TODAY wants to know SDP's response to Chiam's criticisms

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Thursday, 26 February 2009

Singapore Democrats

The Today newspaper wrote to Dr Chee Soon Juan asking for his response to Mr Chiam See Tong's criticisms about the SDP. Its Senior Reporter, Mr Loh Chee Kong, said that he had interviewed Mr Chiam on Wednesday in which Mr Chiam said that the Singapore Democrats had engaged in "conspiratorial and destructive politics."

Mr Loh wanted Dr Chee's "take on what had happened within the SDP then" and what is Dr Chee's present relationship with Mr Chiam. He added that Mr Chiam was sore that he was "forced out" of the party he founded. Mr Loh said that the story is slated to be published in this Saturday's edition of the newspaper. Read Dr Chee's reply to Mr Loh:

As apparent during the interview, Mr Chiam was still upset over the way he felt he was "forced out"-- in his words -- of the party he had founded. He was visibly sore that there were people in the party then who failed to understand his vision of a "two-party system" and were more interested in engaging in what he called "conspiratorial and destructive politics". Mr Chiam added that he is not on speaking terms with you because of what had happened.
- Loh Chee Kong
Senior Reporter, TODAY

Dear Mr Loh,

First, let me say that I have no desire to let myself and my party be dragged by you into a mud-slinging match with another opposition party.

Readers will ask themselves: Why this and why now? The break up with Mr Chiam See Tong in the SDP happened nearly two decades ago. This was extensively covered and utilised by the PAP and its media to criticise the Singapore Democrats.

Yet, your newspaper decides to resurrect the issue today. One need not be a genius to see what motivates this present exercise. You are obviously trying to remind Singaporeans of the episode in the hope that you can turn opinion against the SDP again.

Why now? This is not hard to figure out given two recent developments: One, is that the general elections are expected to be called in the not-too-distant future and the PAP needs to run down the Singapore Democrats.

Two, the SDP has been calling for the opposition to work closer together. The PAP needs to halt this process as a united opposition is not in its interest. The PAP has always depended on the divide-and-conquer tactic to trump the opposition.

Mr Chiam's views of the SDP are not news. If you are truly interested in political fallouts, a story about the "stepping down" of Ms Ho Ching as Temasek's chief and what was really happening behind the scenes would thrill your readers no end, and assuredly send your newspaper's sales to record highs.

Despite such real information that the newspaper should be telling your readers, you choose to write on something that happened in 1993 and which has already been milked dry by your colleagues.

Now that the Singapore Democrats are moving ahead and gaining momentum in attracting support especially on the Internet, the media knows that it needs to do something, however blatant and despicable, to halt our progress.

Thanks but no thanks, we prefer to concentrate our attention on the PAP.

Chee Soon Juan
Secretary-General
Singapore Democratic Party

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Comments (20)

Fri 27 Feb 2009 9:24 AM | AnnA - What Are They Doing?

Underestimating our intelligence again???

My oh my!! This is so stale. A can-see-through, out-of-this-world, mere stupidity. Most Singaporean already know the inside-out of the lobang, still using meh??! No more technique liao, all used up. LoL

_________________________________________

Good for you Dr Chee, You didn't fall for that trap. A very straight and direct and also hot like cili padi answers you gave!

Way to go, Dr Chee!

Fri 27 Feb 2009 10:15 AM | AN - Excellent reply Dr Chee

Excellent reply Dr Chee. Don't be taken in by this dog 'Loh Chee Kong'. What is news when you are dealing with a newspaper that belongs to the dictatorial regime?

Most if not all of their journalists don't have a conscience in reporting the truth.

I say these 'dogs' will have their day when their master collaspe one day. For all you know, they (run-dogs), will jump ship at the first sight of crisis when their master days ar numbered.

Forget about all the journalistics ethics and practice they (run-dogs) studied before they graduated. It's all down the drain of trying to live up their reputation as a true, un-biased journalist in this tiny red dot.

I challenged these run-dogs to try and apply for a journalist post in reputable companies like CNN, BBC, CNBC, FOX NEWS etc. I don't think they will ever get through the first round of interview!!!!

Coming from a country whose press freedom is ranked 157 out of 164 countries surveyed??? And we being a First World Country when our press freedom rankings is only above that of North Korea & Cuba????

Perhaps these dogs could start applying for a post in North Korea or Cuba when their master here in S'pore collapse???

Dr Chee, let's place a small bet? I bet that this dog "Loh Chee Kong' will not even dare to publish your reply in Shitty Times? Wanna bet?

