Update 1 Sep 2021: Singapore PM wins $275,000 in latest defamation suits
PM Lee Hsien Loong awarded $210,000 in damages against TOC editor Terry Xu and writer
Singapore's high court ordered two news bloggers to pay Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong a combined S$370,000 ($275,113) in damages on Wednesday, over an article about the status of the home of his late father and the city-state's modern-day founder, Lee Kuan Yew. The premier filed lawsuits against writer Rubaashini Shunmuganathan and editor Xu Yuan Chen, also known as Terry Xu, over the August 2019 article published on The Online Citizen that included references to a disagreement within the Lee family about what to do with the property.
High court judge Audrey Lim said the article "impugned Lee's reputation and character" by alleging he was dishonest. "This struck at the heart of Lee's personal integrity and could severely undermine his credibility, not just personally but also as the prime minister, and call into question his fitness to govern with integrity," Lim said in a written judgement. Xu, a Singaporean, was ordered to pay Lee S$210,000, while in a separate suit over the same article, Malaysian Rubaashini was ordered to pay S$160,000. Neither immediately responded to requests for comment.
Lee appeared in court here in the case in May, during which he said "sensational allegations" had been made. Lee's press secretary in a statement on Wednesday said the damages awarded would be donated to charity. Senior figures in the ruling People's Action Party, including Lee Kuan Yew, have also sued foreign media and political opponents for defamation, calling it defence of their reputations. In April, an activist here and a financial advisor here separately turned to crowdfunding in Singapore to raise tens of thousands of dollars to pay Lee damages after the premier sued both for defamation. Some activists, including the New York-based Human Rights Watch, say such moves are stifling freedom of speech and political opposition. ($1 = 1.3449 Singapore dollars).
PM Lee Hsien Loong awarded $210,000 in damages against TOC editor Terry Xu and writer
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was awarded a total of $210,000 in damages in his defamation suit against The Online Citizen (TOC) editor Terry Xu Yuanchen and his writer, Rubaashini Shunmuganathan. In a judgment issued on Wednesday (1 September), Justice Audrey Lim also issued an injunction restraining Xu from further publishing or disseminating the false and defamatory allegations in TOC's 2019 article about 38 Oxley Road. The article was still accessible as of 2.30pm on Wednesday.
Following the judgment, Lee's press secretary said that he intends to donate to charity the damages he has been awarded. Xu's lawyer Lim Tean said in a Facebook post, "We are very disappointed with the judgment and I am discussing with Terry on the next course of action. "It is evident to me from a quick read of the 60-page judgment that the judge did not consider or understand the import of many relevant pieces of evidence which we put forward in the trial, which would have proven Terry’s defence," he added. Xu will crowd-fund to pay for the damages.
The article published on TOC’s website and Facebook page on 15 August 2019 was titled “PM Lee’s wife, Ho Ching weirdly shares article on cutting ties with family members”. It was written by Rubaashini, whom Lee also sought aggravated damages against in a separate suit. He was awarded $160,000 for this suit against Ruubashini and Xu, who were found jointly liable. For the suit that was solely against Xu, Lee was awarded $210,000, comprising $160,000 in general damages and $50,000 in aggravated damages.
PM Lee wins defamation suits, awarded S$210,000 in damages against TOC editor Terry Xu and writer
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (left) and chief editor of The Online Citizen Terry Xu arrive at the Supreme Court on Nov 30, 2020 for the defamation trial. (Photos: Nuria Ling/TODAY)
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was awarded S$210,000 by the High Court on Wednesday (Sep 1) in two separate defamation lawsuits against Terry Xu, the editor of socio-political website The Online Citizen (TOC), and Rubaashini Shunmuganathan, the writer of a TOC article.
In August 2019, TOC published an article written by Ms Rubaashini about Mr Lee's dispute with his siblings, Dr Lee Wei Ling and Mr Lee Hsien Yang, over their family home at 38 Oxley Road. The article was found by Justice Audrey Lim to be defamatory, stating that the libel against Mr Lee was "grave and serious". "The defamatory remarks do not merely attack his personal integrity, character and reputation, but that of the PM, and damage his moral authority to lead Singapore," said Justice Lim in a 60-page judgment.
Justice Lim also granted an injunction that Mr Lee had sought, restraining Xu from further publishing or disseminating the defamatory allegations in the article. “As usual, PM Lee intends to donate to charity the damages he has been awarded," Mr Lee's press secretary Chang Li Lin said on Wednesday. In the first lawsuit against Mr Xu, Mr Lee was awarded S$160,000 in general damages and S$50,000 in aggravated damages, for a total of S$210,000.
Blogger Leong Sze Hian ordered to pay PM Lee $133,000 for defamation over sharing of article
PM Lee's lawyers had argued for $150,000 in damages in the defamation suit against blogger Leong Sze Hian. PHOTOS: ST FILE
The High Court has ordered blogger and financial adviser Leong Sze Hian to pay Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong $133,000 for defamation. The sum includes $100,000 in general damages and $33,000 in aggravated damages.
Mr Leong was sued for sharing, on his Facebook page, an article from the Malaysian news site The Coverage that falsely linked PM Lee to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) corruption scandal in Malaysia. Justice Aedit Abdullah said in a written judgment on Wednesday (March 24) that Mr Leong did so "without making any enquiries as to its truth whatsoever" and displayed "reckless disregard of whether the article was true or not".
The judge ruled that Mr Leong's sharing of the article amounted to publishing it, even though he did not add any captions or commentary. Mr Leong had contended that he was not responsible for publishing the article, as there was no evidence anyone clicked on it as a result of him sharing it. Justice Aedit noted that the link to the article, along with its headline and a photo, was the only substantive content of Mr Leong's Facebook post, and it would be artificial to draw a "bright-line distinction" between the article and the post.
PM Lee awarded $87,000 in legal costs for defamation suits against TOC editor, writer
The costs order came after PM Lee Hsien Loong (left) won his suits against Mr Terry Xu (right), the chief editor of The Online Citizen, and article author Rubaashini Shunmuganathan. PHOTOS: ST FILE
The High Court on Wednesday (Oct 13) awarded Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong more than $87,000 in legal costs for the defamation suits he filed over an article published on The Online Citizen (TOC).
The costs order came after PM Lee won his suits against Mr Terry Xu, the chief editor of the socio-political website, and Ms Rubaashini Shunmuganathan, the Malaysian author of the article that was published on Aug 15, 2019. High Court judge Audrey Lim last month awarded PM Lee $210,000 in damages. She found that the article was defamatory, as it imputed that PM Lee had been dishonest with his father, founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.
The article, titled "PM Lee's wife Ho Ching weirdly shares article on cutting ties with family members", had quoted a Facebook post by PM Lee's sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling. Dr Lee's post asserted that Mr Lee Kuan Yew had been misled by PM Lee into believing the family house at 38 Oxley Road had been gazetted by the Government, causing him to change his will to bestow the house to PM Lee. Mr Xu had sought to justify the allegations in the article, arguing that they were true.
related: High Court awards PM Lee $210,000 in damages in defamation suits against TOC editor Terry Xu and article author
PM Lee awarded nearly S$88,000 in costs after winning defamation suits against The Online Citizen chief editor, writer
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (left) and Mr Terry Xu (right), chief editor of The Online Citizen
Justice Audrey Lim held a hearing in chambers on costs in both suits after her ruling on Sept 1 in which she awarded S$210,000 in total damages to Mr Lee, who had sued Mr Xu and the article’s writer, Ms Rubaashini Shunmuganathan.
