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Lee Hsien Yang pays S$619,335 to Ministers Shanmugam and Balakrishnan in defamation suit to protect family home

Lee Hsien Yang (LHY) has paid S$619,335.53 to Ministers K Shanmugam and Vivian Balakrishnan after losing a defamation suit over his Facebook post about their rental of Ridout Road properties. LHY stated the payment was necessary to protect his family home at 38 Oxley Road.

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Lee Hsien Yang (LHY), son of Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew (LKY), has paid S$619,335.53 to Ministers K Shanmugam and Vivian Balakrishnan following a defamation ruling that required him to pay damages and costs to the two ministers, who had sued him over remarks made in a Facebook post regarding their rental of state-owned properties.

In a Facebook post on 29 September 2024, LHY stated that the payment was necessary to protect his family home at 38 Oxley Road, which he described as his “significant asset” in Singapore, following the court’s decision in November 2023. He added that he wanted to honor his late father’s wishes and ensure his sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling, who is ill, could continue to live in the house.

The property has been at the centre of a longstanding family dispute over its future between LHY, his sister, and his elder brother, former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (LHL). In his last will, LKY expressed his wish for the house to be demolished after his passing or when Dr Lee no longer resides there. However, some members of the political party LKY founded have expressed disagreement with this wish, citing public sentiment as being against the idea.

He shared that the amount he paid was equivalent to 13.6 months of rent for the two Ridout Road properties leased by the ministers.

It was revealed in July last year that Mr Shanmugam rents the state-owned 26 Ridout Road property, which spans 23,164 square meters, for S$26,500 per month, while Mr Balakrishnan rents 31 Ridout Road, which spans 9,157 square meters, for S$20,000 per month.

In his post, LHY also expressed regret that the defamation case was pursued in Singapore rather than in the UK, where he currently resides. He had earlier challenged the ministers to sue him in the UK, where he believed their case would be subject to more impartial judgment.

The defamation suit, for which LHY made the payment, stems from a Facebook post he made on 23 July 2023, where he commented on the ministers’ rental of the Ridout Road properties following a parliamentary session on 3 July 2023, during which both ministers delivered statements explaining the circumstances of their leases.

The Ridout Road controversy first emerged in May 2023 when questions were raised about the ministers’ leases of two state-owned properties at 26 and 31 Ridout Road.

Both Mr Shanmugam and Dr Balakrishnan have maintained that their leases were conducted in accordance with the law and that they paid market rates. Mr Shanmugam also stated that he had recused himself from decisions involving the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), which oversees the leasing of these black-and-white bungalows, given his role as Minister for Law.

LHY’s Facebook post from 23 July 2023 was first issued a correction direction under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) on 25 July 2023.

Two days later, the ministers announced plans to sue LHY for defamation unless he issued an apology and retracted the statements made in the July Facebook post.

They accused LHY of suggesting that they had acted corruptly by receiving favourable treatment from SLA through unauthorized tree felling and state-funded renovations at 26 and 31 Ridout Road. Both ministers categorically refuted these allegations.

In a Facebook post, Mr Shanmugam outlined their demands: LHY was to retract his accusations, issue an apology, and pay damages, which would be donated to charity. Non-compliance would result in legal action.

LHY refused the demands and argued that his comments were based on publicly available information and did not allege corruption or personal gain but rather raised questions about transparency.

He wrote, “My post did not assert that Shanmugam and Vivian Balakrishnan acted corruptly or for personal gain by having the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) give them preferential treatment, such as illegally felling trees without approval and having SLA pay for renovations. My post simply stated facts that were already widely published in the Singapore and international media.”

He also alleged that Ministers Shanmugam and Balakrishnan were pressuring him to issue a false apology for statements he never made, adding, “No Singaporean should have to lie to avoid lawsuits.”

Despite his public clarification, the ministers still proceeded to sue him in August, and in November 2023, the Singapore High Court ruled in their favour after LHY failed to file a Notice of Intention (NOI) to contest the lawsuit within the required timeframe.

This led to a default judgment. Justice Goh Yihan, who presided over the case, issued an injunction preventing LHY from republishing or disseminating the alleged defamatory statements.

Justice Goh also noted that even if LHY had filed the NOI, the ministers’ claims would likely have succeeded on their merits, as they had established a valid defamation case. He added that LHY’s continued reference to his original post on social media heightened the risk of further defamatory statements.

Each minister was then awarded S$150,000 in general damages and S$50,000 in aggravated damages. Additionally, each minister was awarded costs of S$51,000 plus disbursements. The rest of the amount that LHY paid consisted of legal fees to Davinder Singh, counsel who represented the two ministers in the defamation suit.

