MDDI Directs IMDA to Block Access to MalaysiaNow for Non-compliance with Correction Direction Under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act 2019 (POFMA)

1. MalaysiaNow has failed to comply with the Correction Direction (“CD”) issued on 15 November 2025 which points out falsehoods in its article published on 9 November 2025 about the treatment of Pannir Selvam A/L Pranthaman. Consequently, the Minister for Digital Development and Information has directed the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) to issue Access Blocking Orders to require internet access service providers to disable access for end-users in Singapore to MalaysiaNow’s website, where the falsehoods are communicated.

2. We are aware of MalaysiaNow’s statement rejecting the CD and criticising the Singapore Government’s approach to clarifying online falsehoods. The CD requires MalaysiaNow to display the facts alongside the falsehoods published, enabling readers in Singapore to read both versions and make their own assessment about the matter. Despite reminders sent to MalaysiaNow to comply with the CD, MalaysiaNow has not complied. These are not actions that would be taken by any responsible media outlet with journalistic integrity.

3. The Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Mr Edwin Tong has separately instructed POFMA Office to issue Targeted Correction Directions¹ to Meta Platforms, Inc., LinkedIn Corporation, and X Corp today. This follows MalaysiaNow’s failure to comply with the CD for its Facebook, LinkedIn and X posts which link to the same article. Meta Platforms, Inc., LinkedIn Corporation, and X Corp will be required to communicate a correction notice to all end-users in Singapore who had accessed, or will access, the posts.

4. The Singapore Government is committed to its duty to protect Singaporeans from harmful misinformation. For the full facts of the case, please refer to the Factually article “Corrections regarding false statements concerning the treatment of Pannir Selvam A/L Pranthaman”.

[1] A Targeted Correction Direction is a direction issued to an Internet Intermediary (“II”) whose service was used to communicate a falsehood. The direction requires the II to communicate a correction notice by means of its service to all users in Singapore who access the falsehood through its service. This is so that users who see the falsehood on a platform also see the correction notice on that platform.