarifications/140325 (opens in new tab).

Issued by:
Ministry of Finance
Singapore
14 March 2025

1 A Correction Direction is a Direction issued to a person who has communicated a falsehood (i.e., the recipient) that affects the public interest. It requires the recipient to publish a correction notice, providing access to the correct facts. The Direction does not require the recipient to take down their post or make edits to their content and does not impose criminal sanctions if the Direction is complied with.