SINGAPORE - A TikTok user who has racked up multiple correction notices over the years was issued another one on Sept 7.

This time, it was over false claims about a government-funded initiative to

groom future leaders of the Chinese community.

The Pofma Office, which administers the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act, has been instructed by Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo to issue the correction direction under Singapore’s fake news law.

In a since-deleted post which had originally been put up on Aug 26, Mr Jay Ish’haq Rajoo claimed that National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat had announced that the Government would provide money and resources to attract mainland Chinese to Singapore, and nurture them for leadership roles.

Mr Jay also claimed that the Government is using its money and resources to nurture only leaders who are Chinese.

These claims cause “serious misunderstandings and erode public confidence in the Government’s commitment to serve the interests of Singapore and Singaporeans, regardless of race, language or religion”, said the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) in a statement on Sept 7.

It added that the correction direction was issued to protect public trust and ensure that accurate facts are put up. Mr Jay will also be required to publish a correction notice on his TikTok account.

As at the evening of Sept 7, he had already put up the notice, although it is unclear when the original video had been taken down.

In its statement, MCCY said that the course, jointly developed by the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations and the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, would be open to only Singaporeans.