Several SG government websites down since 1pm; IDA says it's planned maintenance

SINGAPORE - Many government websites were down on Saturday since 1.30pm.

Besides gov.sg, many users also complained of difficulties accessing other government ministries websites.

The list of government websites down so far: ACRA.gov.sg, AVA.gov.sg, Careers.gov.sg, CNB.gov.sg, GOV.SG, IDA.gov.sg, ISD.gov.sg, ICA.gov.sg, LTA.gov.sg, PUB.gov.sg, MHA.gov.sg, Prisons.gov.sg, SGDI.gov.sg, Singpass.gov.sg, SPF.gov.sg.

IDA said in their Facebook page that "government websites are under planned maintenance and will be back ASAP (as soon as possible)."

Some members of the public commented on IDA's Facebook page, noting tha the IDA's latest update was done  via a mobilephone, which was highly unusual as all its previous Facebook updates were posted from a web browser.

A user said: "Shouldn't planned maintenance be announced in advance?"

Another user also added: "Why did you plan a maintenance on a weekend when many Singaporeans are using websites like ICA's to renew their passports and other important government functions? Why was this not publicised much earlier given that many Singaporeans are affected. If it's planned, why is there a need to make it ASAP?"

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IDA later posted another update on their Facebook page at 6pm, explaining that such planned maintenances are usually undertaken during the weekends and public holidays due to low expected website traffic.

"The maintenance took longer than expected, due to technical difficulties. Maintenance of the websites is progressively being completed. We apologise for the inconvenience caused," it added.

This latest downtime comes after a hacker claiming to be from activist hacker group Anonymous threatened to "go to war" with Singapore on Tuesday (Oct 29), unless it reconsiders its newly imposed licensing rules for local news websites.

The video also mentioned the recent hackings of the PAP Community Foundation and Ang Mo Kio Town Council websites.

They were defaced by someone by the moniker "The Messiah", whom the latest video referred to as "our comrade".

With his face covered by the Guy Fawkes mask, the speaker in the video also calls on Singaporeans to join his group's protest by dressing in black and red and blacking out their Facebook profile photos on Nov 5.

grongloh@sph.com.sg