Man fired after posting vulgar reply to PM Lee's Facebook post

By K.C. Vijayan, The Straits Times, 15 May 2014

A FACEBOOK user who posted vulgar abuse in response to Mother's Day wishes by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has been sacked from his job.

Mr Ridhuan Abdullah, 30, had identified himself as a security officer at "Keith Morton" on the post, which triggered the move.

The security firm's owner, Mr William Morton Jr, said yesterday that such conduct cannot be condoned, particularly from security officers who are expected to uphold basic standards of decorum.

"He clearly breached our company's code of conduct and we cannot tolerate this," he said.

Keith Morton Security, a private security firm that does mostly security work for private buildings, is based in Upper Changi Road and employs about 90 staff. Mr Ridhuan, who was last deployed at a condominium complex in the Holland Road area, was given his marching orders on Monday, the day after he wrote the post.

Mr Morton added that the offensive comment was brought to his notice by a close friend, and he decided immediately that he had to let the security officer go to protect the company's name.

"It was my own decision and nobody asked me to do it," he stressed.

PM Lee's Mother's Day wishes were posted on Facebook with an old black-and-white photograph of himself, his brother and his late mother.

In the post, he thanked all mothers, writing: "One day is simply not enough to thank mothers for their unconditional love and untiring care."

Within two hours, it drew more than 22,300 likes.

Mr Ridhuan removed his obscene 13-word entry, posted under the moniker GrizzlyBear Ridhuan Abdullah, after he was fired.

He declined to comment when contacted yesterday.

Facebook users must agree not to intimidate or harass others.

Lawyers who were contacted said freedom of expression must be within the limits of decency, and that people who make such comments can be taken to task.

"Obscenities online can be the subject of an offence or a civil case. I agree that the authorities should check or discourage this," said lawyer B.J. Lean.







Related
Security guard sacked after posting vulgar comment on PM Lee’s Facebook page