Latest news with #TanKinLian
CNA
18 hours ago
- General
- CNA
Fine for blogger who claimed in video that Josephine Teo made offensive remarks against Malays
SINGAPORE: A blogger posted a video on TikTok claiming that Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo had made offensive remarks against Malays. Manmeet Singh Bahadar Singh did so after he received a link from an unknown person to a WordPress blog with the alleged offensive content. Singh, 57, then posted a commentary about the content without verifying its authenticity. He removed it once he realised that he had been "led on" by the unknown person, his lawyers S S Dhillon and Jasjeet Singh Harjindar Singh told the court. Singh was fined S$6,000 (US$4,700) on Friday (Jun 6) after he pleaded guilty to one charge of knowingly committing an act which promoted disharmony between different racial groups. Singh is a blogger who posts about socio-political issues on TikTok, among other social media platforms. He has been previously featured in the media as former presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian's bodyguard. HOW THE OFFENCE HAPPENED Before he posted the offending content on TikTok on Aug 12, 2024, he received a link to a WordPress blog post via WhatsApp from an unknown person. The blog post alleged that Mrs Teo, when asked about racial progress during an interview with Chinese media on Singapore's 59-year development, had made an offensive remark against Malays. Singh felt angry and offended. On the morning of Aug 12, 2024, he posted a video on his TikTok account with a visible representation bearing the words "Minister Josephine Teo blurted 'Malays are i*****' in a Chinese interview". He then repeated the blog post's allegations. Singh did not verify the authenticity of the claims on the blog post before making his video. In the video, Singh repeats the allegations and tells viewers to "go look it up". He then adds, "I have been voicing out for, you know, against racial discrimination in Singapore. And look what happened now? My prediction's right!" He finishes the video with the phrase "bring them down", according to court documents. At the time of the offences, Singh's TikTok account had around 9,054 followers. The video was available long enough for Mrs Teo's colleagues and a reporter to ask the minister about it. Around four hours after the video was published, Mrs Teo told her press secretary about it. The press secretary then downloaded a copy of the video and lodged a police report. Later that day, Singh suspected the allegations were false and removed the TikTok video by 1.40pm. He then posted another video in which he apologised to Mrs Teo, noting that his previous allegation was probably false. By 3pm, however, TikTok removed this video. Subsequently, Mrs Teo posted on social media platforms to state that the allegations were false. The blog post that sparked the offences was not available as of 6.30pm on Aug 12, 2024. Singh was arrested on Feb 4, 2025 and released on bail the next day. In mitigation, Mr Dhillon told the court the circumstances under which his client had been "led on" by the unknown person who sent him the blog post. Singh was on his way to work as a warehouse assistant when this person texted him and included the link to the offensive blog post. This person then encouraged Singh to do "what you need to do", said Mr Dhillon. "At the time, Manmeet had just alighted from his bus and was walking to his then-workplace, which was about a 10-minute walk from the bus stop. "Manmeet felt angry and offended and elected to take a snapshot of the blog post on his phone and proceeded to record a video of himself commenting on the alleged statement on his phone whilst walking," Mr Dhillon and Mr Singh said. Singh then went about his work. As he was working, he started having second thoughts about his post, as he had a growing suspicion that its contents were fake. However, as Singh's work involved sensitive information, he did not have access to his phone until lunch. "To his surprise and shock, he realised that the unknown person who had sent him the WhatsApp message that morning had deleted his account as well as the said message," the defence lawyers said. "This confirmed Manmeet's suspicions that he had been falsely led on." Singh immediately removed his video and published an apology video on his TikTok account. Unbeknownst to him, TikTok removed this video by 3pm. He subsequently posted a second video to apologise. The defence lawyers said that Singh was "racked with guilt" over his actions. "Manmeet is not in the business of making his videos for profit or clout. His content is akin to an extension of himself and his views, which he shares because he feels responsible to raise awareness," said the lawyers. Singh has since "deliberately steered clear of associating with other politicians to avoid controversy", the lawyers said. He also actively vets his news sources. The defence asked for a S$2,000 fine for Singh.
