11/06/2014

Blogger sued by Singapore PM fired from job

Update 13 Jan 2015: Singapore court orders blogger to pay PM nearly $22,000 for legal costs
Speaker Roy Ngerng, of online blog The Heart Truths, addresses the crowd during a protest against new licensing regulations imposed by the government for online news sites, at Hong Lim Park in Singapore June 8, 2013

A Singapore court has ordered a blogger to pay S$29,000 ($21,700) to Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as legal costs after Lee won a defamation case late last year.

Lee won a High Court defamation case against blogger Roy Ngerng, 33, in November, the first time the city-state's leadersued an online critic.

Ngerng was sued for his blog post in May when he was alleged to have implicated Lee in impropriety in connection with how funds in Singapore's mandatory retirement savings scheme, the Central Provident Fund(CPF), are managed.

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Blogger Roy Ngerng dismissed from job at Tan Tock Seng Hospital


In the press statement, TTSH explains that the dismissal is due to the continued misuse of the hospital’s time and resources to pursue personal and non-job-related interests despite a warning given last May when Ngerng’s contract was up for renewal.

The hospital also said that Ngerng’s recent public actions and conduct have caused the hospital grave concern. It said, “Mr Ngerng’s conduct was incompatible with the values and standards we expect of our employees. While our staff are free to pursue their personal interests outside work, they must conduct themselves properly, honourably and with integrity. In particular, they cannot defame someone else without basis, which essentially means knowingly stating a falsehood to the public.”

Ministry of Health (MOH) has separately issued a statement via the press in response to the dismissal of Ngerng. Channel News Asia reports that the ministry said that “it supports TTSH’s decision to terminate Mr Ngerng’s contract, as his “actions show a lack of integrity and are incompatible with the values and standards of behaviour expected of hospital employees”.” The statement is not available in the MOH’s website.

related: Media Statement on Termination of Contract with Mr Roy Ngerng

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What TTSH says: Roy Ngerng’s employment has been terminated

Spokespersons for Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) said that Roy Ngerng had been dismissed for “conduct incompatible with the values and standards expected of employees, and for misusing working time, hospital computers and facilities for personal pursuits”.

In a statement shared with the press, the hospital said Roy had earlier been issued a warning letter in May for using hospital resources “to pursue personal and non-job-related interests”.
The statement added that Roy disregarded the warning and continued to misuse company time and resources to access non-job related social media sites. TTSH also said that his alleged defamation of the Prime Minister reflected conduct that was incompatible with company values and standards.

“While our staff are free to pursue their personal interests outside work, they must conduct themselves properly, honorably and with integrity. In particular, they cannot defame someone else without basis, which essentially means knowingly stating a falsehood to the public,” the hospital said. “(Ngerng’s) continued disregard of the Hospital’s warnings and advice has rendered his employment with TTSH untenable.”

related: Tan Tock Seng Hospital's Media Statement

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TAN TOCK SENG HOSPITAL'S MEDIA STATEMENT ON THE DISMISSAL OF CPF ACTIVIST ROY NGERNG


TTSH has terminated its contract with Mr Roy Ngerng with immediate effect because of conduct incompatible with the values and standards expected of employees, and for misusing working time, hospital computers and facilities for personal pursuits.

Mr Ngerng is a patient coordinator at the Communicable Disease Centre who has been employed on a yearly contract with TTSH for the past two years. His supervisors found that he was misusing TTSH time and resources to pursue personal and non-job-related interests. In May this year, TTSH issued him a formal letter warning him of his misconduct when his contract was up for renewal, but decided to give him a chance and renewed his contract.

However, Mr Ngerng disregarded the warning and continued to misuse company time and resources to access non-job related social media sites to pursue his personal interests.

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Beyond the blogger: Who is Roy Ngerng?

Yahoo Newsroom - Singapore blogger Roy Ngerng works from his laptop at his home. (Yahoo photo)

Singaporean blogger Roy Ngerng ushers this writer into his Housing Board home like one would welcome his kueh-bearing neighbour in for a mid-day chat.

Wearing a green T-shirt and brown plaid shorts, he is the picture of cheerfulness and casualness rather than someone who may be stressed out, being the subject of a defamation suit by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

The son of a chai tow kway (a Hokkien phrase for "carrot cake") seller and a retired factory worker in May drew an unprecedented lawsuit that previously only targeted powerful and influential opposition politicians after he wrote a blog post in mid-May titled “Where Your CPF Money is Going: Learning From The City Harvest Trial”.


Accused blogger in Singapore receives unexpected support

(ABC.net.au) - The prime minister of Singapore is suing a jobless blogger for criminal defamation.

