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Bold attempt at fixing this up once and for all. Removed repetitive portions and contradictory sections, removed anything that couldn't be verified. Removed entirety of 1MDB section-- most of it is cited to sources determined to be unreliable for this sort of article. If content about it is re-added, it should cite reliable sources and it should only be a paragraph or so.
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| birth_date =
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| citizenship = [[Australia]]
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| nationality = [[Singaporean]]
| nationality = [[Singaporean]]
| occupation = [[Activism|Social activist]]
| occupation =
| party = [[Reform Party (Singapore)|Reform Party]]
| party = [[Reform Party (Singapore)|Reform Party]]
<br> [[Singapore People's Party]]
<br> [[Singapore People's Party]]
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'''Alex Tan Zhixiang''' ({{zh|s=陈智祥|zh|t=陳智祥|p=Chén Zhì Xiáng}}; born {{Birth based on age as of date|23|2011}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Habib |first=Shahanaaz |date=2011-05-06 |title=Wee hour campaigning |url=https://www.asiaone.com/News/Elections/Story/A1Story20110502-276678.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506142744/https://www.asiaone.com/News/Elections/Story/A1Story20110502-276678.html |archive-date=6 May 2011 |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=The Star |via=Asiaone}}</ref>) is a Singaporean politician and [[political dissident]]. Tan was a former editor of [[TR Emeritus|Temasek Review]], a now-defunct socio-political website that mainly produced articles on Singapore. On 7 May 2020, his [[Facebook]] pages and website were banned in Singapore in accordance with the [[Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act|Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA)]].
'''Alex Tan Zhixiang''' ({{zh|s=陈智祥|zh|t=陳智祥|p=Chén Zhì Xiáng}}; born {{Birth based on age as of date|23|2011}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Habib |first=Shahanaaz |date=2011-05-06 |title=Wee hour campaigning |url=https://www.asiaone.com/News/Elections/Story/A1Story20110502-276678.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506142744/https://www.asiaone.com/News/Elections/Story/A1Story20110502-276678.html |archive-date=6 May 2011 |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=The Star |via=Asiaone}}</ref>) is a Singaporean politician and [[political dissident]]. He contributed to and owned online outlets critical of the government of Singapore. The government of Singapore labeled this coverage as [[fake news]] and blocked access to his Facebook pages under the [[Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act|Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA)]].


== Activism ==
== Online activities ==
Tan was an editor and one of the contributors and founders of the sociopolitical website The Real Singapore (TRS).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Othman|first=Zul|date=18 February 2012|title=Blog post claims NSF 'shot in the eye'|url=https://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20120216-328313.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625235609/https://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20120216-328313.html|archive-date=25 June 2012|access-date=9 June 2020|website=}}</ref>
Tan was an editor and one of the contributors and founders of the sociopolitical website The Real Singapore (TRS).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Othman|first=Zul|date=18 February 2012|title=Blog post claims NSF 'shot in the eye'|url=https://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20120216-328313.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625235609/https://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20120216-328313.html|archive-date=25 June 2012|access-date=9 June 2020|website=}}</ref> On 6 February 2015, two editors of TRS, Ai Takagi and Robin Yang Kai Heng, were arrested under [[Sedition Act (Singapore)|Singapore's Sedition Act]]. Tan moved to Australia soon after and The Real Singapore was shut down on 3 May 2015 by order of the [[Media Development Authority |Media Development Authority of Singapore]]. He subsequently started a new website called ''Straits Times Review'', later changing its name to ''States Times Review'' after [[Singapore Press Holdings]] stated that it would explore legal recourse for infringing on its newspaper, ''[[The Straits Times]]''' trademark.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/former-trs-editor-sets-new-website-straits-times-review|title=Former TRS editor sets up new website Straits Times Review|website=TODAYonline|access-date=27 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-05-08 |title=SPH Exploring Legal Action Against Straits Times Review: The Media Saga In 5 Minutes |url=http://sg.news.yahoo.com/sph-exploring-legal-action-against-042440206.html |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=sg.news.yahoo.com |language=en-SG}}</ref>