Mr Xu’s lawyer, Mr Lim Tean, put up a Facebook post after the hearing, detailing the court’s decision and appealing to members of the public to donate to Mr Xu’s crowdfunding campaign. The campaign has since reportedly raised more than S$210,000. TODAY has separately confirmed the court’s ruling on costs and disbursements.
related: PM Lee awarded S$210,000 in damages after winning defamation suits against The Online Citizen editor and writer
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PM Lee's Defamation suit against blogger Leong
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong arrives at the Supreme Court on Oct 6, 2020
Hearings have begun in Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s defamation suit against a blogger who shared an article about him on Facebook. Lee sued Leong Sze Hian for posting a link to a Malaysian news site that alleged the prime minister had helped launder 1Malaysia Development Bhd. funds. The Singaporean leader, who has sued other people for defamation while in office, arrived in court on Tuesday to give evidence and undergo cross-examination. Lee’s lawyers have said the accusations are false and baseless.
The offending words in the post “meant and were understood to mean that the plaintiff was complicit in criminal activity relating to 1MDB,” according to Lee’s opening statement to the court. They “meant and were understood to mean that the plaintiff corruptly used his position as prime minister to help Mr Najib launder 1MDB’s billions,” the statement said, referring to former Malaysian premier Najib Razak.
Taking the stand in court, Lee said when an accusation is made against him as the prime minster, “the government has to take it very seriously. I have to take it very seriously.” He added: “I have to protect my own reputation and standing.” Lee is seeking aggravated damages and an injunction that Leong be prevented from publishing or disseminating the allegations, or other allegations of complicity relating to the embattled Malaysian state fund, according to the Straits Times.
Singapore court orders blogger to pay PM nearly $22,000 for legal costs
Speaker Roy Ngerng, of online blog The Heart Truths, addresses the crowd during a protest against new licensing regulations imposed by the government for online news sites, at Hong Lim Park in Singapore June 8, 2013
A Singapore court has ordered a blogger to pay S$29,000 ($21,700) to Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as legal costs after Lee won a defamation case late last year.
Lee won a High Court defamation case against blogger Roy Ngerng, 33, in November, the first time the city-state's leadersued an online critic.
Ngerng was sued for his blog post in May when he was alleged to have implicated Lee in impropriety in connection with how funds in Singapore's mandatory retirement savings scheme, the Central Provident Fund(CPF), are managed.
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Netizens point out the irony of PM Lee telling world leaders to ‘resolve differences calmly and peacefully’
We should try our best to resolve our differences calmly and peacefully, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the United Nations (UN) event on Tuesday (24 September). The event, Leadership Matters – Relevance of Mahatma Gandhi in the Contemporary World, was hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Gandhi’s birth.
In his speech, PM Lee said that mutual understanding, tolerance and respect can be built only when people start to appreciate the views of others, especially in an increasingly diverse and interconnected world. He said, “Differences are more easily amplified, and people more readily take offence. Tensions and conflicts are prevalent not just between countries, races and religions, but also within them.”
The premier called on other countries to contribute to global efforts, as Singapore has, in promoting respect and mutual understanding.
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Too bad Roy Ngerng isn’t one of PM Lee’s siblings
In addressing the accusations of his siblings in Parliament today, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that he lifted the Whip to allow his People’s Action Party (PAP) MPs to robustly question him because the issue at hand was that of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s legacy; and that the late Mr Lee’s legacy is Singapore and the values Singaporeans hold
He acknowledged that the allegations by his siblings challenge the values of a cohesive, multi-racial, meritocratic, fair and just society, where the same rules apply to everybody. He emphasised that whoever you are, you are not above the law.
But PM Lee seemed to contradict himself that no one is above the law when he had to address questions as to why he has not sued his siblings for defamation over their accusations. He said that he would sue anyone who had made such grave attacks on him, but that suing his siblings was not his preferred choice for the sake of his parents.
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Should Roy Ngerng seek a refund for defamation damages paid to PM Lee?
A lingering question that some may have with the ongoing Lee family saga on social media is whether Mr Lee Hsien Loong, the current Prime Minister of Singapore, will sue his two siblings for making “unfortunate allegations” of him and the “absurd claim” that the PM has political ambitions for his son, Lee Hong Yi. Mr Lee Hsien Yang has even alleged that Ms Ho Ching, wife of PM Lee committed theft by taking documents of late Lee Kuan Yew when he was hospitalised.
Political leaders from the People’s Action Party are known for filing defamation suits against critics, especially political opponents who make allegations. PAP leaders have stated that it is a must for allegers to be sued so that their accusations can be disproven in court.
In 1999, when former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong was asked about his response to those who claim that the judiciary was used to silence critics. He replied:
We want Minister Grace Fu to resign
Roy Ngerng was sued by PM Lee for defamation in 2015. Too bad he isn't a sibling of PM Lee.
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PM Lee caught between a rock and a hard place
What would Lee Kuan Yew have done?
Lee Kuan Yew would never have let an accusation of nepotism or abuse of power for personal gain go unanswered. He would sue the pants whoever dared make any of those allegations. Former Senior Minister Prof S. Jayakumar once explained Lee Kuan Yew’s practice of defamation suits like this:
And now, we have two of Lee Kuan Yew’s children accusing his eldest child, who also happens to be the Prime Minister of Singapore, of nepotism and abusing power for personal gain. PM Lee’s siblings are far more influential than Roy Ngerng. Surely their allegations must be met with an equally, if not more, robust response than Roy Ngerng’s. Surely, if we applied the same principle that Lee Kuan Yew held in similar instances, PM Lee needs to act decisively to publicly prove that those allegations are baseless.
read more
Open official inquiry to clear up all doubts on Lee family saga?
More importantly, is PM Lee going to sue his siblings for defamation? Many before them have been bankrupted for saying far less! I am not suggesting that they be sued. All I am saying is that it shouldn’t be different rules for different folks because that would be acknowledging that cronyism does exist! Something that is bad for stability and government reputation!
Alternatively, is PM Lee’s government going to offer ratification and a full apology to those who have faced the defamation suit before? If he doesn’t take action against his siblings, he will run the risk of tacitly acknowledging that those before them have been wrongfully penalised. Again, something that affects government standing!
Most pressingly, gossip fodder aside, these allegations have raised a very serious issue – that of the misuse of state organs. How are we to tackle this? Should we not have an open official inquiry to get to the bottom of this
read more
RSF - Singapore Press Freedom worsen to 154th because of TRS and Roy Ngerng
Reporters without Borders (RSF) yesterday (April 22) published a damning report on Singapore’s press freedom with specific reference to the political persecution of The Real Singapore and defamation suit against Roy Ngerng. RSF lambaste Singapore’s censorship board, the Media Devlopment Authority (MDA), and the country’s oppressive censorship laws for repressing journalism in Singapore. You may view the official statement here.
“The Media Development Authority Act, the Films Act and the Broadcasting Act empower the Media Development Authority (MDA) to censor journalistic content, including online content. In April 2015, this government agency ordered the closure of The Real Singapore (TRS) news website because of content regarded as overly critical. Two of its alleged contributors were accused of “sedition,” which is punishable by 21 years in prison. Defamation suits are common in the city-state and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has personally brought prosecutions against bloggers.”
Earlier this year, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was awarded S$150,000 in damages for a defamation lawsuit he won in a default judgment against an online blogger who criticised him and his wife for conflict of interests. Lee Hsien Loong is both the Prime Minister and Chairman of the country’s sovereign wealth fund (SWF) company, GIC Pte Ltd. His wife, Ho Ching, is the CEO of Singapore’s other SWF company, Temasek Holdings. The two SWF companies borrow the country’s CPF fund at cheap interest rates as low as 2.5% under legislation approved by the Prime Minister himself, while reaping undisclosed profits from their investment returns.
