Sun Apr 23, 2006
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The leader of a Singapore opposition party, threatened with a defamation suit by the city-state's ruling politicians for accusations of corruption days ahead of a poll, said on Sunday he would not apologise.
Lawyers for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his father, Lee Kuan Yew, have sent letters to leaders of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), complaining about articles in the party's newsletter.
The action comes before the May 6 general election in a replay of a legal drama ahead of the last poll in 2001, won overwhelmingly by the People's Action Party (PAP) that has dominated parliament since independence from Malaysia in 1965.
Chee Soon Juan, secretary-general of the SDP, and members of his party's central executive committee must apologise and pay an unspecified amount in damages, a lawyer representing the Lees told the Strait Times newspaper on Saturday.
"I personally will not be apologising. You can't be apologising every time someone threatens you," Chee told Reuters.
"I was only doing what the opposition should be doing: questioning government policies and wanting more transparency and accountability. Only here in Singapore are these actions frowned upon and draw defamation lawsuits," he said.
Lawyers said should the case go to court, the SDP ran the risk of being shut down if the party or its executive committee was not able to pay the damages.
An acerbic critic of the Singapore government, Chee has had several skirmishes with the ruling PAP. He was slapped with a defamation suit in 2001 for accusations against Lee, founder of the city state, and then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.
Chee was declared bankrupt in February for failing to make libel payments of S$500,000. Last month, he was jailed for eight days for questioning the independence of Singapore's judiciary.
Social and political issues related to Singapore and the South East Asia region. A blog which attempts to do so in a non-trivial manner treating opposing views with the respect they deserve. Contributions are welcomed from all regardless of your political persuasion.
23 Apr 2006
Singapore opposition leader says will not apologise
Why should he retract a statement which is true? The PAP should be apologising to the people of Singapore.
Dr Chee only questioned the govt handling of the NKF issue, and it is the govt responsibility to come out and argue/defend it role and actions over the years. Yet instead of doing it, it choose to hide behind a defamation suit. It is SM LKY who make it personal and called Dr Chee a hooligan. If anyone who questioned a ruiling party is a hooligan, than they must be hundred of thousands of intellectual hooligan all over the world.
ReplyDeleteIt's obvious they want Chee OUT cos they are afraid SDP may win the election, especially Sembawang GRC.
ReplyDeleteWhat to do?
Sue!
It's an only way to frighten the people, not SDP!
Sad and dirty election tactics!
Hmm! when has the PAP apologise to the people in its entire government history?
ReplyDeleteI remember correctly that one of the minister was sayin sumting like sorri halfheartedly during the NKf fiasco. of course the PAP is never wrong, always rite, and people always have to listen to them becox they are the only one who can lead the people into greater propserity and economic advancement etc etc and all other opposition are just not as good as their candidates/ministers. If the people dont listen to them they will not upgrade their hdb, cut their cpf, increase gst, transport fees etc etc hold on they actually did fo all the above except the first itme on my list. goes to show how pap is never sorri???
Look at CNA today, All Pro-PAP news and all anti-opposition news..Can the media please please be more fair to the opposition?
ReplyDeleteall in one word - EGOISTIC!!
ReplyDeleteLook at the ex-Pope, who was so magnanimous that he could forgive someone who tried to kill him.
Can defamation and prestige be worse off than killing??
chee is not playing smart. want to play in the game, play by the rules.
ReplyDelete... or play a different game.
ReplyDeleteSame stratergy equals same results.
u think u want to play by the rules so easy meh. the rules set by pap change every time one. they can say anything, do anything and give it a cloak of respectibility thru their state sanction media.
ReplyDeletethats what the journos who question Minister Mentor said basically @ the forum. they say no playing field - can that be considered as libelious? oso can rite? but how cum they not sued?
recently channels news asia change tack and say the entire forum is "pure theatre" wah liow what to do? media change face 180 degrees. i oso dont know weter to laugh or cry.
dont play by the rules lah just be honest can alreadi too bad many of us are too afraid to speak the truth and those who do it kena. still so many armchair critics pretend to know everything... sigh...
- the reader who asks blogger to "question" carefully
Unfortunatly there are many so called intellectual hooligans in politics around the world,sad thing is most of them are in power !!
ReplyDeleteone moment they publicly criticised the oppo, next minute they praised the oppo.
ReplyDeleteWe have a number of problems. (a)
ReplyDeleteour media is tightly controlled by government factions. (b)CNA is staffed by completely untrained journalists, whbo would not even invite3d to make tea in the average european local television company. (c)The PAP has manoevered the law, any attack on the party is demed libel.
So the Singapaorean or opposition politician will never ever win. Even if an opposition party happens to win a GRC, the PAP will dig deep and discover a law which says the new incumbents have broken the law.
Ovedr the past two and three years Singapore has gained an amazing amount of harmful publicity around the world.
If we are niot careful we are heading for the time when international companies begin to take a much closer look at the actions of the Island.
I love Singapore but it is becoming self distructive.
