SPH deliberately singled out ACS I old boy from SG scam gang in Cambodia

[True Believer]

31 October 2025

Mr Wong Wei Kong
Editor-in-Chief
English/Malay/Tamil Media Group
SPH Media

Mr Wong

We refer to your recent article in The Straits Times titled “Singapore scam gang operating in Cambodia allegedly led by two brothers”, published online on 30 October and appearing in print on 31 October, which featured a list of 27 Singaporeans wanted by the police.

We note that the report specifically mentioned that one of the individuals is a former student of ACS(I), while no other educational institutions were named in relation to the other individuals listed.

While we recognise the importance of factual reporting, the selective inclusion of the school’s name particularly through the caption “Former ACS (I) student” placed alongside others labelled “legal trouble” and “criminal history” in the digital version, creates an unnecessary and unfair association between the school and indicators of criminal conduct. Although each caption may be factually accurate in isolation, the juxtaposition suggests that being a former student of ACS (I) is a noteworthy trait of comparable significance to having a criminal record. This framing deliberately misleads readers to assume a correlation or worse, that there is prejudiced reporting by singling out the school. This has caused understandable concern among our Alumni and the broader school community.

We respectfully request that you review this editorial choice and consider either removing the school’s name or applying a consistent approach across all individuals mentioned, and in future mentions. This would help ensure balanced reporting and avoid any misleading implications by a publication that is as esteemed as our national broadsheet, which is funded by tax payers, such as our members.

We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

The ACSOBA Management Committee

 

[Sustanon]

31 October 2025

Mr Wong Wei Kong
Editor-in-Chief
English/Malay/Tamil Media Group
SPH Media

Mr Wong

We refer to your recent article in The Straits Times titled “Singapore scam gang operating in Cambodia allegedly led by two brothers”, published online on 30 October and appearing in print on 31 October, which featured a list of 27 Singaporeans wanted by the police.

We note that the report specifically mentioned that one of the individuals is a former student of ACS(I), while no other educational institutions were named in relation to the other individuals listed.

While we recognise the importance of factual reporting, the selective inclusion of the school’s name particularly through the caption “Former ACS (I) student” placed alongside others labelled “legal trouble” and “criminal history” in the digital version, creates an unnecessary and unfair association between the school and indicators of criminal conduct. Although each caption may be factually accurate in isolation, the juxtaposition suggests that being a former student of ACS (I) is a noteworthy trait of comparable significance to having a criminal record. This framing deliberately misleads readers to assume a correlation or worse, that there is prejudiced reporting by singling out the school. This has caused understandable concern among our Alumni and the broader school community.

We respectfully request that you review this editorial choice and consider either removing the school’s name or applying a consistent approach across all individuals mentioned, and in future mentions. This would help ensure balanced reporting and avoid any misleading implications by a publication that is as esteemed as our national broadsheet, which is funded by tax payers, such as our members.

We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

The ACSOBA Management Committee

but that scammer is a former student from ACS. No? must be a lousy school....

 

[bigozt]

So the schools of the other scammers are not worth mentioning? This is the problem with the 154th and why its Shit Times paper is worth less than scrap paper

 

[bushtucker]

Why did the OBA feel that their school was singled out? They should feel proud that their school name was mentioned in 154th freedom press! Free publicity!

 

[True Believer]

but that scammer is a former student from ACS. No? must be a lousy school....

That is what ex-students of neighbourhood schools would say. LOL!

 

[True Believer]

So the schools of the other scammers are not worth mentioning? This is the problem with the 154th and why its Shit Times paper is worth less than scrap paper

That is the whole point of the letter from the ACS OBA Management Committee.

 

[True Believer]

Why did the OBA feel that their school was singled out? They should feel proud that their school name was mentioned in 154th freedom press! Free publicity!

Why were the former schools of the rest of the scam syndicate criminals not mentioned? Is it because ex-students of neighbourhood schools and ITE are expected to behave in that manner?

 

[True Believer]

This letter from the ACS OBA is measured, precise and focuses on the impact of the editorial framing, but does not challenge the facts of the report.

 

[True Believer]

but that scammer is a former student from ACS. No? must be a lousy school....

The letter from ACS OBA pinpoints the problem squarely which is the selective inclusion of ACS I for 1 of the accused, while no other schools were mentioned for the remaining 26 criminals listed.

 

[True Believer]

The ACS OBA letter points out that this framing by SPH deliberately misleads ST readers to believe that being a former ACS I student may likely lead to having a criminal record later in life. This is the letter's strongest point as it highlights the damaging implication of the low class ST reporting.

 

[True Believer]

but that scammer is a former student from ACS. No? must be a lousy school....

The ACS OBA's assertion that singling out a single school - especially a prominent one like ACS I when 26 other persons' schools are not mentioned, invites ST readers to draw a biased conclusion about the school itself. Sustanon has certainly fallen for the bait!

 

[laksaboy]

Why was there even a need to mention which school a person had attended in news articles? Only in the infantile minds of pretend-journalists working for the PAP regime's mouthpiece.

Anyway, that guy is nothing more than a minion and scapegoat. Tiongs are involved, all the way up to the CCP ruling elites. To put it simply: the CCP regime gave green light for some cronies to set up a scam network across SE Asia.

Until you identify and go after the root cause, just demonizing one ACS old boy is silly.

P.S: Should have thought of this day before you let that shitty country join the WTO in 2001.

 

[Gutted]

A spade is a spade. He is after all an ACS boy.

 

[True Believer]

A spade is a spade. He is after all an ACS boy.

You missed the main point. Singling out a particular school like ACS I, when 26 other persons' schools are not mentioned, invites readers to draw a biased conclusion about ACS I.

 

[Gutted]

You missed the main point. Singling out a particular school like ACS I, when 26 other persons' schools are not mentioned, invites readers to draw a biased conclusion about ACS I.

Overly sensitive lah. Nothing wrong mentioning school name.

 

[True Believer]

The ACS motto "The Best is Yet to Be" encourages students to be optimistic about the future, not settle for their current achievements, and to strive for improvement. It is the belief that a better future is possible through hard work and using one's talents to make a positive impact. One black sheep tried to take a short cut, but one bad apple doesn't spoil the entire barrel.

 

[True Believer]

Overly sensitive lah. Nothing wrong mentioning school name.

It deliberately misleads ST readers to believe that being a former ACS I student may likely lead to having a criminal record later in life.

 

[True Believer]

Overly sensitive lah. Nothing wrong mentioning school name.

Old boys and current students are utterly offended.

 

[Gutted]

Lol. ACS people very thin skin lah

 

[po2wq]

y ze a c asses cud feel offended? ... dey shud b proud of it ...

got 1 time not 2 loong ago, during a ktv raid, got 1 of dem proudly craim hes from acs so dat he cud put his skool in ze news ...