Everything About Wanbao Reporter’s Allegedly ‘Fake Interview’ That’s Called Out By The ‘Interviewee’

Previously, the Straits Times had been called out for managing to find many “Ashley Wu”, “Nicholas Wong” and “Alan Tang” for their articles. To the point where Minister Khaw went off-script to mention the name Ashley Wu.

When people say that journalism has gone down the toilet, stories like this will be what we refer to. And today’s episode will be continued with a different newspaper, Wanbao (but published on Zaobao’s website).

This entire story is shared on Facebook by Quah Zheng Jie, a 25-year-old male NTU student.

And its magnitudes are worse than the Ashley Wu story, since an article was published on Zaobao (here’s an archived link) despite Quah rejecting to share his story, and many details are also allegedly fabricated.

COVID-19 Instagram Story Gets Noticed By Acquaintance

Quah contracted COVID-19 and started to share his journey to recovery on Instagram stories. But before you start searching his Instagram, know that his original intentions were just to let his parents and friends know that he is well and healthy.

On 1 May 2020, “James” (fake name, since Quah don’t want people to doxx him), messaged Quah on Instagram asking to do a small write up about Quah’s experience. James claimed to have started work in SPH as a reporter.

James is an acquaintance that Quah felt comfortable enough speaking casually to.

Quah rejected him outright, not wanting to dramatise the virus.

Rejected, But Pushed Further For Details

James asked for photos of the quarantine facilities, even though James himself seems to acknowledge that Quah rejected giving information.

Quah referred him to a Mothership article for the inside photos, then even threatening to block James if he kept going.

James stopped, which all seemed well until…

7 May 2020, Article Published On Zaobao Using Quah’s Information

The article, “阻断措施期间足不出户 南大生不解为何染疫”, included Quah’s photographs and personal details and even claimed to have interviewed Quah. Zaobao has already removed the article on their site.

A translation of the archived article can be found further below.

Quah knew about the article on 7 May 2020, around 3.15 pm from a friend. The friend’s dad was able to identify who the article was referring to from details in the article.

He was also the only 25-year-old male NTU student with COVID-19, so it is very easy to identify him.

Fake Details In Article

According to Quah, the article used content he posted on Instagram Stories, but the personal details on his family and activities before and during the CB were “completely fake”.

Quah says that James has not only “crossed the lines of Ethical Journalism”, but his conduct is also a “gross and serious violation of fundamental journalistic ethics”.

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Quah also pointed out that the title, “阻断措施期间足不出户 南大生不解为何染疫”, roughly translated to “NTU Student Gets COVID-19 even though he stayed home during the CB Period”, is misleading since it suggests that people can get COVID-19 just by staying at home.

Quah then said this clickbait headline “merely unsettles public confidence when reassurance is most needed,” and this is “extremely irresponsible of LHZB/LHWB, especially in these times of heightened anxiety.”

James Knew That Quah Found Out

James later messaged Quah, who received the message on 7 May 2020, around 5.21 pm.

James claimed that this is a misunderstanding.

On the night of 7 May 2020, Zaobao later changed the image in the article to a generic stock image.

This is also the version that managed to get archived.

Quah Reached Out To Lianhe Zaobao, Got Unsatisfactory Reply

Lianhe Zaobao’s responded that James “made a wrong judgment” to mention that Quah was interviewed although Quah refused.

Quah wasn’t happy with this response, since they didn’t address the fake news, and “ethical journalism should be accurate and fair”.

Article Caused Panic

Quah continued to point out the damage done by the article. While the online version is down, the printed version remains.

Online communities like NTU Confessions and Facebook posts already have people speculating that staying at home is dangerous because of false information.

Even foreign news sites have picked up on the story.

Personal Damage

The events have also caused Quah emotional and psychological distress, who I remind you had been dealing with COVID-19 and was already stressed af already.

He wanted to avoid attention and avoid dramatising the virus. But seeing his story published in this manner only left him feeling betrayed and shocked.

To add salt to the wound, there were hateful comments by netizens speculating that Quah had been untruthful and non-compliant to the Contact Tracing and Circuit Breaker measures.

Quah Stresses the Importance of Calling Out Fake News

He sincerely hopes that the news will report accurately and factually without misleading or fear-mongering headlines and content.

The people rely on journalists for factual information, and they need to be careful on how they conduct themselves.

Damn straight. You tell them, dude.

Translation of Archived Article (Remember: This is Probably Fake)

Despite staying at home during the Circuit Breaker, a 25-year-old NTU student suddenly got symptoms of the coronavirus. He first had a slight fever, cough and runny nose. Later, he lost his sense of taste and immediately went for a check-up.

The next day, he was confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 and was admitted to the hospital. Since entering the facility, it had been 26 days with the source of infection still unknown.

Lived With Parents and Sister, Didn’t Go Out

Mr Xu (25-years-old), who contracted the coronavirus, is a third-year university student at Nanyang Business School. In an interview with Lianhe Wanbao, he said that since the Circuit Breaker was implemented on 7 April, the family of four, including his parents and a younger sister, had not left their home at Jurong. They had been working and studying online.

He said that on 11 April, he began experiencing mild cold symptoms. “At first, my throat started to itch and cough. I thought I didn’t drink enough water, and didn’t give it much thought. But at night, I developed a slight fever and runny nose.”

The next day, he found that he was starting to lose his sense of taste. “At dinner, I found that the usual dishes, dishes or soups, were very light and almost tasteless.”

Immediately Rushed To A Clinic After Lost Sense of Taste

He remembered reading a report online that “loss of taste” was one of the symptoms of the coronavirus.

He felt that something was wrong, and immediately went to the clinic on the morning of the 13th, and performed a swab test.

As he went home to wait for the report, he kept telling himself that he would be fine.

Unexpectedly, the next day, on the 14th, he received a phone call from the Ministry of Health informing him that his nasal swab test was positive and he must be taken to hospital for treatment.

He stayed in Ng Teng Fong Hospital for 4 days, and was transferred to the community care facility in Singapore Expo Center for isolation and observation on April 18. The day before yesterday (5 May), he was transferred to the community care facility D’ Resort in Pasir Ris and stayed under observation.

Mr Xu said that 26 days have passed since he was admitted to the hospital. He continued to test positive for multiple nasal swabs. The source of the infection has not yet been found.

Continue to Stay at Home Because It Helps

If this not-so-accurate has made you fearful, don’t: numbers don’t lie, and in the last few days, local cases have dropped by a lot.

Just today, there are only 3 Singaporeans or Singapore PRs reported to be infected.

On average, based on yesterday’s numbers, the number of new cases in the community has decreased, from an average of 9 cases per day in the week before, to an average of 8 per day in the past week. The number of unlinked cases in the community has also decreased, from an average of 5 cases per day in the week before, to an average of 3 per day in the past week.

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