Singapore Democrats

Opposition leader calls hearing on premier's lawsuit 'pathetic' Print E-mail
Tuesday, 27 May 2008
The Earth Times

Singapore's most vocal opposition leader accused the High Court on Tuesday of making his cross-examination of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong "meaningless" by upholding objections to almost every question asked.

Lee and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew pressed for a second day for aggravated damages against Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan, his sister and executive member Chee Siok Chin, and the party itself.

Justice Belinda Ang granted the request of Lee's lawyer Davider Singh to limit the time for cross-examination of the prime minister, which started on Monday. She also agreed to set two hours for the cross-examination of independence leader and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, wrapping up the proceedings on Tuesday instead of Wednesday.

Lee took the witness stand for more than an hour. Singh objected to one question after another from Chee, who was representing himself, continually on the grounds of irrelevance. The objections were upheld.

"You have chopped off our legs and lopped off our arms," Chee Siok Chin said to Ang. "Do you want our heads next?"

The Lees won the defamation suit against the SDP and the Chees in 2006 stemming from the SDP newsletter, The New Democrat, published before the general election that year. It contained articles on a scandal at the National Kidney Foundation and drew parallels between how the charity and government were run.

The father and son sued over remarks which alleged they were corrupt and covered up wrongdoings at the foundation.

Not only were questions touching on the scandal ruled irrelevent, but others on Government Investment Corporation funds, Lee's salary and his awareness of the plights of the elderly poor and other conditions in the affluent city-state.

"Lee has said he takes great pride in his integrity," Chee told Ang in explaining a question. "It must be relevant."

"Move on," she responded.

Lee did acknowledge that he had said that Chee harbored hatred toward him. When Chee asked how Lee knew him, the prime minister said "not as a personal friend" but from his record as a public figure.

"I do not hate you," said Chee. "You are not worth the time and the effort."*

The case marks the first time any leader of the ruling People's Action Party has been cross-examined by a political opponent in open court. The party holds all but two seats in the 84-member parliament and has dominated the political scene since independence from Malaysia in 1965.

If the SDP is unable to pay up, the 28-year-old party faces the prospect of dissolution.

Chee Soon Juan was declared bankrupt following a defamation award of 500,000 Singapore dollars (373,000 US dollars) in February 2006 to Lee Kuan Yew and another former prime minister, Goh Chok Tong.

He is barred from running for parliament until 2011. His sister was declared bankrupt for failing to pay costs related to a protest last year. Activists and critics including Amnesty International say Singapore's leaders use defamation lawsuits to cripple opposition politicians. The government maintains such legal action is necessary to safeguard the leaders' reputations.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/208124,opposition-leader-calls-hearing-on-premiers-lawsuit-pathetic.html

* Dr Chee's full quote to Mr Lee Hsien Loong was: "I don't hate you. To hate someone, that someone must do something big and controversial. Your only claim to legitimacy is that you are Lee Kuan Yew's son. So don't flatter yourself. You are not worth the time and the effort."



Singapore politicians hurl insults in court
Reuters

Singapore politicians hurled insults and clashed over transparency in the city-state in a court case on Tuesday.

Former leader Lee Kuan Yew, 84, and his son, the current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, took the stand as part of a hearing to determine defamation damages against the opposition Singapore Democratic Party and its leader Chee Soon Juan, who is not a member of a parliament dominated by Lee's party.

"He is near psychopath," Lee Kuan Yew said of Chee Soon Juan.

"I don't think even Solomon would be able to mediate between a psychopath and sane rational people," he said, referring to the biblical King Solomon.

"I don't hate you, I feel sorry for you, I think you cut a pitiable figure," said Chee of Lee Kuan Yew.

Lee took out an award from Transparency International Malaysia on the stand to prove a point about his character.

Most of Chee's questions to Lee Hsien Loong, which ranged from the secrecy of Singapore's sovereign wealth fund investments to ministerial pay that is amongst the world's highest, were objected to by Lee's lawyer on the grounds of irrelevance and upheld by the judge.

Lee Kuan Yew is credited with policies that have been critical to making Singapore one of the region's most prosperous countries, but has been criticised by human rights groups for his use of lawsuits against political opponents and the media.