The alleged offence for which he could get two years jail: questioning the government. It's an old tactic in Singapore to silence dissent. But this time there's been an unexpected twist.

Citizens have rallied publicly in support of the accused blogger, and donated more than $100,000 to help fight the case in the courts.

related: Singapore blogger receives unexpected support in defamation case against PM Lee Hsien Loong


Blogger sued by Singapore PM fired from job

(ArabNews) -- A blogger being sued by Singapore’s prime minister for alleged defamation has been fired from his hospital job.

The government hospital said it fired patient coordinator Roy Ngerng because his blogging activities criticizing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong were “incompatible with the values and standards” it expects of its employees.

Ngerng made headlines recently for becoming the first blogger in Singapore to be sued over comments made online about a politician.

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Singapore blogger sued by PM for defamation fired from job

(ShanghaiDaily) -- A Singapore blogger who has been facing a defamation lawsuit by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Tuesday that he has been fired from his job.

Roy Ngerng Yi Ling, who has been a patient coordinator at the Communicable Disease Center of Tan Tock Seng Hospital, said on his Facebook page that he has been "expecting this."

"I've just been fired from my job. I've been expecting this. The stress of the court case has made it difficult for me to concentrate on my job," he wrote.

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Blogger sued by PM fired from job in Singapore

(GulfToday) -- A Singaporean blogger sued by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for libel has been fired from his job as a healthcare worker for “improper public conduct,” his employer said on Tuesday.

The government-run Tan Tock Seng Hospital said that Roy Ngerng Yi Ling, 33, was dismissed with immediate effect from his job as a patient co-ordinator for “misusing working time, hospital computers and facilities for personal pursuits.”

Lee sued Ngerng for damages last month after the blogger accused him of corruption, a sensitive issue for officials in the city-state that guards closely its reputation as among the world’s least corrupt nations.

related: Singapore blogger removes post about PM

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Singapore blogger sued by PM for libel fired from job
Singapore blogger sued by PM for libel fired from job (AFP)

(Yahoo.au) -- Ngerng's employer said in a statement that "neglect of duty and his improper public conduct have compromised his work performance".

The offending blog post of May 15 suggested that the prime minister who is also the chairman of state investment fund GIC, had misappropriated cash from the state pension fund, Lee's lawyer Davinder Singh said.

Ngerng, who regularly posts social commentary on his blog "The Heart Truths", said politics was behind his removal.

related: Blogger Roy Ngerng fired from job

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Singapore Blogger Facing Lee Lawsuit Fired From Hospital Job

(Bloomberg) -- Singapore blogger Roy Ngerng, who faces a defamation lawsuit from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has been fired from his job at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

The hospital said in a statement today that Ngerng had misused “working time, hospital computers and facilities for personal pursuits” and that his conduct was “incompatible with the values and standards expected of employees.”

Lee sued Ngerng over a May 15 article, and the blogger said his apology and offer of S$5,000 ($3,999) for damages were declined. More than 1,000 people contributed to Ngerng’s appeal for funds to fight the lawsuit, his lawyer M. Ravi said on June 3. The case is the first of its kind by a Singapore politician against a blogger, Ravi said


Singapore blogger sued by PM for libel fired from job

(The West Australian) -- A Singaporean blogger sued by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for libel has been fired from his job as a healthcare worker for "improper public conduct", his employer said Tuesday.

The government-run Tan Tock Seng Hospital said that Roy Ngerng Yi Ling, 33, was dismissed with immediate effect from his job as a patient coordinator for "misusing working time, hospital computers and facilities for personal pursuits".

Lee sued Ngerng for damages last month after the blogger accused him of corruption, a sensitive issue for officials in the city-state that guards closely its reputation as among the world's least corrupt nations.


Singapore blogger sued by PM for libel fired from job

(Bangkok Post) -- Ngerng, who regularly posts social commentary on his blog "The Heart Truths", said politics was behind his removal.

"I had wanted to give my employers the benefit of the doubt, but the truth of the matter is that my sacking is politically motivated," he told AFP.

Lee filed the defamation suit -- the first ever brought by a Singapore leader against an online critic in the Singapore High Court, where the typical minimum value of damages claims is Sg$250,000 ($200,000).


Singapore blogger sued by PM fired from job

(The Star Online) -- Ngerng, who regularly posts social commentary on his blog “The Heart Truths”, said politics was behind his removal.

“I had wanted to give my employers the benefit of the doubt, but the truth of the matter is that my sacking is politically motivated,” he said.

Lee filed the defamation suit – the first ever brought by a Singapore leader against an online critic in the Singapore High Court, where the typical minimum value of damages claims is S$250,000 (RM639,000).


