A correction notice has been issued to The Online Citizen (TOC) over an article published on February 14 regarding the rental and renovation works at 26 Ridout Road. The order, issued under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA), also requires TOC to include similar notices on its social media posts linking to the article. Additionally, a correction order was issued to the YouTube channel Twenty Two Thirty for a video posted on February 16 covering the same topic.
Authorities state that this is not the first time TOC has spread misinformation regarding the rental of black-and-white colonial bungalows at 26 and 31 Ridout Road, properties rented by Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam and Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, respectively. Despite a previous correction order issued on February 18, 2024, TOC continued to make claims suggesting impropriety by the ministers, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), and other public agencies.
During a parliamentary debate in July 2023, the then-Prime Minister addressed concerns about the rental transactions, stating that investigations, including those conducted by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), found no evidence of wrongdoing or preferential treatment. A separate review by a senior minister also concluded that both ministers followed proper procedures and took appropriate measures to avoid conflicts of interest.
The government's fact-checking website outlined the main inaccuracies in TOC’s and Twenty Two Thirty’s reports, including claims that:
- SLA assured Mr. Shanmugam an extension of his lease beyond 2027
- URA and BCA failed to ensure the necessary approvals were obtained for the renovation works at 26 Ridout Road
- Public funds were used to finance earthworks at the property since 2024
Authorities refuted these claims, stating that no assurance was given regarding a lease extension beyond 2027. The tenancy agreement, which began in 2018, follows SLA’s standard practice of granting residential state property leases in two- or three-year terms, renewable for up to nine years. The current lease was renewed in June 2024 for its third term, extending it until 2027. Any further renewal would be subject to prevailing conditions, including market demand and government land-use plans.
Regarding construction approvals, authorities clarified that URA’s approval is only required for significant works, such as those affecting conserved buildings or those increasing a property’s gross floor area by more than 10 percent. A streamlined process for state properties allows certain works to proceed with SLA’s in-principle approval, eliminating the need for URA’s involvement. The tenant at 26 Ridout Road adhered to these guidelines, obtaining the necessary approvals from SLA and BCA where required.
Claims that public funds were used for earthworks at the property were also denied. Authorities confirmed that the tenant fully covered the costs of all improvement works, including the earthworks carried out since 2024. Meanwhile, SLA, as the landlord, undertook structural repairs related to conservation, such as timber restoration, which were necessary to maintain the property’s safety and heritage value. These works were addressed in the 2023 parliamentary review.
The fact-checking article emphasized the importance of verifying information, warning that TOC had previously made misleading claims by omitting publicly available facts. Authorities stressed that maintaining a governance system with high integrity requires vigilance against misinformation.
Both TOC and Twenty Two Thirty have complied with the correction orders by adding notices to their respective articles and videos.
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