Following the court ruling, public debate arose about whether LHY, now living in the United Kingdom, could have avoided paying the defamation costs. However, as LHY suggested in his post, failing to pay the outstanding sum could have resulted in the seizure of his Singapore-based assets, particularly 38 Oxley Road, which he had purchased from his brother, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

While the ministers have announced that they will donate the sum paid by LHY to charity, some have considered the potential tax benefits they may receive from the donation.

Under Singapore’s tax laws, charitable donations qualify for a tax deduction of 2.5 times the donated amount. Given the ministers’ annual income of approximately S$1,760,000 at the MR1 ministerial grade, this could lead to a tax saving of around S$120,000 each.

But despite the possible tax benefit, it is unlikely to impact the ministers’ financial standing significantly. For example, Mr Shanmugam had reportedly gained S$88 million from the sale of his Astrid Hill property in August 2023.

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Train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista to remain disrupted until 1 Oct due to new cracks on East-West Line

Train services on the East-West Line between Jurong East and Buona Vista MRT stations will remain disrupted until at least 1 October after 12 additional cracks were found in rail segments. SMRT and LTA are conducting extensive repairs and safety tests, with full service resumption depending on weather conditions and final assessments.

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9 hours ago

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29 September 2024

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Train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista MRT stations on the East-West Line will remain suspended until at least 1 October 2023 following the discovery of 12 new cracks on a stretch of rail previously damaged by a faulty train.

The rail operator SMRT and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) issued a joint statement on 29 September, confirming that engineers are working around the clock to restore services along the affected four-station stretch.

According to the statement, full service resumption is subject to weather conditions and the completion of extensive testing to ensure passenger safety.

Initially, SMRT had aimed to restart services by 30 September, but new stress tests conducted on 28 September revealed previously undetected cracks on several rail segments.

As a result, engineers require additional time to replace 10 more segments of rail along the westbound track from Clementi to Ulu Pandan Depot. The authorities emphasized that passenger safety is a priority and full service will only resume after thorough stress tests are completed on 30 September.

The damage occurred on 25 September when a faulty first-generation Kawasaki Heavy Industries train, in service for over 35 years, was being withdrawn to the depot.

A defective component, known as an axle box, detached from the train’s undercarriage near Dover station, causing the wheels to run off the rail. This led to significant damage along 1.6 km of tracks between Clementi and Dover, affecting trackside equipment, power cables, and rail fasteners. The train also caused a power trip that halted operations across nine MRT stations between Boon Lay and Queenstown, affecting hundreds of thousands of commuters.

Since the incident, SMRT engineers have replaced 33 rail segments and repaired damaged portions of the third rail, which supplies power to the trains.

Engineers have also conducted comprehensive tests on trackside equipment, including point machines that divert trains to different tracks. Despite the progress, the discovery of additional cracks has extended the timeline for repairs.

Testing will involve stress tests using locomotives, simulations of passenger load with sandbagged trains, and inspections of rail integrity after each trial.

Temporary measures to assist affected commuters have been in place since the disruption. Shuttle trains are running every 10 minutes between Boon Lay and Jurong East, and between Queenstown and Buona Vista.

Additionally, free bridging bus services are operating between Jurong East and Buona Vista, and free regular buses are available between Boon Lay and Queenstown.

As of 29 September, the disruption has impacted approximately 2.1 million passengers.

Daily passenger figures affected by the disruption include 358,000 on 25 September, 516,000 on 26 September, 500,000 on 27 September, and 374,000 on 28 September. On 29 September, around 362,000 passengers were estimated to have been inconvenienced.

The faulty train that caused the incident was heading eastwards when it encountered an issue near Clementi station at approximately 9 a.m. on 25 September.

It was redirected westward toward Ulu Pandan Depot for repairs, but its undercarriage component fell near Dover station, causing severe damage as the train made its way back. Engineers discovered a total of 34 rail fractures and extensive damage to the third rail, point machines, and trackside power systems.

The repair work involves replacing the damaged rail segments, conducting stress tests, and ensuring all signalling and power systems function properly.

SMRT and LTA are also running endurance tests using passenger trains loaded with sandbags to simulate the actual weight during peak hours. A track inspection team will be deployed after each test to ensure the rail is safe before services resume.

Commuters are advised to continue using alternative transport arrangements until services are fully restored. SMRT and LTA remain committed to ensuring the safety and reliability of the MRT system as they work towards a targeted reopening on 1 October, pending final tests and weather conditions.