⚫
Invoking POFMA, the government of Singapore requested Facebook mark a States Times Review post with a "correction notice" in November 2019.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Geddie |first1=John |last2=Ungku |first2=Fathin |title=Singapore tells Facebook to correct user's post in test of 'fake news' laws |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-singapore-fakenews-idUSKBN1Y3093 |website=Reuters |access-date=22 September 2023 |language=en |date=29 November 2019}}</ref> The State Times Review Facebook page was blocked on 17 February 2020 from access by Singapore users<ref>{{cite web |title=Facebook blocks users’ access to States Times Review page in Singapore |url=https://en.vietnamplus.vn/facebook-blocks-users-access-to-states-times-review-page-in-singapore/168848.vnp |website=Vietnam News Agency |access-date=24 September 2023 |date=19 February 2020}}</ref> after Tan refused to update posts relating to COVID-19 as false and add a notice declaring "a history communicating falsehoods" to the page. Facebook was ordered to do so under POFMA and said they found the block "deeply concern[ing]".<ref>{{cite web |title=Facebook expresses 'deep concern' after Singapore orders page block |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51556620 |website=BBC News |access-date=22 September 2023 |date=19 February 2020}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=Government orders Facebook to disable Singapore users' access to States Times Review page |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/pofma-facebook-disable-singapore-states-times-review-covid19-12443134 |website=CNA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Facebook blocks Singaporeans' access to two pages, but expresses free speech concerns {{!}} Digital |url=https://www.campaignasia.com/article/facebook-blocks-singaporeans-access-to-two-pages-but-expresses-free-speech-conc/459926 |access-date=3 November 2020 |website=Campaign Asia}}</ref> Tan created additional accounts to circumvent the block. Legal action could not be taken against Tan as he lives outside of Singapore's jurisdiction.<ref>{{cite book |title=European Yearbook of Constitutional Law 2020 |date=2021 |publisher=T.M.C. Asser Press |location=Den Haag |isbn=9789462654310 |page=221 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VhomEAAAQBAJ&q=alex%20tan%20singapore |access-date=24 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2 June 2020 |title=Is the Singapore Government going on a "blocking merry go round" with Alex Tan's Facebook pages with POFMA? |url=https://toca.wpengine.com/2020/06/02/is-the-singapore-government-going-on-a-blocking-merry-go-round-with-alex-tans-facebook-pages-with-pofma/ |access-date=3 November 2020 |website=The Online Citizen |language=en-GB}}</ref> In May 2020, the Facebook pages of Tan and his outlet ''Singapore States Times''’ were classified as "Declared Online Locations" under POFMA.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-07 |title=POFMA: Facebook pages of Singapore States Times, Alex Tan classified as Declared Online Locations |url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/pofma-facebook-pages-of-singapore-states-times-alex-tan-classified-as-declared-online-locations-045311911.html |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-SG}}</ref>
On 6 February 2015, two editors of TRS, Ai Takagi and Robin Yang Kai Heng, were arrested under [[Sedition Act (Singapore)|Singapore's Sedition Act]]. Tan moved to Australia soon after and The Real Singapore was shut down on 3 May 2015 by order of the [[Media Development Authority |Media Development Authority of Singapore]]. He subsequently started a new website called ''Straits Times Review'', later changing its name to ''States Times Review'' after [[Singapore Press Holdings]] stated that it would explore legal recourse for infringing on its newspaper, [[The Straits Times]]' trademark.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/former-trs-editor-sets-new-website-straits-times-review|title=Former TRS editor sets up new website Straits Times Review|website=TODAYonline|access-date=27 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-05-08 |title=SPH Exploring Legal Action Against Straits Times Review: The Media Saga In 5 Minutes |url=http://sg.news.yahoo.com/sph-exploring-legal-action-against-042440206.html |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=sg.news.yahoo.com |language=en-SG}}</ref> Law minister [[K. Shanmugam]] declared ''Straits Times Review'' a publisher of [[fake news]], citing the site's claim of a "near-zero turnout for former president [[SR Nathan]]’s funeral, and that kindergarten kids were forced to attend" as false.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=3 April 2017|title=Government ‘seriously considering’ how to deal with fake news: Shanmugam|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/government--seriously-considering--how-to-deal-with-fake-news-sh-8712436|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428025154/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/government--seriously-considering--how-to-deal-with-fake-news-sh-8712436|archive-date=28 April 2017|access-date=9 June 2020|website=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/experts-welcome-laws-to-curb-fake-news|title=Experts welcome laws to curb fake news|date=17 April 2017|website=The Straits Times}}</ref>

