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Straits Times
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Man fined $6,000 for posting TikTok video claiming minister made offensive remarks about Malays in Ch 8 interview
Nadine Chua The Straits Times June 6, 2025 A blogger was fined $6,000 after he posted a TikTok video falsely claiming that Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo had made offensive remarks against Malays. Manmeet Singh Bahadar Singh, 57, pleaded guilty on June 6 to knowingly committing an act that promoted disharmony between different racial groups. Singh had uploaded a video on TikTok on Aug 12, 2024, after receiving a link to a WordPress blog post via WhatsApp from an unknown person. The blog post claimed that Mrs Teo made an offensive remark against Malays when asked about racial progress during an interview with the Chinese media about Singapore's development since 1965. Singh felt offended and posted a TikTok video bearing the words "Minister Josephine Teo blurted 'Malays are i*****' in a Chinese interview", without verifying the authenticity of the claims. He repeated the blog post's allegations in his video and told his viewers to "go look it up". Singh added: "I have been voicing out for, you know, against racial discrimination in Singapore. And look what happened now? My prediction's right!" At the end of the video, he also uttered the phrase "bring them down". His TikTok account had over 9,000 followers when he uploaded the video, which was online long enough for Mrs Teo's colleagues and a reporter to ask the minister about it. About four hours after the video was uploaded, Mrs Teo informed her press secretary, who downloaded a copy of the video and made a police report. Suspecting that his claims were false, Singh removed the TikTok video later that day. He subsequently posted another video apologising to Mrs Teo, admitting that his claims were false. Mrs Teo took to various social media platforms to clarify that the allegations were false. Singh was arrested on Feb 4 and released on bail the next day. For promoting racial disharmony, an offender can be jailed for up to three years, fined, or both. In response to media queries, Mrs Teo said: "Growing up in the 1970s, I have seen for myself how precious - and fragile - racial and religious harmony is in our diverse society. It is why I do not take for granted the many friendships with schoolmates, colleagues and community leaders of different faiths or races." She added that the accusation made by Singh against her was serious and cast a shadow on these friendships. "Besides feeling personally hurt, I was concerned about the hurt to my friends if things were not put right," she said, adding that this was why her press secretary had made a police report. "With the sentencing passed, I hope to put this episode behind me. Our world threatens to fall apart because of all kinds of hatred and conflicts. I hope this episode reminds us all to be careful not to sow discord but instead to spread peace," said Mrs Teo. Click here to contribute a story or submit it to our WhatsApp Get more of Stomp's latest updates by following us on:
News18
06-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Who Is Manmeet Singh? Indian-Origin Blogger Fined In Singapore Over False TikTok Claim
Last Updated: The court found that Singh made these claims without verifying the information, which he had received from an unknown source via WhatsApp An Indian-origin blogger, Manmeet Singh, was fined SGD 6,000 (approximately Rs 4 lakh) by a Singapore court on Friday for sharing a false claim that promoted racial disharmony. Singh, 57, pleaded guilty to knowingly posting content on TikTok that accused the country's minister of making offensive remarks about a minority community. The video, uploaded in August 2024, falsely claimed that Singapore's Minister for Digital Development and Information, Josephine Teo, had insulted the Malay community—who make up about 15 per cent of Singapore's population—during an interview with Chinese media. The court found that Singh made these claims without verifying the information, which he had received from an unknown source via WhatsApp. The TikTok video was viewed widely and prompted questions to the minister from her colleagues and a journalist. A police report was filed shortly after. Who Is Manmeet Singh And What Did He Claim? Indian-origin Manmeet Singh is known in Singapore for posting on socio-political topics through platforms like TikTok. He previously gained attention as the bodyguard of former presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian, and his TikTok account had over 9,000 followers at the time of the offence. On 12 August 2024, Singh received a link to a WordPress blog post from an unknown number. The blog falsely alleged that Josephine Teo had said 'Malays are i*****" during a media interview. Offended by the claim, Singh recorded a TikTok video with a caption repeating the allegation, telling his followers to 'go look it up". However, just hours after uploading the video, Singh began to doubt the credibility of the claim and took the video down. He also posted a follow-up video apologising to Teo and acknowledged that the allegation was likely false. However, despite this, a police complaint had already been filed by Teo's press secretary. Earlier in February, Singh was arrested and granted bail the following day. His defence lawyers had told the court that he was 'racked with guilt" and had no intent to spread hatred or misinformation. His counsel had stressed that Singh does not create content for profit or popularity, but as a form of expression on issues he feels strongly about. He has since taken steps to avoid political controversy and now checks the reliability of his sources more carefully. Under Singaporean law, promoting racial disharmony is a serious offence. Singh could have faced up to three years in prison, a fine, or both. (With inputs from agencies) Location : Singapore
