The following article was first published on Martyn See’s blog, Singapore Rebel. The Online Citizen thanks Martyn See for allowing us to reproduce it here in full.
By Martyn See
Five years ago in the police station, I was interrogated by the police over the making of my documentary Singapore Rebel. Photographs and minutes of the Singapore Democratic Party’s (SDP) meetings and activities were produced in front me, and I was asked to identify faces in those snapshots. How did the photographs and minutes end up with the police? Did the police have moles planted in the opposition? Is Lee Kuan Yew an autocrat? You go figure.
What was unmistakable to me at that time was that there was a concerted attempt by the Government and the police to create a spectre of criminalization around Dr Chee Soon Juan and anything/anybody that he engages. The agenda couldn’t have been more plain : Isolate Chee, pick him off, and like Lee himself said many years ago as an opposition MP, the outcome would be that miraculously everything will be tranquil on the surface.
Last night, SDP held its 30th Anniversary bash at the Concorde Hotel. Amid the pomp and pageantry were about a hundred guests, including foreign diplomats, civil society activists and members of the opposition. Noticeably absent, and perhaps an indication that the Government’s decade-and-a-half campaign to marginalize Chee is still holding sway, is the no show from the entire Workers’ Party, including Low Thia Khiang and Sylvia Lim, and the founder of SDP himself, Chiam See Tong, now with the SPP. Strikingly, all three are currently the only opposition members of Singapore’s Parliament. Surprisingly, joining the list of absentees was a new kid of the opposition block, Kenneth Jeyaretnam of the Reform Party.
But having witnessed the trajectory of Chee’s political career – from the toil of libel suits, bankruptcy and relentless criticisms to the merrymaking last night – it was a kind of a miracle to behold. Not the tranquil kind that Lee alluded to, but of a coming around – For Chee, his party and the people who now saw no fear to be seen fraternizing with the Government’s favourite whipping boy.
There is also a coming around of sorts with the authorities. Two years ago, Government censors showed up with the police to seize a dvd of a film premiere organized by the SDP. (see video here and here). Last night, videos of congratulatory messages were blasted without interruptions.
Then this morning, the most glaring coming around happened. The mainstream press, a longtime accessory of the Government’s character assassination campaign against Chee and SDP, suddenly saw fit to publish a review of the anniversary dinner and an almost full page interview with Chee himself.
When did you last see a smiling Chee Soon Juan in the newspapers? And the group photo in the Sunday Times looks fit for a propaganda piece for the PAP, except that the uniforms are red, not white. What gave rise to the Sunday Times and Zaobao’s sudden habit-breaking behavioural switch to feature Chee Soon Juan and SDP in their pages? And without the usual demonization too?
Perhaps there is a tacit recognition that a bankrupted Chee is already a spent force and thus not a political threat? Perhaps Lee Kuan Yew, after clashing with the Chee siblings in court, saw for himself horns didn’t grow out of their skulls? Perhaps the political desks of ST and Zaobao needed to fill their quotas of articles per month?
Whatever the motivations are, one thing is certain – Chee Soon Juan and the Singapore Democratic Party are not the sort to crave for mainstream media coverage. Anybody who knows Chee can attest that there isn’t one Singaporean who distrusts the MSM more. In recent years, the party has resigned itself to the use of the internet and street hawking of publications to engage the citizenry.
That the MSM has now come knocking on Chee’s door, despite his open criticisms of them, is something of a revelation. More interesting to me, are how the dynamics in opposition politics have suddenly shifted. Now that the press has nudged SDP closer to the mainstream, will it then follow that the absentees of the night’s function will be less afraid to associate themselves with Chee and SDP?
One of my principal aims when making Singapore Rebel was to inspire a rethink of perceptions, but now ironically, the mainstream press has done what I set out to do five years ago. Perhaps I need to look for another subject to break perceptions and taboos with..
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I am not a SDP supporter but all along, being a political liberal, I found what Chee said and done make sence.