I look around my neighbourhood and I see banners put up by those suckers from the Residents Committee thanking the incumbent for his work to the estate (with a big smiling profile shot of the PAP man).
ReplyDeleteTalk about being strategic and visible. One banner is tied to two trees at a major junction. I wonder if it's legal to do so. I am sure if I hung my business banner there, I would be taken to task.
whatever pap does is always right and legitimate. nobody can do anything to overtake them. this is despotic regime.
ReplyDeleteTo recap, the NKF problem had already started when Lim K Hng was i/c of MOH. It was reported that when his staff was sent to attend the meetings with NKF staff a few times, NKF staff were treated with a cold shoulder. The MOH staff felt uncomfortable and subsequently stopped attending the meetings at all.
ReplyDeleteAt that point of time, I feel that MOH itself should actually raised their eyebrow and took immediate action but nothing was done and the matter was left to rest.
Few years later, then Koh BG took over MOH and he sincerely and responsibly takes the matter into hand when the problem surfaced again.
So, on the whole, i would deem Koh BG is a more responsible, more open and transparent minister. In this respect, we should give him the due credit to having conducted investigation and disclosed the actual situation of NKF scandal.
Besides, he has also recommended some constructive changes in the law regulating the hospital.
"NKF staff were treated with a cold shoulder"
ReplyDeleteit should read as MOH staff
Anonymous said...
ReplyDelete"If the people dont listen to them they will not upgrade their hdb, cut their cpf, increase gst, transport fees etc"
Even if we listen to them, price will still go up. Mark my words, with the progressive package paid to we ppl, in no time after the election, "proposal" for increase in some areas will be presented and it will be "justify" even if you are convinced. Sigh!!! So much of their crap of listening and understanding the needs of the ppl.
the PAP is PATHETIC.
ReplyDeleteChee is one real fighter to me. Maybe it's better if he gets jailed for a longer period, the human rights group might then intervene and question the pap.
or that might just be wishful thinking on my part :\
i've read the newsletter and it is fair comments by one political party on another political party which happens also to run the government. there is really no basis to turn such commentary into a personal libel case. PAP is really ridiculous!
ReplyDeleteTo read '9 Ping' -
ReplyDeleteThe China Communist Party and how it works: (its gangster behaviour and brainwashing of citizens)
to download '9 Ping':
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/4/12/13/n746020.htm
(you can read it and you can find some similarities of s'pore system which is partially communist...i think)
Being a Good Human Being
ReplyDeleteSome Fundamental Thoughts on Human Communication
(By Venerable Loden Sherap DAGYAB Rinpoche)
Quote
The following is important, since it is often misunderstood in the West **; self-confidence and inner strength, the ability to look after oneself and others at the same time as well, has nothing whatever to do with egocentrism. This distinction is most important. Otherwise one becomes more and more entangled in the “net of mental poisons,” expecting too much of oneself in the name of what seems to be altruism, behind which conceit and pride take cover. (** and all countries in the world)
51.Egocentrism
52.It is important for me to develop self-confidence and inner strength. But as long as I
am egocentric it will be impossible for me to attain such security.
52.Until now I have followed the dictates of my ego concepts. For too long now, I have been constantly preoccupied with ego-based activities (entanglement with thousands of concepts, fear, supposedly protecting myself, etc.) I have found no time to really think about myself, i.e. about my inner strength, peace and clarity of mind. This is the cause of all of my conflicts. From now on I shall at least try to take charge of my mind.
53.The ego is always bound up with anxiety and therefore gives rise to great insecurity, preventing the person from opening up. This is precisely why it is absolutely necessary to break down false distance, prejudices and barriers towards others.
54.I have perceived my ego as a supposedly protective function. But it is no true protection; it is rather the open door to all complications.
55.Openness is my protection, not ego. This is the only way I can stand with both feet firmly on the ground. Only then shall I be able to really help others.
56.When I am open I lose my fear and my inner strength is enhanced. In this way I can develop all of my abilities, joy, security, etc. I shall automatically feel more secure, because I understand that there is in fact nothing to lose. It is only through this experience that I can attain self-confidence and inner strength.
57.I shall never be able to think in a wholesome way about myself as long as I follow the dictates of the ego – as I have done so far.
58.I should not take my little ego so seriously, but rather take the overall situation into account. If I act in accordance with it I shall be much happier.
59.If I always talk about myself I am being very egocentric. (Let’s have) more “WE” than “I.”
60.If I say, “After all, I have my pride,” I am supporting my ego, with the result that I entangle myself in even more problems.
61.Sensitivity (in the sense of being easily hurt or offended) is a sign of ego reaction, because a feeling arises in me of not having received what I deserve. Sensitivity (in the sense of empathy towards others’ feelings and wishes) and healthy pragmatism are much better.
IV: Hatred
62.My aggression and my hatred can never bring me happiness. They destroy reason and harmony in myself, others and in society.
63.In the end, my harsh words will destroy me. They are like a boomerang. They can only give rise to DISTURBANCE in both parties/for all concerned – nothing else.