A Singapore court has ordered a blogger to pay S$29,000 ($21,700) to Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as legal costs after Lee won a defamation case late last year.
Lee won a High Court defamation case against blogger Roy Ngerng, 33, in November, the first time the city-state's leadersued an online critic.
Ngerng was sued for his blog post in May when he was alleged to have implicated Lee in impropriety in connection with how funds in Singapore's mandatory retirement savings scheme, the Central Provident Fund(CPF), are managed.
read more
Netizens point out the irony of PM Lee telling world leaders to ‘resolve differences calmly and peacefully’
We should try our best to resolve our differences calmly and peacefully, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the United Nations (UN) event on Tuesday (24 September). The event, Leadership Matters – Relevance of Mahatma Gandhi in the Contemporary World, was hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Gandhi’s birth.
In his speech, PM Lee said that mutual understanding, tolerance and respect can be built only when people start to appreciate the views of others, especially in an increasingly diverse and interconnected world. He said, “Differences are more easily amplified, and people more readily take offence. Tensions and conflicts are prevalent not just between countries, races and religions, but also within them.”
The premier called on other countries to contribute to global efforts, as Singapore has, in promoting respect and mutual understanding.
read more
Too bad Roy Ngerng isn’t one of PM Lee’s siblings
He acknowledged that the allegations by his siblings challenge the values of a cohesive, multi-racial, meritocratic, fair and just society, where the same rules apply to everybody. He emphasised that whoever you are, you are not above the law.
But PM Lee seemed to contradict himself that no one is above the law when he had to address questions as to why he has not sued his siblings for defamation over their accusations. He said that he would sue anyone who had made such grave attacks on him, but that suing his siblings was not his preferred choice for the sake of his parents.
“In normal circumstances, in fact, in any other imaginable circumstance but this, I would surely sue… But suing my own brother and sister in court would further besmirch my parents’ names.” – PM LeePM Lee has sued several over the years for defamation – the latest being Roy Ngerng in 2015. Responding to reports that PM Lee would not be suing his siblings over the serious allegations that they made, one Facebook page said: “Too bad Roy Ngerng is not one of PM Lee’s siblings”.
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Should Roy Ngerng seek a refund for defamation damages paid to PM Lee?
A lingering question that some may have with the ongoing Lee family saga on social media is whether Mr Lee Hsien Loong, the current Prime Minister of Singapore, will sue his two siblings for making “unfortunate allegations” of him and the “absurd claim” that the PM has political ambitions for his son, Lee Hong Yi. Mr Lee Hsien Yang has even alleged that Ms Ho Ching, wife of PM Lee committed theft by taking documents of late Lee Kuan Yew when he was hospitalised.
Political leaders from the People’s Action Party are known for filing defamation suits against critics, especially political opponents who make allegations. PAP leaders have stated that it is a must for allegers to be sued so that their accusations can be disproven in court.
In 1999, when former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong was asked about his response to those who claim that the judiciary was used to silence critics. He replied:
“That’s nonsense. What are these critics? There are many critics of the PAP in Singapore. They are not all hauled up before the judiciary. Political opponents, so long as they keep within the law, don’t need safeguards. They do not have to appear before the judiciary. But if they’ve defamed us, we have to sue them — because if we don’t, our own integrity will be suspect. We have an understanding that if a minister is defamed and he does not sue, he must leave cabinet. By defamation, I mean if somebody says the minister is on the take or is less than honest. If he does not rebut it, if he does not dare go before the court to be interrogated by the counsel for the other side, there must be some truth in it. If there is no evidence, well, why are you not suing?”read more
We want Minister Grace Fu to resign
Roy Ngerng was sued by PM Lee for defamation in 2015. Too bad he isn't a sibling of PM Lee.
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PM Lee caught between a rock and a hard place
Lee Kuan Yew would never have let an accusation of nepotism or abuse of power for personal gain go unanswered. He would sue the pants whoever dared make any of those allegations. Former Senior Minister Prof S. Jayakumar once explained Lee Kuan Yew’s practice of defamation suits like this:
“He (Lee Kuan Yew) is prepared for a robust criticism of his policies. He can be criticised for foolishness, maybe even for incompetence, for arrogance, but his red line was — not on reputation and integrity. So whether it’s opposition politician or any other source, if you allege his integrity, say corruption for example, he would want to demonstrate that that is a red line … He’s prepared to justify his record… (he wanted) establish a threshold here that you have people of integrity, including himself, in government, in Cabinet and they are prepared to defend the integrity.”Indeed, PM Lee is no stranger to initiating defamation suits. Take Roy Ngerng for example. Roy Ngerng wasn’t someone who was particularly influential nor were the things he wrote widely read. And even those who read his stuff take it with enough salt to give you instant kidney failure. Yet, PM Lee though it necessary to sue Roy Ngerng. Why? Because if PM hadn’t done so, then there is a possibility that some foreign institutions (e.g. governments, MNCs) may actually believe that there is a nugget, however small, of truth in what Roy Ngerng had said.
And now, we have two of Lee Kuan Yew’s children accusing his eldest child, who also happens to be the Prime Minister of Singapore, of nepotism and abusing power for personal gain. PM Lee’s siblings are far more influential than Roy Ngerng. Surely their allegations must be met with an equally, if not more, robust response than Roy Ngerng’s. Surely, if we applied the same principle that Lee Kuan Yew held in similar instances, PM Lee needs to act decisively to publicly prove that those allegations are baseless.
read more
Open official inquiry to clear up all doubts on Lee family saga?
More importantly, is PM Lee going to sue his siblings for defamation? Many before them have been bankrupted for saying far less! I am not suggesting that they be sued. All I am saying is that it shouldn’t be different rules for different folks because that would be acknowledging that cronyism does exist! Something that is bad for stability and government reputation!
Alternatively, is PM Lee’s government going to offer ratification and a full apology to those who have faced the defamation suit before? If he doesn’t take action against his siblings, he will run the risk of tacitly acknowledging that those before them have been wrongfully penalised. Again, something that affects government standing!
Most pressingly, gossip fodder aside, these allegations have raised a very serious issue – that of the misuse of state organs. How are we to tackle this? Should we not have an open official inquiry to get to the bottom of this
read more
RSF - Singapore Press Freedom worsen to 154th because of TRS and Roy Ngerng
Reporters without Borders (RSF) yesterday (April 22) published a damning report on Singapore’s press freedom with specific reference to the political persecution of The Real Singapore and defamation suit against Roy Ngerng. RSF lambaste Singapore’s censorship board, the Media Devlopment Authority (MDA), and the country’s oppressive censorship laws for repressing journalism in Singapore. You may view the official statement here.
“The Media Development Authority Act, the Films Act and the Broadcasting Act empower the Media Development Authority (MDA) to censor journalistic content, including online content. In April 2015, this government agency ordered the closure of The Real Singapore (TRS) news website because of content regarded as overly critical. Two of its alleged contributors were accused of “sedition,” which is punishable by 21 years in prison. Defamation suits are common in the city-state and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has personally brought prosecutions against bloggers.”
Earlier this year, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was awarded S$150,000 in damages for a defamation lawsuit he won in a default judgment against an online blogger who criticised him and his wife for conflict of interests. Lee Hsien Loong is both the Prime Minister and Chairman of the country’s sovereign wealth fund (SWF) company, GIC Pte Ltd. His wife, Ho Ching, is the CEO of Singapore’s other SWF company, Temasek Holdings. The two SWF companies borrow the country’s CPF fund at cheap interest rates as low as 2.5% under legislation approved by the Prime Minister himself, while reaping undisclosed profits from their investment returns.
