LETTER OF APOLOGY
I, Vincent Wijeysingha, wrote and posted the article entitled “‘You can resign and go to SBS,’ the drivers were told” on my Facebook account on 2 December 2012 (the “Article”). The Article’s focus was on the recent illegal strike by the Chinese bus drivers of SMRT Corporation Ltd, which took place on 26 and 27 November 2012. In the Article, I made the following allegations (the “Allegations”) against Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, the Acting Minister for Manpower and the Senior Minister of State, Ministry of National Development, Singapore (the “Minister”):
(1) The Minister was either dishonest or deceptive when he said that he was not aware of the particular complaint by the Chinese bus drivers which led to the strike.
(2) The Minister was being untruthful, dishonest and/or at the very least disingenuous, in his assurance to the public that there are legitimate processes in place for the settlement of labour disputes, and his said claim reflects the fact that he is systematically dishonest, as he knew that no legitimate processes existed for the Chinese bus drivers to avail themselves of and/or settle their labour concerns and disputes.
(3) The Minister’s lack of honesty and integrity resulted from the fact that he has been bought by monetary and material inducements.
I accept that the Allegations above are wholly untrue and false. They are made without basis, and are defamatory of the Minister. I withdraw wholly the Allegations, and apologise unreservedly to the Minister. I undertake not to repeat the same or similar Allegations, or cause such same or similar Allegations to be published, in the future.