SINGAPORE: Freedom of expression does not extend to publishing false and defamatory allegations without basis, Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam and Manpower Minister Tan See Leng said on Friday (Jul 17), rejecting suggestions that their successful defamation suit against Bloomberg was about press freedom.

In a statement posted on Facebook in response to media queries following the court's judgment on Tuesday , both ministers noted that this principle was "reaffirmed by the Court in this case".

Singapore supports "robust journalism and vigorous public debate", but freedom of expression carries responsibilities, they reiterated. 

"Some commentators, particularly in the Western media, say that defamation suits have a 'chilling effect'. But Singapore’s experience does not bear this out," they added.

The statement came after Bloomberg and The New York Times (NYT) published articles on the High Court's ruling on Jul 14 in the defamation case.

The NYT article described the case as a "significant test of the country’s libel laws and their implications for press freedom".

The ministers also took issue with Bloomberg's response after the ruling - which was carried in its article - in which the news organisation said it respected the court's decision while maintaining that its reporting was accurate. Bloomberg also said its story was solid, its reporters had acted with integrity and its editorial standards had been met.

"These positions are difficult to reconcile," the ministers said.

"If Bloomberg truly respects the court's decision, then it should address the court's findings, as any responsible organisation should.

"Otherwise, Bloomberg's professed commitment to accuracy, editorial standards, public interest journalism, and journalistic integrity will ring hollow."

The ministers called the court's findings "comprehensive and unequivocal", adding that the court found Bloomberg had maliciously defamed and deliberately targeted them. 

They also said the court found Bloomberg's claim that the article formed part of a broader story of public interest was merely a "cover" devised to publish allegations about them.

They added that the court found Bloomberg had failed the standards of responsible journalism by publishing multiple falsehoods, making grave allegations without basis and denying them a fa...