All winnings will go into SDP funds for championing what's rightfully belonging to Singaporeans and that is our rights and freedom of speech.

Hope Obama will seriously lend us a hand.

Thank you Dr Chee and SDP for all your struggles. Let me know when is your next gathering. I'll be there.

'It doesn't matter how long you live, it only matter how well you live'. God bless.

Fri 27 Feb 2009 10:17 AM | exSINgaPOORean - Tricks cannot fool Chee!

This is what I call a "street-smart genius politician".

Yea, why don't the Today dig into LKY's job as a interpreter for the Japanese interpreter...including the current black President of Singapore.

Speak to them first in Japanese and see whether they can comprehen...no reason to forget if you were once an "interpreter" who must process high level of the Japanese language.

What interpretation they actually did and how they "helped" the Singaporeans....yea "helped"?

What Dr. Chee said is true...newspaper (not history paper) is for the "news" and NOT history. So Hole JInx's true reason for resignation and why she invested (despite warnings from industrial experts) in those collapsing companies are more important concern.

How were the "prudent" decisions process made?

What role and influence has LKY has on the Temasek Holdings investment decisions?

Why when late President Ong Teng Cheong said he was told it would take 56 men years to know the total reserve in Singapore and yet just recently (less than 10 years) this President said he of course knows the amount of reserves...by "black magic" or what?

Look if someone is drowning you don't ask the victim why 20 years ago he did not greet his grandmother good morning, you ask where is the float and how to save him then ACT!

This is another old fox LKY's bull shit type of old trick...another Tse Tou warfare of diverting the attention and enegery of the enemy.

After 15 years of persecution politics, Dr. Chee is street smart enough to ignore and counter these running dogs and focus on the enemy's weak point.

Let's sluate Dr. Chee Soon Juan.

Fri 27 Feb 2009 1:11 PM | sanjesingh

Beautiful.

Fri 27 Feb 2009 1:58 PM | Low Fuk Loong - well done Dr Chee !

There are relevant things to write about singapore like reserves, public housing, cheap labor, etc, these are real issues that affect livelihood oflocal commoners.

if i am a reporter, i would be more adventurous and ask where are reserves kept? Are they being audited from time to time ? How are they used? What are past reserves and current reserves?

And also ask why elections boundaries need to be redrawn ?

Another thing people like to read is whether all mandarins have overseas residential property ?

These are important issues that people want to read.

Remember the slipper man's wife story, it seems to many that the slipperman was at the spotlight.

We also hope to read news that are more relevant on the ground. If people writing news are not so busy , perhaps they can go on leave overseas and find time with their family and friends.

I think life is worth more than money and power .
Without happiness and freedom, we are nothing.
DR Chee not getting involved in this trivial issue is doing the right thing.

Fri 27 Feb 2009 3:34 PM | g_e - Here we go again...

Heeheehee! [i]Today[/i] must think the SDP was born [i]Yesterday[/i] to fall for such a transparent exercise in muck-raking. Well done for quite rightly sending Senior Reporter, Mr Loh Chee Kong, on his way with a flea in his ear and a dunce's cap on his head. Looks like the GE is well on its way too.

Brace yourselves for the usual onslaught of black propaganda against the opposition, fear-factor bogeymen, loud claims of 'only the PAP has the experience and competence to govern Singapore', 'your women will become maids', dire warnings that the value of your property will fall, outright HDB upgrading and PAP hong pau bribes (using your own money), and if all else fails, 'the army will mount a coup'. Been there, done that.

Unless they are totally shameless, we'll be spared the triumphalism about 'mediocre government' or 'golden years' after the loss of $258 billion by Temasek and GIC. Thank God for small mercies.

We can but hope and pray that sufficient numbers of the 66% awaken from their stupor and finally, finally, realise that the real problem lies with Singapore's governance and the monopoly of power granted the incumbent. As always, the solution lies in citizens' hands and you get the kind of government you deserve.

Fri 27 Feb 2009 3:43 PM | guy2100

[color=blue][/color][size=large][/size][b][/b]The last thing i want to read in the newspaper today is about SDP member's fallout with Mr Chiam See Tong. Can't they educate the readers why 99000 jobs might be lost this year when our poor neighbours are still not in a recession. There is also the debate of why SGD12 billion has to be set aside for defence when we are in a recession and our neighbours are not an impending threat to us. It's not as if the weapons we accumulate for the past 20 years will be helpless against any perceived invasion. The money could be better used to give a direct financial help to the people in distress. Our media still does not see what we foresee.

