Singapore Orders Malaysian Portal To Correct Five False Claims In Pannir Selvam Article

Singapore has directed Malaysian news portalMalaysiaNow to publish correction notices after an article on Nov 9 was found to contain five false claims about the execution of drug courier Pannir Selvam Pranthaman, who was put to death on Oct 8. The order was issued on Nov 15 under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma), following instructions from Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong.

Singapore Orders

Authorities said the first falsehood alleged that Pannir’s execution was carried out without regard for the rule of law. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) stated that he had been given full due process, including multiple appeals, 11 post-appeal applications, and six clemency petitions.

The second falsehood claimed that he was wrongly denied a Certificate of Substantive Assistance. MHA clarified that he had not provided information that led to any arrest.

False statements

The third and fourth false statements alleged a secret interview arranged between Malaysian NCID officers and Pannir, and that a CNB officer posed as Malaysian police. MHA said the interview was formally requested, transparent, and identities were never concealed.

A fifth falsehood claimed SPS misled Pannir’s family over his belongings, which authorities rejected, explaining that only security-sensitive pages were withheld.

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