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Singapore: decision against blogger Roy Ngerng constitutes a huge setback for freedom of expression in the country
The decision of the High Court of Singapore ordering blogger Roy Ngerng to pay damages to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong following a civil defamation suit brought in 2014 constitutes a major blow for freedom of expression in the country, said the ICJ today.
In a judgment released on 17 December 2015, the High Court ordered Roy Ngerng to pay SG$100,000 in general damages (approximately US$70,667) and SG$50,000 (approximately US$35,330) in aggravated damages.
This decision comes approximately six months after a three-day hearing on assessment of damages took place.
Singapore court order CPF blogger to pay Lee Hsien Loong S$150,000
The Singapore High court today (Dec 17) ordered CPF blogger Roy Ngerng to pay Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong S$150,000 for defamation. Roy Ngerng was found guilty in Oct 2014 for defaming Lee Hsien Loong in a default judgment, where there is no fair trial and contest over what’s defamatory.
The article which the Prime Minister took offense was the one that drew similarities between Lee Hsien Loong’s PM position and his doomed investor wife’s, the CEO of the country’s sovereign wealth fund company Temasek Holdings, and the round tripping fraud Pastor Kong Hee of City Harvest Church used to siphon church funds to fund his wife’s doomed singing career.
Other unrelated articles pertaining to CPF matters are also ordered to be taken down, which the Prime Minister claimed was defamatory as well.
Catherine Lim writes an open letter to PM Lee Hsien Loong
IN VICTORY, MAGNANIMITY, NOT RECRIMINATION: AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER
Sir, It was with much dismay that I read the report ‘Blogger ordered to pay PM 150k in damages’ in the Straits Times of 18 December 2015. I was less struck by the specifics of a court case that Singaporeans must have been following with great interest over the months – the standpoints taken by the contending parties, the various judicial processes, the assessment of damages to be paid to the plaintiff – than by one stark fact: once again, Sir, your powerful government is putting to use its most powerful instrument for silencing critics, namely, the defamation suit.
This dreaded instrument that had been created in a past era to punish political opponents specifically and instil fear in the people generally, could not have appeared at a more inappropriate time. For this is supposedly a period of sweeping change and new connection with the people, following the PAP’s resounding victory in a highly fraught general election. Charged with new energy, the government has been engaged in a massive exercise of goodwill and generous giving to the people, firstly to consolidate and strengthen the support that they had given in the election, and secondly, to lead them, during this crucial period of transition, into a new era of PAP leadership that promises to be even better connected with their needs and aspirations.
In such a celebratory climate of amity and unity, the continuing use of a political tool that Singaporeans have come to associate with the least attractive, nay, the most repulsive aspect of PAP rule, must surely inject a discordant note. What does all this mean?
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Catherine Lim writes an open letter to PM Lee Hsien Loong
The usual PAP rejoinder in the past to any criticism of its harsh treatment of critics – “We cannot allow anyone to undermine trust in the government” – cannot be very convincing at a time when the landslide victory has given firm assurance of that trust and probably even ensured permanent PAP entrenchment in the political landscape.
Indeed, the electoral victory of September 2015, with its warm afterglow that the PAP is still basking in , surely calls for the exact opposite of recrimination and punishment, namely, magnanimity. This special kind of response is all the more to be urged when the power differential between the victor and the loser – in this case, between the mighty PAP and a low-standing, obscure young person – is, without doubt, maximal.
Magnanimity, whether pertaining to an ordinary individual or the highest governing authority, can manifest itself in a variety of forms along a wide spectrum of responses, from simple withdrawal of all threat of punishment, to open forgiveness, to the nobility of actually stretching out a helping hand to the adversary.
Judge becomes social media expert for a day and analyse the influence of Roy Ngerng
Justice Lee: "The words of a dishevelled tramp in a street corner would be far less capable of causing damage than that of the CEO of a multi-national company."
CPF blogger Roy Ngerng, 34, was ordered by the Supreme Court to pay S$150,000 in damages to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for defamation. This comprises S$100,000 in general damages and S$50,000 in aggravated damages.
S$150,000 in damages is considered low in the history of defamation law suits by political leaders in Singapore.
For instance, the late JB Jeyaretnam lost defamation a suit over a Workers’ Party (WP) article in 1998 and was ordered to pay $265,000 (not adjusted for inflation).
CPF blogger Roy Ngerng, 34, was ordered by the Supreme Court to pay S$150,000 in damages to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for defamation. This comprises S$100,000 in general damages and S$50,000 in aggravated damages.
S$150,000 in damages is considered low in the history of defamation law suits by political leaders in Singapore.
For instance, the late JB Jeyaretnam lost defamation a suit over a Workers’ Party (WP) article in 1998 and was ordered to pay $265,000 (not adjusted for inflation).
Roy Ngerng says sorry to PM Lee again, removes portion of article that spreads libel
Blogger Roy Ngerng, who has been found to have defamed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, issued another apology to PM Lee on his blog just after midnight on Friday.
This apology came hours after a heated court hearing to assess damages Mr Ngerng has to pay Mr Lee, during which Mr Lee's lawyer, Senior Counsel Davinder Singh, pointed out that Mr Ngerng's act of republishing a letter of demand on his blog had amounted to perpetrating the defamatory content.
This was because the letter had included phrases from the libellous article, as well as hyperlinks to third-party websites on which the article was reproduced in its entirety.
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Full Coverage:
Straits Times: Exchanges in court
Channel News Asia: Final day of hearing to assess damages Roy must pay PM Lee
Straits Times: The case in two minutes: Lee Hsien Loong vs Roy Ngerng
TODAYonline: Cases against bloggers dominate dialogue with PM
Channel News Asia: Hearing to assess damages Roy Ngerng must pay PM Lee
The Online Citizen: Roy Ngerng in the witness box – trial titbits
The Online Citizen: Ngerng out to hurt PM, twist the knife: Davinder Singh
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Suing a poor man
Civil litigation in Singapore is expensive. Commencing a law suit in the High Court entails a minimum court fee of $500. An application for summary judgement costs $500 and every affidavit attracts a minimum fee of $50 with each page of an exhibit incurring another $2. In addition, electronic filing fees with service charge have to be paid.
Everyone is entitled to sue if he feels aggrieved by someone. And anyone sued can defend himself if he feels that he is wronged. The court where one seeks justice is open to all and judges and all the court staff are paid by taxpayers. Accessibility to the courts is guaranteed to all who have the money to pay the required fees set out in the Rules of Court and electronic filing charges.
But court fees are not the only costs that one should consider before commencing an action. Lawyers too have to be paid unless they offer their services pro bono or free. And lawyers’ fees do not come cheap in Singapore. A litigant has to pay the lawyer he engages and if he loses his claim, he has also to pay the lawyers of his opponents. As can be seen in the case of PM Lee Hsien Loong vs Roy Ngerng, the latter was ordered to pay $29,000 to PM Lee’s lawyers when they won the application for summary judgement. In addition, Roy Ngerng has also to pay S$6,000 for an unsuccessful application for the admission of a Queen’s Counsel.
read more
Judge on why request for QC rejected
Blogger Roy Ngerng's court case for defaming the Prime Minister may attract "popular" interest, but this did not make it one involving "public" interest.
