Singapore
POFMA Correction Direction issued to comedian Sammy Obeid over posts on show cancellation
Singapore’s digital ministry has issued a POFMA Correction Direction to comedian Sammy Obeid over his social media posts on the cancellation of his shows. The Government alleges the posts contain misleading claims about censorship and IMDA’s role.
SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) has issued a Correction Direction to Lebanese-Palestinian American comedian Sammy Obeid under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA).
The directive, issued on 1 September 2025, requires Obeid to publish correction notices alongside his 27 August posts on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). The ministry alleges that these posts contain false statements regarding the circumstances surrounding the cancellation of his stand-up shows in Singapore.
This action comes shortly after Law Minister Edwin Tong, on 31 August, described Obeid’s version of events as “completely fictional”. Tong had said the authorities were considering invoking POFMA, adding that such claims could mislead the public and mischaracterise the role of the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA).
Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo authorised the Correction Direction. In its statement, the ministry said Obeid’s posts misrepresented IMDA’s involvement and wrongly implied that the agency had requested script edits due to content.
According to the Government’s clarification, IMDA had no discussions—directly or through representatives—with Obeid about his script. It stated that no edits were requested, nor were any objections raised about the show’s content.
“Mr Obeid’s account of protracted back-and-forth interactions with the Government is inaccurate,” the ministry said. “IMDA never discussed Mr Obeid’s script or its content with him or his representatives. IMDA never requested edits, nor did it suggest removing any material.”
Obeid had alleged in his posts that IMDA asked him to “completely remove” certain segments from his script and had objected to others. These claims, according to the Government, are inaccurate.
The POFMA Office has clarified that Obeid is not required to remove his original posts, but must ensure correction notices are clearly appended to them, linking to the official Government explanation on the Factually website. This approach, it said, allows readers to view both accounts and “draw their own conclusions”.
Obeid had earlier shared a video in which an unidentified individual is heard telling him to remove “anything that has to do with Palestine and Israel.” The comedian suggested this was evidence of censorship.
🎙️ Sammy Obeid shares a recorded call where he’s allegedly told to remove all references to Palestine and Israel from his Singapore show. This follows authorities denying any censorship and citing a late application. pic.twitter.com/p0TZCKfnVF
— The Online Citizen (@theon9citizen) September 1, 2025
The Government’s position is that it had no involvement in the conversation featured in the video.
“We are aware of claims based on the recording of a private conversation,” the ministry said. “IMDA was not part of that discussion.”
The MDDI provided a timeline of events:
- 8 July: Obeid’s assistant contacted IMDA to inquire about licensing procedures.
- 9 July: IMDA responded that applications must be submitted at least 40 working days in advance, through a local representative.
- 15 August: A formal Arts Entertainment Licence (AEL) application was submitted at 11.57pm—just 10 working days before the planned performance on 31 August.
- 19 August: IMDA informed the local representative that the application was too late to be processed.
- 20 August: An appeal was submitted.
- 25 August: The appeal was rejected due to the late submission.
MDDI maintains that the late submission was the sole reason for rejecting the application, and that no evaluation of the show’s content occurred.
In its public clarification, the ministry also stated that Obeid’s claims could potentially undermine trust in public institutions and mislead audiences.
“These claims risk causing serious misunderstanding,” the ministry said, citing concerns that they “erode public trust in IMDA’s licensing role” and “risk inflaming public sentiment on an already sensitive issue.”
Obeid’s now-cancelled Singapore shows had been scheduled for 31 August at Victoria Theatre, with over 1,000 tickets reportedly sold. They were part of a broader Asia tour including stops in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea.
In earlier statements, Obeid said that after contacting IMDA directly, a local organiser took over communications. He stated that he submitted a heavily revised script and was told to remove references to Palestine, Israel, and audience interaction. These claims are now disputed by authorities.
In a 31 August post responding to earlier Government denials, Obeid stood by his account, posting a series of slides and a video clip with the caption: “This post is just to respond to the allegations that I lied… That would be Singa-poor judgement.”
At the time of reporting, Obeid has not responded publicly to the Correction Direction. His social media posts remain live without visible correction notices.
Under Section 15 of POFMA, failure to comply with a Correction Direction without reasonable excuse is an offence. An individual who fails to comply may face a fine of up to S$20,000, imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both.
Authorities also have the power to request that internet service providers block access to non-compliant content in Singapore through an access blocking order.