The bad news is, Chee’s reputations in Singapore is beyond repair. We don’t even have to go to the proPAP websites, just look at the many anti PAP websites, so many posters still despise him. Maybe it’s time for the MSM to do some wayang cos they know that Chee can do no more harm to them!
CSJ’s ruly behavior not only brought him down but his party SDP as well. I’m not pro-PAP but for SDP to turn around successfully is to groom suitable political activists who are able to keep their cool despite pressure from PAP. The Icon will be gone in a couple of years so now is the right time for SDP to improve their leadership skills as well as build up public relations so that hopefully they are able to campaign for voters’ support in the coming GE.
Chee is direct and confrontational, he got guts. Since he was jailed so many times, he does not have anymore fear.
Dr Chee is a true democracy fighter. Unlike WP, trying to sing the same song as Pap.
There is no such thing as reputation beyond repair. Kim Dae Jung went from political prisoner on death row to president of his country. In 10 years time, few will remember what Chee Soon Juan stood for, or who Lim Swee Say was. That’s the value of a politician’s reputation these days.
Unless anyone can dispute that singapore’s opposition is the most tamed or ‘gentle’ if you will, or harmless (teeth size) , then we should be afraid of having a few more opposition leaders in parliament to offer a service for those having a hard time trying to earn a living in singapore.
I wonder which 1st world citizen excluding those from singapore would not find it Strange that singaporeans perceivably do not want opposition voice in the parliament by way of their votes which they Deny growth of opposition for them to gain more experience in running town councils etc.
To be honest, as a true blue singaporean, i cannot understand singaporeans despite having lived here and gone thru the same system for many decades.
To be honest, i am not proud as a citizen in this aspect. I will definitely migrate when an opportunity arise. i have no pride, in this aspect.
Correction : Unless anyone can dispute that singapore’s opposition is the most tamed or ‘gentle’ if you will, or harmless (teeth size) , then we should NOT !!! be afraid of having a few more opposition leaders in parliament to offer a service for those having a hard time trying to earn a living in singapore.
Inspite of the PAP onslaught on the SDP and its leaders, the partyhas stubbornly refused to cave in. It has in fact not only grown from strength to strength but has become the only truly multi-racial opposition party today.
I see that it has also been able to attract the young into its ranks. There must be something that is right with what the party is doing all this while.
Keep it up SDP, Singapore truly needs your brand of politics to take on the PAP. Others take note. You either work with the party or step aside. Stop pretending to be an opposition!
“… politicians believe in doing what’s good for themselves. I believe in doing what’s good for the people.”
-Dr Chee Soon Juan
but, the Dr’s name has been damaged beyond repair, and that will prevent him from doing what’s good for the people.
when people hear of CSJ’s name, even if they do not know what he has done, will not support him. like it or not, that is the power of the MSM on the masses.
like it or not, the opposition parties need the SPH (lol, which is a PAP gov company) for the reach to SGreans, because not many will surf political content in their free time.
really interesting article by martin.
something even better than a nobel winning literature.
never read something that is this creative and may be really the truth in terms of his views.
Is great to see all opposition parties growing and moving forward. Hope they can fill up all the 84 constituencies and leave nothing untouch. It may be a great confidence booster to those pessimistic voters who have given up on opposition politics. With 84 contituencies covered, the level playing fields will be more levelled.
The Just One, “but, the Dr’s name has been damaged beyond repair, and that will prevent him from doing what’s good for the people.”
I wonder if he could contribute by other ways?
Has anybody read his books ?
If you have, you would not be so quick to judge him as the crackpot the govt wants you to believe. If you had been tar and feathered as much he was, you might do a lot worse than just shouting at Mr Goh in public. People with no pressure don’t crack. They just increase their pay. By disregarding him as a viable voice to represent the people, you have already surcumbed to the govt controlled media.
A lot had been said about his trechery against his mentor. But think about it, what has his mentor done that speaks of national issues ? What have Mr Chaim and Mr Low acheived with their brand of non confrontational politics ??? is 2 seats in the house for the good part of their tenure the best they can deliver ??? Nobody dares to ask the hard questions. The one who does gets labelled a crackpot. The idealist is rebranded as mentally unstable.