The concepts are different, said Justice Steven Chong in decision grounds released yesterday on why he refused Mr Ngerng's request to hire a Queen's Counsel.
After a court ruled last November that he had defamed PM Lee Hsien Loong, the 34-year-old blogger applied for British QC Heather Rogers, an expert in defamation law, to represent him in a hearing to assess how much damages he has to pay.
read more
Full coverage:
rappler: Singapore activist ordered to pay PM $22,000 in legal costs
Jakarta Globe: S'pore Court Orders Blogger to Pay PM $22000 for Legal Costs
ABS CBN News: Singapore activist ordered to pay PM USD22,000
ABS CBN News: Singapore activist ordered to pay PM USD22,000
JURIST: Singapore court orders blogger to pay PM court cost in defamation suit
Zee News: Blogger asked to pay Singapore PM court proceeding costs
Zee News: Blogger asked to pay Singapore PM court proceeding costs
Xinhua: Singapore blogger ordered to pay PM 29000 SGD in defamation lawsuit
Star Online: Singapore court orders blogger to pay PM nearly $22000 for legal costs
Malay Mail: Blogger told to pay Singapore prime minister's legal cost
Straits Times: High Court orders Roy Ngerng to pay PM Lee $29000 in costs
AsiaOne: Roy Ngerng ordered to pay PM Lee $29000; PM reiterates readiness
Channel News Asia: Blogger ordered to pay PM Lee S$29000
TODAYonline: Blogger Roy Ngerng ordered to pay PM Lee S$29000 in total costs
Mr Roy Ngerng, 33, speaking at the recent Labour Day protest at Hong Lim Park on May 1. He has been asked to remove a blog post in which he alleges that CPF funds have been "misappropriated". -- ST FILE PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
A blogger is facing legal action for alleging that CPF funds have been "misappropriated".
In a letter of demand sent through his lawyer to Mr Roy Ngerng of the website The Heart Truths, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called for the blog post to be removed from Mr Ngerng's website and his Facebook pages.
If he fails to do so, he could be sued for defamation.
read more
Singapore blogger offers PM compensation for defamatory post
A Singaporean blogger accused by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of defamation today offered compensation after initially refusing to do so, as the premier’s lawyer accused him of lacking contrition.
“Our client proposes to offer Sg$5,000 (US$4,000) as damages to the Prime Minister,” Roy Ngerng Yi Ling’s legal counsel M. Ravi said in a letter to Lee’s lawyer.
“The sum of Sg$5,000 is based on our client’s modest living and income that he derives from working as a healthcare worker,” Ravi wrote in the letter, released to the media.
read more
PM Lee rejects blogger's appeal not to claim damages, legal costs in defamation case
PM Lee Hsien Loong has rejected an appeal not to demand for damages and legal costs from blogger Roy Ngerng, according to his lawyer Senior Counsel Davinder Singh said in a letter on Friday.
Ngerng now has until 5pm next Monday to send in a written offer failing which legal proceedings will be started against him.
Earlier on Friday, Ngerng “unreservedly” apologized for a blogpost written last week which was considered defamatory to PM Lee. But the blogger's lawyer M Ravi dismissed the demand for compensation, while urging Lee not to seek damages.
read more
Blogger Roy Ngerng takes down blog post about PM Lee
Roy Ngerng Yi Ling speaking during a three-hour protest rally at Speakers’ Corner in Hong Lim Park on 8 June 2013. Blogger Roy Ngerng has removed a blog post accusing the Government of "misappropriating" CPF funds, a day after he was asked to do so by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's lawyer. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Blogger Roy Ngerng has removed a blog post accusing the Government of "misappropriating" CPF funds, a day after he was asked to do so by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's lawyer.
The health-care worker said he took down the blog post on Monday night, but is still deciding how he should respond to a letter of demand sent to him from Mr Lee's lawyer.
Mr Ngerng said on Tuesday his lawyer M. Ravi would be meeting with Mr Lee's lawyers to discuss the issue.
read more
MULTIPLE BUS STOPS VANDALIZED WITH CPF MESSAGES
read more
Vandalism of six bus stops in Clarke Quay under probe
One of the bus stops in the Clarke Quay area that were vandalised. The police confirmed that a report was lodged early last Friday. It is understood that LTA contractors were dispatched by mid-afternoon to clean up the affected areas. -- PHOTO: TNP
The police are investigating a string of vandalism acts by apparent supporters of blogger Roy Ngerng, who was last week served a letter of demand for a post on May 15 alleging that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had misappropriated Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings.
Mr Ngerng apologised to PM Lee last Friday, and admitted that the allegation in his May 15 post is false and "completely without foundation".
He added: "I unreservedly apologise to Mr Lee Hsien Loong for the distress and embarrassment caused to him by this allegation."
read more
Blogger Roy Ngerng submits bid for Nominated Member of Parliament position
Yahoo Newsroom - Blogger Roy Ngerng stands outside Singapore's Parliament building with his NMP proposal in hand. (Photo courtesy of Roy Ngerng)
Political blogger Roy Ngerng on Wednesday morning announced a surprise bid for a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) position.
Taking to his Facebook page, the 33-year-old healthcare programme co-ordinator posted a picture of himself holding his proposal outside Parliament House, saying, "Looking forward to representing the voices of Singaporeans in Parliament. If I get selected!"
The proposal, he said, was submitted by fellow blogger and activist Han Hui Hui, who previously took on Singapore's Council for Private Education over issues relating to private schools she attended.
read more
PM Lee demands apology and compensation from blogger
PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong has demanded an apology and compensation from blogger Roy Ngerng Yi Ling, 33, for a post that alleges Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings have been "misappropriated", and alludes to wrongdoing by the Government.
Mr Lee, in a letter of demand sent via his lawyer, also wants Mr Ngerng to remove the post from his blog called The Heart Truths and two Facebook pages.
If Mr Ngerng does not comply by tomorrow, he will be sued for defamation. Yesterday, he put the letter up on his blog.
read more
Singapore PM demands apology from blogger
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has demanded an apology from a local blogger for a posting seen as accusing him of corruption, Lee's lawyer said.
Lawyer Davinder Singh wrote to Roy Ngerng Yi Ling on Sunday asking him to take down the original article as well as the links posted on his Facebook pages and to post an apology by Wednesday.
Singh said the allegations by Ngerng in his May 15 blog post were "false and baseless".
read more
Singapore PM wants apology from blogger for corruption charge
Roy Ngerng had on his website, The Heart Truths, posted a blog titled "Where your CPF Money Is Going: Learning From The City Harvest Trial."
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has sent a legal notice to a local blogger, demanding the removal of an article accusing him of corruption which had been "published maliciously", local media reported. Roy Ngerng had on his website, The Heart Truths, posted a blog titled "Where your CPF Money Is Going: Learning From The City Harvest Trial", which is understood to mean that Lee "is guilty of criminal misappropriation of the monies paid in the Central Provident Fund (CPF)".
CPF is compulsory contribution from local workers and employers to a providential fund for the workers. The City Harvest Trial refers to a local church related fund management case in Singapore court. "This is a false and baseless allegation and constitutes a very serious libel against our client, disparages him and impugns his character, credit and integrity," the notice dated May 18 stated.
The notice was issued by Senior Counsel Davinder Singh of Drew & Napier law firm, acting on behalf of Lee. Lee wants Ngerng to immediately remove the blogpost, publish an apology on the homepage of his blog for as long as the offending blog post was left online, and pay compensation for damages and legal costs.
read more
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has demanded an apology from a local blogger for a posting seen as accusing him of corruption, Lee's lawyer said.
