Update (July 1): The Singapore Democratic Party has responded to Mdm Yeong’s letter. Click here.
Andrew Loh
“Singapore upholds free speech and the right to disagree, subject to the law”, Minister Mentor’s press secretary, Mdm Yeong Yoon Ying, said in a letter to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
She was responding to the WSJ’s article titled, “Democracy in Singapore”, published in the paper on June 26.
Referring to the recent court case brought against the Singapore Democratic Party, she said that “the case had nothing to do with political freedom”. Instead, “it was for defamation arising from the Chees’ false claims that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Lee Kuan Yew are criminals and corrupt.”
Saying that “Singapore upholds free speech and the right to disagree”, she explained that “many opposition politicians routinely criticize government leaders, but are not sued because they have not uttered slanderous falsehoods.”
“Singapore‘s laws must be decided by Singaporeans, not by foreigners like Gopalan Nair, who is a U.S. citizen, or by the foreign media. Foreign media are entitled to report and comment on what is happening in Singapore, but they circulate here subject to Singapore law. They have no right to defame, to give a skewed account of court proceedings, or to engage in Singapore politics, for example, by campaigning for their version of Western style “democracy” for Singapore”, she said.
In the earlier article, the WSJ said that “Lee Kuan Yew’s Singapore can rightly be proud of many achievements, but full democracy is not one of them.”
Read Mdm Yeong’s letter here.
Read WSJ’s “Democracy in Singapore” here.
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I wonder if Yeong Yoon Ying really believes the propaganda she writes in her appointment as press secretary. If not, then how does she really feel about the issue.
““Singapore upholds free speech and the right to disagree, subject to the law””
Call a spade a spade. What kind of law ?
Why not be more specific ? Rule of Law or , Lee’s Law aka Kangaroo Law. If it is just law, why is Dr Chee is arrest for speaking out ? Being jail for being contempt in court ? What contempt ? Just for doubting the integrity of the court ? What integrity and credibility do the coffers have anyway ? Are they still live in their own make-believe world.
““many opposition politicians routinely criticize government leaders, but are not sued because they have not uttered slanderous falsehoods.””
Why did other opp politicians do so far when they press the government for answer ? The answer is nothing at all when the government act blur and then move on.
Yeah right.. you can only have the liberty to utter… ‘I disagree’ and anything else may be construed to be defamatory under the law? That’s the right ‘to disagree’ for sure! What a laugh ! ahhahahah……sob.
Me not the type to usually post nonsensical messages or spam. But when I read the heading I had to do it. So here goes…..MM Lee says Singapore upholds free speech? Buahahahaaaaa.
Sorry. Had to get my rocks off. Hopefully later in the day or week, when I am more composed after the sudden attack of laughter, I’ll make a more rational post.
what a shallow article by the WSJ, offering little or no critical analysis of the situation, only probably to stir up bad feelings about singapore in front of foreigners once again.
cmon people, do we really need a “full democracy” in singapore? how will a “full democracy” ensure to the prosperity and economic growth in singapore wouldnt be compromised?
please. start using your critical thinking and stop subscribing to western ideals like these. we need to have our own backbone.
Spy, how will rejection of democracy in spirit as opposed to embracing mere procedural tenets ensure that prosperity is capable of being sustained?
Singaporeans want this nation to succeed, and we’re at a crossroads where we’ve got to move beyond mere consumption as an ideal, and ensure sustainability for national growth and survival.
You cannot bootstrap Singapore without moving up the accountability and increasing the level of ad nauseum ownership that the average citizen has in his/her nation.
Think about it. Don’t fall into the strawman fallacy of East = Good, West = Bad.
“Singapore’s laws must be decided by Singaporeans, not by foreigners like Gopalan Nair, who is a U.S. citizen, or by the foreign media. Foreign media are entitled to report and comment on what is happening in Singapore, but they circulate here subject to Singapore law. They have no right to defame, to give a skewed account of court proceedings, or to engage in Singapore politics, for example, by campaigning for their version of Western style “democracy” for Singapore”
Ya lah. Ya lah. Ya lah. So to be a Singaporean like Chee or an US citizen like Gopalan Nair. Head I win and tail you lose. Next. Any further call.
“Singapore upholds free speech and the right to disagree, subject to the law”
huh? I heard a big “thum” awhile ago. My dog just fainted after hearing us discussing the essence of this proclaimation.