Under POFMA, Tan was served with numerous correction notices over statements made through outlets he managed. Tan is the most frequently targeted individual by POFMA.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Teo |first1=Kai |title=POFMA: How is Singapore using its anti fake news law? |url=https://www.singapore-samizdat.com/pofma-anti-fake-news-law/ |website=Singapore Samizdat |access-date=22 September 2023 |language=en |date=17 May 2022}}</ref>

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The government of Singapore requested Facebook mark a States Times Review post with a "correction notice" in November 2019.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Geddie |first1=John |last2=Ungku |first2=Fathin |title=Singapore tells Facebook to correct user's post in test of 'fake news' laws |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-singapore-fakenews-idUSKBN1Y3093 |website=Reuters |access-date=22 September 2023 |language=en |date=29 November 2019}}</ref> The State Times Review Facebook page was blocked on 17 February 2020 from access by Singapore users<ref>{{cite web |title=Facebook blocks users’ access to States Times Review page in Singapore |url=https://en.vietnamplus.vn/facebook-blocks-users-access-to-states-times-review-page-in-singapore/168848.vnp |website=Vietnam News Agency |access-date=24 September 2023 |date=19 February 2020}}</ref> after Tan refused to update posts relating to COVID-19 as false and add a notice declaring "a history communicating falsehoods" to the page. Facebook was ordered to do so under POFMA and said they found the block "deeply concern[ing]".<ref>{{cite web |title=Facebook expresses 'deep concern' after Singapore orders page block |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51556620 |website=BBC News |access-date=22 September 2023 |date=19 February 2020}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=Government orders Facebook to disable Singapore users' access to States Times Review page |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/pofma-facebook-disable-singapore-states-times-review-covid19-12443134 |website=CNA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Facebook blocks Singaporeans' access to two pages, but expresses free speech concerns {{!}} Digital |url=https://www.campaignasia.com/article/facebook-blocks-singaporeans-access-to-two-pages-but-expresses-free-speech-conc/459926 |access-date=3 November 2020 |website=Campaign Asia}}</ref> Tan created new accounts and continued to post as late as June 2020,<ref>{{Cite web |title=POFMA Office instructed to issue correction directions to Facebook pages of State News Singapore, Alex Tan |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/pofma-office-instructed-issue-correction-directions-alex-tan-sns-12880108 |access-date=3 November 2020 |website=CNA |language=en}}</ref> and with at least four Facebook pages being similarly banned.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 June 2020 |title=Is the Singapore Government going on a "blocking merry go round" with Alex Tan's Facebook pages with POFMA? |url=https://toca.wpengine.com/2020/06/02/is-the-singapore-government-going-on-a-blocking-merry-go-round-with-alex-tans-facebook-pages-with-pofma/ |access-date=3 November 2020 |website=The Online Citizen |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In November 2019, a correction order was issued against States Times Review for "falsely claim[ing] several individuals have been arrested over a recent post about" Shanmugam.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-28 |title=Fake news law: Correction notice issued to States Times Review |url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/fake-news-law-correction-notice-issued-to-states-times-review-041347785.html |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-SG}}</ref>