Straits Times
06-06-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Volunteers knit bra inserts for breast cancer survivors to dress well, regain confidence
Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo launching Knitted Knockers@NHG, where volunteers can knit and distribute the bra inserts, on June 6. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG SINGAPORE - In her quest to find the right filling for her bra after undergoing mastectomy, breast cancer survivor Lyn Ee, 74, discovered Knitted Knockers, soft breast prostheses made from cotton yarn. 'They not only provide a gentler, softer alternative to the traditional breast prosthetics that can be hot and heavy, they also give back to breast cancer survivors their looks, confidence and peace of mind,' Ms Ee said. Today, 10 years after her discovery , the soft mounds of cotton yarn are being distributed free at all restructured hospitals in Singapore to women who have had mastectomy. Wanting to share her discovery of the prostheses with others here, Ms Ee in 2015 founded Knitted Knockers Singapore, t he local chapter of the American non-profit that has expanded internationally, gathering a group of volunteers to knit the bra inserts to give to breast cancer patients. Knitted Knockers@NHG (National Healthcare Group), where volunteers can knit and distribute the bra inserts, was launched on June 6 by Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo. Speaking at an event marking the 15th anniversary of the Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) Breast Clinic, Mrs Teo cited the initiative as an example of the good work the clinic has done. 'You want to provide the best clinical care and are equally keen to support the emotional well-being of your patients . The fact that you have put as priority helping patients regain a sense of normalcy and confidence – particularly for women who have had to go through mastectomies – is admirable ,' she said at the event. Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo (right) greeting breast cancer survivor Lyn Ee. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG Mrs Teo also shared the story of Ms Carmelita Calesagsag, her family's foreign domestic helper of 27 years who is a breast cancer survivor. The 61-year-old Filipina , fondly called Carmen by the Teos, has been working for the family for 27 years. Mrs Teo said: 'I remember vividly the day she was diagnosed. After she had reported a lump, Carmen had been sent by our family doctor to be properly tested. Parliament was in session when I received Carmen's phone call. I guessed it was bad news, because she would otherwise have waited till I got home . 'Over the next few weeks, I saw her struggle with fear and despair. Against the advice of some, we decided she should be treated in Singapore instead of being sent home. Now, 17 years later, we are glad we made that choice. Carmen is fully recovered. She watched all three of our children become working adults and remains very much a part of our family.' Ms Carmelita Calesagsag (right) has been working for Mrs Teo's family for 27 years. PHOTO: COURTESY OF JOSEPHINE TEO Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women in Singapore, making up nearly 30 per cent of all cancers diagnosed among women here. The incidence here has more than tripled over the past 50 years, to 74 cases per 100,000 women now – one of the highest in Asia. The Breast Clinic has performed more than 6,100 breast cancer surgical operations since 2010 and over 450 in 2024 alone, the largest number within the NHG cluster last year . One of the clinic's latest innovations is endoscopic breast surgery that combines keyhole mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction. The minimally invasive procedure is performed in the same setting by both a specially trained breast surgeon and a plastic surgeon. Cancerous tissue is removed from the affected breast, which is immediately reconstructed by the plastic surgeon using the patient's own skin, fat, and blood vessels. Since its introduction at the clinic in November 2024, three of its patients have undergone this advanced dual procedure. The first patient to undergo the procedure was polytechnic lecturer Kwa Sai Geok, 62, who was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer during a routine mammogram in 2024. Polytechnic lecturer Kwa Sai Geok was the first patient to undergo endoscopic breast surgery at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital Breast Clinic. PHOTO: COURTESY OF KWA SAI GEOK Describing herself as 'a forward-looking person and always trying my best to shorten the time to pull myself back up', Madam Kwa said she opted for the keyhole mastectomy and reconstructive breast surgery to future-proof her health. 'I did not feel any pain during the four-day stay in hospital... and life was back to normal about four months after my right hand fully recovered with the help of the TTSH physiotherapist,' she said. Dr Ang Wei-Wen, a consultant from Breast Surgery Service at TTSH, said that not everyone is suitable for the minimal-scar endoscopic mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. 'This is due to various factors, such as the stage and type of cancer, the patient's overall health, and the location and size of the tumour,' he said. Dr Ang said the next step would be to use robotics for the procedure. 'It is the future of breast surgery and already a trend in South Korea. It has more dexterity than a human surgeon, leading to smaller incisions, reduced pain, and faster recovery,' he added. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