Bloggers feel Singapore heat

(TTR Weekly) -- A Singaporean blogger sued by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for libel has been fired from his job as a healthcare worker for “improper public conduct”, his employer said Tuesday.

It is the first time a Singaporean leader has taken legal action against an online critic and indicates that in the city state, blogger and online news sites are not immune to court action.

The government-run Tan Tock Seng Hospital said that Roy Ngerng Yi Ling, 33, was dismissed with immediate effect from his job as a patient coordinator for “misusing working time, hospital computers and facilities for personal pursuits”.

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Blogger Roy Ngerng dismissed from job at Tan Tock Seng Hospital

Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) has announced via a press statement that it has terminated its patient coordinator, Roy Ngerng Yi Ling’s contract with immediate effect on 10th June 2014 (Tuesday).

Ngerng was informed about his dismissal at around 3.30pm this afternoon. The dismissal of Ngerng was first reported by social political blog, “Five Stars and a moon” at 4.28pm this afternoon.

The hospital wrote, “TTSH has terminated its contract with Mr Roy Ngerng with immediate effect because of conduct incompatible with the values and standards expected of employees, and for misusing working time, hospital computers and facilities for personal pursuits”

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Roy Ngerng’s employment at TTSH has been terminated

Roy Ngerng’s employment at Tan Tock Seng Hospital has been terminated as of Tuesday, 10 June 2014. He will be given one month’s pay in lieu.

The reasons given for his termination are allegedly misuse of company resources and improper public conduct.

According to his Facebook note, Roy Ngerng said that his advocacy on the CPF and the stress of the court case had made it difficult for him to concentrate on his job. He said that he had campaigned at his workplace as well.

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Roy missed his calling in life


He should have become a pre owned car salesman. Still not too late.

Sorry lah. Roy keeps changing his story. At first he admitted on Facebook that he’s been misusing working hours and underperforming at work. Now he says the firing is politically motivated. He can’t even get his story straight. Whatever little sympathy I had for him has now evaporated.” was posted on Facebook a few hrs after Roy first announced his “firing”.

I agree with the tots expressed.

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Was Roy Ngerng's sacking politically motivated?
Channel NewsAsia, 10 Jun 2014


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Roy Ngerng's father targeted


Related:Roy Ngerng's father is an award-winning fried carrot cake seller at Ang Mo Kio Coffee Shop - All Stuff Singapore

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The Heart Truths of Libel Suits
– TOC: TTSH’s statement excessive, MOH’s statement unnecessary
– Singapura Pundit: An Open Letter to Roy Ngerng
– Blogging for Myself: Defamation: Remember Chiam sued and won
– brokenVase: Question: Politics. How far do we go before it becomes an idol?
– Singapore Notes: Shut Up Already
– The Independent, SG: Why I changed my mind: Roy
– Nicole Seah: I believe in the need for diversity in opinion & freedom of expression
– Anyhow Hantam: Roy Ng Needs to Slow Down and Think
– A Load of Fish: Is Roy Ngerng’s sacking politically motivated?
– I on Spore: Thoughts on “horizontal” freedom of speech
– Political Writings: Same Old Story… Same Old Ending?
– Just Speaking My Mind: Just a Matter of Time
– Signs of Struggle: Sacking Roy Ngerng: G can’t handle TTSH’s wildcard
– Alvinology: Roy Ngerng vs TTSH: The News Cycle Spins On
– CW Fong: A Lesson in Crisis Communications: Roy the “suicide bomber”
– Likedatosocanmeh: Roy’s politically-motivated sacking and character assassination
– ThatBoyHuman: TTSH: Latest Actions Insulting to SARS Heroes, Doctors and Nurses
– Gilbert Goh: Ten reasons why we must continue to support Roy Ngerng Yi Ling
– New Nation: Roy’s potted plant investigated 4 suspected breeding of dengue mossies
– Five Stars and a Moon: Roy Ngerng fired from Tan Tock Seng Hospital
– My Singapore News: Roy Ngerng was sacked by TTSH
– Thoughts of a Cynical Investor: Roy missed his calling in life
– S M Ong: Roy Ngerng: ‘I admit allegation was false’
– Sgpolitics.net: Roy Ngerng’s employment at TTSH has been terminated
– Leong Sze Hian: Roy Ngerng’s termination: “Sub judice” and “due process”
– A Singaporean In Australia: He That Opposeth Shall Come to Nought
– Cheated Singaporean: Roy’s reply to CPF’s reply to Singaporeans
– Putting it this way: Pronouced Guilty
– Fresh Grads: What About Roy?
– Singapura Pundit: Lee Hsien Loong’s Dilemma
– Mothership: Blogger Roy Ngerng will not be sleeping tonight

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related:
A Butterfly On A Wheel