Singapore opposition party chief quits in wake of fake news allegations

Leong Mun Wai stepped down as chief of the Progress Singapore Party days after making social media posts criticising government policies

He was issued correction directions under the city state’s contentious fake news law, which is aimed at quelling the spread of misinformation

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Buildings under construction in Singapore. An opposition lawmaker has stepped down as party chief after making social media posts about public housing policies and financial aid that were challenged by the government. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 10:34am, 26 Feb 2024Updated: 3:14pm, 26 Feb 2024

Leong Mun Wai, a top opposition lawmaker, stepped down as chief of the Progress Singapore Party, shortly after the government invoked the fake news law against him.

Hazel Poa was named the party’s general secretary after Leong stepped down February 20, according to a statement issued by the opposition outfit.

Singapore’s government issued correction directions to Leong under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act following his February 12 posts on Facebook and Instagram about public housing policies. The contentious fake news law was passed in 2019, aimed at quelling the spread of misinformation.

Former Progress Singapore Party chief Leong Mun Wai stepped down after the government invoked the city state’s fake news law against him. Photo: Facebook/leongmwofficial

Leong, who will remain a Central Executive Committee member of the party, has since deleted the old posts and replaced them with a corrected version three days later.

The committee “is proud that he has demonstrated accountability through his actions, not just words”, the party said on its Facebook page on Friday evening.

“The Progress Singapore Party will continue working to build a more progressive, compassionate and inclusive Singapore,” it added.

Leong’s social media comments, regarding a married couple with mobility problems who he said had not received enough financial aid from the government, were challenged by the Ministry of Social and Family Development.