Leong Mun Wai steps down as Progress Singapore Party secretary-general following recent POFMA order
Hazel Poa takes over the post from Leong, who had made false claims about the lack of financial aid for West Coast residents
SINGAPORE — Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Leong Mun Wai has stepped down as Progress Singapore Party (PSP) secretary-general to take responsibility for a Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) order earlier this month, when he made false claims about the lack of financial aid for West Coast residents.
The party had put up a post on its Facebook page on Friday (23 February) stating that Leong has decided to step down as secretary-general on Tuesday, following the POFMA order issued to him on 15 February.
"(Leong) will remain a Central Executive Committee (CEC) member. PSP's CEC accepted Mr Leong's decision and is proud that he has demonstrated accountability through his actions," the Facebook post said.
PSP added that Hazel Poa, the party's other Non-Constituency MP, was elected and assumed the secretary-general position on Tuesday.
False claims on a couple's financial aid situation
Leong was issued the POFMA order by Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Social and Family Development, after he made several claims on his Facebook page about the financial aid situation and MediSave funds of a couple living in West Coast GRC.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development said that Leong had falsely claimed that the couple received only a Home Caregiving Grant and do not receive any other form of financial assistance from public sector agencies for their daily expenses.
In truth, the couple have been receiving monthly financial assistance in the form of NTUC vouchers from the People’s Association from February 2022, as well as utilities vouchers from the Community Development Council from March 2022. They also receive S$300 in cash each month from a temple.
Following the POFMA order, Leong removed the posts from his Facebook and Instagram pages. Online social-political websites Gutzy Asia and The Online Citizen, who had republished Leong's statements, complied with the correction direction by carrying a correction notice on the original post, with a link to the government's clarification.
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