SINGAPORE — Reform Party leader Kenneth Jeyaretnam has been issued his sixth correction direction under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma) over comments he made on Friday (Feb 16) about the rental of black-and-white bungalows at Ridout Road by two ministers.

Second Minister for Law Edwin Tong had instructed the Pofma order to be issued to Mr Jeyaretnam for his article on The Ricebowl Singapore website, as well as his posts on Facebook, X and LinkedIn.

Correction directions were also issued to Gutzy Asia — for an article on its website and its Facebook post — as well as The Online Citizen Asia for its Facebook post.

Mr Jeyaretnam claimed that the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) had charged ministers K Shanmugam and Vivian Balakrishnan rent at below market value for 26 and 31 Ridout Road respectively, and had given them preferential tenancy terms.

This claim was also republished by Gutzy Asia and The Online Citizen Asia. 

"This is untrue," said an article on the Government's Factually website.

SIXTH POFMA ORDER

The Factually website said that Mr Jeyaretnam's article and posts "glaringly omit" facts and that he has a "track record of publishing false statements" regarding the rentals of the Ridout Road properties by the ministers.

From July to November last year, he was issued five correction directions for comments about the Ridout Road rentals.

"His latest article shows that he chooses to persist in making false statements on the matter, even though he clearly knows the true facts," said the Factually article.

"The government takes a serious view of Mr Jeyaretnam’s conduct and will consider if any further action should be taken against him."

It added that the rentals have been "independently and extensively investigated" by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) and Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean.

CPIB found no evidence that the ministers were given favourable rental rates due to their positions, and the issue was covered in parliament on July 3, 2023.

RENTED AT MARKET VALUE

In his article on his website The Ricebowl Singapore, Mr Jeyaretnam compared the rental of 41 Malcolm Road with the two Ridout Road properties.

According to SLA's website, 41 Malcolm Road — which has an estimated gross floor area of 5,279 sq ft — drew four monthly rental bids in February of between S$10,500 and S$22,242.

The Factually article said that SLA had rented out the 26 and 31 Ridout Road in 2018 and 2019 respectively at fair market value and not below market valuation. 

The monthly rent for 26 Ridout Road was S$26,500, while the monthly rent for 31 Ridout Road was S$19,000. 

"At the time, 26 and 31 Ridout Road had been vacant for years. The market conditions were weak and generally on a downward trajectory," it added.

When the properties were renewed three years later, they were also at market rent. A revaluation of the rentals was carried out by professional valuers to peg the rentals to the prevailing market rate.

The monthly rent for 26 Ridout Road was maintained at S$26,500, while the monthly rent for 31 Ridout Road was increased to S$20,000.

Regarding 26 Ridout Road, Mr Shanmugam had recused himself from the rental transaction and no matter had been raised by SLA to the Ministry of Law during the entire rental process.

The professional valuer also did not know the identity of the prospective tenant at the time, according to the Factually article.

Mr Jeyaretnam "makes an inappropriate and erroneous comparison" for the rentals of 26 and 31 Ridout Road, with the recent rental bids for 41 Malcolm Road.

"It is misleading for Mr Jeyaretnam to suggest that the properties are directly comparable, without making any attempt to refer to the established facts relating to the rentals of 26 and 31 Ridout Road, or to account for the fact that property market conditions do not remain static," according to the article.

"Market conditions today are stronger than they were when the Ridout Road properties were initially rented out and subsequently renewed."

The tenancies for the Ridout Road properties were also kept within the 3+3+3 tenancy period.

"The ministers had incurred substantial costs to improve the state properties, the benefit of which will accrue to the State when the tenancies eventually come to an end."

Despite knowing these facts, Mr Jeyaretnam states that the tenancy durations for the two Ridout Road properties were "exceptionally generous" compared with the duration for 41 Malcolm Road.

Mr Jeyaretnam, Gutzy Asia and The Online Citizen Asia have posted correction notices — as required by the Pofma order — stating that the said articles or posts contain a false statement of fact. CNA