Dr Chee Soon Juan has written to the Supreme Court to ask for the assessment for damages hearing to be reconvened (see letter below). The hearing took place in May 08 in which Mr Lee Kuan Yew and Mr Lee Hsien Loong sued the Singapore Democrats for defamation.
During the hearing, Mr Lee testified that the International Bar Association (IBA) had written to the Law Society of Singapore (LSS) complimenting Singapore on "how successful the meeting was and how impressed they were by the standards they found to obtain in the judiciary." (See here)
The Singapore Democrats have received information, however, that no such letter was written. Dr Chee wrote to Mr Lee Kuan Yew's press secretary, Madam Yeong Yoon Ying, to produce a copy of the letter that Mr Lee claimed the IBA had written.
Madam Yeong has yet to respond. We hope that she will without further delay.
This matter is of utmost importance as the information was presented under oath by the Minister Mentor during cross-examination by Dr Chee. Mr Lee's testimony will go towards the amount of damages to be awarded to him and his son.
The defendants wish to get to the bottom of the matter so that Judge Belinda Ang will have a clear picture of the incident.
The sound of silence
Meanwhile in the newsrooms, our press people all buat bodoh (feigning ignorance). Since the release of the information about the missing IBA letter, SPH has refused to report on the matter.
Usually at about this stage the press would kick into high gear. Calls would be placed to the IBA and the LSS to confirm the information. If one party was caught out, the entire matter would be splashed across the pages and the headline, analysis piece, followed by op-ed after op-ed would all crucify the guilty party. And you can be sure that no story would be run without an uncomplimentary photograph/caricature or two of the prey.
That is, if that party is the SDP. But in this case Mr Lee is the subject of the controversy. Hence the ear-splitting silence.
Note how the press managed to get a hold of Tunku Abdul Aziz of Transparency International-Malaysia and Dr Peter Eigen's office at the Transparency International, in double quick time, over the award that Mr Aziz gave to Mr Lee.
But over this IBA incident none of our journalists seem interested to do a follow-up. Think about it. A simple call to the IBA would confirm whether Mr Lee was right or not. And it's not like the LSS is in another time zone, its office is right smack in the middle of South Bridge Road.
Maybe they did call and found out something that they would rather not know.
But such is the kind of journalism that Singaporeans have had to live with for decades. It is not just a disservice to the public, it is a danger.
Letter to the Supreme Court
Registrar Supreme Court Singapore
Court 4B: Judge Belinda Ang
Re: Suit Nos. 261 & 262 of 2006
Dear Sir,
I would like to apply for the hearing in the above matter to be reconvened. This is because one of the plaintiffs, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, has given evidence that may not be accurate.
Specifically, Mr Lee testified under oath that there was a letter written by the president of the International Bar Association (IBA) to the Law Society of Singapore (LSS) praising the Judiciary. The IBA has denied that they had sent such a letter and has also confirmed that the LSS has not received any such letter.
As Mr Lee's evidence has great impact on the determination of the amount of damages to be awarded, it is imperative that the hearing be reconvened so that parties can get to the bottom of the matter.
LKY like to call everyone with names like Liars, etc. Well, when he lies, the entire media is silently backing him. The silence is deafening!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
tunkudon
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Tue, 08 Jul 2008 3:09 pm
Dr press on . get the root . make it big . must let pp know
Mike
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To the best knowledge of the Plaintiff
Tue, 08 Jul 2008 3:30 pm
Any evidence given to court under oath is to the best knowledge of the plaintiff.
As long as the plaintiff thinks so and is not deliberately misleading the court.
So CSJ should not nickpick on this.
Court hearing again?
You must be joking or
Just have TOO MUCH TIME..!
Group of 18+ONE
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You're the ONE we want
Tue, 08 Jul 2008 3:39 pm
Right.
Matters like these, from start to finish (will there be one? Haha), ought not just be printed.
Collate, organize: how it happened, when it happened, etc, and publish on paper for mass dissemination to the nation by way of post, addressed individually to each entry you find in the Phone Book 2007/2008 - to ensure recipients wil open to read.
Since the LEEsons is doing a Crouching tiger, Hidden dragon and prefers to go into ‘hiding’ than to sparrin with you, let them go explain to the people once word has got around enough to reach a critical mass.
Being stuck here on a few URLs like
http://yoursdp.org/index.php/component/content/article/1-singapore/599-chee-calls-for-hearing-to-be-reconvened-on-iba-matter-press-dead-silentmay never get our messages across anywhere to whomever such matters matter most.