In February 2020, the Facebook page of the States Times Review was classified as Declared Online Locations (DOLs) under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act for carrying at least three or more different online falsehoods that were subjected to POFMA orders.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-15 |title=MCI slaps Declared Online Location tag on States Times Review page |url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/mci-slaps-states-times-review-fb-page-as-declared-online-location-060500977.html |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-SG}}</ref> The Facebook page was subsequently restricted access to its Singapore users after "careful review of the order".<ref>{{Cite web |last=kathleen |date=2020-02-18 |title=States Times Review FB page no longer accessible after Facebook ordered under POFMA to disable public access |url=https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2020/02/18/states-times-review-fb-page-no-longer-accessible-after-facebook-ordered-under-pofma-to-disable-public-access/ |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=The Online Citizen Asia |language=en-GB}}</ref> In May 2020, the Facebook pages of the Singapore States Times’ (SST), owned by Tan, and Tan were classified similarly.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-07 |title=POFMA: Facebook pages of Singapore States Times, Alex Tan classified as Declared Online Locations |url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/pofma-facebook-pages-of-singapore-states-times-alex-tan-classified-as-declared-online-locations-045311911.html |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-SG}}</ref>

=== Allegations of Singapore government's role in 1MDB scandal ===
{{See also|1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal}}
On 6 November 2018, States Times Review published the article "Lee Hsien Loong becomes 1MDB's key investigation target", alleging that Malaysia had signed several unfair agreements with Singapore in exchange for Singapore banks’ assistance in laundering the Malaysian state fund [[1Malaysia Development Berhad]] (1MDB) and implying that Singapore's Prime Minister [[Lee Hsien Loong]] is complicit in the money laundering on 1MDB. The Coverage of Malaysia subsequently published an article based on the content of this article. The article also claimed that editor Clare Rewcastle of [[Sarawak Report]] (SR) said in an interview with Malaysian media that Singapore, along with the [[United States]] and [[Switzerland]], were key investigation targets in the [[1MDB scandal]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-10 |title=STR welcomes a libel lawsuit from Lee Hsien Loong – States Times Review |url=http://statestimesreview.com/2018/11/08/str-welcomes-a-libel-lawsuit-from-lee-hsien-loong/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110183713/http://statestimesreview.com/2018/11/08/str-welcomes-a-libel-lawsuit-from-lee-hsien-loong/ |archive-date=10 November 2018 |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=States Times Review}}</ref>

In response, SR called the interview "erroneous" and disowned the claim, saying that "SR (had) not given any such interview and (had) not written on this subject" and that "the article moreover (was) unclear in its direction and meaning."<ref name="IMDA">{{Cite web |title=IMDA orders States Times Review to take down 'objectionable' article |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/imda-orders-states-times-review-take-down-pm-lee-1mdb-10912554 |website=CNA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Han |first=Kirsten |date=2018-11-14 |title=Singapore’s fake news debate wrapped in 1MDB controversy |url=https://asiatimes.com/2018/11/singapores-fake-news-debate-wrapped-in-1mdb-controversy/ |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=Asia Times |language=en-US}}</ref> The [[Monetary Authority of Singapore]] to file a police report against Tan for "impugning its integrity".<ref>{{Cite web |title=MAS files police report against author of 'baseless' States Times Review article |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/1mdb-mas-files-police-report-article-states-times-review-10911664 |website=CNA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-09 |title=MAS files police report over States Times Review article |url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/mas-files-police-report-states-times-review-article-013539212.html |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-SG}}</ref> The Singapore High Commision in Malaysia also released a statement to the Malaysian government and people that "categorically stated that (the) article is fake news and clearly libellous."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-08 |title=Report linking PM Lee and 1MDB probe fake news, says Singapore High Commission |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/11/429233/report-linking-pm-lee-and-1mdb-probe-fake-news-says-singapore-high |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=New Straits Times}}</ref>