Singapore's political landscape has been dominated by one party -- the People's Action Party -- since its independence in 1965. Its past two prime ministers still retain loosely defined cabinet posts, namely "minister mentor" and "senior minister".

http://uk.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUKSIN3442920080527?sp=true

* Dr Chee's full quote to Mr Lee Kuan Yew was: "I don't hate you, I really don't. I feel sorry for you, I think you cut a pitiable figure. But no, I don't hate you. I feel sorry for you because I think that you derive much pleasure in what you do but find little joy in life."

 

 

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Comments (24)
  • Tue 27 May 2008 4:08 PM | nick
    u noe if the sdp does get bankrupt the only person to blame is chee for continuously f*cking things up.i find it shameful that the sdp makes the situation in singapore look worse den it really is.
  • Tue 27 May 2008 5:16 PM | Gary Teoh
    What is the big deal, sdp bankrupt, then set up another party,call DSP lor.What shameful you are talking about.you are right, spore look worse, because the dictator tries to control everything.
  • Tue 27 May 2008 5:33 PM | Chew - nick
    nick,

    You are living in denial just like Lee Kuan Yew. WAKE UP!
  • Tue 27 May 2008 6:03 PM | little bird
    Even if Chee loses in the end (as expectedly he wld in this kangaroo court), at least there is somebody who has the balls to tell LKY and his proxy PM off!
  • Tue 27 May 2008 7:00 PM | Insulted
    Why did no one ask if the honour is only worth fighting for in our courts and not overseas
  • Tue 27 May 2008 8:36 PM | Anonymous
    LKY was so boastful in the interview about he open he was to questions in all aspect of his life. When it comes to the real thing, he chickened out. To me, he has lost all credibility.

    History will not remember him as an architect of modern Singapore because he will be bettered remember as a dictator, enemy of democracy, a hypocrite that recites the national pledge "to build a democratic society" on national days but do just the opposite and built an authoritarain state instead. A corrupted politician who legitimised his corruption by paying himself millions when Singapore has not even eradicated poverty.
  • Tue 27 May 2008 9:01 PM | | Yoong Kheong - Emotional Abuse
    The cross-examination gave Dr. Chee a good chance to hurl more personal abuse to MM & PM Lee.

    What's the objective of such personal insults? Is it to gain attention from Singaporeans that Dr. Chee is "Singapore's most vocal opposition leader"? Dr. Chee must be wary of becoming too emotional and personal in his political pursuits
  • Wed 28 May 2008 4:06 AM | nick
    the fact tt chee is so rude towards mm and pm shows a lack of respect.

    how would chee like it if he was pm and in court someone told him wat chee told mm and pm. its really hurtful to say tt u noe.
  • Wed 28 May 2008 4:21 AM | tohjohn
    I like to correct anon 8:36 pm

    It is Goh Keng Swee who is the the architect of modern S'pore. Common mistake make by every one just 'cos Goh K S was not the PM.

    Over the years many top PAP leaders "disagrees" with LKY and the way PAP rules the nation, namely Ong Teng Cheong, Devan Nair, Toh Chin Chye.
  • Wed 28 May 2008 4:23 AM | mahjongking
    if dr chee can ousted mr chiam see tong from the party, u think he cares whether SDP gets bankrupt or not? a man with a situation like dr chee will do all his best to get back at mm & pm... he got nothing to lose... is personal already... by the way, what has dr chee done for singapore? nothing except creating shame...
  • Wed 28 May 2008 6:49 AM | Rationale Singaporean - re:
    [quote=mahjongking]if dr chee can ousted mr chiam see tong from the party, u think he cares whether SDP gets bankrupt or not? a man with a situation like dr chee will do all his best to get back at mm & pm... he got nothing to lose... is personal already... by the way, what has dr chee done for singapore? nothing except creating shame...[/quote]
    Indeed, this is becoming so personal for Chee. In your support for SDP, have you anti-PAP people forgotten the agenda behind Chee's actions? I may be anti-Chee but that does not mean that I'm pro-PAP. In fact, the behavour of MP Chiam See Tong is one that truly deserves our respect and support.
  • Wed 28 May 2008 8:42 AM | Anonymous
    If the national pledge says things such as to build a democratic society, than what is wrong with what Dr. Chee is doing? Absolutely nothing at all.

    I respect a man who can straight talk, and there are very few who are able to do that in this world today.

