Recent court involving Chee Soon Juan and his sister
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The Wall Street Journal editorialises on a defamation battle between the litigious Lee Kuan Yew and the opposition
LEE Kuan Yew's Singapore can rightly be proud of many achievements, but full democracy is not one of them. Which makes a recent David v Goliath exchange between one of the country's few opposition politicians and Lee worth noting. The dialogue took place in a courtroom and is therefore privileged - which means we can report on it without risking a lawsuit, which Lee often files against critics.
The setting was a hearing to assess damages against Chee Soon Juan, head of the Singapore Democratic Party, and his sister and colleague, Chee Siok Chin. In 2006, the Chees lost a defamation suit brought by Lee and his son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, over an article they published in their party newsletter that was interpreted by the court to imply corruption on the part of the government.
Chee Soon Juan is no orator but when the subject turned to the moral underpinnings of democracy the debate went game, set and match to Chee. Chee set out his philosophy while questioning Lee: "What I'm interested in is justice, the rule of law, because ultimately it is not about you, Mr Lee. It is not about me. You and I will pass on, but I can tell you, the practice of the rule of law, the entire concept of justice, democracy that is going to last for all eternity."
Trial transcript that appears on Singaporerebel.blogspot.com
Chee Siok Chin: Mr Lee, it has been reported that you are paid $3.7 million a year for your role as Prime Minister. Can you confirm that to this court?
Lee's counsel Davinder Singh: Objection.
Judge Belinda Ang: Sustained.
Chee: Do you know, Mr Lee, that you are the highest paid Prime Minister in the world, six times more than George Bush. Your salary is equivalent to eight leaders in the European countries, do you know that?
Singh: Objection, your honour.
Chee: Do you know that you are in the Guinness Book (of World) Records for the highest-paid prime minister?
Singh: Objection, your honour.
Chee: Mr Lee, you had said that as Prime Minister, you lead your government based on honesty, integrity, meritocracy and competence. Am I right?
Lee Hsien Loong: Yes.
Chee: Do you believe that cabinet ministers in Singapore, including yourself, have obtained their positions through meritocracy and competence?
Lee: We strive our best to reach the ideal.
Chee: Do you believe that you were appointed Prime Minister on your own merit?
Lee: Yes
Chee: Do you think that if your father had not been the former prime minister of Singapore you would still be the Prime Minister of Singapore today?
Lee: It is hypothetical question but I would say yes.
Chee: Well, it's very good to see the leader of the country so confident. Reassuring, really.
Chee: Is it not true that your father, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, was the prime minister of Singapore, he's now the Minister Mentor. You are the current Prime Minister and your wife Madam Ho Ching is the CEO of Temasek Holdings, is that true?
Singh: Objection, your honour.
Judge: Sustained.
Chee: Mr Lee, Mr Francis Seow had said the ministers in Singapore, and that includes you, are not worth a cent that they are paid. Do you agree?
Singh: I object, your honour, Mr Francis Seow doesn't have the guts to turn up in court himself so he shouldn't use the -
Chee: Let us not take pot-shots -
Judge: Sustained.
Chee: Do you sleep at night, Mr Lee?
Singh: Objection, your honour.
(Pause)
Chee: Do you know that as the leader of the country that your Government deprives Singaporeans of much-needed welfare for the poor, the elderly and the infirm, that HDB (Housing and Development Board) prices are artificially inflated, and that many of us are not able to draw on our CPF (Central Provident Fund) savings even though we have tens of thousands of dollars in there and all this time, when Singaporeans are left rather ignored -
Singh: Objection, your honour.
Chee: By the Government -
Judge: Sustained.
Chee: While you live your life as a millionaire minister?
Singh: Objection, your honour. This is a classic example of the abuse that I had referred to earlier for the purpose of making all sorts of wild, unsubstantiated, and speculative allegations.
Footnote: Chee Siok Chin served a 10-day sentence at the Changi Women's Prison for contempt of court for her cross-examination.I don't recall reading this line of questioning in our Straits Times.
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I would have done better than her. Maybe I should go study law.....
Are you sure this is the exact transcript?
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Chee Soon Juan is no orator but when the subject turned to the moral underpinnings of democracy the debate went game, set and match to Chee. Chee set out his philosophy while questioning Lee: "What I'm interested in is justice, the rule of law, because ultimately it is not about you, Mr Lee. It is not about me. You and I will pass on, but I can tell you, the practice of the rule of law, the entire concept of justice, democracy that is going to last for all eternity."
I dunt think the above quoted is related to the hearing.CSJ just used court room to make political sppech.
Do Anyone know and care that he and Yap already
spent 4 weeks in Sub Court?
He said this in last week in SDP site (or it is his personal site,
i am not sure.)
how many of u know?How many of u care and go to support him?
If u dunt know hearing in the past,pl check with him and Yap.
Then u MUST,U SHALL ,AND U OUGHT go to court
to show your support.Shake hand with them,hug them etc.
Many of u just act as a arm chair politicians to praise
Chees and other in their brave moves against gavaman.
But i think u guy dare not raise a finger to show your support.
U will not be asked to show your IC,questioned and then detained
for appearing in your court to attend a hearing.
Even u show support to Chees is not a problem at all.
But u are not advised to wear T shirt showing kangaroo head
and a judge robe etc.
http://www.yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/792-laws-must-not-be-applied-selectively
The trial for the present charges is into its fourth week and looks set to continue for a fifth.---CSJ
Chee will attend few cases of similiar nature,ie making speech
in public.
How can a Opposition leader lead when he spend most of his time
in jail and court room?
The worse is none appear to support them!!
A wise leader has to make wise and painful decisions,after
weighing all pro and con.Short term glory in western medias cant
help you to save millions of souls in Singapore!!
Wisdoms seem coming to his head
i am glad to read CSJ said like this:
We also call on activist bloggers to refrain from exploiting this matter by posting inaccurate statements about Mr Ravi's situation and stoking sentiment against the authorities, including the police.
The Singapore Democrats will not be deterred from speaking out when our law enforcement agencies detract from their rightful duty and protect the interests of the ruling party instead of the public's. But we will also not hesitate to caution against misguided actions and statements of individuals that inaccurately and unnecessarily portray the police in a negative light.At last his words make sense.Dunt frame up low rank civil servant .
http://www.yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/837-sdp-calls-on-activists-not-to-exploit-ravis-situation
Remember the Ph D candidate James Gomez accused poor
Election Dept staff ''lost'' his Miniority Certificate.
James Gomez caught in CCTV put back the form into his brief case.
Do u know how the staff wrongly accused feel before CCTV tape
proved their innocense?
How do they face their family,relatives ,neighbours and friends,
if the CCTV did not record Gomez put back the form
into his brief case?Without the tape,the staff most likely will be painted
as a ''running dog ''of PAP!!
Another recent incident is the man from great America--Gopalan Nair!!
He also said poice was ordered to target him ,to stop him
and then arrest him without proper reasons!!
What a great frame up,by Nair to the few poor policemen!!
U can blast ministers for their policy.Anyway,let me share a secret
with u.They only know whether a policy work after it is implemented.
If any one tell u that he is sure the policy will work,he has
the cryatal ball.