Lawyer Davinder Singh wrote to Roy Ngerng Yi Ling on Sunday asking him to take down the original article as well as the links posted on his Facebook pages and to post an apology by Wednesday.
Mr Singh said the allegations by Ngerng in his May 15 blog post were "false and baseless".
read more
Blogger Roy Ngerng Yi Ling has been served with a letter of demand by lawyers for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
The letter from Senior Counsel Davinder Singh, of Drew and Napier LLC, who is acting on PM Lee’s behalf, points to an article Mr Ngerng had written and published on 15 May.
The article was titled, “Where Your CPF Money Is Going: Learning From The City Harvest Trial”.
read more
Singapore PM demands that blogger delete 'false' graft accusations and apologise
But writer says he is 'being sued' for posting about the need for greater accountability and transparency on wealth fund
Singh said the allegations by Ngerng in his May 15 blog post were “false and baseless”.
“The article means and is understood to mean that Mr Lee Hsien Loong, the Prime Minister of Singapore and the chairman of GIC, is guilty of criminal misappropriation of the monies paid by Singaporeans to the CPF (Central Provident Fund),” Singh wrote in the letter.
GIC is a sovereign wealth fund that manages more than US$100 billion of the city-state’s foreign reserves. CPF is the state pension fund.
read more
Singapore PM demands retraction and apology from blogger Ngerng
Healthcare worker Ngerng, 33, regularly posts commentaries critical of the long-ruling People's Action Party (PAP) in his blog The Heart Truths.
Recent posts have called for greater transparency on how CPF funds are invested by the government through GIC and state investment firm Temasek Holdings.
“My articles have been calling for greater accountability and transparency, and instead of acknowledging these issues, the prime minister has decided to sue me,” Ngerng told AFP.
read more
OPEN LETTER TO PM LEE: LEGAL ACTION NOT NECESSARY TO RESOLVE ISSUE, ONLY BAD PR
Dear PM Lee, I am shocked to learn that blogger Roy Ngerng has been served with a letter of demand by PM Lee’s lawyer on 18 May.
Since Roy has alleged that CPF funds have been misappropriated, the government could have set the record straight with an INDEPENDENT audit of CPF Board and the GIC. The reason why speculation is rife is due to the opacity in the management of our CPF savings.
What PM Lee should have done was simply inform Roy of the ‘serious mistake’ in his article to have it removed. This would have put PM Lee in a good light should legal action be subsequently required.
related:
ROY NGERNG: M RAVI WILL BE REPRESENTING ME FOR THIS CASE
PRIME MINISTER DEMANDS THAT BLOGGER PAYS HIS LEGAL FEES
read more
Roy versus PM: Blog with your Head not with your Heart
I was surprised to read that Roy Ng, who blogs at http://thehearttruths.com/, was served with a letter of demand from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong via his legal attack dog – Senior Counsel (SC) Davinder Singh. The letter is reproduced below (Ed: see Link).
I did say I was surprised, although naturally legal letters and lawsuits have always been ‘par for the course’ in Singapore politics. Many people have formed the view that the ruling party (PAP) have used this ‘tried and tested method’ to silence its’ critics. The PAP and its supporters of course take the opposite view – lawsuits and the like are necessary tools to ensure that the truth gets out and irresponsible and inaccurate speeches, words, statements and writings are exposed and those behind it made to stop or brought to their knees.
In fact Lee Kuan Yew earned his moniker ‘The Hatchet Man’ because he unashamedly said that he ‘carried a hatchet in his bag’ and would not hesitate to use it against those he perceived were out to destroy the PAP, in this instance to then Workers Party chief – J B Jeyaretnam.
related:
Who the hell is Roy Ngerng?
PM Lee sends letter of demand to blogger Roy Ngerng
read more
Blogger Roy Ngerng: I Just Got Sued By PM Lee Hsien Loong for Defamation
Hello everyone, I am Roy Ngerng. I am an ordinary citizen in Singapore who believes in speaking up for my country and my fellow citizens. Over the past 2 years, I have written nearly 400 articles about what is happening in Singapore. I have advocated for a fairer and more equal Singapore where every Singapore and every person in Singapore can be taken care of and protected by our country. As of today, there have been nearly 2 million views on my blog.
Today, I received an email from Lee Hsien Loong’s lawyer. I am being sued for defamation. I have tried my best to speak up for my country. I have tried my best to advocate for my fellow citizens. However, today, I am sued by the very government which should be protecting its citizens, such as me. This is disappointing.
I have reproduced the letter that has been sent to me in this blog. The letter was sent by Davinder Singh from Drew & Napier.
related:
Best for Roy Ngerng to thrash it out in open court?
Roy Ngerng: With your support, I will stand up and challenge the Gov
read more
– 5 Stars & a Moon: How else could PM have handled Roy “Sexispider” Ngerng?
– Thoughts of a Cynical Investor: Roy’s a real S’porean
– Insight of Me: Hard Truths of Roy Ngerng’s Case
– Jeremy Chen’s Website: Defamation 2.0: A New “Truth Seeking” Process
– SpotlightOnSingapore: PM Lee to blame: defamation suit against Roy Ngerng
– Food Fuels Me To Talk: Questions for Roy Ngerng
– SignsOfStruggle: PM Lee’s strong suit shows 3 weaknesses
– TOC: Crossroads for a more open and engaged media environment
– Balancing The Sentiment: Freedom of speech has its limits
– The Skinny: Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics
– SG Hard Truth: Roy Ngerng is unwilling to defend his own work
– SpotlightOnSg: PM Lee’s defamation suit against blogger Roy Ngerng
– Askmelah: Yet another blogger being threaten to be sued by the PAP leaders
– Likedatosocanmeh: Legal action not necessary to resolve issue, bad PR
– Dewdrop Notes 露语: Bossy Aunties & Daring Bloggers
– Sam’s thoughts: Take a chance on him?
– The New Era: Let’s play spot the difference again
– MalaysianDigest: Singapore PM Lee Demands Apology From Blogger
– NewStraitsTimes: Singapore PM demands apology from blogger
– MySinChew: Singapore PM demands apology from blogger
– TOC: PM Lee issues letter of demand to blogger over CPF article
– Guanyinmiao’s Musings: Heart Truths
– EverythingAlsoComplain: Roy Ngerng defaming PM Lee in Heart Truths blog
– Anyhow Hantam: Roy Ng v the PM: Blog with your Head not with your Heart
– Blogging for Myself: PM Lee sues blogger Roy Ngerng
– Small steps for Social PR: The Itsy Sexi Spider Did Climb The “Sue Me” Spout
– My Singapore News: Roy Ngerng being sued by Hsien Loong
– Wise Mental King: Why serving Roy Ngerng a letter of demand is politically costly
– Signs of Struggle: PM Lee’s strong suit shows 3 weaknesses
– 2econdsight: PM Lee Sues Young Citizen Ngerng
– Just Speaking My Mind: Roy Ngerng Blogger Sued by PM Lee
– SG HardTruth: Roy Ngerng, You can’t just happily slap without expecting slap back
– Marry Thai Girl Singapore: Roy Ngerng Received a Lawyer’s Letter from Mr. Lee
– Jeremy Chen: It's important to be fair to the plaintiff in this latest “defamation case”
read more
related:
Star Online: Singapore court orders blogger to pay PM nearly $22000 for legal costs
Malay Mail: Blogger told to pay Singapore prime minister's legal cost
Straits Times: High Court orders Roy Ngerng to pay PM Lee $29000 in costs
AsiaOne: Roy Ngerng ordered to pay PM Lee $29000; PM reiterates readiness
Channel News Asia: Blogger ordered to pay PM Lee S$29000
TODAYonline: Blogger Roy Ngerng ordered to pay PM Lee S$29000 in total costs
Blogger asked to remove defamatory post about PM Lee
A blogger is facing legal action for alleging that CPF funds have been "misappropriated".
