The snide remark posted on PAP newbie candidate Tin Pei Ling’s
Facebook about her opponent Nicole Seah has sparked a massive
outcry in cyberspace with many netizens wondering if it is legally
allowed for Ms Tin’s so-called Facebook administrator to post such
a comment on ‘Cooling off’ day:
”OooOooOoooh so that’s REALLY what happened? Wow, I think
tears in parliament is worse than ANYTHING ELSE!”
It was made in response to Nicole’s weeping on TV about a
MacPherson resident who was not given a refund of $80 by a PAP
kindergarten.
In an interview with Channel News Asia, Ms Tin claimed that it was
one of her administrators, “Denise He” who made the post:
“She wanted to post the comment in her personal capacity,
and she was using her mobile phone. But she didn’t realise that she
had inadvertently posted as my profile rather than her own … It was
an honest mistake.”
[Source: Channel
News Asia, 6 May 2011]
However, a check on Ms Tin’s declaration of election advertising
revealed that she is theONLY approved
moderator of her own Facebook page:
[Source: Election
Dept]
Since Denise He is not declared as a moderator of Ms Tin’s Facebook
page, is she allowed to post such a disparaging comment about
another candidate on “Cooling off” day itself?
Some netizens also questioned if it is appropriate for Channel News
Asia to interview Ms Tin on “Cooling off” day as “under the
Parliamentary Election Act, “publication and display of election
advertising (including on the Internet and by SMSes/MMSes)… not
already lawfully displayed or published before the start of
Cooling-off Day.”
The Election Department is known for its strictness in implementing
the election laws. An independent team of 5 candidates was
disqualified for contesting in Tanjong Pagar GRC because they
were 35 SECONDS late in submitting their
nomination form.
Both Ms Tin and Ms He should step forward and clarify what happened
and to apologize to Nicole for the remark posted on Ms Tin’s
Facebook and subsequently deleted which may have a negative impact
on Nicole and her team.
http://www.temasekreview.net/2011/05/07/tin-pei-ling-is-the-only-approved-moderator-of-her-facebook-as-declared-on-her-election-advertising-form/