Independent Singapore
3 days ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Tan Kin Lian slams Trump's Tariff policies in blistering Facebook post
SINGAPORE: Former presidential candidate and businessman Tan Kin Lian took to Facebook on May 31 to sharply criticise U.S. President Donald Trump, describing his tariff policies as economically damaging and politically reckless. In a post titled ' Wrecking Ball Trump,' Tan warned that the tariffs imposed during Trump's administration were backfiring on American businesses, making them less competitive both at home and abroad. Tariffs backfiring on U.S. businesses Tan argued that by taxing imported components, American manufacturers were forced to pay more for the parts they needed to assemble their final products. These higher input costs, he said, had a knock-on effect: companies either raised prices for U.S. consumers, contributing to inflation, or struggled to sell competitively on the export market. 'This made U.S. manufacturers uncompetitive when they export… [and] more expensive to U.S. buyers,' Tan wrote. He cited online videos, claiming that many U.S. factories had shut down and some major companies had relocated operations overseas to escape the rising costs caused by tariffs. See also Open letter to the new CEO of SMRT Job losses and delayed promises The knock-on effect, according to Tan, is widespread job loss across affected states, contradicting Trump's promise that tariffs would bring jobs back to America. 'The new jobs that were supposed to be created in the U.S., due to the tariffs, may take several years to realize,' he noted. Tan echoed critics who liken Trump's approach to a 'wrecking ball'—a blunt-force strategy that damages everything in its path without building anything lasting in its wake. Strong language, sharper criticism Tan did not mince words when addressing Trump's decision-making, stating bluntly that many people consider Trump to be 'insane and incredibly stupid'—an assessment he openly said he shared. Tourism slump paints bleak picture of U.S. soft power In a separate post, Tan commented on the sharp decline in international tourism to the U.S. since Trump returned to office in January 2025. He noted that international arrivals fell year-on-year in March, with even steeper declines from key regions like Western Europe and Central America. He attributed the drop to a mix of political and policy-driven deterrents—among them, aggressive immigration enforcement, border detentions, and controversial rhetoric, including Trump's threat to annex Canada. Countries such as Germany and Canada experienced booking cancellations of over 30%. Cities like New York and Los Angeles have felt the brunt of this shift, with ticket sales to tourist attractions and hotel occupancy rates falling significantly. Canadian flight bookings to the U.S. have reportedly plunged by over 70%. Tan remarked that these developments signal a larger erosion of the U.S.'s global appeal, not just economically but diplomatically. A pattern of self-inflicted harm From shrinking global market share to waning tourism dollars, Tan Kin Lian's posts paint a picture of an America under Trump that is isolating itself—economically, diplomatically, and culturally. 'The U.S. position risks being perceived as unreasonable because it simultaneously escalates tech restrictions while demanding concessions on unrelated issues,' he wrote. Tan concluded that unless the U.S. adopts a more balanced and reciprocal approach, particularly in its dealings with China and the global economy, it risks long-term strategic losses that no short-term posturing can undo.
Independent Singapore
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
Presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian backs students using Gen-AI, calls it a tool for smarter learning
SINGAPORE: Former presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian has come out in support of allowing students to use generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in schools, describing them as valuable aids that can improve learning outcomes when used responsibly. In a Facebook post published on May 22, Tan responded to reports that China's Ministry of Education had issued new directives restricting the use of generative AI in classrooms. While China's policy focuses on tightening oversight, particularly at the primary level, Tan offered a more open approach. 'Instead of spending a lot of time getting information from the internet, they let the AI do the work,' he wrote. 'The student will still have to read and understand the content and edit it. This requires skill in comprehension and judgment.' Tan, who previously served as CEO of NTUC Income and ran in the 2023 presidential election, shared that his views are informed by his own experience using AI tools. He explained that reviewing and refining AI-generated outputs demands discernment—a process he believes students can learn from. 'I have to exercise judgment to select the output that suits the purpose,' he added, noting that generative AI systems can sometimes produce inaccurate or incomplete information. His comments come shortly after China rolled out two key documents: the Guidelines for AI General Education in Primary and Secondary Schools (2025) and the Guidelines for the Use of Generative AI in Primary and Secondary Schools (2025) . Together, these aim to build a comprehensive AI education framework while imposing guardrails around how AI can be used in the classroom. Under the new Chinese guidelines, primary school students are prohibited from independently using open-ended generative AI tools, such as chatbots or content generators. Teachers, too, are barred from relying on AI to perform core duties like answering student questions or grading assignments. They are also instructed to avoid inputting sensitive data into AI systems, a move aimed at safeguarding privacy and reducing dependency. At the same time, China's approach does promote AI literacy, using a tiered curriculum that evolves from basic exposure in primary school to systems-level thinking in senior high school. The Ministry of Education has described the move as a step toward cultivating talent equipped with both technical skills and social responsibility in an age of intelligent technologies. Tan's position offers a counterpoint to this cautious model. Rather than limiting access, he argues for empowering students to use AI as part of their learning journey, underlining that tools like these can support understanding, not replace it. His remarks add to a growing global conversation about AI's place in education. While some governments restrict its use over concerns about misinformation and academic integrity, others—including educators and technologists—continue to explore how the technology might be responsibly integrated into classrooms. 'In my opinion, it is useful to let the students use generative AI software for their work assignments,' Tan said.