Thank you, Mr Postman!
PS - Not just this issue but each and every one of those aunnswered, unaccounted-for issues, eg. Soehartos, Papua logging kickbacks, TemaGIC investments (massive losses), many, many more.
Send out on a regular basis or as and when you come into contact with such delcios, saucy, sexy news.
Certain the people will love SDP for telling them such news they'd never otherwise get - even if only digested for pure entertainment value, the people will still love you, haha.
Dan, Rather You
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Award for Best Journalistic Ethics goes to…
Tue, 08 Jul 2008 3:58 pm
Quote:
But such is the kind of journalism that Singaporeans have had to live with for decades. It is not just a disservice to the public, it is a danger.
Which institute of higher learning awarded all those diplomas and certifications to those monkeys calling themselves journalists? Time for it to withdraw them to avoid giving itself worse reputation for having trained and certified monkeys.
Time also to direct gunfire at 1000 Toa Payoh North?
Ever considered doing a finale protest while you're wrapping up your TBT@Toa Payoh? You'd be at their doorsteps - then they can never say they didn't 'see' or get wind of your activities to report them, hahaha
But better play safe: get THEIR international 'colleagues' - first choice is melanie of Reuters ("I love you, Melanie!") - to be there just in case. Report on local reporters shirking duty to the nation to report faithfully whatever they saw. With their own eyes. And not go back to newsroom to receive a new set of instructions (from Annexe Building, via good ol Editor).
Nurse Mildred Ratched
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Tue, 08 Jul 2008 4:21 pm
Oh, my god!
I'm witnessing the shamelessness of the news media-people in Singapore.
Dr. Chee, please press on this issue. You have full support from us.
ac.
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newspapers no longer serves its purpose
Tue, 08 Jul 2008 4:37 pm
In this information age, the state-run newspapers have become an archaic & disinformative source for truth.. they're probably thinking out of sight, out of mind still holds true. Even though it might all have already changed. All the best Dr. Chee!!! :D
CHUA CHUAN SEAH
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On Voters and Leaders: An Updated Review
Tue, 08 Jul 2008 4:38 pm
The repressive PAP Government has always liked to warn Singaporeans about the "necessity" or "importance" of having a "good
government", "political stability" and "continuation in leadership".
What do the efficient PAP leaders really mean by that warning? Isn't that actually another clever but none-too-subtle way of telling Singaporeans to repeatedly vote for the PAP into power at every elections?
Now, to begin, we all know that the so-called "good and able" leaders from the upright PAP Government require an unseemly high and enormous amount of salary each in order to willingly stay in political office! If these highly-organized PAP leaders are just motivated purely by money, how "good" and committed can they be?
And remember, please, that the PAP has, in the past, not been totally immuned to having in its ranks some leaders who were found to be corrupt and dishonest in their dealings with money matters! What happened to these "good" leaders?
And are the so-called "abilities" of these august PAP leaders that awesome and indispensable that they require such high salaries for them to justify their contributions to the nation?
Singaporeans, then again, have suffered because they believe that "political stability" is much preferable to political pluralism and the political right and freedom to chage a ruthless, autocratic and authoritarian government. But citizens in Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea and other democratic countries, with all their good sense and sound judgment, do not subscribe to this stultifying and inhibiting notion propagated by the power and economic elite. Are the citizens in these foreign countries necessarily more immature, irresponsible and unsophisticated politically than ours?
Lastly, by "continuation in leadeship", the oppressive PAP Government simply wants Singaporeans to always, and unconditionally, vote for its leaders into power. Now, we must hold a mirror for these thoughtful PAP leaders to look at their own reflections: How accountable, transparent, sustainable, uplifting, encouraging, stimulating, just, open and humane is the present Singapore system? How, indeed, can we let the suppressive PAP leadership continue in power when it continues to exploit and subjugate the people?
As for Lee Kuan Yew "unique" way of government--especially in regard to his so-called ability to consider "the larger and higher aims and purposes of society and of the nation", surely Lee is not alone, among all the great and distinguished political leades in this world--not just in the past or at present but also in the future--in having this visionary ability?
There is no one "special" way to rule: Lee Kuan Yew's way is only just one way. There are many other alternative ways. Even Dr Chee Soon Juan, the SDP leader, has been able to express this ability--as revealed in his many published books, speeches, writings and commentaries--to look at an alternative way to govern. Dr Chee has an alternative, democratic vision for Singapore. He is more responsive than the PAP leaders to the needs, aspirations and hopes of the Singapore electorate, who no longer relates to those in power in a prostrate and servile manner. Dr Chee Soon Juan is more responsive to the views, judgments and common sense of the citizens.