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Singapore Post has closed 12 post offices over the last two years

Singapore Post has closed 12 post offices over the last two years, part of its strategy to address falling mail volumes amid rising digital communications. Parliamentary concerns focused on maintaining access to postal services, while netizens shared mixed reactions, citing inconvenience, job loss concerns, and evolving service needs.

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12 hours ago

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29 September 2024

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According to a report by The Straits Times, Singapore Post (SingPost) has closed 12 post offices over the last two years, reducing its network by 20% as part of a strategic review in response to declining mail volumes.

The shift toward digital communication has reduced the need for physical post office services. With 44 remaining branches, SingPost aims to transform its operations to stay relevant while expanding alternative service points like parcel lockers (POPStations) and self-service machines (SAM kiosks).

The closures affected several post offices in malls, including Suntec City and Northpoint City, as well as standalone branches in HDB estates and community centers.

One of the most recent closures occurred at The Clementi Mall, which served customers for 11 years before shutting its doors on 20 September 2023.

SingPost’s business transformation comes as traditional postal services decline, with customers now relying on digital alternatives. These developments have sparked a range of public reactions, reflecting concerns about accessibility and the future of postal services.

In Parliament, concerns have been raised about maintaining a sufficient postal network.

In January 2024, People’s Action Party Member of Parliament for Nee Soon GRC, Derrick Goh, asked about the government’s expectations for SingPost’s physical footprint.

In response, Minister for Communications and Information Mrs Josephine Teo explained that most postal transactions today are automated or completed online. While post offices once served as essential hubs for mailing letters and parcels, these services can now be handled by SAM kiosks and POPStations, reducing the need for face-to-face transactions. Mrs Teo emphasized that SingPost remains committed to ensuring postal needs are met through alternative touchpoints.

The declining demand for physical mail has also been discussed in relation to Universal Service Obligations (USOs). In April 2024, Workers’ Party MP for Seng Kang GRC, Louis Chua, inquired whether SingPost’s obligations to maintain posting boxes and post offices would be reduced.

Mrs Teo confirmed that SingPost remains responsible for delivering letters to all addresses and maintaining a sufficient number of postal locations. However, IMDA is reviewing the network requirements to ensure they are relevant in today’s digital landscape.

The closure of post offices, particularly in HDB estates, has sparked public debate.

One commenter on The Straits Times’ Facebook page pointed out the inconvenience of closing post offices in residential areas, particularly since citizens are now required to collect passports from post offices rather than from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) headquarters in Kallang. Another commenter noted that post offices could be consolidated along GRC lines rather than closed altogether, potentially maintaining better access for residents.

Other netizens voiced concerns about the broader impact of digital transformation. One commenter noted that increasing reliance on technology reduces human contact and job opportunities while making postal services harder to access. Another pointed out the inconvenience caused by fewer nearby post offices for services like SmartPac parcel deliveries.

SingPost’s evolving policies also sparked frustration over the lack of flexibility in sending certain parcels overseas. One commenter shared their difficulty with SingPost’s restrictions, contrasting it with the ease of using private couriers. They argued that unless SingPost adapts, it risks becoming obsolete.

Some users acknowledged the inevitability of change, with one noting that while the demand for “snail mail” is declining, technology has improved processes and introduced new services, albeit at the expense of traditional methods.

Concerns about job security were also raised, with predictions of potential job losses as more services move online, including those from government agencies like ICA and HDB.

Despite these public concerns, SingPost maintains that it is committed to providing accessible services, shifting towards alternative service points such as POPStations and self-service kiosks.

Some, however, have questioned whether these measures adequately replace the convenience of physical post offices, particularly for those who rely on in-person services. While SingPost has introduced offerings like POPDrop, allowing customers to pay bills and purchase shipping labels, these initiatives have not fully alleviated concerns about the reduced presence of post offices.

Financially, SingPost has reported strong results despite operational changes. In August 2023, the company announced a 105.2% increase in first-quarter operating profit, reaching S$24.4 million.

At the same time, domestic letter mail volumes continued to decline, dropping 8.1% year-on-year, highlighting the ongoing shift away from traditional postal services. In response, SingPost increased postage rates for standard letters from 31 cents to 51 cents in October 2023—the first significant rise since 2014—prompting questions about how this will impact consumers.

The closures and operational shifts at SingPost mirror wider global challenges for postal services, as digital communication reduces the demand for traditional mail.

While automation and e-commerce solutions are becoming more common, concerns remain about whether these innovations are sufficient to meet the public’s need for accessible postal services.

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