64.Gentle, clear, honest, and constructive speech enables me to accomplish practically everything.
65.If someone says “A” to me, I shall not say, “B.”
V. Arrogance
66.Even if I enjoy an excellent reputation in society *, it is basically just a façade. In reality I am just a small, helpless human being. Therefore, arrogance is a falsehood. (* like singapore)
67.Arrogance blocks the development of all good qualities. The moment I have a feeling of knowing something when I have in fact only grasped a fraction of the matter is the moment in which arrogance arises. This is very dangerous! “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.”
68.It is really disgraceful if I am still arrogant and egocentric in spite of this. (Especially) if I am a knowledgeable and experienced person, I am a bad example of human qualities and values.
52. It is a good sign if a sense of how little I still really understand becomes stronger in
me, the more my knowledge of inner qualities deepens.
In short: I do not want to remain as stupid as I have been until now.
Unquote
I have read the article, frankly I
ReplyDeletedont find anything defamatory. He is raising the questions we all would like to know. There were no
mention of the the Lees being corrupt. How to play by their rules? Just look at the blogging rules during election. Its so vague
and wide, anything negative you say
about the PAP or Govt may get U in
trouble!
"68.It is really disgraceful if I am still arrogant and egocentric in spite of this. (Especially) if I am a knowledgeable and experienced person, I am a bad example of human qualities and values."
ReplyDeleteThis verse describes it all - sg govt!!
Always knew it was pure theatre, so never watched. (Come on man, otherwise they would invite me right?)
ReplyDeleteAnd if you visit martin see's blog, lau lee seem to be employing the same tactics over and over again from the failed merger with malayia all the way to now. Never fail one.
READ BELOW! The China Communist Party and how similiar it seems.
ReplyDelete-------------------------------
The Communist Party’s organs themselves never participate in productive or creative activities. Once they grasp power, they attach themselves to the people, controlling and manipulating them. They extend their power down to the most basic unit of society for fear of losing control. They monopolize the resources of production and extract wealth from the society.
In China, the CCP extends everywhere and controls everything, but nobody has ever seen the CCP’s accounting records, only accounting records for the state, local governments, and enterprises. From the central government to the village committees in rural areas, the municipal officials are always ranked lower than the communist cadres, so the municipal governments have to follow instructions from the communist party committees of the same level. The expenditures of the Party are supplied by the municipal units and accounted for in the municipal system.
The organization of the CCP, like a giant evil possessing spirit, attaches to every single unit and cell of the Chinese society as tightly as a shadow following an object. It penetrates deeply into every capillary and cell of the society with its finest blood-sucking vessels and thereby controls and manipulates society.
This peculiar structure of evil possession has existed in human history in the past, either partially or temporarily. Never has it operated for so long and controlled a society so completely as under the rule of the Communist Party.
For this reason, Chinese farmers live in such poverty and drudgery. They not only have to support the traditional municipal officials, but also as many or even more communist cadres.
For this reason, Chinese workers lost their employment in vast numbers. The omnipresent blood-sucking vessels of the possessing CCP have been extracting funds from their factories for many years.
For this reason, Chinese intellectuals find it so difficult to gain intellectual freedom. In addition to their administrators, there are CCP shadows lingering everywhere, doing nothing but monitoring people.
A possessing spirit has to control absolutely the mind of the possessed in order to drain energy for its survival.
According to modern political science, power comes from three main sources: force, wealth, and knowledge. The Communist Party has never hesitated to use monopoly control and force to rob people of their property. More importantly, it has deprived people of their freedoms of speech and of the press. It has raped people’s spirit and will in order to maintain its absolute control of power. From this aspect, the CCP’s evil possession controls society so tightly that it can hardly be compared to any other regime in the world.
----------------------------------
What about in Singapore?
In the end, we work so hard and our money CPF, HDB, COE, Healthcare costs etc etc...end up in their COFFIN! That is COMMUNIST SPIRIT, isn't it?
and yeah, nobody had even seen SG Govt's and its many many govt's linked companies accounting records!
-------------------------------------
Source: www.9ping.com
'JiuPing' -
Writings about the China Communist Party and how it works: (its gangster behaviour and brainwashing of citizens to maintain its POLITICAL POWER.)
to download ‘Jiu Ping' (IN MANY DIFFERENT LANGUAGES):
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/4/12/13/n746020.htm
"In the end, we work so hard and our money CPF, HDB, COE, Healthcare costs etc etc...end up in their COFFIN!"
ReplyDeleteHaha...
You can't bring them to your coffin. Besides, you have to cough up more money to buy that coffin!
In the near future, your children may not even see your hard earned money cos it may be auto-transferred to their CPF accounts, 'safeguard' by our government, to prevent them from gambling away. Don't forget, we will be having two casinos very soon.
Thank you!
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what a lot of negative assertions. Evidence needs to be produced for any sort of accusation. Not taking sides here but if evidence is not produced and a passionate speech is all thats needed then I can easily come up with a passionate speech to prove alot of negative accusation. Afterall, it will be how I say it and not whats said.
ReplyDelete