So now we get to use our medisave in Malaysian hospitals. Some people will think that it’s a good idea. Unfortunately not enough will ask what happened to our govt’s responsibility in keeping out medicare affordable. Oh yes, I forgot, there is no govt hospitals anymore, they are all “privatised” after being set up from our taxs.
May god save us from our stupidity.
@ Tiong San Sze
yes. im sure he has something in his mind.
@ mic o mic
while u have a good point, at the end of the day, the MSM still has the greatest reach to Singaporeans.
but because the SG gov has destroyed all opposing views systematically, CSJ is fighting up a very very very steep cliff… with a record of being bankrupted by the PAP and vilified by the MSM, and a stifling political climate.
The post 65 and later generations especially are becoming more internet savvy. And they make up more than 60% of the electorate today.
The SDP must make full use of the internet and find other innovative ways to get their message through to them. And more people like Martin See – people with courage who say things like they are - will surely emerge. Truth will ultimately prevail, rest assured.
Truth is what the PAP fear most or they won’t be manipulating the news via the MSM. Have faith my fellow Singaporeans.
Surprising to see mainstream media trying to do some “justice” to the demolished man!
Looks more likely LKY is having a fetish to “embalm” the very corpse he “demolished earlier(just like all hunters who embalm their preys to exhibit afterall Chee’s a spent force and is barred from elections for a long long time).
Or LKY is under USA’s pressure and is trying to appease them by stopping further character assasination to an already ruined Chee….
@ PeeAndPoo
it isnt “justice”. it’s just reporting on a SDP event.
the USA will NOT pressure LKY. if u do not know, the USA is a shitty country that topples non-allied democracies, supports allied dictatorships and lies its way into wars for resources and dominance. all the while calling itself the bastion of freedom and champions of human rights.
what will change because of this? nothing.
hmm are they boosting SDP’s PR up so SDP can bite away at the opposition’s overall reputation and election pie?
nice tactic there!
Don’t speak too soon everyone, the press might publish something nice one day, and the next day return with a big blow. Wait till elections come around too, you’ll see the smearing.
All the best to Dr Chee and the SDP!
Dr Chee will be remembered as a poineer for democracy. How many people got balls to challenge and question MIW demi-gods openly and publicly at a time when persecution was harsh. How will it benefit him by clashing with MIW- nothing much. Like many of us, he has an idea, a vision, and that is a change towards treating another human being with dignity (aka human rights), freedom to speak up what you think without being suppressed by unfair powers and persecution. All his life was about fighting for what he believeth in and nothing else. For that, he’s in my personal hall of vernerable pioneers in making and shaping Singapore no less than others. If one strongly believe in something and yet do something that’s contradictory to what one stand for, wouldn’t that make the person a coward? Now people, stand up and rise to what you belive in, show that in the elections.
“NS and low pay for Singaporeans, jobs and free scholarhips for foreigners!”
Ya surprised SunT carried a factual story on SDP function.
Err maybe SDP got sympathisers in SPH in high places. ISD shld investigate. PAP cannot rely on SPH mgt to root out subversives.
Remember Chairman of SPH is executive director of GIC. And GIC messed up big time on Citi and UBS http://atans1.wordpress.com/2010/02/12/ubs-this-shld-worry-us/ and NYT propertyhttp://atans1.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/gic-ny-loss-us100m-more/
I will vote for Dr Chee and his party if given the opportunity. Remembering all the good pure blue Singaporeans who were downtrodden by Brute Lee such as Drs Lim Hock Siew, Poh Soo Khai and others, Singapore cannot waste another great man. Let us give Dr Chee a
break.
I did notice certain parts of the article taking pot shots are the SDP’s record and CSJ. But no matter. It was a great photo op, and Chee looks every bit the future leader of Singapore!