In a letter of demand sent through his lawyer to Mr Roy Ngerng of the website The Heart Truths, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called for the blog post to be removed from Mr Ngerng's website and his Facebook pages.
If he fails to do so, he could be sued for defamation.
read more
Singapore blogger offers PM compensation for defamatory post
A Singaporean blogger accused by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of defamation today offered compensation after initially refusing to do so, as the premier’s lawyer accused him of lacking contrition.
“Our client proposes to offer Sg$5,000 (US$4,000) as damages to the Prime Minister,” Roy Ngerng Yi Ling’s legal counsel M. Ravi said in a letter to Lee’s lawyer.
“The sum of Sg$5,000 is based on our client’s modest living and income that he derives from working as a healthcare worker,” Ravi wrote in the letter, released to the media.
read more
PM Lee rejects blogger's appeal not to claim damages, legal costs in defamation case
PM Lee Hsien Loong has rejected an appeal not to demand for damages and legal costs from blogger Roy Ngerng, according to his lawyer Senior Counsel Davinder Singh said in a letter on Friday.
Ngerng now has until 5pm next Monday to send in a written offer failing which legal proceedings will be started against him.
Earlier on Friday, Ngerng “unreservedly” apologized for a blogpost written last week which was considered defamatory to PM Lee. But the blogger's lawyer M Ravi dismissed the demand for compensation, while urging Lee not to seek damages.
read more
Blogger Roy Ngerng takes down blog post about PM Lee
Blogger Roy Ngerng has removed a blog post accusing the Government of "misappropriating" CPF funds, a day after he was asked to do so by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's lawyer.
The health-care worker said he took down the blog post on Monday night, but is still deciding how he should respond to a letter of demand sent to him from Mr Lee's lawyer.
Mr Ngerng said on Tuesday his lawyer M. Ravi would be meeting with Mr Lee's lawyers to discuss the issue.
read more
MULTIPLE BUS STOPS VANDALIZED WITH CPF MESSAGES
A string of vandalism cases has been occurring around Singapore with bus stops defaced with CPF related messages.
An image of one such vandalised bus stop was circulating online yesterday showing a clear screen advertising space at the Old Hill Street Police Station vandalized:
The message read "We Support CPF Blogger. Return our CPF Money From R/AC 'N' M/AC"
read more
Vandalism of six bus stops in Clarke Quay under probe
One of the bus stops in the Clarke Quay area that were vandalised. The police confirmed that a report was lodged early last Friday. It is understood that LTA contractors were dispatched by mid-afternoon to clean up the affected areas. -- PHOTO: TNP
The police are investigating a string of vandalism acts by apparent supporters of blogger Roy Ngerng, who was last week served a letter of demand for a post on May 15 alleging that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had misappropriated Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings.
Mr Ngerng apologised to PM Lee last Friday, and admitted that the allegation in his May 15 post is false and "completely without foundation".
He added: "I unreservedly apologise to Mr Lee Hsien Loong for the distress and embarrassment caused to him by this allegation."
read more
Blogger Roy Ngerng submits bid for Nominated Member of Parliament position
Political blogger Roy Ngerng on Wednesday morning announced a surprise bid for a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) position.
Taking to his Facebook page, the 33-year-old healthcare programme co-ordinator posted a picture of himself holding his proposal outside Parliament House, saying, "Looking forward to representing the voices of Singaporeans in Parliament. If I get selected!"
The proposal, he said, was submitted by fellow blogger and activist Han Hui Hui, who previously took on Singapore's Council for Private Education over issues relating to private schools she attended.
read more
PM Lee demands apology and compensation from blogger
PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong has demanded an apology and compensation from blogger Roy Ngerng Yi Ling, 33, for a post that alleges Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings have been "misappropriated", and alludes to wrongdoing by the Government.
Mr Lee, in a letter of demand sent via his lawyer, also wants Mr Ngerng to remove the post from his blog called The Heart Truths and two Facebook pages.
If Mr Ngerng does not comply by tomorrow, he will be sued for defamation. Yesterday, he put the letter up on his blog.
read more
Singapore PM demands apology from blogger
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has demanded an apology from a local blogger for a posting seen as accusing him of corruption, Lee's lawyer said.
Lawyer Davinder Singh wrote to Roy Ngerng Yi Ling on Sunday asking him to take down the original article as well as the links posted on his Facebook pages and to post an apology by Wednesday.
Singh said the allegations by Ngerng in his May 15 blog post were "false and baseless".
read more
Singapore PM wants apology from blogger for corruption charge
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has sent a legal notice to a local blogger, demanding the removal of an article accusing him of corruption which had been "published maliciously", local media reported. Roy Ngerng had on his website, The Heart Truths, posted a blog titled "Where your CPF Money Is Going: Learning From The City Harvest Trial", which is understood to mean that Lee "is guilty of criminal misappropriation of the monies paid in the Central Provident Fund (CPF)".
CPF is compulsory contribution from local workers and employers to a providential fund for the workers. The City Harvest Trial refers to a local church related fund management case in Singapore court. "This is a false and baseless allegation and constitutes a very serious libel against our client, disparages him and impugns his character, credit and integrity," the notice dated May 18 stated.
The notice was issued by Senior Counsel Davinder Singh of Drew & Napier law firm, acting on behalf of Lee. Lee wants Ngerng to immediately remove the blogpost, publish an apology on the homepage of his blog for as long as the offending blog post was left online, and pay compensation for damages and legal costs.
read more
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Demands Apology from Blogger
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has demanded an apology from a local blogger for a posting seen as accusing him of corruption, Lee's lawyer said.
Lawyer Davinder Singh wrote to Roy Ngerng Yi Ling on Sunday asking him to take down the original article as well as the links posted on his Facebook pages and to post an apology by Wednesday.
Mr Singh said the allegations by Ngerng in his May 15 blog post were "false and baseless".
read more
PM Lee issues letter of demand to blogger over CPF article
Blogger Roy Ngerng Yi Ling has been served with a letter of demand by lawyers for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
The letter from Senior Counsel Davinder Singh, of Drew and Napier LLC, who is acting on PM Lee’s behalf, points to an article Mr Ngerng had written and published on 15 May.
The article was titled, “Where Your CPF Money Is Going: Learning From The City Harvest Trial”.
read more
Singapore PM demands that blogger delete 'false' graft accusations and apologise
Singh said the allegations by Ngerng in his May 15 blog post were “false and baseless”.
“The article means and is understood to mean that Mr Lee Hsien Loong, the Prime Minister of Singapore and the chairman of GIC, is guilty of criminal misappropriation of the monies paid by Singaporeans to the CPF (Central Provident Fund),” Singh wrote in the letter.
GIC is a sovereign wealth fund that manages more than US$100 billion of the city-state’s foreign reserves. CPF is the state pension fund.
read more
Singapore PM demands retraction and apology from blogger Ngerng
Healthcare worker Ngerng, 33, regularly posts commentaries critical of the long-ruling People's Action Party (PAP) in his blog The Heart Truths.
Recent posts have called for greater transparency on how CPF funds are invested by the government through GIC and state investment firm Temasek Holdings.
