Sociopolitical site TRE 'sorry' for report on Heng Swee Keat's medical bills
TRE admits not checking claim that expenses are paid by taxpayers; Govt says site 'again sought to mislead public'
By Rachel Au-Yong, The Straits Times, 8 Jun 2016
Later, TRE said in another Facebook post that it never intended to misrepresent facts, and was "disappointed" it had been accused of misleading the public.
In extending its apology, TRE admitted it did not check the "underlying facts" when it published an article on Monday that said the cost to taxpayers of Mr Heng's medical bills to date would be almost $500,000. "We therefore extend our apologies for this matter," it said.
But TRE said its terms of service give it the right to republish any material submitted to the website in any format. The content producers are "solely responsible for any liability arising from the publication of (their) messages", it added.
Law don Eugene Tan pointed out that TRE cannot absolve itself from responsibility because in a defamation suit, publishers are just as liable as content producers. "If falsehoods are repeated often enough, individuals or entities like the Government may be able to seek legal recourse through the Protection from Harassment Act," he said.
TRE, in a Facebook post two hours later, said it "was never our intention to misrepresent the facts".
It said it had believed the writer's facts were true because there was a past scheme in which the state fully covered civil servants who fell ill or were injured during working hours.
As Mr Heng was at a Cabinet meeting when he collapsed, it was "natural to assume" the state would cover his medical expenses, it added.
The 54-year-old minister had a stroke at a May 12 Cabinet meeting. Doctors of Tan Tock Seng Hospital successfully closed a ruptured aneurysm that caused bleeding in his brain. He remains in intensive care.
The TRE article estimated that Mr Heng's daily room, board, medical services and operation would cost a total of at least $475,000.
It asked if the average Singaporean would have been able to afford it, adding: "Therefore, no need to give him well wishes."
The Government, which responded on Facebook in the early hours of yesterday morning to TRE's original post, said TRE "has once again sought to mislead the public".
It noted that ministers are on the same medical benefits scheme as most civil servants. Officers on the Medisave-cum-Subsidised Outpatient scheme get a 2 per cent Central Provident Fund contribution to their Medisave accounts capped at $2,380 a year, on top of their statutory Medisave contributions.
This can be used to buy MediShield Life or other portable Medisave-approved insurance plan to cover their hospital stay. "Ministers receive no extra benefits for themselves or their spouses/children. All ministers and other political office- holders pay tax," the statement said, adding that Mr Heng's hospitalisation "is most certainly not borne by taxpayers' monies".
TRE has updated the article to include the Government's statement and removed its Facebook post promoting the article. It said later on Facebook it has written to the Public Service Division "in view of this information, as well as to express our disappointment that they have accused us of misleading the public".
Media Literacy Council chairman Tan Cheng Han said it was "a pity" the apology did not appear to be an unqualified one. "Where a publisher exercises editorial discretion to republish a post, the publisher must take full responsibility for its contents. It cannot rely on its terms of reference to justify its act."
Minister of State for Health and Communications and Information Chee Hong Tat, in a strongly worded Facebook post last night, said TRE was irresponsible in publishing "false and misleading information". It then justified its actions by claiming to be a "volunteer-managed platform" that republishes content that it edits for clarity but does not fact-check.
Minister of State for Health and Communications and Information Chee Hong Tat, in a strongly worded Facebook post last night, said TRE was irresponsible in publishing "false and misleading information". It then justified its actions by claiming to be a "volunteer-managed platform" that republishes content that it edits for clarity but does not fact-check.
"False information that is edited for clarity remains false," he said.
He called on TRE's administrators to "come out from behind their veil of anonymity" and take ownership of its contents. Also, "the use of authors' real names... will ensure that authors stand by their content".
"Without these basic first steps, any statements by TRE will continue to ring hollow," said Mr Chee.
TRE managing editor Joseph Tan Kheng Liang said a statement would come later.
He called on TRE's administrators to "come out from behind their veil of anonymity" and take ownership of its contents. Also, "the use of authors' real names... will ensure that authors stand by their content".
"Without these basic first steps, any statements by TRE will continue to ring hollow," said Mr Chee.
