Academics back S’pore historian grilled by 'fake news' panel

SINGAPORE, Apr 11 (AFP): A Singaporean historian attacked for challenging the official narrative of the city-state's history during parliamentary hearings on "fake news" has won backing from over 130 academics from universities around the world.

In an open letter, they accused the panel conducting the hearings of seeking to discredit Thum Ping Tjin, who has questioned claims by Singapore's long-ruling party about communist activity in the 1960s.

Thum, an Oxford University research associate, was quizzed last month by the 10-member parliamentary committee, which is examining possible steps-including legislation-to tackle what it describes as online falsehoods in the tightly controlled city-state.