SINGAPORE: Facebook user Sng Chia Huat, known online as Rich Sng, has issued public apologies to Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat, and Labour Chief Ng Chee Meng.
The action follows legal letters issued over a series of Facebook posts deemed defamatory by the three politicians.
On 16 May 2025, Sng confirmed that he had removed all three contentious posts from his Facebook page.
He shared a screenshot of the letters of demand sent by the ministers’ legal representatives, TSMP Law Corporation for Ong and Chee, and Drew & Napier for Ng.
The letters were received by Sng on 15 May.
According to the legal notices, the three public figures demanded that Sng take down the posts in full by 16 May, rather than simply editing them.
Previously, Sng had altered the posts to remove the original content, citing that he did so “at the request of the two ministers and Ng”. However, the edit history remained visible.
In compliance with the demand, all three posts were removed entirely. As of 3:00pm on 16 May, the posts were no longer accessible on Facebook.
Sng also published a screenshot of his formal apology letter addressed to the three individuals.
In the letter, he offered an “unreserved” apology and confirmed that he had taken down the posts. He also undertook not to repeat the allegations or make similar statements in future.
The matter stems from Facebook content published by Sng earlier this month.
On 12 May, Ong and Chee issued a joint statement through their press secretaries, asserting that Sng had made two posts containing “categorically false” claims.
These posts allegedly accused the ministers of knowing that Su Haijin had broken the law but choosing to condone his actions.
Additionally, Sng was said to have implied the ministers were either complicit in or vulnerable to corruption or bribery.
In their joint statement, the ministers stated that they did not know Su personally and had no contact with him either before or after the events where photographs were taken.
The images, widely circulated online, showed both ministers at social dinners where Su was also present.
The ministers have demanded that Sng issue a public apology, retract his allegations, and pay damages, which are intended to be donated to charity.
Should he fail to comply by 16 May 2025, legal action will proceed to safeguard their reputations and the government’s integrity, the statement added.
Ng Chee Meng issued a similar legal letter. His demand centred on content posted about a photograph taken with Su Haijin, which he described as “false, misleading, and defamatory.”
Ng claimed the post falsely implied an improper relationship with Su, a Cypriot national of Chinese descent. Su was convicted in Singapore in April 2024 of money laundering and sentenced to 14 months in jail.
He was deported to Cambodia in May 2024.
Ng’s letter mirrors the demands made by Ong and Chee, requesting a retraction, public apology, and a proposal for damages to be donated to charity.
He stated that if these conditions were not met by 16 May, he would initiate legal proceedings to “clear [his] name”.
Su Haijin was among ten individuals arrested in August 2023 in connection with a high-profile billion-dollar money laundering case.
Identified as a member of the Fujian gang, he became a central figure in one of Singapore’s largest financial crime investigations.
On 6 May, the ministers’ press secretaries acknowledged public concerns over images of the ministers with Su.
They clarified the photographs were taken at public events attended upon a friend’s invitation.
Ong noted that Su was present at another dinner months later but insisted no personal ties existed.
Ng explained his appearance in a separate photo with Su occurred during a dinner linked to his professional engagements with private sector leaders. He added there were no further interactions following that event.
Former manpower minister Lim Swee Say also appeared in one of the circulated photographs. He later stated the dinner in May 2022 was a casual gathering among old friends. Su was the only attendee he did not recognise, and they had no contact thereafter.
The host of the events, prominent businessman Sam Goi — known as Singapore’s “Popiah King” — confirmed he organised and paid for the dinners. Goi, who chairs Tee Yih Jia Food Manufacturing, stated that the gatherings complied with prevailing COVID-19 rules at the time.
The post Facebook user Rich Sng apologises to Ong Ye Kung, Chee Hong Tat, and Ng Chee Meng over defamatory posts appeared first on The Online Citizen.
