Singapore’s Anti‑Vaccination Leader Faces Hot‑Callboard Trouble
Iris Koh, the mind behind the anti‑COVID Telegram crew Healing the Divide, has issued a public mea‑culpa after some of her followers flooded the Ministry of Health’s helplines with no good reason. The move came just days before the government announced Vaccination‑Differentiated Safe Management (VDS) rules that would bar unvaccinated folks from eating at hawker stalls and coffee shops.
What went wrong?
On November 29, Ms Koh posted on Facebook, “Asking people to flood the call centre for no genuine reason is definitely wrong.” She added, “I would like the community to understand and forgive me if I did not handle this properly.”
She said the comments were made on Oct 11, weeks before the VDS rollout. According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), the VDS scheme aimed “to protect unvaccinated individuals” and relieve stress on the health system.
Police steps up
- Ms Koh confirmed she’s aiding the police in their inquiry.
- Last Thursday, the authorities said they were probing a 48‑year‑old man (Mr Ryan Ng) and a 45‑year‑old woman (Ms Koh) for allegedly urging others to call emergency hotlines.
- The duo reportedly encouraged the public to dial the MOH line, the Ministry of Social & Family Development line and the National Care Hotline, insisting the feedback be pushed up to the call‑centre managers.
- Members were urged to call again the next day to chase the “response” on their calls.
Legal consequences
If convicted of obstructing public servants, they could face up to 3 months in jail, a fine of up to $2,500, or both. If the offence involves more than 10 people, the penalty jumps to 5 years in prison, a larger fine, or a combination of both.
Police have made it clear they won’t sit idly by while essential call‑centres get overwhelmed.
Side note
Yesterday, YouTube shut down a Singaporean anti‑vaccination channel, a story that’s now circulating alongside the hotline debacle.
