In a digital age where information travels at the speed of light, the power of social media can be both a blessing and a curse.
On August 15, 2023, Minister of Law and Home Affairs, K Shanmugam, took to his Facebook page to address a distressing issue – the deliberate recirculation of a “nasty, false post” from years ago.
He announced his decision to file a police report, signaling his resolve to combat online defamation head-on.
Unmasking the False Allegations
The controversy began with a troubling revelation. Minister Shanmugam shared that he had been informed about the resurgence of an “old post, fake news” claiming that he had engaged in an affair with a Member of Parliament, according to a report by AsiaOne.
Swiftly dismissing these allegations as “false” and “baseless,” Shanmugam didn’t stop at mere denial. He immediately engaged his legal team to investigate the matter, exploring potential actions to address this grave misinformation.
Just when it seemed the storm might pass, another unsettling revelation came to light. Minister Shanmugam said that a person pretending to be his ex-wife Jothie, had posted a post that was described as “nasty, false” several years ago.
He said that his ex-wife confirmed that she wasn’t the one who wrote it, and he said that he believes the allegations were made up by an imposter.
Shanmugam had initially left the issue alone because the matter “sort of died” despite wanting to file a police report at first.
However, he has since changed his mind and said that “I see that people are deliberately recirculating that post. This time, I will file a police report”
Here is what he said on Facebook
[Alleged Affair with MP]
I have been told that an old post, fake news, is being recirculated – that I had an affair with an MP.
False, baseless allegations.
Have asked my lawyers to look at it and am also considering other options.
[Alleged post by Jothie]
A person pretending to be my ex-wife Jothie, put up a nasty, false post, many years ago.
Jothie didn’t write it and has told me that she didn’t write it. It was an imposter, making up the allegations.
I had wanted to file a police report but eventually left it alone because the matter sort of died.
I see that people are deliberately recirculating that post. This time I will file a police report.