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On 23 March 2026 at 10:09am, The Online Citizen received a Correction Direction under Section 11(3)(b) of the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act 2019 — requiring us to publish a correction notice in The Straits Times at our own expense. (see the image as attached)
We believe this is the first time this provision has been invoked since POFMA came into force in 2019.
By 9:35am the following morning — less than 24 hours after the Direction was served — SPH Media was already chasing us for payment.
Only around S$1,000 has been raised thus far.
We are a Taiwan-based publication with no Singapore bank account, being required to arrange international payment of SGD $10,400 under a legal instrument that carries criminal penalties for non-compliance.
We wish to thank SPH Media for extending the payment deadline to 25 March 2026 at 1800hrs GMT+8, which gives us a marginally more workable window than the original timeline imposed by the Direction. We appreciate that grace.
The article that is the subject of this Direction — which we stand by — can be read here: https://tocasia.link/empty-chair
We do not accept that the statements identified in the Direction are false. We are complying because the law requires it. We intend to appeal.
We are required to front the payment personally before any supporter funds can reach us via bank transfer from Singapore.
Every contribution — however small — helps us recover this cost and sends a clear message that every time this instrument is used against independent journalism, Singaporeans and supporters worldwide will respond.
PayNow
Payable to: Leong Sze Hian
Mobile: 96804908
(Leong is collecting on our behalf as TOC operates from Taiwan)
Buy Me a Coffee
https://buymeacoffee.com/theonlinecitizen
PayPal: [email protected]
Patreon (for ongoing support)
https://www.patreon.com/c/CitizenMediaFund
The direction specifies the notice must be published on page 2 or 3 of The Straits Times main section — prime placement that comes at SGD $10,400.
The government has ensured our reporting on the Attorney-General's recusal and reappointment process reaches the most prominent pages of Singapore's national newspaper. We are required by law to pay for it.
We believe this is the first time this provision has been invoked since POFMA came into force in 2019.
By 9:35am the following morning — less than 24 hours after the Direction was served — SPH Media was already chasing us for payment.
Only around S$1,000 has been raised thus far.
We are a Taiwan-based publication with no Singapore bank account, being required to arrange international payment of SGD $10,400 under a legal instrument that carries criminal penalties for non-compliance.
We wish to thank SPH Media for extending the payment deadline to 25 March 2026 at 1800hrs GMT+8, which gives us a marginally more workable window than the original timeline imposed by the Direction. We appreciate that grace.
The article that is the subject of this Direction — which we stand by — can be read here: https://tocasia.link/empty-chair
We do not accept that the statements identified in the Direction are false. We are complying because the law requires it. We intend to appeal.
We are required to front the payment personally before any supporter funds can reach us via bank transfer from Singapore.
Every contribution — however small — helps us recover this cost and sends a clear message that every time this instrument is used against independent journalism, Singaporeans and supporters worldwide will respond.
Payable to: Leong Sze Hian
Mobile: 96804908
(Leong is collecting on our behalf as TOC operates from Taiwan)
https://buymeacoffee.com/theonlinecitizen
https://www.patreon.com/c/CitizenMediaFund
The direction specifies the notice must be published on page 2 or 3 of The Straits Times main section — prime placement that comes at SGD $10,400.
The government has ensured our reporting on the Attorney-General's recusal and reappointment process reaches the most prominent pages of Singapore's national newspaper. We are required by law to pay for it.