I voted for SDP the last time in 2006……will continue to vote for opposition!! the papaya MONEY FACE GREEDY PIGS MUST BE ELIMINATED AT ALL COST FOR THE SAKE OF OUR CHILDREN’S FUTURE!!
if only all the opposition parties attended. This is politics. Get over the initial biggest hurdle, come together, cause real ripples, then trash out the differences after.
Dr. Chee, is greatly admired by many, for his courage in dealing with the PAP.
A man of integrity and who practises what he preaches.
Wishing him and his team all the best, in the coming election!!
our opposition candidates are all considered the most well mannered in the world and some say the milky way. Yet, singaporeans are so afraid of them.
I don’t agree with Chee’s street retail politics’ style but I admire his persistence and courage
He wrote a book of alternative policies in 1996, maybe he should write an uodate version, 14 years is eternal in politics
Chee must have known lots of info from the days when he served in police force, so he was painted black by mainstream press
Chee’s story was used by press to distract the failed policies of PAP.
All those in power would pin down people who know too much.. there is the unfortunate total lack of transparency of a World Class governance. Shame !!
SPH might have been instructed to equal (a damaged ) Chee to all opposition, so to stael the limelight from new and younger opposition candidates that may pose real threat to PAP in next election.
This is a cunny and smart electoral tactics, don’t trust the SPH to be fair and impartial, the opposite is true.
Except now the SPH is more skilled in manipulating image.
Whatever the reasons, I think it is good that CSJ is being protrayed in a fairer light. I don’t think it is some convoluted plot to somehow harm the chances of other Opposition leaders who will be contesting the upcoming elections. Hope CSJ fights the good fight and we see him enter parliament.
Fellow singaporeans,
I want to cry.
I cannot understand why singaporeans appear like business as usual even with the perceived flaws in labor policies, the drop in productivity, the influx during recession, the mini bons, the losses ?
This makes me ask : What can shock singaporeans to make a change?
This is why i want to migrate. I will go Mad continuing to be unable to understand why singaporeans INSIST not to change.
I challenge you readers to name me a country like singapore whose citizens are like that.
$5 for the right answer.
The MSM also has reputation to repair you know, after the Rear Adm’s comment that MSM is accurate and balance was attacked left, right, centre.
The Rear Adm must be pushing MSM to wayang a bit to save his face. What better oppo to pick than Dr Chee who is the least popular (compared to Chiam, Sylvia, Low and even Jeya). Its all another great con job. Trust MSM? You gotta be joking.
they must be building his image for something, nothing is free in politics, it is a game.
Tan Bock Lien,
Hmm, perhaps many Singaporeans aren’t really affected at all by the economic recession? And that those who are affected, just happen to have a louder voice that’s all.. could be a perceptions issue too..
The truth will see the light of day with all those years of suppression and bankruptcy suit.
Many of us citizen are aware that PAP has overstepped their dominance and the poor citizens
are suffering. They have all the ‘law’ in their hands. Now is the time to stage a wayang show to appease us.
May SDP rise to the occasion given such generosity of MSM’s coverage !! A concoction of sort.
I guess the focus now would be on RP.RP would be more of a threat than SDP.
Chee Soon Juan is nevertheless a remarkable political activist and a patriot of the nation. No other oppostion except JBJ had suffered as harshly as him under PAP and yet his love for the country and people had never wavered once. He never run away, hide or in a state of denial. Other oppositions would have run away for instance mr TangLH and rest. How do we Singaporeans repay his love for the nation? We continued to vote PAP time and time again. How depressing can it be?
Even Chee SJ has been unfairly painted by MSM, his image is damaged, and it is very smart of pap to bring him up as a damaged good to benchmark other opposition, truest me, pap uses that low end tactice each election.
PAP zoom in a particular person and made the important 5 years once election a debate on one person.
It was on Tang Liang Hong in 1997, it was on CSJ in 2001, it was on James Gomez in 2007, let’s who is next ?
Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
A day will come when this country will be unbounded,
and awakened from the nightmare of a one party government.
A shout of joy will reverberate across the island.
