On Friday ( Mar 21 ), Reform Party leader Kenneth Jeyaretnam received his 10th correctional order under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act ( POFMA ).
According to a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs ( MHA ), the Minister for Digital Development and Information and the Second Minister for Home Affairs, Josephine Teo instructed the POFMA Office to issue the order to Mr. Jeyaretnam.
The latest POFMA purchase is related to a Mar 9 article that was published on Mr. Jeyaratnam’s site, The Ricebowl Singapore, as well as content on his Instagram and X balances that were published on the same day.  ,
On all three platforms, the opposition politician made allegations about the use of foreign auxiliary police officers ( APOs ).  ,
Mr. Jeyaretnam claimed that APOs have the same authority as regular police officers and that the government employs and uses foreign APOs to maintain the People’s Action Party ( PAP ) as the ruling party.  ,
He added that this “even to the extent of using power in violation of basic liberties,” as per his claim.
Mr. Jeyaretnam added that the government purposefully sets the salaries of APOs at a level that makes the position “less interesting” to Singaporeans, despite the fact that the real goal was to employ foreign APOs.  ,
These assertions are false, according to MHA’s assertion.  ,
MHA SUGGESTIONS: NOT EMPLOYED BY GOVERNMENT
The government refuted Mr. Jeyaretnam’s claims in his business article, Facebook, and X posts, saying that APOs do not have the same authority as normal officers.  ,
The commissioner of police has the authority to grant an APO under the Police Force Act 2004.
MHA continued, citing the same act, that APOs do not possess the investigative powers that ordinary police officers do. Their arrest power is also conditional, unlike that of ordinary police officers.
The ministry stated that” the powers granted to APOs may only be exercised when the APO is performing their duties on official duty and in the course of performing their duties.”  ,
Additionally, MHA asserted that no local or international state employs APOs. Instead, all APOs are employed by auxiliary police forces ( APFs ), which are not affiliated with the government, and the Singapore Police Force ( SPF )” carefully” restricts the services APFs are able to provide.
In the release of their jobs,” All APOs are legally required to comply with our rules, including those relating to basic rights,” according to the government.  ,
” These steps collectively stop APFs and APOs from abusing their positions of authority and ensure that they fulfill Singapore’s legitimate security wants.”