Leong Mun Wai steps down as PSP chief over recent POFMA order; Hazel Poa takes over

SINGAPORE: Leong Mun Wai has stepped down as secretary-general of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) to "take responsibility" for a recent POFMA order issued against him, the party announced on Friday (Feb 23).

Mr Leong had made false claims on social media about the lack of financial aid for a couple living in West Coast, prompting a correction direction under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act to be issued against him on Feb 15. 

The 65-year-old decided to step down as PSP's secretary-general on Feb 20, less than a year after he was elected to the post in April 2023.

Ms Hazel Poa, his fellow Non-Constituency Member of Parliament, takes over as PSP's new secretary-general.

PSP said Mr Leong will remain a member of the party's Central Executive Committee (CEC).

"PSP’s CEC accepted Mr Leong’s decision and is proud that he has demonstrated accountability through his actions, not just words," the party said in a statement. 

"The Progress Singapore Party will continue working to build a more progressive, compassionate and inclusive Singapore."

FALSE CLAIMS

Mr Leong's false claims about the West Coast couple were picked up by Gutzy Asia and The Online Citizen, which were also issued a correction direction under POFMA.

He made several claims about the couple's financial aid situation and MediSave funds, saying that they only receive a Home Caregiving Grant and do not currently receive any other form of financial assistance from public sector agencies.

His Facebook post on Feb 12 also claimed that the woman's MediSave savings were "substantially depleted" after a leg operation and that she had stopped attending physiotherapy sessions due to the cost. 

In debunking those claims, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) laid out the various types of financial assistance that the couple receives, adding that the woman has more than S$60,000 in her MediSave account as of Feb 12.

"Since 2021, the couple have received approximately S$39,000 in cash and vouchers from various public sector agencies and community partners. This included S$21,000 in ComCare assistance from May 2021 to April 2023," said MSF.

"False statements, such as those made in Leong’s posts, erode public trust and mislead the public about the support that is available and provided to families who are in need."

Mr Leong took down his Facebook post after the correction direction was issued.

PAST CONTROVERSIES

Mr Leong joined PSP in 2019 and succeeded Francis Yuen as PSP secretary-general in 2023.

He became a Non-Constituency MP after the 2020 General Election, allowing him to represent the party in parliament. NCMP seats are offered to losing opposition candidates with the highest percentage of votes during a general election.

In March 2022, Mr Leong apologised for a post and comments on Facebook accusing then-Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin of not letting him speak in the House.

Delivering a personal explanation in parliament, Mr Leong said it was not his intent to “impugn” the Speaker or the parliamentary process and that he “sincerely and unreservedly” apologised for his conduct.

He also took down the post and comments in question, complying with a request from Deputy Leader of the House Zaqy Mohamad.

Mr Leong would find himself apologising again to Mr Tan a year later, in March 2023, for addressing him in a disrespectful manner.

Mr Leong had been in a heated debate with Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam when he responded to a clarification from Mr Tan by saying: “Speaker, if the minister didn't ask me, I suggest you do not ask."

He apologised after Mr Tan rebuked him and asked him to retain the decorum of the debate.

During that debate on why Mr Lee Hsien Yang and his wife were named but not the people investigated in the Keppel Marine & Offshore corruption case, Mr Leong was called out for repeated "unparliamentary" conduct.