Fri 27 Feb 2009 5:36 PM | Jaslyn - don't be a PAWN

we all know what PAPs and their mouthpiece are capable of..

let us all not be their PAWN in their game.

Fri 27 Feb 2009 5:57 PM | Tan Tai Wei

Chiam is a good, sincere, and harding-working man, with unusual stamina.

Straight,single-minded and totally trustworthy; "harmless as doves", and, precisely because of that, not as "wise as serpents".

He should view back those recordings of those parliamentary seesions which in those days were telecast life.

He will see himself struggling to find the right words and grammar, painfully and failing to form sentences to express himself.

And Ministers and PAP MPs were smiling in contempt.

Should he now fall so totally for LKY as to accuse SDP of "conspirational" politics - a very recent LKY's own recent creative accusation?

Wise up, Chiam. PAP has only contempt for you, which they show also in the ease they think they can use you in order to "divide and rule".

Serpent-wise observation, Dr Chee. Is "Today" also peopled with ex-ISDs?

Fri 27 Feb 2009 6:05 PM | Hawk.Eye - Dr Chee, i salute you!

Dr Chee, i really salute you on the way in replying the letter and not falling into PAP's dirty tricks.

This is a kind of psychological war. PAP, again, using their dirty tricks to make opposition party kills each other. Loh's tactics is simply too obvious! A "Senior" reporter in TODAY's eyes only!

I'm sure that all opposition parties have their own concerns for the country they love! And they are sharing a common enemy here! So they should work together and eliminated the PAP.

Fri 27 Feb 2009 7:05 PM | tangeo - Tony Tan and SPH slaves, don't spin losses in GIC!

Tony Tan really should be ashamed of the kind of trash that his newspapers churn out. Lost billions of $$ in GIC and now he plays spin doctor and get his lapdogs to do attack the SDP.

It's amazing how is it that reporters here have little or no ethics in the likes of Loh Chee Kong, Chua Lee Hoong, Bertha Henson, Paul Jacobs etc. Or perhaps more tragically, they have sold their souls for money and imagined power.

Fri 27 Feb 2009 7:13 PM | underdogs - Sour grapes

it's about time we give them back their own medicines.
We are no longer fool by the MSM tactic
of selective news.
It's time we reclaim what is our right and not been push around by dictator and is cronies.

Fri 27 Feb 2009 8:18 PM | | seebeng - Chiam on the way out....

Chiam is on the way out due to his health. Furthermore, what has he done to the growth of opposition? He and Low of WP are approved by PAP as opposition to support and maintain the family serfdom.

Fri 27 Feb 2009 8:51 PM | AnnA - Wrote in facebook :)

Here is what I've posted in facebook. hehe... (as 'strong' as a publishing newspaper)

The next second best slogan for all political parties - "OUR WOMEN WILL NOT BE SEND AS MAIDS"!! (WE WILL SEE TO IT) ;).

Fri 27 Feb 2009 10:01 PM | AlexNg

takes 56 man years to audit nations reserve?

simple lah. just put 56 man to audit and you can complete in 1 years time.

Fri 27 Feb 2009 10:02 PM | | democrat

Well done , Dr Chee.Your reply clearly tore Mr Chiam into shreds.Now,let's focus on tearing the PAP party into shreds!

Sat 28 Feb 2009 2:01 AM | Sylvester Lim - Pathetic Press in Singapore

I must say that when our press resorts to this type of journalism, it is a sad day for Singaporeans and our country. The salary may be good but, is your soul & integrity worth only that much? Are you doing the right thing? Can you really sleep well at night or do keep telling yourself that you have got no choice but to do it like the others? For those with religion, will your God forgive you?

Sat 28 Feb 2009 6:57 AM | tewniaseng

Boycott all newspapers control by the pap, whether free or not.Tell Loh Chee Kong to publish why Temasek lost so much and no action taken against the CEO, and tell the stupid president to convene Royal Commission of enquiry to investigate the losses at GIC and tell Loh Chee Kong to report why MM still in politics after more than 50 years, when is he stepping down ?ask Loh Chee Kong.

Sat 28 Feb 2009 10:26 AM | Robox

A brilliant reply to the government's mouthpiece.

Any leader who can see through the wily tricks of the ISD-run media and issues them a statement of boundaries to has some of the qualities of true leadership.

Well done, Dr Chee.