On 9 November, the [[Info-communications Media Development Authority]] (IMDA) ordered States Times Review to take down the article or face blocked access by the Internet Service Providers (ISP) should it fail to do so by 5 p.m. that day.<ref name="IMDA" /> States Times Review refused to remove the alleged offending article on a Facebook post at 6 p.m. that day, with Tan inviting Lee Hsien Loong to file a case with Australian authorities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 November 2018 |title=States Times Review refuses to take down article linking PM Lee with 1MDB |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/states-times-review-refuses-remove-article-pm-lee-1mdb-10912976 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028154341/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/states-times-review-refuses-remove-article-pm-lee-1mdb-918746 |archive-date=28 October 2021 |website=CNA}}</ref> As such, IMDA would direct ISPs to block States Times Review as it had not complied to the order by 5 p.m. that day. Facebook refused to take down the article from its platform as revealed by the [[Ministry of Law (Singapore)|Ministry of Law]], which justified the necessity for legislation to defend Singapore from deliberate online falsehoods since "Facebook (could not) be relied upon to filter falsehoods or protect Singapore from a false information campaign."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facebook declines S'pore govt request to take down States Times Review post linking PM Lee with 1MDB |url=https://mothership.sg/2018/11/facebook-turns-down-singapore-request/ |website=mothership.sg}}</ref>

Shortly after the article was blocked, Tan announced that he would shut down States Times Review after the [[2020 Singaporean general election]], saying that he would "stop writing and continue life in Australia".<ref>{{Cite web |title=States Times Review to close down after getting blocked in S'pore by authorities |url=https://mothership.sg/2018/11/states-times-review-closed-down/ |website=mothership.sg}}</ref> He also indicated that he would be offering help to a [[Toronto]]-based reader, a dual citizen of [[Canada]] and Singapore, to help start a new website ''Singapore Herald'', whose server would be based in [[Burlington, Massachusetts]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=States Times Review editor Alex Tan retires and claims he has passed baton to new site ‘Singapore Herald’ |url=https://www.mumbrella.asia/2018/11/states-times-review-editor-alex-tan-retires-and-claims-he-has-passed-baton-to-new-site-singapore-herald |website=Mumbrella.com.au}}</ref>

Tan was reportedly an editor for the ''Singapore Herald'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=ICA: States Times Review founder Alex Tan remained outside S'pore on expired passport |url=https://mothership.sg/2019/04/singaporean-alex-tan-expired-passport-overseas/ |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=mothership.sg |language=en}}</ref> and that the ''Singapore Herald'' was hosted on the same servers as the States Times Review.<ref>{{Cite web |last=kathleen |date=2018-11-17 |title=Is the States Times Review editor having a case of dissociative identity disorder? |url=https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2018/11/17/is-the-states-times-review-editor-having-a-case-of-dissociative-identity-disorder/ |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=The Online Citizen Asia |language=en-GB}}</ref> The ''Singapore Herald'' was subsequently blocked on 16 December 2018 for "blatantly misrepresent Singapore's position in the ongoing situation with the Malaysian government".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zaccheus |first=Melody |date=2018-12-16 |title=Singapore Herald website blocked for not removing objectionable articles on Singapore-Malaysia dispute |language=en |work=The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-herald-website-blocked-for-not-removing-objectionable-articles-on-singapore |access-date=2023-09-22 |issn=0585-3923}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=kathleen |date=2018-12-17 |title=Singapore Herald banned by IMDA for refusing to remove objectionable articles |url=https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2018/12/17/singapore-herald-banned-by-imda-for-refusing-to-remove-objectionable-articles/ |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=The Online Citizen Asia |language=en-GB}}</ref>


