Press Secretary to Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong Chang Li Lin, has written in to The Economist, responding to an opinion piece on June 13. The commentary had addressed the current lawsuit involving PM Lee and local blogger Roy Ngerng, who'd published a post on his website The Heart Truths, accusing the former of misappropriating monies in the Central Provident Fund (CPF). Local fiction writer Catherine Lim's open letter to the PM was also mentioned.
The letter, which has since been published, reads:
SIR – I refer to the article “A butterfly on a wheel” (June 13th). You referred to an “alleged ‘serious libel’” by Roy Ngerng. This is not an allegation. Mr Ngerng has publicly admitted accusing Lee Hsien Loong, the prime minister, of criminal misappropriation of pension funds, falsely and completely without foundation. After promising to apologise and to remove the post, Mr Ngerng did the opposite; he actively disseminated the libel further. This was a grave and deliberate defamation, whether it occurred online or in the traditional media being immaterial.
What is at stake is not any short-term positive or negative impact on the government, but the sort of public debate Singapore should have. When someone makes false and malicious personal allegations that impugn a person’s character or integrity, the victim has the right to vindicate his reputation, whether he is an ordinary citizen or the prime minister. The internet should not be exempt from the laws of defamation. It is perfectly possible to have a free and vigorous debate without defaming anyone, as occurs often in Singapore.
Chang Li Lin
Press secretary to the prime minister
Singapore
Photo: AFP / Tony Avelar
Press Secretary to Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong Chang Li Lin, has written in to The Economist, responding to an opinion piece on June 13. The commentary had addressed the current lawsuit involving PM Lee and local blogger Roy Ngerng, who'd published a post on his website The Heart Truths, accusing the former of misappropriating monies in the Central Provident Fund (CPF). Local fiction writer Catherine Lim's open letter to the PM was also mentioned.
The letter, which has since been published, reads:
SIR – I refer to the article “A butterfly on a wheel” (June 13th). You referred to an “alleged ‘serious libel’” by Roy Ngerng. This is not an allegation. Mr Ngerng has publicly admitted accusing Lee Hsien Loong, the prime minister, of criminal misappropriation of pension funds, falsely and completely without foundation. After promising to apologise and to remove the post, Mr Ngerng did the opposite; he actively disseminated the libel further. This was a grave and deliberate defamation, whether it occurred online or in the traditional media being immaterial.
What is at stake is not any short-term positive or negative impact on the government, but the sort of public debate Singapore should have. When someone makes false and malicious personal allegations that impugn a person’s character or integrity, the victim has the right to vindicate his reputation, whether he is an ordinary citizen or the prime minister. The internet should not be exempt from the laws of defamation. It is perfectly possible to have a free and vigorous debate without defaming anyone, as occurs often in Singapore.
Chang Li Lin
Press secretary to the prime minister
Singapore
Photo: AFP / Tony Avelar