A TikTok post that falsely linked a Singapore fitness instructor to the resignation of former Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim has been removed following intervention by the Online Safety Commission (OSC).
The agency confirmed it had taken action after receiving a report regarding the content, with the post no longer accessible as of the evening of Jul. 28.
The removed TikTok video reportedly featured a screenshot of a Telegram message that falsely claimed a female fitness instructor was responsible for Faishal’s resignation.
OSC investigating more related content
In response to media queries, an OSC spokesperson said the commission received a report about the matter on Jul. 28.
The report referenced several pieces of online content, including the TikTok post that repeated the false allegation.
After assessing the report and determining that harmful online activity had taken place, the OSC ordered action against the post, resulting in its removal.
The spokesperson added that the commission is continuing to investigate other content highlighted in the report and will take further action where appropriate.
The OSC officially began operations on Jun. 29 as Singapore’s one-stop agency to help victims seek recourse against harmful online content.
Fitness instructor denies rumour
Fitness instructor Rasidah Caudal publicly denied the allegations on Jul. 27 after screenshots of the rumour circulated on social media.
In an Instagram post, she described the claims as completely untrue and said she had been “wrongfully accused”.
She categorically rejected the allegations and warned that she would not hesitate to take legal action against individuals responsible for spreading the false claims.
The same screenshot had also been shared on TikTok a day earlier, contributing to the rumour’s spread.
Following the controversy, Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Zaqy Mohamad defended Caudal in a Facebook post, urging the public to verify information before sharing it online.
He reminded Singaporeans that irresponsible online speculation could cause significant harm to innocent individuals and encouraged people to think carefully before reposting unverified claims.
The OSC said investigations into other related online posts remain ongoing.