And the people will recite again but with a new appreciation to the words,
“To build a democratic society,
based on Justice and Equality,
so as to acheive happiness, prosperity
and progress for our nation”
ditto to that. he could rise as a viable opposition candidate in parliament.
Chee Soon Juan is nevertheless a remarkable political activist and a patriot of the nation. No other oppostion except JBJ had suffered as harshly as him under PAP and yet his love for the country and people had never wavered once. He never run away, hide or in a state of denial. Other oppositions would have run away for instance mr TangLH and rest. How do we Singaporeans repay his love for the nation? We continued to vote PAP time and time again. How depressing can it be?
This is true also., CSJ’s name has been repeatedly smeared in the media, i mean what were they thinking when giving him names like psychopath, etc. Films like Singapore Rebel shows just how different he is portrayed in the print media as who he is in real life.
Don’t speak too soon everyone, the press might publish something nice oneday, and the next day return with a big blow. Wait till elections come around too, you’ll see the smearing.
All the best to Dr Chee and the SDP!
I’d like to direct everyone’s attention to the snide and thuggish comments made by Kenneth Jeya to Mr Martyn See on Martyn’s blog. he goes as far as to compare how many ppl RP sent to the dinner vs the NSP and the SDA. he is really like a kid in the sandbox, how can we trust this type of oppo leader?
btw it’s not the first time he’s gone after ppl online, he’s the type i expect would resort to defamation suits if in a position of power.
why start infighting and talk about defamation suit ?
Can we allow freedom of opinion, speech, and the best edges out the weaker, we need healthy competition and not infighting — PAP wants that in the opposition camp, BEWARE !!!
Let’s not adopt PAP’s mindset, let the voters and people decide.
Yes, opposition supporters, please argue among yourselves more and PAP and their supporters will laugh all the way to the bank and casinos…
Fight more hor … you guys apparently still have not learnt your lessons.
I think Dr CSJ is the only person that can save singapore. Low , KJ, chiam, slyvia and the rest of the opposition should look him up and take a political lesson conducted by Dr CSJ.
Formed a opposition coalition and Dr CSJ should lead and free singapore.
Yeah. Like how PKR coalition stunned BN overnight we need something like that. It never hurts to learn from the best around the world!
I am thinking about standing for the next election against Chee Soon Juan as an independent candidate. If enough people join me, we can form GRC teams to challenge SDP teams whereever they choose to contest the election – also as independent candidates. Independent, because I/we belong to no party. Respond here if anyone is interested.
Objective – to destroy SDP as a political party
Reasons – Chee Soon Suan acts like the Dalai Lama, destroying Singapore’s image and reputation internationally especially during important international events held in Singapore, such as the APEC and IMF/World Bank Conference. He calls for civil disobedience, and disobeys the laws, like the Dalai Lama, to portray himself as a victimised underdog, hero, martyr, freedoms/human rights/democracy fighter, in collaboration with unfriendly foreign forces.
Strategy – to stand against Chee Soon Juan and his SDP party whereever they contest, and in every election, until Chee Soon Juan is ousted from SDP or SDP is dissolved.
Higher Purpose – to warn future politicians that they are not to work against the interests of Singapore, including not to smear the image and reputation of Singapore, and to be exemplary citizens in observing the laws, even laws which we do not like.
[I do not visit this site often. But I will come back to read the responses once in a blue moon. And we shall see how interested citizens like us can work together toward this stated goal.]
Just to add one line:
Dr. Chee shall be referred to as “His Holiness Dr. Chee Soon Juan” in my election campaign.
i think the media is trying to improve on its “international reputation” and try to gain some spot from its 133rd ranking…lol
when ppl start criticising them for being unfree, they will point to some articles and say “look, we are a free media” because we cover these news as well
just like how hong lim park was set up to embrace a “new openess in singapore to allow citizens to voice their views freely and assemble freely”…then they installed cameras in the park and required everyone speaking to register with their NRIC. plus you cannot use voice enhancement devices while speaking at the park. then now, new laws can even make one person protests illegal.
one pseudo step forward to mantain “face”, three steps backwards.
same old boring story