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Factually
Corrections and Clarifications

Corrections regarding false statements of fact in an article published by Kenneth Jeyaretnam, and a Facebook post by Thamil Selvan

16 July 2023

Singapore cityscape with high-rise buildings in the background and low-rise houses surrounded by greenery in the foreground.

  1. The following publications contain false statements of fact on the contractors engaged by SLA to carry out works for 26 Ridout Road and 31 Ridout Road:

    1. The article published by Kenneth Jeyaretnam, “Will SLA Issue a Statement Denying the Rumours That They Have Awarded Any Contracts to Shanmugam’s Son’s Company?” dated 2 July 2023 (“Jeyaretnam’s article”); and

    2. The Facebook post by Thamil Selvan dated 1 July 2023 (“Thamil’s Facebook post”).

  2. Jeyaretnam’s article and Thamil’s Facebook post make the statement that the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) gave the contract to renovate 26 Ridout Road and/or 31 Ridout Road to Livspace, and that this was done because Livspace’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the son of Minister Shanmugam. This is untrue.

  3. On 3 July 2023, the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law Edwin Tong stated in Parliament that neither Livspace nor Minister Shanmugam’s son was appointed by SLA to carry out works for 26 Ridout Road or 31 Ridout Road.

  4. As with its approach for other State properties, SLA had engaged an external consultant to assess the works needed to be carried out. Thereafter, contracts to carry out the works were awarded to separate contractors through open tenders.

  5. SLA did not award any contract to Livspace to carry out works to 26 Ridout Road or 31 Ridout Road. As stated by the Second Minister for Law, SLA has not had any transactions with Livspace for these or other properties.

  6. The Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law Edwin Tong has instructed the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) Office to issue Correction Directions1 to Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam in respect of his article, and Mr Thamil Selvan in respect of his Facebook post.

Additional Clarifications

  1. The Ministry of Law is aware of other online articles and posts which include false speculation on whether SLA gave the contract to renovate 26 Ridout Road and/or 31 Ridout Road to Livspace, because Livspace’s CEO is the son of Minister Shanmugam. Many of these posts remain online despite the issue having been clarified in Parliament on 3 July 2023.

  2. More information on the facts relating to the rental of 26 Ridout Road and 31 Ridout Road can be found in the Official Report (Hansard) for the Parliament sitting on 3 July 2023 (opens in new tab).


1 A Correction Direction is a Direction issued to a person who has communicated a falsehood (“the recipient”) that affects the public interest. It requires the recipient to publish a correction notice, providing access to the correct facts. The Direction does not require the recipient to take down their post or make edits to their content and does not impose criminal sanctions.