TRE managing editor Joseph Tan Kheng Liang said a statement would come later.
VICIOUS LIE
TR Emeritus (TRE) has once again sought to mislead the public by publishing a vicious claim that a Cabinet minister is 'fully entitled to free A-class healthcare in government and restructured hospitals'... A vicious lie is not an 'alternative angle'. Choosing to run an article that contained glaring misinformation that could have been easily searched and verified online is irresponsible.
- THE GOVERNMENT on the article that said Mr Heng's medical bills were funded by taxpayers.
SORRY
As a volunteer-managed platform, we have republished the piece - after edits for clarity - without checking the underlying facts. We therefore extend our apologies for this matter.
- TRE's first statement apologising for the inaccuracies.
NO INTENTION TO MISREPRESENT FACTS
We wish to place on record that it was never our intention to misrepresent the facts... We have written to the PSD (Public Service Division) in view of this information, as well as to express our disappointment that they have accused us of misleading the public.
- TRE's second statement expressing disappointment at being called out.
CREDIBILITY ISSUE
It is not their fault (if they) publish something untrue, but the writer's. Well done, well done. Now, who will believe what is on their platform?
- FACEBOOK USER EDWARD YEO on TRE's disclaimer that it was merely publishing a reader's letter.
TAKE OWNERSHIP OF CONTENT
TRE's apology is an empty statement by a faceless, nameless entity. And it will remain so, unless TRE takes steps to ensure that such an incident does not recur in future. For starters, TRE's administrators should come out from behind their veil of anonymity and take proper ownership of the website and its contents... Without these basic first steps, any statements by TRE will continue to ring hollow.
- MINISTER OF STATE CHEE HONG TAT on TRE's lack of accountability.
TR Emeritus (TRE) has once again sought to mislead the public by publishing a vicious claim that a Cabinet minister is 'fully entitled to free A-class healthcare in government and restructured hospitals'... A vicious lie is not an 'alternative angle'. Choosing to run an article that contained glaring misinformation that could have been easily searched and verified online is irresponsible.
- THE GOVERNMENT on the article that said Mr Heng's medical bills were funded by taxpayers.
SORRY
As a volunteer-managed platform, we have republished the piece - after edits for clarity - without checking the underlying facts. We therefore extend our apologies for this matter.
- TRE's first statement apologising for the inaccuracies.
NO INTENTION TO MISREPRESENT FACTS
We wish to place on record that it was never our intention to misrepresent the facts... We have written to the PSD (Public Service Division) in view of this information, as well as to express our disappointment that they have accused us of misleading the public.
- TRE's second statement expressing disappointment at being called out.
CREDIBILITY ISSUE
It is not their fault (if they) publish something untrue, but the writer's. Well done, well done. Now, who will believe what is on their platform?
- FACEBOOK USER EDWARD YEO on TRE's disclaimer that it was merely publishing a reader's letter.
TAKE OWNERSHIP OF CONTENT
TRE's apology is an empty statement by a faceless, nameless entity. And it will remain so, unless TRE takes steps to ensure that such an incident does not recur in future. For starters, TRE's administrators should come out from behind their veil of anonymity and take proper ownership of the website and its contents... Without these basic first steps, any statements by TRE will continue to ring hollow.
- MINISTER OF STATE CHEE HONG TAT on TRE's lack of accountability.
Government says TR Emeritus report that taxpayers are paying Heng Swee Keat's medical bills is a 'blatant lie'
By Tham Yuen-C, Assistant Political Editor, The Straits Times, 7 Jun 2016
The government has called out the TR Emeritus (TRE) socio-political website for a "blatant lie" in its online report that Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat's medical expenses are being funded by the taxpayer.
In a statement posted on the Gov.sg Facebook page shortly after midnight on Tuesday (June 7), the government said that TRE "has once again sought to mislead the public".
It said TRE had done so by publishing "a vicious claim that a Cabinet Minister is 'fully entitled to free A-Class healthcare in government and restructured hospitals', giving the impression Minister Heng Swee Keat's medical expenses are being funded by taxpayers".
"This is a blatant lie," the statement said.
