TikToker dr.ishhaq.jay Gets Second POFMA in a Week, This Time About CPF

A TikToker, whose videos mainly feature him talking to his viewers in a car, has been hit with a second POFMA in less than three days. The TikToker, dr.ishhaq.jay, has since complied with the correction directions but also made two more videos to pose further questions.

Here’s what happened.

First POFMA: Voting

The TikToker, known as Jay, uploaded a video on 17 July, suggesting that voting for the opposition might lead to negative consequences, such as a lack of promotions or difficulty accessing public services. He also proposed changes to the voting process to ensure more transparency and prevent vote tracing.

In response, the Government issued a Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) correction order against him. An article was published on the Government’s fact-checking website, Factually, on 18 August, refuting the TikToker’s claims.

The article cited The Parliamentary Elections Act 1954, emphasizing that voting is secret. The Government and the Elections Department (ELD) have consistently adhered to strict statutory procedures to ensure this secrecy. For instance:

• Every person involved in the voting process takes an oath of secrecy.
• Ballot papers are securely transported and sealed before being stored at the Supreme Court for six months, after which they are destroyed.
• The serial number on ballot papers protects the electoral process, ensuring accountability and preventing counterfeiting or voter impersonation. While these serial numbers could theoretically facilitate vote tracing, inspecting sealed votes requires a High Court order and is only permitted under limited circumstances.

He made a correction video and also discussed the POFMA in another video, which doesn’t directly address the key points mentioned but rather his thoughts upon receiving the notice:

@dr.ishhaq.jay #singapretiktok #tiktoksingapore #fyp ♬ original sound – JAY i. Good Morning!

TikToker Gets Second POFMA in a Week, This Time About CPF

You might have come across this TikToker through a viral video he published on 12 August 2023. The video, titled “U TAKE MY MONEY & CHARGE ME INTEREST ON IT AH?”, garnered well over half a million views and was shared by many other TikTokers.

Here’s the video:

@dr.ishhaq.jay #fyp #singapretiktok #tiktoksingapore ♬ original sound – JAY i. Good Morning!

In the 6-minute video, the TikToker expressed his frustration about why people have to pay interest on their HDB loans through CPF, and then provided more information about how CPF works. This information about CPF led to a POFMA.

According to the Ministry of Manpower, the “TikTok Post stated that among low- and middle-income CPF members who have used their CPF monies to repay their HDB loan, none has been able to meet either the Basic Retirement Sum (BRS) or Full Retirement Sum (FRS) in their CPF accounts.” They refuted this statement as false.

Based on CPF Board’s data, almost 7 in 10 active CPF members had set aside their cohort’s BRS at age 55 in 2022. This proportion includes members earning below the median income for those aged 55 years old in 2022 who have used their CPF savings to repay housing loans. The proportion of active CPF members expected to set aside their cohort’s BRS at age 55 is projected to rise to about 8 in 10 by 2027.

Additionally, the MOM clarified that the “TikTok Post claimed that members will have to start paying cash for their monthly HDB loan repayment from age 55 onwards, as CPF monies in their Ordinary Account would all be transferred to their Retirement Account at that point.”

However, when a CPF member turns 55, funds from the member’s Special Account are transferred to their Retirement Account, up to the Full Retirement Sum. If there is a shortfall to the Full Retirement Sum, only the Ordinary Account monies needed to make up the shortfall are transferred to the Retirement Account.

CPF members can apply before age 55 to retain all or part of their Ordinary Account funds to pay for their housing loan. If they do so, these funds will not be transferred to the Retirement Account, even if there is a shortfall to the Full Retirement Sum. Any inflows to members’ Ordinary Account after they turn 55 can also be used for housing.

The TikToker also claimed that members cannot use their CPF savings for their children’s education, while foreigners receive education for free. Several TikTokers have corrected this claim, and MOM added that under the CPF Education Loan Scheme, CPF members can use their Ordinary Account savings to pay for their children’s tuition fees for full-time subsidized diploma/degree courses at Approved Educational Institutions.

In general, foreigners pay higher school fees than Singaporeans and do not receive education for free in Singapore. Access to government loans is also not free for foreign students, with interest payable post-graduation.

Lastly, MOM addressed the main topic: CPF members are charged interest on the CPF funds and grants used for housing. MOM explained that when members use their CPF savings for housing, they are tapping into savings meant for their retirement needs.

Therefore, when they sell their property, they are required to refund their own CPF Account the total amount of CPF funds (including any CPF housing grants) used for the purchase, as well as the interest they would have earned if those funds were not used for the purchase.

The full refund goes to the member’s CPF account, and nothing is taken by the Government or any other party. No charges are imposed on the member when they sell their property.