== Political career ==
== Political career ==
Tan contested in the [[2011 Singaporean general election]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facebook ordered to shut down Australian blogger over posts critical of Singaporean government |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/facebook-ordered-to-shut-down-australian-blogger-over-posts-critical-of-singaporean-government/m34ira063 |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=SBS News |language=en}}</ref> under the [[Reform Party (Singapore)|Reform Party]]'s banner for [[Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency]] (GRC), running against [[People's Action Party]]'s [[Lee Hsien Loong]] who was the incumbent Prime Minister.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=28 April 2011 |title=6-MEMBER GROUP REPRESENTATION CONSTITUENCIES (GRCs) |work=The Business Times |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/biztimes20110428-1.2.6.11.1 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Tan was originally with [[Singapore People's Party]], but joined the Reform Party for the elections after internal discussions within SPP concluded that SPP would not contest in Ang Mo Kio GRC and would consolidate resources with the Reform Party for contesting that ward.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 April 2011 |title=Questions about candidates on loan |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/newpaper20110427-1.2.3.2.2 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=The New Paper}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Statement on Alex Tan and the Reform Party {{!}} The Reform Party |url=https://reform.sg/about/press-releases/statement-on-alex-tan-and-the-reform-party/ |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=reform.sg}}</ref> Tan's group consisted of Osman Sulaiman, Arthero Lim, Mansor Rahman, Lim Zi Rui, Vigneswari Ramachandran, and himself.<ref name=":0" /> To fund their entry, Tan raised $32,000 online.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Toh |first=Mavis |date=27 April 2011 |title=RP raises funds online for Ang Mo Kio fight |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes20110427-1.2.13.16 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=eresources.nlb.gov.sg}}</ref> Tan and his group of candidates lost the elections, having garnered 49,851 (30.67%) votes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ELD {{!}} 2011 Parliamentary General Election Results |url=https://www.eld.gov.sg/elections_past_parliamentary2011.html |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=www.eld.gov.sg}}</ref>
Tan contested in the [[2011 Singaporean general election]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facebook ordered to shut down Australian blogger over posts critical of Singaporean government |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/facebook-ordered-to-shut-down-australian-blogger-over-posts-critical-of-singaporean-government/m34ira063 |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=SBS News |language=en}}</ref> under the [[Reform Party (Singapore)|Reform Party]]'s banner for [[Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency]] (GRC), running against [[People's Action Party]]'s [[Lee Hsien Loong]] who was the incumbent Prime Minister.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=28 April 2011 |title=6-MEMBER GROUP REPRESENTATION CONSTITUENCIES (GRCs) |work=The Business Times |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/biztimes20110428-1.2.6.11.1 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Tan was originally with [[Singapore People's Party]], but joined the Reform Party for the elections after internal discussions within SPP concluded that SPP would not contest in Ang Mo Kio GRC and would consolidate resources with the Reform Party for contesting that ward.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 April 2011 |title=Questions about candidates on loan |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/newpaper20110427-1.2.3.2.2 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=The New Paper}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Statement on Alex Tan and the Reform Party {{!}} The Reform Party |url=https://reform.sg/about/press-releases/statement-on-alex-tan-and-the-reform-party/ |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=reform.sg}}</ref> Tan's group consisted of Osman Sulaiman, Arthero Lim, Mansor Rahman, Lim Zi Rui, Vigneswari Ramachandran, and himself.<ref name=":0" /> To fund their entry, Tan raised $32,000 online.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Toh |first=Mavis |date=27 April 2011 |title=RP raises funds online for Ang Mo Kio fight |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes20110427-1.2.13.16 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=eresources.nlb.gov.sg}}</ref> Tan and his group of candidates lost the elections, having garnered 49,851 (30.67%) votes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ELD {{!}} 2011 Parliamentary General Election Results |url=https://www.eld.gov.sg/elections_past_parliamentary2011.html |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=www.eld.gov.sg}}</ref>

In an open letter published in the States Times Review, Tan challenged Shanmugam to stand against him for election in a Single Member Constituency in the 2020 general elections.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://statestimesreview.com/2017/04/03/dear-law-minister-you-are-just-another-corrupted-dictator/|title=Dear Law Minister, you are just another corrupted dictator &#124; States Times Review}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 03:49, 9 October 2023

This article is about the Singaporean political dissident Alex Tan. For the ROM hacker with the same name, see PangaeaPanga.
Alex Tan Zhixiang
陈智祥 (Chén Zhì Xiáng)
NationalitySingaporean
Political partyReform Party
Singapore People's Party

Alex Tan Zhixiang (simplified Chinese: 陈智祥; traditional Chinese: 陳智祥; pinyin: Chén Zhì Xiáng; born 1987 or 1988 (age 35–36)[1]) is a Singaporean politician and political dissident. He contributed to and owned online outlets critical of the government of Singapore. The government of Singapore labeled this coverage as fake news and blocked access to his Facebook pages under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA).