Mr Heng, 54, collapsed during a Cabinet meeting on May 12 after suffering a stroke. He was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital where doctors successfully closed a ruptured aneurysm that caused bleeding in his brain.
TRE's article, published on Monday (June 6) and billed as a comment from a reader, said the cost to the taxpayer of hospitalisation, medical care, procedures and services to date would be almost $500,000.
It said Mr Heng would have been "surrounded round the clock by Senior Consultant neurologists at the Professor and A/Professor-level, daily checks by other specialists, doctors, advanced practicing nurses, and a rotating team of bodyguards".
"This means that the bill will be at least $15,000 per day which are actually funded by taxpayer's monies. It has been 25 days since being hospitalised as of 6 June 2016," TRE added.
"Just the daily room, board and medical services has already cost taxpayers $375,000. The operation on the first day to stop the brain bleed and the accompanying intensive procedures will be at least another $100,000."
It asked if the average Singaporean would have been able to afford it and then added: "Therefore, no need to give him well wishes."
TRE's article was subsequently updated to include the government's response, while its Facebook post promoting the article was taken down on Tuesday (June 7) morning.
By Tham Yuen-C, Assistant Political Editor, The Straits Times, 7 Jun 2016
The government has called out the TR Emeritus (TRE) socio-political website for a "blatant lie" in its online report that Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat's medical expenses are being funded by the taxpayer.
In a statement posted on the Gov.sg Facebook page shortly after midnight on Tuesday (June 7), the government said that TRE "has once again sought to mislead the public".
It said TRE had done so by publishing "a vicious claim that a Cabinet Minister is 'fully entitled to free A-Class healthcare in government and restructured hospitals', giving the impression Minister Heng Swee Keat's medical expenses are being funded by taxpayers".
"This is a blatant lie," the statement said.
Mr Heng, 54, collapsed during a Cabinet meeting on May 12 after suffering a stroke. He was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital where doctors successfully closed a ruptured aneurysm that caused bleeding in his brain.
TRE's article, published on Monday (June 6) and billed as a comment from a reader, said the cost to the taxpayer of hospitalisation, medical care, procedures and services to date would be almost $500,000.
It said Mr Heng would have been "surrounded round the clock by Senior Consultant neurologists at the Professor and A/Professor-level, daily checks by other specialists, doctors, advanced practicing nurses, and a rotating team of bodyguards".
"This means that the bill will be at least $15,000 per day which are actually funded by taxpayer's monies. It has been 25 days since being hospitalised as of 6 June 2016," TRE added.
"Just the daily room, board and medical services has already cost taxpayers $375,000. The operation on the first day to stop the brain bleed and the accompanying intensive procedures will be at least another $100,000."
It asked if the average Singaporean would have been able to afford it and then added: "Therefore, no need to give him well wishes."
TRE's article was subsequently updated to include the government's response, while its Facebook post promoting the article was taken down on Tuesday (June 7) morning.
In its statement, the government said that if TRE had bothered to check the facts, it would have known that ministers are on the same medical benefit scheme - the Medisave-cum-Subsidised Outpatient (MSO) scheme - as most civil servants.
Officers on this scheme get a 2 per cent CPF contribution to their Medisave accounts capped at $2,380 per year on top of their normal statutory Medisave contributions, the statement said.
This can then be used to buy Medishield Life or other portable Medisave-approved insurance plan to cover their inpatient needs.
"Ministers receive no extra benefits for themselves or their spouses/children. All ministers and other political office-holders pay tax."
The statement said that Mr Heng's hospitalisation "is most certainly not borne by taxpayers' monies".
The TRE article had also contained an Editor's Note, which said that the website's editor wished Mr Heng well.
But the note said that the editor decided to reproduce the contributor's "letter" anyway to "show an alternative angle to his situation and the underlying socio-political issues".
The government noted this in its statement , but said: "A vicious lie is not an 'alternative angle'."
"Choosing to run an article that contained glaring misinformation that could have been easily searched and verified online is irresponsible."
In the most recent update on Mr Heng's condition, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a Facebook post on May 30 that Mr Heng was recovering well and was "fully lucid, communicative, and cheerful".
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