Mediacorp lodges police report after CNA Facebook comment sparks controversy

Mediacorp has filed a police report against CNA after a controversial Facebook comment was posted from the news network’s official account. In conversation with MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, Mediacorp said it "made a police report to help verify the screenshot’s authenticity and origin."

The comment was made in response to a November 2015 post by home affairs minister K. Shanmugam discussing the late Lee Kuan Yew’s legacy and Singapore’s future.

Local documentary filmmaker Yusri Shaggi Sapari reignited attention to the incident on 16 October when he uploaded a screenshot of the comment, captioning it, “CNA admin got caught.”

Don't miss: Singapore backs Mediacorp with SG$380m amid shifting media habits

The comment, posted under CNA’s verified account, read: “Typical playbook – talking to their base, rally their troops and generals but their real target is actually to corner and neutralise the WP.” “WP” refers to the Workers’ Party, Singapore’s main opposition party.

The screenshot quickly gained traction on social media, appearing on the Singapore Reddit thread where it drew over 2.7k upvotes. Checks by MARKETING-INTERACTIVE confirmed that the comment has since been removed from Shanmugam’s original post.

In Singapore, laws such as the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) regulate the spread of online content deemed false or misleading, particularly when it involves public interest or government matters.

Posts or comments perceived as politically biased or anti-government in nature can attract scrutiny under these laws, as authorities maintain strict guidelines to ensure online discourse remains factual and responsible.

The incident come as Mediacorp receives about SG$380 million in annual funding, which helps it reach over 90% of the population across TV and digital platforms while maintaining high viewer satisfaction, minister Josephine Teo said in parliament. The funding aims to “inform, educate, and connect Singaporeans” through trusted, culturally representative programming.

Teo added that metrics now include digital reach, with meWATCH viewers rising 80% over the past decade despite a dip in TV ratings. Funding is directed at overall operations rather than individual programmes, giving Mediacorp flexibility to adapt and innovate, as seen in successful productions such as Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story, which is also set to debut on Tencent. 

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