SINGAPORE: Health Minister Ong Ye Kung and Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat stated on 16 May 2025 that it is not practical for ministers to ensure they never meet or are photographed with individuals who may be “bad persons”.
The two ministers issued a joint statement following a public apology from Facebook user Sng Chia Huat, also known as Rich Sng, who admitted to making false allegations against them and labour chief Ng Chee Meng.
In the statement, as reported by state media CNA, they said:”It is not practical for ministers to ensure they never meet, or have their photos taken with, individuals who may be or potentially may be bad persons.”
“The key is we do not do anything wrong in the way we discharge our duties, even as we make ourselves accessible to all segments of society.”
On 16 May, Sng issued a public apology to the three public office holders.
He confirmed that all three contentious posts had been removed from his Facebook page in compliance with their demands.
Sng posted a screenshot of a formal apology letter addressed to the ministers and Ng. In the letter, he offered an “unreserved” apology, confirmed the removal of the posts, and pledged not to repeat the allegations.
As of 3:00pm on 16 May, the posts were no longer accessible.
Ministers reiterate regular public engagement is unavoidable
The ministers explained that as part of their duties, political office holders frequently interact with a wide range of individuals at Meet-the-People Sessions, community functions, and public dialogues.
“This is part and parcel of the job,” they stated, adding that accessibility to all segments of society is crucial in public service.
The issue arose from Facebook posts published by Sng earlier in May.
On 12 May, Ong and Chee issued a joint response through their press secretaries, labelling two of Sng’s posts as “categorically false”.
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 response, the ministers stated they did not personally know Su, nor did they have any contact with him beyond the events where photographs were taken.
The images, widely circulated on social media, showed both Ong and Chee at social dinners where Su Haijin was also present.
These events, according to their offices, were public functions attended upon invitations.
Ong clarified that Su was present at another dinner months later, but emphasised there were no personal ties.
Ng Chee Meng said his own photo with Su was taken during a dinner with private sector leaders, with no follow-up interactions.
Former manpower minister Lim Swee Say also appeared in one of the photos. He said it was a casual dinner among old friends in May 2022, and Su was the only attendee he did not recognise.
Businessman Sam Goi, known as Singapore’s “Popiah King”, confirmed he hosted and paid for the dinners, and stated they adhered to prevailing COVID-19 regulations.
Ng issued a similar legal letter regarding Sng’s claims. He described the post involving his photograph with Su as “false, misleading, and defamatory”.
Ng demanded a retraction, public apology, and monetary compensation to be donated to charity. He warned that if the conditions were not fulfilled by 16 May, legal action would follow to protect his reputation.
Su Haijin, the central figure in the controversy, was convicted of money laundering in April 2024 and sentenced to 14 months’ jail. He was deported to Cambodia in May 2024.
He had been among ten individuals arrested in August 2023 during a billion-dollar money laundering probe and was linked to the Fujian gang.
Sng proposes community service in lieu of damages
In addition to his apology, Sng publicly proposed serving 300 hours of community service — 100 hours for each of the three individuals named — in place of paying financial damages, citing financial hardship.
He said he had closed his business on 1 April due to rising costs, inflation, CPF contribution increases, and global economic uncertainty.
He described exhausting his savings and falling into debt.
Despite his challenges, Sng highlighted his long-standing involvement in voluntary work. Since 2019, he said he has been aiding disadvantaged families, the elderly, and hoarders, often without formal recognition or media attention.
He pledged that his community service would be directed towards people not currently supported by charities, and invited the ministers to join him on the ground — “no media, no photos” — to witness the living conditions of overlooked Singaporeans.
The ministers’ joint statement did not address this offer or the proposal of community service.
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