Sure “SUBJECT TO LAW”. Please remove this fine print. You are no longer a fishing village. People had not only landed in the moon to bust the myth that there are living diety up there, they have also landed a prop to search for new planet to allow earth people like us an alternative in future to live in.
My dog just regain his consciouness and told us that in their “Doggy World”, they can bark at each other freely, agree to disagree, disagree to agree, no sausage attached. why you human world cannot do that. Now it is our turn to unconscious.
Oh I love my dog, he just make my day. Oh damn! its over crowdy sky today.
spy,
is the ONLY alternative to the current level of restriction ‘full democracy’? Are there levels of ‘democracy’ between ‘full’ and current? I think there is, and it is what a lot of Singaporean are asking for.
Sadly, the establishment lives and breathes monolithic notions of socio-political narratives and conjectures that are very superficial in nature.
By asking ‘where is our money” it is considered defamation ? This is called free speech, my foot.
6) spy on July 1st, 2008 11.30 am
“we need to have our own backbone.”
Thank you very much sir for letting us know that we need to have our own backbone. For once, I almost forgot that we need to have that.
Now after telling us what we need to have, do you sincerely think that you have one.
Oh yes we allow some oppositions to thrive just for such an occassion as this to prove them wrong. Oh yes we don’t sue everyone who defame us so that we can use it to prove how kind we are. Oh yes we allow people to speak and criticise freely so long as they are not a threat to our hold on power. Oh yes we allowed foreigners to comment and engage in Singapore politics if it is to our(pap) benefits. Oh yes we control everything, including stage managing events to show that Singapore is a democracy. The pap government sucks.
If there is no check and balance, and everything is controlled by a single entity then should then entity be inflicted by corruption, stagnate and decay, then the whole country goes down with it.
Yes a check and balance does result in inefficiency, but as in all things there is always a trade off. This is not about East good and West bad. This is about ensuring the long term viability of the country.
ya ya ya always 2 set of LAW .
“Singapore’s laws must be decided by Singaporeans, not by foreigners like Gopalan Nair, who is a U.S. citizen, or by the foreign media. ”
Oh yeah, but who are the Singaporeans ? Are they the so-called independent committee again ? So what must we do to decide the law ?
“They have no right to defame, to give a skewed account of court proceedings, or to engage in Singapore politics, for example, by campaigning for their version of Western style “democracy” for Singapore”,
Really, no right ? Then what give the government the right to do what they want and rise beyond what they really need when they running Singapore as a corporation ? Or to be a Singaporean and endup like Dr Chee in Jail for speaking up ?
So what is the democracy for Singapore then ? Why don’t gahmen tell us ? Voting ? Must be kidding me ? Do we citizen have to suck thumb and suffer in silence whenever PayAndPay party prepare their grand scheme to suck money from citizen ?
It’s time our expensive circus party stop making a mockery of the country because the world already know how the political system works here. Why don’t all these expensive clowns just shut up their mouth, and stop bringing disgrace to Singapore.
““Singapore upholds free speech and the right to disagree, subject to the law””
So what happen to the above statement as apply to Dr Chee ? It should be stated as
“Singapore upholds free lunch and the right to disagree in prison, subject to the Lee’s law” That sound more realistic in Singapore.
“They have no right to defame, to give a skewed account of court proceedings…..”
Skewed account of court proceedings?
Mdm Yeong, why don’t you put right the wrong then?
Post the whole court audio proceedings for us all in cyberspace to make an informed judgement please.
“Despite being advised by a Queen’s Counsel, they failed to produce any credible defense or evidence to back up their claims.”
Btw, who is/was Dr Chee Queen’s Counsel in the recent defamation case?
Was the Queen’s Council by the side of Dr Chee to advise him when Judge Belinda ruled Dr Chee guilty as charged in a summary trial in her chamber, as against out in a open court?
Having lost, Dr. Chee in open court then called the Singapore leaders “murderers, robbers, child molesters” and “rapists.”
Anyone recall Chee doing the above mentioned. If he did he must be crazy… if not so much for a skewed account. Which BTW our MSM is famous for..
And pigs fly…
*wipes tears from eyes*
Kaffein
-I wanted to leave a comment, but it turned into a poem-
Pulsating, a problem.
I have veins in my fingers, they burst occasionally, and once in my foot.
From carrying the excessive burden,
of bricks,
and of truth.
Now they seem to have the same condition, except more desperate.
For I don’t mind,
being killed by honesty.
” Singapore upholds free speech”
Only if you sing praises of this government.
Only if you have the money to sing a different song. LOL.
