The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has announced its intention to gazette news website The Online Citizen (TOC) as a political association. — ST PHOTO

THE Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has announced on Tuesday its intention to gazette news website The Online Citizen (TOC) as a political association.

The Registry of Political Donations, under the PMO, said in a press release that it has informed the site’s founders of its decision via a letter sent on Monday.

On why the decision to gazette TOC, the PMO explained in the statement: ‘As a website that provides coverage and analysis of political issues, TOC has the potential to influence the opinions of their readership and shape political outcomes in Singapore. It has been gazetted to ensure that it is not funded by foreign elements or sources.’

The Political Donations Act, it added, ‘prohibits political parties, political associations and candidates in parliamentary or presidential elections from accepting donations from impermissible or foreign sources. It also requires these entities to report large donations that they have received.’

However, after registration, TOC ‘is entirely free to continue with its normal, lawful operations, and to receive financial support from Singaporeans and Singapore-controlled companies’.

TOC has acknowledged receipt of the PMO’s correspondence. Found on its website on Tuesday evening is this post: ‘The email arrived at 4.13 pm today and included a nine-page registration form. Particulars demanded in the form include details of the web publisher, web host and five other editorial members currently residing in Singapore. TOC has 14 days to register.’