It has finally happened. Using the recent Wuhan Coronavirus emergency as a convenient excuse, the Singapore Government has lifted the temporary exemption of internet platforms form the POFMA requirements. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter and others were under this category of temporary exemption.

The POFMA was issued to TOC due to them sharing the statement by Malaysia-based Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) in which they alleged stated "untrue, baseless and preposterous allegations about the use of unlawful methods in judicial executions conducted in Changi Prison" according to the MHA press release. Two others who shared the same LFL statement were also issued POFMA, according to the MHA press release. The two were another opposition voice Kirsten Han, and non-PAP controlled media, Yahoo Singapore Facebook.

The Facebook post indicated that the SDP will challenge this too, as they apply to have the judge "to have the case heard in open court". SDP stated that this will be the first thing they will do when the Court session is convened on Thursday morning. This, SDP indicated, will allow the matter to be open to the public, seeing as how the case has escalated to such an extent that it has drawn widespread and intense public interest.

SDP said they found the MOM's reply disturbing, as SDP had submitted a detailed account which includes analyzing MOM’s own statistics, as the reasons for the statements in SDP's posts. They also countered that Minister Teo, who had the backing of her entire Ministry and their officials, and two full days with which to substantiate their Correction Directions, had failed to do so, and this was indicative of the lack of leadership qualities in the PAP's 4G Leadership.

But what about the Government themselves? Can they ever be issued with POFMA? After all, telling half truths and not the full facts is a common tactic used by governments the world over. So, to be better than the rest, why not the Singapore government come out with actual facts, with stats and reports to back up what they want to disprove, instead of just issuing Correction Orders?