Because any questions/comments deemed inapproriate can be really expensive.
For example, a small fish like TT Durai can make it too expensive for some not well off folks to question him, until SPH with very deep pockets came along to call his bluff. We know the rest of the story with TT Durai.
As for a very big fish like the MM, you only have to ask Francis Seow, JBJ, Tang L H, and CSJ . They have all run out of money to indulge in free speech , ‘Singapore style’.
And I do not recall any of them making hateful racial or religious comments, or even picking on some poor folks.
Is this part of LKY’s legacy ?
Personally, I think Singaporeans need to ask whether LKY will leave behind a strong set of institutions and systems that can survive any government after he is gone.
do you have such a thing call legal corruption?
Supporter
Having lost, Dr. Chee in open court then called the Singapore leaders “murderers, robbers, child molesters” and “rapists.”
Precisely this statement from Mdm Yeong prompted me to ask her to post the whole court audio proceedings in the cyber media, to eradicate whatever doubts I have of Mdm Yeong and MM Lee credibility.
25) SevenEleven on July 1st, 2008 2.40 pm
“do you have such a thing call legal corruption?”
Buying 4-D from Singapore Pools is legal.
Buying 4-D from private individuals is illegal.
In Singapore, it is not religion but 4D! – that is the opium of the people!
Dear People
If it is true that we have the Freedom of Speech here in Singapore, then we should get CSJ to ask the PAP,
Why is the PAP prepared to risk losing billions in NON-transparent investments of the GLC’s – but yet – the PAP totally and absolutely refuses to reduce GST, provide subsidies, reduce ERP charges etc etc ???
Hello citizens out there, to day we receive about average $100 in rebate, wah very good leh pap govt, give us money. Very helpful govt.!!!!
Gary, but starting this month and the coming next 3 months, our electric tariff was raised by 5% almost.
Whenever our ‘helpful’ govt give money to us citizens, I’m sure we have to cough out more than what they have given us, in dollars & cents, in another way.
Remember who told us that “there is no free lunch” ?
“Having lost, Dr. Chee in open court then called the Singapore leaders “murderers, robbers, child molesters” and “rapists.””
I did not recall Dr Chee saying that in the transcript. Anyone want to verfiy that ? This is serious offend if the editor simply put word in someone’s mouth. Hope that Dr Chee never says.
Can TOC verify with Dr Chee ?
Yes, no where in the audio recording of the court proceedings did I hear CSJ mentioning those words. If it could be verified to be true, then this press secretary has really dig a big shit hole for herself and her boss !
I finally find some reference to the
“Having lost, Dr. Chee in open court then called the Singapore leaders “murderers, robbers, child molesters” and “rapists.”
in
23 March 2005 http://www.singaporedemocrat.org/classic/speakup.php
“This argument is absolutely too casual and baseless. In fact, statistics in America have shown repeatedly that having guns by individuals in fact deter would-be muggers, robbers, molesters and rapists etc. ”
Where did the editor can the reference of “”murderers, robbers, child molesters” and “rapists.” from ? Is it from the above quote ?
To people of Singapore, decide for yourself whether the partisan editor has just twisted the word and make deceiving statement by putting words on someone’s mouth. Now, make sure this is not a honest mistake !
While in the meantime, we can wait for Dr Chee’s response.
I trust Dr Chee
People in US don’t give a damn to this court case. Who is LKY to them ? They are more interested in Obama, Hillary and McCain, why must write to clarify ? really kiasu, kiasi, bo bin, bo ming che, nia mah !!!!!
Isn’t it corruption of a different kind when you decide to pay yourself & your ministers an obscene annual salary so that these ministers will in turn decide that you continue to the PM of Singapore for a long period to come ?
Isn’t it a crime to jail up a political dissident for donkey years without allowing the jailed person to go through a fair trial as to whether the political dissident is guity of the alleged offence ?
So how can CSJ be wrong in calling the Old Man a corrupt criminal ?
‘ Singapore’s laws must be decided by Singaporeans, not by foreigners like Gopalan Nair, who is a U.S. citizen, or by the foreign media. ‘
I will like to know Yeong Yoon Ying’s definition of Singaporeans.
Singaporeans = PAP or Singaporeans = Citizens of Singapore?
I highly doubt it is the latter. Such hypocrisy.
To spy,
You asked if Singapore need “full democracy”. Kindly note that there is no such thing as full democracy or half democracy. According to Lee Kuan Yew himself, you either believe in it, or you don’t.
