Correction direction issued to The Temasek Review for post on GrabFood rider's encounter with police
SINGAPORE — Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam has instructed the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) office to issue a correction direction to the The Temasek Review (TTR) Facebook page.
This is for a false statement of fact made on Wednesday, that a GrabFood delivery rider was fined $300 by police officers for wearing a cloth as a mask or for illegal parking, said the POFMA Office in a media release on Friday (17 April).
Officers assisting delivery rider, no summons issued
TTR had written in its post, “Grabfood delivery rider issued summon by SPF (Singapore Police Force) officers of fine of $300 for alleged wearing cloth as mask or illegal parking?”
According to the POFMA office, the statement is false. The police officers were in fact assisting the delivery rider, who had approached them for help after believing that items had been stolen from his motorcycle.
The police officer shown in the photo on TTR’s Facebook post was taking a statement from the delivery rider, and no summons was issued.
Masks made of cloth and textile permitted
According to the POFMA Office statement, the incident had nothing to do with the circuit breaker measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, nor with illegal parking.
Under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures)(Control Order) Regulations 2020, masks made of cloth and textile are permitted.
“Such allegations are highly irresponsible and hurt public confidence and trust in the police. It also undermines our officers, who are at the frontlines trying to keep Singaporeans safe and secure during this challenging period,” the POFMA Office said.
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