Access disabled after outlet declined to publish correction notices on drug courier article

Singapore has ordered internet providers to block access to Malaysian news portal MalaysiaNow after the outlet refused to comply with a POFMA correction direction related to an article about executed drug courier Pannir Selvam Pranthaman.

Authorities Order Site Blocking After Non-Compliance

On Nov 17, the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced that MalaysiaNow would be blocked in Singapore. The move followed the site’s refusal to carry correction notices required under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA).

The correction direction, issued on Nov 15, required MalaysiaNow to publish official clarifications alongside its article on Pannir Selvam. Despite multiple reminders, the outlet did not comply.

Government: Responsible Media Should Follow Correction Rules

MDDI and MHA said MalaysiaNow’s refusal showed a lack of “journalistic integrity,” noting that the order did not demand removal of content—only that factual clarifications be displayed. The ministries stressed that correction directions allow readers to weigh both the article and the official position.

MalaysiaNow, however, rejected the requirement. Editor Abdar Rahman Koya wrote that the outlet “does not take instructions from any government,” questioning Singapore’s expectation of compliance from a foreign media organisation.

Targeted Correction Orders Sent to Major Platforms

Alongside the site-blocking order, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong instructed the POFMA Office to issue targeted correction directions to Meta, LinkedIn, and X. These platforms are now required to show correction notices to all Singapore users who accessed posts linking to MalaysiaNow’s article.

Such directions are standard under POFMA when falsehoods are spread across social media platforms.

False Statements Identified in the Article

MHA identified several false claims in MalaysiaNow’s Nov 9 article, including allegations that:

• Pannir’s execution ignored rule-of-law principles
• The decision not to issue a certificate of substantive assistance was unlawful
• A CNB officer disguised himself as Malaysian police during an interview
• SPS officers tried to deceive Pannir’s family regarding his belongings

Authorities reiterated that Pannir did not receive a certificate of substantive assistance because the public prosecutor determined he had not substantively helped disrupt drug trafficking. The Court of Appeal dismissed his challenge in 2021.

Legal Basis and Precedent

Under Singapore law, a drug courier may avoid the death penalty only if two conditions are met:

• The offender is proven to be a courier; and
• The public prosecutor certifies substantive assistance to CNB.

Since this certification is entirely at the public prosecutor’s discretion, MHA emphasised that the legal process was properly followed.

A similar POFMA non-compliance case occurred in January, when Singapore ordered the blocking of the Australia-based East Asia Forum website.

Government’s Commitment Against Online Falsehoods

MDDI and MHA said the government will continue protecting Singaporeans from harmful misinformation, stating that access blocking will be lifted should MalaysiaNow choose to comply in the future.

Singapore’s move to block MalaysiaNow underscores the country’s firm stance on combating online falsehoods, especially in sensitive cases involving law enforcement and capital punishment. For readers in Singapore, Malaysia, and the wider region, the case highlights growing tensions between media independence and state efforts to regulate misinformation.

Sources: CNA (2025) , Straits Times (2025)

Keywords: MalaysiaNow Blocked, POFMA Order, Singapore MHA, Correction Direction, Pannir Selvam Case