“But we either believe in democracy or we not. If we do, then, we must say categorically, without qualification, that no restraint from the any democratic processes, other than by the ordinary law of the land, should be allowed… If you believe in democracy, you must believe in it unconditionally. If you believe that men should be free, then, they should have the right of free association, of free speech, of free publication. Then, no law should permit those democratic processes to be set at nought, and no excuse, whether of security, should allow a government to be deterred from doing what it knows to be right, and what it must know to be right… ” – Lee Kuan Yew, Legislative Assembly Debates, April 27, 1955
As a frog living in a clinical and sanforized well, with water fast drying up, I can’t help but have to agree with the press secretary.
I cannot claim to know the job of a press secretary. But I guess, as the title implies, it has got to do with anything related to the word “press”. For example, impress, oppress, suppress, etc.
Only in this little well that we hear of such title as “press secretary”. In other countries people usually use the title “spokesman” or “spokesperson”, meaning speaking on behalf of somebody or as a representative speaking for an organisation. May be it is most appropriate for this little well to use such a title.
Come to think of it, it is quite suitable though!
Free Speech in Singapore? Somehow Mdm Yeong Yoon Ying is very confused and meant something else.
Is attacking Chee Soon Juan by labelling him a “near Psychopath” being slanderous? Or should MM need to exercise self censorship here? If he is allowed to say that, shouldn’t I be as well or anybody for that matter? Can the MM be sued by the public for calling Singaporeans complacent?
guys,
not happy is it ? action pls. wear black on national day loh.
SPY,
SHUT UP IF YOU HAVE NOTHING INTELLIGENT TO SPROUT. GO LEARN FROM WKS HOW TO SING PROPERLY.
FG
pong ti,
Lets start wearing black come national day! Good IDEA! Mourning for the nation doom to fail if nothing is done about the current state of affair.
FG
Fever Guy,
On lah. let’s get more people . wait garmen come out regulation – singaporean cannot wear black on that day. incluing underwear & bra. police will check in crowded places. HA HA HA !!!
Singapore has free speech what, don’t even try to deny that. i bet u can say anything u wan and noting will happen to u 1 loh…
Just don’t let pple hear what u say ma.
like saf liddat, absolute freedom what, as long as not caught.
FREE Speech in Singapore??? Huahahahahahahhaha……. That’s the BEST joke I’ve heard so far in this country! hahahahahahahahaha……
Thanks TOC ! You guys really make my day !
Huahahahahahahahahahahhahahhahahhahaha………………………………
hi guys please dont fight. Everyone has a right to their opinions. You wouldnt want this place to become like what st is right?
“Having lost, Dr. Chee in open court then called the Singapore leaders “murderers, robbers, child molesters” and “rapists.”"
It is quite clear that MM Lee press spokesman was referring to CSJ uttering those remarks during the court hearing to determine the damages. The operative word(s) are “open court”. Even those remarks by a commentator on SDP website did not even specify that CSJ used those epithets on our leaders. “In fact, statistics in America have shown repeatedly that having guns by individuals in fact deter would-be muggers, robbers, molesters and rapists etc.” from url http://www.singaporedemocrat.org/classic/speakup.php
Mdm Yeong the press spokesman was of course speaking on MM LKY behalf , hence the title.
This is really quite serious to impute those outrageous and slanderous remarks to CSJ if it cannot be backed up by court transcripts.
“Singapore upholds free speech’.
Indeed it does, how else are we saying that uncalled, unsubstantiated remarks like ‘psychopath’ and linking, lumping unconnected statements together can be uttered with impunities? The only difference is that the little fellows will end up in trouble.
Though I am of the impression that both the MM and Chee Soon Juan share a common trait in clamouring for international attentions and fames, putting Singapore and Singaporeans behind that, I don’t think Chee SJ will be that muddle-headed to make those alleged accusations or comments. He is too intelligent for that, after all he is a professional and a seasoned politician.
Free Speech, no doubt, is in practice in Singapore, but not all are free to speak, that’s the irony, funny but damn serious truth.
patriot.
48) Foreign Worker in SG on July 2nd, 2008 10.10 am
>>FREE Speech in Singapore??? Huahahahahahahhaha……. That’s the BEST joke I’ve heard so far in this country! hahahahahahahahaha……
Thanks TOC ! You guys really make my day
>>
Eh, you stole my trademark! I said that first on message #5. Wait kena sue for copyright infringement ah!
====
As the saying goes, there IS freedom of speech (in Singapore too).
Only some people have it freer than others….