FB user apologises to Ong Ye Kung, Chee Hong Tat & Ng Chee Meng over Su Haijin FB posts, withdraws allegations
They had issued him lawyers' letters for defamation.
Daniel Seow
May 16, 2025, 04:04 PM
A Facebook user who was issued lawyers' letters for defamation by Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Transport Chee Hong Tat and NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng has apologised and withdrawn his allegations against them.
Rich Sng, whose real name is Sng Chia Huat, had put up three posts on Facebook from May 8 to 10 relating to convicted money launderer Su Haijin.
In a May 12 statement sent via their press secretaries to the media, Ong and Chee said Sng accused them of the following:
- They were aware that Su had broken laws but condoned it
- They dishonestly pretended not to know Su
- They were involved in or susceptible to corruption or bribery
- They are part of a system that protects such criminals
"These allegations are baseless and are false," they said.
By May 15, Sng had amended these three posts, with a notice that he had done so on the request of Ong, Chee and Ng.
They had sent him lawyers' letters asking him to withdraw his allegations, apologise and pay for damages by May 16.
Apology
On May 16, Sng posted a signed apology on his
Facebook addressed to Ong and Chee, and another addressed to Ng.
"I admit and acknowledge that these allegations are baseless, false and completely without foundation," Sng wrote in both statements.
Sng also apologised to Ong, Chee and Ng "for the distress and embarrassment that [he has] caused to them" by publishing the posts.
Sng also undertook to not to make further allegations or publish any posts containing such or similar allegations.
Background
Sng's posts in question included pictures depicting Ong, Chee and Ng at dinners organised and paid for by businessman Sam Goi, at which Su was present.
According to
The Straits Times, Goi said the dinner with Chee was held on Nov. 19, 2020, the dinner with Ng was on May 1, 2021, and the dinner with Ong was on May 10, 2022.
Su was arrested amid a billion-dollar money laundering probe in August 2023.
On May 8 and May 10, Sng published the posts in which he accused ministers Ong and Chee of "pretending not to know [Su]".
Both ministers previously responded to allegations surrounding the photos, and clarified that they do not know Su personally.
The ministers issued Sng an ultimatum to withdraw his allegations, apologise and pay for damages by May 16 or face legal action.
On May 12, Ng also referred to such posts put up by Sng, calling them "false, misleading, and defamatory".
Previously, Ng said in response to allegations that he is often approached for photographs at engagements which he attends as secretary-general of NTUC.
After learning about the police investigations and subsequent criminal charges against Su, Ng had no further interactions with him, he said.
Ng issued Su a similar ultimatum to withdraw his allegations and apologise by May 16.
Ng has also asked Sng to propose an amount of damages, which Ng will donate to charity.