The Internet has encouraged a more politically well-informed, sophisticated, educated, discerning, articulate and inquiring public to voice their opinions, criticisms, dissenting viewpoints and disagreements to the authorities. They refuse to let the machinery of government control and manipulate their lives.
I believe that, among the ranks of present and future opposition leaders, there will be found political candidates who are as distinguished in intellect, ability and character as the current PAP leaders--if not more so!
Low Fak Loong
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It concerns sinkapore!
Tue, 08 Jul 2008 4:47 pm
JUDICIARY is meant to administer JUSTICE in one country.
It does not concern DR Chee or Kuan Yew anymore, it is about the future of sinkapore, and its rule of law.
Dr Chee is helping sinkapore to get to the bottom of this issue becos the truth must surface for the people to know.
This is not nit-picking or masa-masa issue.
Do you want your children to live in a country where rules and laws only benefit certain stratum of people.
If IBA did not send a letter to sinkapore, then it could be a lie to say it did.
I hope the sinkapore mass media dont just hype about the slipper man, i have already corrected the error---it is flip-flop and not slippers, flip-flop is in vogue liao!
The press reporters should work with Dr Chee and also help to investigate the matter and do the right thing. It is the future of sinkapore we are talk about.
Foreigner PR
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Press: It's a pity
Tue, 08 Jul 2008 4:53 pm
I feel that its a shame to know how the journalists and the press lives in fear and without any freedom. I can't even remember the last time I read political news which is not in favor of PAP in the newspapers. Is PAP so perfect? THINK. I doubt and if you don't, think again. Singaporeans are too busy to notice and realise all this. I hope atleast the youth becomes interested in what is going around them. As a foreigner, I should not really be bothered about the future of Singapore as long as I am happy to stay in the country. I am unable to guess when a revolution will happen in Singapore for the good or in some sense, atleast for a change.
Anonymous
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Tue, 08 Jul 2008 5:05 pm
Mike you twit......
going of your argument, if Dr. Chee under oath says LKY is a bastard, then to the best of Dr. Chee's knowledge LKY is a bastard. As long as Dr. Chee thinks so and is not misleading the court...sheesh.
Mike is another "typical singaporean."
Personally I say put the old man in the ring with Dr. Chee in a bare knuckle match already. After that, I say put Ms. Chee in the ring with junior, daddy's boy. Heck, I think the Chee's will win both matches.
Mike, i hear the sissy times has an opening, maybe you can apply. i'll have a pair of sissy pants made up for you on your first day of work as a sissy journalist.
maybe you can be a cop... i hear it takes 10 of them to take down one man who believes in freedom.
Bra,Bra Black sheep
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International Bra Association (IBA)
Tue, 08 Jul 2008 5:38 pm
So,is it the Int'l Bar Association ( Fuzhou bar owners' club ) or Int'l Bra Association (Triumph,Wacoal membership) that Harry mentioned in Court?
Don't blame him if he meant both at the same breath because our judiciary members are either drunk most of the time or "bosom pals" to him all these years.
Give the old man a Beer and that Belinkda a bra!
Mike
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CSJ Asslicker
Tue, 08 Jul 2008 6:21 pm
Quote:
Mike, i hear the sissy times has an opening, maybe you can apply. i'll have a pair of sissy pants made up for you on your first day of work as a sissy journalist.
There are a lot of naive people who just love CSJ.. Singapore can give them up.
I don't know why they love CSJ so much... maybe because...
They are just talk and do nothing to help CSJ. He needs your money. Give him all your pocket money, little boys.
For those who don't like me... why, have I offended your stinking ass?
Anonymous
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Tue, 08 Jul 2008 7:08 pm
Mike is like some doting lover. My darling is never wrong, no matter what.
Anonymous
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Tue, 08 Jul 2008 8:09 pm
Can Belinda's court now exercise discretion not to take Chee's request seriously and saying it won't make material difference to the judgement?
But she had been so meticulous at insisting on court procedures, applying the rule of relevance so strictly, and imposing maximal penalty for procedural "contempt of court".
So, to be consistent, she now has to take the claimed lapse of LKY just as seriously, even if its significance were only a procedural lapse.
After all, the Chees were not professional lawyers, unlike LKY. So, that renders LKY's lapse the more inexcusable compared to the Chees'.
Singapore Democrats