The Hindu
06-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Indian-origin Singaporean blogger fined for posting racial remarks on TikTok
An Indian-origin blogger in Singapore was fined SGD 6,000 (about ₹4 lakh) on Friday (June 6, 2025) after he pleaded guilty to one charge of knowingly committing an act which promoted disharmony between different racial groups in the country through a post on TikTok. Manmeet Singh's post came after he received a link from an unknown person with the alleged offensive content, Channel News Asia reported. Mr. Singh (57), then posted a commentary about the content without verifying its authenticity. In the commentary on TikTok, Mr. Singh claimed that Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo had made offensive remarks against Malays, a mostly Muslim community which accounts for about 15% of Singapore's six million-plus population. He removed it once he realised that he had been "led on" by the unknown person, his lawyers told the court. Mr. Singh is a blogger who posts about socio-political issues on TikTok, among other social media platforms. He posted the offending content on TikTok on August 12, 2024. The blog post alleged that Ms. Teo, when asked about racial progress during an interview with Chinese media on Singapore's 59-year development, had made an offensive remark against Malays last year. Ms. Teo is of Chinese descent. At the time of the offences, Mr. Singh's TikTok account had around 9,054 followers. The video prompted Mr. Teo's colleagues and a reporter to ask the Minister about it. Around four hours after the video was published, Ms. Teo told her Press Secretary about it. The Press Secretary then downloaded a copy of the video and lodged a police report. Later that day, Mr. Singh suspected the allegations were false and removed the TikTok video. He then posted another video in which he apologised to Ms. Teo, noting that his previous allegation was probably false. Mr. Singh was arrested on February 4, 2025, and released on bail the next day. The defence lawyers said that Singh was "racked with guilt" over his actions. "Manmeet is not in the business of making his videos for profit or clout. His content is akin to an extension of himself and his views, which he shares because he feels responsible for raising awareness," said the lawyers. Mr. Singh has since "deliberately steered clear of associating with other politicians to avoid controversy", the lawyers said. He also actively vets his news sources. For promoting racial disharmony, Mr. Singh could have been jailed for up to three years, fined, or both.
The Star
06-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
S$6k fine for man who falsely claimed Singapore minister made offensive remarks against Malays
Manmeet Singh Bahadar Singh pleaded guilty to knowingly committing an act that promoted disharmony between different racial groups. - ST SINGAPORE: A blogger was fined S$6,000 after he posted a TikTok video falsely claiming that Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo had made offensive remarks against Malays. Manmeet Singh Bahadar Singh, 57, pleaded guilty on June 6 to knowingly committing an act that promoted disharmony between different racial groups. Manmeet had uploaded a video on TikTok on Aug 12, 2024, after receiving a link to a WordPress blog post via WhatsApp from an unknown person. The blog post claimed that Teo made an offensive remark against Malays when asked about racial progress during an interview with the Chinese media about Singapore's development since 1965. Manmeet repeated the blog post's allegations in his video and told his viewers to 'go look it up'. Manmeet added: 'I have been voicing out for, you know, against racial discrimination in Singapore. And look what happened now? My prediction's right!' At the end of the video, he also uttered the phrase 'bring them down'. His TikTok account had over 9,000 followers when he uploaded the video, which was online long enough for Teo's colleagues and a reporter to ask the minister about it. About four hours after the video was uploaded, Teo informed her press secretary, who downloaded a copy of the video and made a police report. Suspecting that his claims were false, Manmeet removed the TikTok video later that day. He subsequently posted another video apologising to Teo, admitting that his claims were false. Teo took to various social media platforms to clarify that the allegations were false. Manmeet was arrested on Feb 4 and released on bail the next day. For promoting racial disharmony, an offender can be jailed for up to three years, fined, or both. In a statement to The Straits Times, Teo said: 'Growing up in the 1970s, I have seen for myself how precious – and fragile – racial and religious harmony is in our diverse society. It is why I do not take for granted the many friendships with schoolmates, colleagues and community leaders of different faiths or races.' She added that the accusation made by Manmeet against her was serious and cast a shadow on these friendships. 'Besides feeling personally hurt, I was concerned about the hurt to my friends if things were not put right,' she said, adding that this was why her press secretary had made a police report. 'With the sentencing passed, I hope to put this episode behind me. Our world threatens to fall apart because of all kinds of hatred and conflicts. I hope this episode reminds us all to be careful not to sow discord but instead to spread peace,' said Teo. - The Straits Times/ANN