Online activities

Tan was an editor and one of the contributors and founders of the sociopolitical website The Real Singapore (TRS).[2] On 6 February 2015, two editors of TRS, Ai Takagi and Robin Yang Kai Heng, were arrested under Singapore's Sedition Act. Tan moved to Australia soon after and The Real Singapore was shut down on 3 May 2015 by order of the Media Development Authority of Singapore. He subsequently started a new website called Straits Times Review, later changing its name to States Times Review after Singapore Press Holdings stated that it would explore legal recourse for infringing on its newspaper, The Straits Times' trademark.[3][4]

Invoking POFMA, the government of Singapore requested Facebook mark a States Times Review post with a "correction notice" in November 2019.[5] The State Times Review Facebook page was blocked on 17 February 2020 from access by Singapore users[6] after Tan refused to update posts relating to COVID-19 as false and add a notice declaring "a history communicating falsehoods" to the page. Facebook was ordered to do so under POFMA and said they found the block "deeply concern[ing]".[7][8][9] Tan created additional accounts to circumvent the block. Legal action could not be taken against Tan as he lives outside of Singapore's jurisdiction.[10][11] In May 2020, the Facebook pages of Tan and his outlet Singapore States Times’ were classified as "Declared Online Locations" under POFMA.[12]

Political career

Tan contested in the 2011 Singaporean general election,[13] under the Reform Party's banner for Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency (GRC), running against People's Action Party's Lee Hsien Loong who was the incumbent Prime Minister.[14] Tan was originally with Singapore People's Party, but joined the Reform Party for the elections after internal discussions within SPP concluded that SPP would not contest in Ang Mo Kio GRC and would consolidate resources with the Reform Party for contesting that ward.[15][16] Tan's group consisted of Osman Sulaiman, Arthero Lim, Mansor Rahman, Lim Zi Rui, Vigneswari Ramachandran, and himself.[14] To fund their entry, Tan raised $32,000 online.[17] Tan and his group of candidates lost the elections, having garnered 49,851 (30.67%) votes.[18]

References

  1. ^ Habib, Shahanaaz (6 May 2011). "Wee hour campaigning". The Star. Archived from the original on 6 May 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2023 – via Asiaone.
  2. ^ Othman, Zul (18 February 2012). "Blog post claims NSF 'shot in the eye'". Archived from the original on 25 June 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Former TRS editor sets up new website Straits Times Review". TODAYonline. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  4. ^ "SPH Exploring Legal Action Against Straits Times Review: The Media Saga In 5 Minutes". sg.news.yahoo.com. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  5. ^ Geddie, John; Ungku, Fathin (29 November 2019). "Singapore tells Facebook to correct user's post in test of 'fake news' laws". Reuters. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  6. ^ "Facebook blocks users' access to States Times Review page in Singapore". Vietnam News Agency. 19 February 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  7. ^ "Facebook expresses 'deep concern' after Singapore orders page block". BBC News. 19 February 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  8. ^ "Government orders Facebook to disable Singapore users' access to States Times Review page". CNA.
  9. ^ "Facebook blocks Singaporeans' access to two pages, but expresses free speech concerns | Digital". Campaign Asia. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  10. ^ European Yearbook of Constitutional Law 2020. Den Haag: T.M.C. Asser Press. 2021. p. 221. ISBN 9789462654310. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  11. ^ "Is the Singapore Government going on a "blocking merry go round" with Alex Tan's Facebook pages with POFMA?". The Online Citizen. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  12. ^ "POFMA: Facebook pages of Singapore States Times, Alex Tan classified as Declared Online Locations". Yahoo News. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Facebook ordered to shut down Australian blogger over posts critical of Singaporean government". SBS News. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  14. ^ a b "6-MEMBER GROUP REPRESENTATION CONSTITUENCIES (GRCs)". The Business Times. 28 April 2011.
  15. ^ "Questions about candidates on loan". The New Paper. 27 April 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  16. ^ "Statement on Alex Tan and the Reform Party | The Reform Party". reform.sg. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  17. ^ Toh, Mavis (27 April 2011). "RP raises funds online for Ang Mo Kio fight". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  18. ^ "ELD | 2011 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
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