Fitness coach Rasidah Caudal denies link to Faishal Ibrahim case, warns of legal action over rumours

Fitness coach Rasidah Caudal has publicly denied online rumours identifying her as the woman linked to Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim's resignation, saying the allegations have caused distress to her and her family.

Rasidah spoke out on 27 July after screenshots began circulating on social media claiming she was "the one who caused MP Faishal to resign". In statements posted to her Facebook and Instagram accounts, she categorically rejected the allegations, saying her only interactions with Faishal were at two community fitness events he attended as Guest of Honour.

The first was a Piloxing session at Kampung Ubi Community Club on 29 March, held as part of an International Women's Day event organised by the Kembangan CC Women's Executive Committee.

The second was a Racial Harmony Day event at Kampung Ubi CC on 12 July. Rasidah said she left for France on 15 July, three days before news of Faishal's resignation emerged on 20 July.

She challenged those making the allegations to produce "real, unfabricated proof" of their claims. "I ask those posting and commenting on these false accusations to please refrain from doing so," she wrote, adding that those sharing the rumours should "at least have the backbone to supplement them with proof".

She also warned that spreading the rumours could have legal consequences, saying she would "not hesitate to take legal action against anyone spreading these false rumours".

Speaking to Stomp, Rasidah said the rumours had been "upsetting". "I am really sad and angry at the same time," she said. "This does not only affect me but also my family."

Asked whether she had ever spoken to Faishal privately, she said: "Never. It was always on stage or at community events, with people around." She added that she had received hateful messages since the rumours began circulating.

Background to the speculation

Faishal resigned as Acting Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs and Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs on 20 July, after acknowledging a "lapse of judgment" in his interactions with a woman who is a member of the public.

He also resigned as MP for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC and from the People's Action Party (PAP).

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said his office had received an email from the woman detailing her online exchanges and meetings with Faishal during public events.

On 22 July, Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said in a Facebook post that Faishal's online exchanges with the woman were "objectively, inappropriate and questionable". Neither PM Wong's statement nor Shanmugam's account has identified the woman involved.

Public reaction

Rasidah's statement drew widespread support online, with many commenters describing the rumours as baseless and criticising those who had shared them without evidence.

Several urged her to pursue legal action or file a police report, while others offered messages of support and encouragement.

Former PAP MP Amrin Amin also addressed the speculation, in an Instagram post on 27 July. He said rumours had a way of creating "new victims", noting that at least one woman had already been forced to publicly deny the allegations to protect herself and her family.

Amrin urged the public not to drag further individuals into the matter. "The facts needed for public accountability are already known," he wrote. "What remains unknown is largely a matter of private curiosity." He added: "Public life is unforgiving enough. We do not need to make it crueller by pulling more people into the story."

A note on the law cited

In her statement, Rasidah warned that spreading the rumours was "punishable under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA)". This does not reflect how POFMA actually operates. The Act does not create a private right of action that an individual can invoke against others on their own initiative.

Directions under POFMA, including Correction Directions and Stop Communication Directions, may only be issued by a designated Minister, and only where a false statement of fact affects specified categories of public interest set out in the Act, such as public health, public security, or public confidence in government institutions. It is not a tool available to private citizens seeking recourse for being falsely linked to another person's conduct.

The more relevant law for a case like this is the Protection from Harassment Act (POHA), which allows a private individual to take direct legal action, including applying for a Protection Order or bringing a civil claim for damages, against someone who makes a false statement of fact about them that causes distress.

Unlike POFMA, POHA proceedings can be initiated by the affected individual herself through the courts, without requiring a government minister to act first.