    Critisism is a part of every man's life. To accept it or not is one's own choice. But to try to crush the one who does it, that would certaily be an undemocratic thing to do.
  • Wed 28 May 2008 9:00 AM | anorak
    nice job csj! :woohoo:
  • Wed 28 May 2008 9:59 AM | Stephan Ortmann
    Dr. Chee represents a different kind of approach to political change from Chiam See Tong and today's Workers' Party. He, along with J.B., stand for action to achieve change. Dr. Chee believes that no change can occur when you accomodate to the system of the PAP. You have to challenge it. The reason Chiam was ousted was because he challenged Dr. Chee's hunger strike, which he had staged against the university that accused him of misusing funds. This ouster led to Dr. Chee's decision to fight the system with harder tactics. Chiam, who had started the SDP as a moderate alternative to the Workers' Party, was dismayed.

    Today, The SPP and the Workers' Party is teh opposition the PAP wants: it does not challenge ist rule and in a sense it even legitimizes it. Real change can only occur with more aggressive tactics. But before that happens, something must happen to change the political situation in Singapore.
  • Wed 28 May 2008 12:44 PM | anorak
    Stephen, I agree with you. But according to the SDP Chiam wasn't ousted, he chose to leave.
  • Wed 28 May 2008 2:15 PM | Anonymous
    The political landscape will only change with the passing of LKY. LHL, without his father's influence, will simply crumple. It is very true that his claim to legitimacy is that he is LKY's son.
  • Wed 28 May 2008 2:18 PM | bored observer
    way to go CSJ. Many Singaporeans will be celebrating the day MM goes 6 feet under.
  • Wed 28 May 2008 5:38 PM | Mindless - No Excuse For Not Planning
    Undoubtedly an alternative means of change has to be provided. But it is no excuse for Bimboism or Lack of Planning or Mindless Charging at the Wall.
  • Wed 28 May 2008 5:39 PM | kk
    seriously i dont think there's anything morally wrong with CSJ's strong questions on the LEEs. if one has the guts to stand in the witness box to be on trial and questions, then he/she must have the guts to answer the questions, not shielded by the lawyer and so forth. Why if one has claimed to be of so high integrity, now refuse even to answer down to earth questions, is there something to be hidden from the public or is it that the questions are taht taboo ?? ask LEEs, but of course one will never ever get a straight reply or a reply at all !!
  • Wed 28 May 2008 5:42 PM | kk
    CSJ is just defending himself and he deserves every right to question in his defense. Isnt this basic human right ? sorry I forgotten no such human rights stuff in Spore...CSJ, well done !
  • Wed 28 May 2008 5:43 PM | kk
    what legacy ?? ask ppl to take bitter medicine by upping the GST and then writing their own cheque book...that's legacy la !!
  • Wed 28 May 2008 7:04 PM | amigos
    There is only one winner in this case. That's CSJ. I think he has fulfilled close to what he had hope to achieve.
  • Thu 29 May 2008 5:59 PM | eyed
    complain complain complain....protest the govt while your other hand fondles the bosom of "democracy". your leader only brings shame to what was a political party, now its just a circus where the main act is that man who you people honour as a hero.
  • Fri 30 May 2008 3:00 AM | Chew
    [quote]complain complain complain....protest the govt while your other hand fondles the bosom of "democracy". your leader only brings shame to what was a political party, now its just a circus where the main act is that man who you people honour as a hero.[/quote]

    Childish, childish, childish... pretends to be a democracy while embracing repression as a reality. Your leader Lee Kuan Yew only brings shame to the entire nation, and he himself couldn't had put it better.

    "Repression, Sir is a habit that grows. I am told it is like making love-it is always easier the second time! The first time there may be pangs of conscience, a sense of guilt. But once embarked on this course with constant repetition you get more and more brazen in the attack. All you have to do is to dissolve organizations and societies and banish and detain the key political workers in these societies. Then miraculously everything is tranquil on the surface. Then an intimidated press and the government-controlled radio together can regularly sing your praises, and slowly and steadily the people are made to forget the evil things that have already been done, or if these things are referred to again they're conveniently distorted and distorted with impunity, because there will be no opposition to contradict." -Lee Kuan Yew as an opposition PAP member speaking to David Marshall, Singapore Legislative Assembly, Debates, 4 October, 1956
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