SINGAPORE: Three Singaporean activists, including Kokila Annamalai from the Transformative Justice Collective (TJC), are reportedly under investigation by the Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) office for alleged non-compliance with a Correction Direction order.
An Instagram account, “we.defy.pofma,” shared a screenshot of a letter addressed to Annamalai, summoning her to an investigation for a suspected offence under Sections 7 and 15 of POFMA.
Section 7 makes it an offence to knowingly or recklessly communicate a false statement, while Section 15 pertains to failing to comply with correction directions, stop communication directions, and disabling directions issued under POFMA.
According to the social media post, in addition to Annamalai, two other TJC members, Rocky Howe and Sobikun Nahar, have also been summoned for the same alleged offence.
The post alleged that, as elections near, the government has intensified its use of POFMA against critical voices.
“We stand in solidarity with TJC and Kokila. We will be accompanying them for their investigations at the POFMA office on the following dates,” the post read, revealing that Rocky is scheduled to attend his investigation on 11 February at 9 am, Annamalai on 12 February at 10 am, and Sobikun on 18 February at 10 am.
Under POFMA, the government can issue directions requiring individuals or organisations to append “correction notices” to their posts or face further action.
TJC, an anti-death penalty and social justice group, had been issued such directions between October and December 2024, which they had complied with. TJC has been at the forefront of advocacy against the death penalty and broader human rights issues in Singapore.
If convicted, TJC could face a maximum penalty of S$500,000, while Annamalai, Rocky, and Sobikun may be subjected to fines of up to S$50,000 or five years’ imprisonment.
Additionally, Annamalai could face an additional fine of S$20,000 or 12 months’ imprisonment for failing to comply with a POFMA direction issued in October 2024.
Context of the Allegations
Annamalai had previously refused to comply with a correction direction issued on 5 October 2024, after she posted about the execution of Azwan bin Bohari, alleging legal inconsistencies in Singapore’s handling of capital cases.
She argued that the government was misusing POFMA to suppress dissent and called the directive an “unlawful overreach” that misrepresented her opinions as falsehoods.
In response, 33 individuals launched the #idefypofma campaign, reposting Kokila’s statement in defiance of a POFMA correction. The campaign aims to spark discussions on free speech, state authority, and the limits of POFMA in regulating contentious issues.
Instead of issuing correction directions to each individual who shared Kokila’s statement, Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam directed a correction order to social media giant Meta, requiring the platform to notify users engaging with these posts that they contain “false statements.”
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) claimed on 5 November 2024 that it had identified around 40 social media posts misrepresenting Singapore’s legal processes on executions and drug trafficking.
Activists Condemn POFMA as a Tool for Silencing Dissent Ahead of Elections
On 9 February 2025, the 33 individuals categorically rejected MHA’s claim that they had propagated falsehoods by resharing Kokila’s statement.
“The government is using POFMA as a weapon to crack down on dissenting voices. The law enforces a ‘government knows best’ mindset that is counterproductive to fostering media literacy and critical thinking,” the statement read. It further argued that POFMA is ineffective in addressing genuine foreign influence operations.
MHA accused Annamalai of falsely stating that the State does not bear the legal burden of proving a drug trafficking charge against an accused individual.
However, civil society groups rebutted this, citing Section 17 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, which presumes an individual found with over two grams of diamorphine (heroin) to be in possession for trafficking unless they prove otherwise. This reversal of the burden of proof, critics argue, is a significant concern as it could result in the death penalty.
MHA also alleged that Annamalai claimed the government arbitrarily schedules executions.
Civil society groups refuted this, stating that Annamalai had merely pointed out that Azwan’s execution had been scheduled despite his involvement in a joint application with other prisoners that was still pending in court. The government itself acknowledged this fact in its own “correction” statements.
“This is a difference in opinion, not a dispute over hard facts,” the statement argued, condemning MHA’s actions as an abuse of power designed to intimidate critics.
Allegations of Suppression
Civil society groups criticised the government for allegedly suppressing dissenting views while amplifying its own narrative through mainstream media and social media restrictions.
“Since Meta was issued a Targeted Correction Direction, we have received notifications indicating our posts are being suppressed on the platform. Meanwhile, the government’s version of events is widely spread via mandatory correction notices and mainstream media,” activists claimed.
Since MHA’s 5 November statement, several media platforms, including The Online Citizen, The Edge Singapore, The Independent SG, and Bloomberg, have been issued POFMAs.
TJC, which supports families of death row inmates, has had its website and multiple social media accounts designated as “declared online locations,” making fundraising and outreach increasingly difficult. The group has since ceased operations on these online platforms.
TJC stated that its compliance with previous POFMA orders should not be mistaken for an admission of guilt.
In a statement accompanying its correction notices, TJC stated: “We have put up the Correction Directions not because we accept any of what the government asserts, but because of the grossly unjust terms of the POFMA law. We are choosing to reserve what resources and energies we have for our abolitionist work.”
Eleven civil society organisations, including CIVICUS, condemned the restrictions, stating that the measures stifle debates on human rights issues, particularly those related to the death penalty.
Critics argue that POFMA grants the government undue authority to determine, at the outset, what constitutes falsehoods.
“This suppresses meaningful discussions on critical national issues and enables the State to arbitrarily declare opposing views as false. It is imperative for Singaporeans to have access to diverse perspectives and engage in substantive dialogue on key issues, including the abolition of capital punishment,” the statement concluded.
Rights Groups Decry Singapore’s Ongoing Restrictions on Civic Freedoms
In February, Singapore’s civic space remained classified as “repressed” in the latest CIVICUS Monitor report, citing restrictive laws that curtail civil liberties.
The report highlights the use of POFMA and the Public Order Act to stifle dissent, target activists, and limit peaceful assembly.
Separately, on 6 February, FORUM-ASIA and CIVICUS issued a joint statement urging Singapore to drop all charges against human rights defender Jolovan Wham.
Wham faces five charges related to peaceful gatherings, which human rights groups view as judicial harassment.
CIVICUS researcher Josef Benedict linked the case to a broader crackdown under Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s administration. FORUM-ASIA and CIVICUS called on the government to uphold the right to peaceful assembly and end repression of activists.