Independent Singapore
08-05-2025
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Not everyone agrees with Tan Kin Lian's suggestion that Singaporeans face higher living costs than Malaysians
SINGAPORE: Former presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian apparently wanted to debunk the popular notion that Singaporeans are better off than Malaysians. He argued that the cost of living is higher in Singapore. In a social media post earlier this week, Mr Tan, who had served as chief executive officer of National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Income between 1977 and 2007, wrote that 'many Singaporeans think that they are better off than Malaysians' due to the big disparity in monthly salaries. Singaporeans earn 'say S$3,000 while the Malaysians earn RM3,000, and the SGD is more than three times higher than RM,' he added. This view, Mr Tan wrote, overlooks the important factor of the cost of living, including housing and car ownership, which is substantially higher in Singapore, one of the most expensive cities in the world. He added that Singaporeans' disposable income for food could only be 20% of their salaries, or S$600. In Malaysia, meanwhile, housing and car ownership are considerably less expensive, leaving them with a higher disposable income to pay for food, which Mr Tan believes is 40%. The former NTUC Income chief also pointed out that food is less expensive in Malaysia than in Singapore, saying that a meal that costs RM12 in Malaysia will cost more than its equivalent in Singapore dollars. Instead of costing Singaporeans S$3.50, it could cost as much as S$8. 'After allowing for the lower disposable income, the Singaporean is likely to struggle with the cost of food, in the same way that the Malaysians have to struggle with higher costs,' wrote Mr Tan. He added a caveat, however, that this was his observation and he could be wrong. His post has since been widely shared and commented on, although not everyone agreed with his observations. 'Dollar to dollar comparison, the cost of living is higher in Malaysia, isn't it?' asked one Facebook user. 'If we compare KL median housing prices, it is higher than the median HDB, in term of median income, the median income in KL is MYR4.2k , SG is S$5.5k. The only thing they can compete is car prices, but that's the best part of SG, you don't even need a car in SG for many in Singapore. Our public transport is world-class,' pointed out another. A Malaysian working and living in Singapore wrote, 'SG is a lot cheaper, even with housing. I bought a BTO (build to order), which is cheap, but I do not own a car here. Chicken rice costs S$5 here, RM12 in Malaysia, not S$8. My disposable income is a lot higher, but my quality of life is definitely lower, with a small house without condo facilities and no car… waste a lot of time travelling.' Another Malaysian wrote that, on average, Singaporeans and Malaysians spend the same on housing, and transportation can cost more in Malaysia, depending on location. In places such as Kuala Lumpur, it can be even more expensive than in Singapore. In addition, while Malaysian food may be cheaper, at around 60% to 80% of the cost in Singapore, the cost of groceries may be the same. Morever, they pointed out that Malaysians also face the risk of their vehicles getting destroyed in floods, which have become more common, 'and insurance will not cover it.' The commenter added that the purchasing power of the Singapore dollar 'allows more Singaporeans to be less impacted by price hikes compared to neighbouring citizens'. /TISG Read also: Post-PE2023: There is public space for Ng Kok Song, George Goh and, of course, Tan Kin Lian
The Sun
23-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
S'porean ex-presidential candidate praises M'sia's interbank ATM system—locals say, 'we've had it for decades'
FORMER Singapore presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian was recently surprised with Malaysia's banking infrastructure, offering praise during a visit to Johor. While rushing to get cash at Senai Airport, Tan saw an ATM from an unfamiliar bank—but was still able to make a withdrawal from his Maybank account. ALSO READ: 'Not used to inefficiencies in other countries' - Singaporean tries to set up bank account in M'sia, says its giving her a 'headache' 'It was the first ATM that I saw at Senai airport. I was able to withdraw cash from this ATM from my Maybank account as it is linked to the MEPS clearing system. 'I had to pay RM 1 as a service charge. I do not mind paying this service charge as it saves me from looking for the ATM of my bank. 'This is more efficient than asking individual banks to set up their own ATMs. 'Many petrol stations and convenience stores in Malaysia also offer ATM service that allows their customers to withdraw money by paying a RM 1 service fee. 'Singapore does not have this arrangement. It leads to high operating costs in Singapore,' he wrote on Facebook. His post shed light on how Malaysia's cross-bank ATM system simplifies cash access nationwide—including at petrol stations and convenience stores—offering flexibility to both locals and travellers. The post sparked discussion among netizens, many of whom were surprised to realise the everyday convenience they often took for granted. One user, presumably a Singaporean named Wong Sunny, commented: ' Yes, such ATM facilities offer convenience and wide choices of Malaysian banks cards are accessible. I like it.' 'This system has been available in Malaysia for decades,' Aloha Snackbar wrote.