“My articles have been calling for greater accountability and transparency, and instead of acknowledging these issues, the prime minister has decided to sue me,” Ngerng told AFP.
read more
OPEN LETTER TO PM LEE: LEGAL ACTION NOT NECESSARY TO RESOLVE ISSUE, ONLY BAD PR
Dear PM Lee, I am shocked to learn that blogger Roy Ngerng has been served with a letter of demand by PM Lee’s lawyer on 18 May.
Since Roy has alleged that CPF funds have been misappropriated, the government could have set the record straight with an INDEPENDENT audit of CPF Board and the GIC. The reason why speculation is rife is due to the opacity in the management of our CPF savings.
What PM Lee should have done was simply inform Roy of the ‘serious mistake’ in his article to have it removed. This would have put PM Lee in a good light should legal action be subsequently required.
related:
ROY NGERNG: M RAVI WILL BE REPRESENTING ME FOR THIS CASE
PRIME MINISTER DEMANDS THAT BLOGGER PAYS HIS LEGAL FEES
read more
Roy versus PM: Blog with your Head not with your Heart
I was surprised to read that Roy Ng, who blogs at http://thehearttruths.com/, was served with a letter of demand from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong via his legal attack dog – Senior Counsel (SC) Davinder Singh. The letter is reproduced below (Ed: see Link).
I did say I was surprised, although naturally legal letters and lawsuits have always been ‘par for the course’ in Singapore politics. Many people have formed the view that the ruling party (PAP) have used this ‘tried and tested method’ to silence its’ critics. The PAP and its supporters of course take the opposite view – lawsuits and the like are necessary tools to ensure that the truth gets out and irresponsible and inaccurate speeches, words, statements and writings are exposed and those behind it made to stop or brought to their knees.
In fact Lee Kuan Yew earned his moniker ‘The Hatchet Man’ because he unashamedly said that he ‘carried a hatchet in his bag’ and would not hesitate to use it against those he perceived were out to destroy the PAP, in this instance to then Workers Party chief – J B Jeyaretnam.
related:
Who the hell is Roy Ngerng?
PM Lee sends letter of demand to blogger Roy Ngerng
read more
Blogger Roy Ngerng: I Just Got Sued By PM Lee Hsien Loong for Defamation
Hello everyone, I am Roy Ngerng. I am an ordinary citizen in Singapore who believes in speaking up for my country and my fellow citizens. Over the past 2 years, I have written nearly 400 articles about what is happening in Singapore. I have advocated for a fairer and more equal Singapore where every Singapore and every person in Singapore can be taken care of and protected by our country. As of today, there have been nearly 2 million views on my blog.
Today, I received an email from Lee Hsien Loong’s lawyer. I am being sued for defamation. I have tried my best to speak up for my country. I have tried my best to advocate for my fellow citizens. However, today, I am sued by the very government which should be protecting its citizens, such as me. This is disappointing.
I have reproduced the letter that has been sent to me in this blog. The letter was sent by Davinder Singh from Drew & Napier.
related:
Best for Roy Ngerng to thrash it out in open court?
Roy Ngerng: With your support, I will stand up and challenge the Gov
read more
PM Lee threatens to sue blogger Roy Ngerng for defamation
The Heart Truths, 19 May 2014
Today, I received an email from Lee Hsien Loong’s lawyer. I am being sued for defamation. I have tried my best to speak up for my country. I have tried my best to advocate for my fellow citizens. However, today, I am sued by the very government which should be protecting its citizens, such as me. This is disappointing.
I have reproduced the letter that has been sent to me in this blog. The letter was sent by Davinder Singh from Drew & Napier.
Related:
Today, I received an email from Lee Hsien Loong’s lawyer. I am being sued for defamation. I have tried my best to speak up for my country. I have tried my best to advocate for my fellow citizens. However, today, I am sued by the very government which should be protecting its citizens, such as me. This is disappointing.
I have reproduced the letter that has been sent to me in this blog. The letter was sent by Davinder Singh from Drew & Napier.
Related:
The Heart Truths of Libel Suits
– Anyhow Hantam: Is Asylum the Ulterior Motive for Roy Ng Defaming the PM?
– CW Fong & Associates: Roy Ngerng, PM Lee and the Coup in Thailand
– Singapore Ideas: Online defamation
– Reflections of a disciple: Thinking about the case of CPF minimum sum
– Life of a simple boy: CPF and Roy
– Limpeh Is Foreign Talent: Limpeh reflects on Roy Ngerng’s situation
– A Load of Fish: Roy Ngerng vs PM Lee
– Bertha Harian: Why can’t people be more polite?
– Mr. Miyagi: The CPF And How To Pronounce Roy Ngerng’s Surname
– Anyhow Hantam: Roy now wants to be a Nominated MP. Good or Bad Idea?
– Thoughts of a Cynical Investor: Roy’s a real S’porean
– Insight of Me: Hard Truths of Roy Ngerng’s Case
– Jeremy Chen’s Website: Defamation 2.0: A New “Truth Seeking” Process
– SpotlightOnSingapore: PM Lee to blame: defamation suit against Roy Ngerng
– Food Fuels Me To Talk: Questions for Roy Ngerng
– SignsOfStruggle: PM Lee’s strong suit shows 3 weaknesses
– TOC: Crossroads for a more open and engaged media environment
– Balancing The Sentiment: Freedom of speech has its limits
– The Skinny: Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics
– SG Hard Truth: Roy Ngerng is unwilling to defend his own work
– SpotlightOnSg: PM Lee’s defamation suit against blogger Roy Ngerng
– Askmelah: Yet another blogger being threaten to be sued by the PAP leaders
– Likedatosocanmeh: Legal action not necessary to resolve issue, bad PR
– Dewdrop Notes 露语: Bossy Aunties & Daring Bloggers
– Sam’s thoughts: Take a chance on him?
– The New Era: Let’s play spot the difference again
– MalaysianDigest: Singapore PM Lee Demands Apology From Blogger
– NewStraitsTimes: Singapore PM demands apology from blogger
– MySinChew: Singapore PM demands apology from blogger
– TOC: PM Lee issues letter of demand to blogger over CPF article
– Guanyinmiao’s Musings: Heart Truths
– EverythingAlsoComplain: Roy Ngerng defaming PM Lee in Heart Truths blog
– Anyhow Hantam: Roy Ng v the PM: Blog with your Head not with your Heart
– Blogging for Myself: PM Lee sues blogger Roy Ngerng
– Small steps for Social PR: The Itsy Sexi Spider Did Climb The “Sue Me” Spout
– My Singapore News: Roy Ngerng being sued by Hsien Loong
– Wise Mental King: Why serving Roy Ngerng a letter of demand is politically costly
– Signs of Struggle: PM Lee’s strong suit shows 3 weaknesses
– 2econdsight: PM Lee Sues Young Citizen Ngerng
– Just Speaking My Mind: Roy Ngerng Blogger Sued by PM Lee
– SG HardTruth: Roy Ngerng, You can’t just happily slap without expecting slap back
– Marry Thai Girl Singapore: Roy Ngerng Received a Lawyer’s Letter from Mr. Lee
– Jeremy Chen: It's important to be fair to the plaintiff in this latest “defamation case”
related:
PM Lee's Defamation suit against blogger Leong
"Can we love our Country and fear at the same time?”
Facebook gives way to Singapore’s ‘fake news’ law
POFMA fake news law invoked for first time
PM Lee: “POFMA would catch you!”
K Shanmugam to ‘Ah Lian’: POFMA is like a Torchlight
Singapore's fake news law passed
Singapore introduces anti-fake news law
Singapore PM sues online editor
Singapore PM threatens online editor with libel
PM Lee sues Blogger for sharing article
MDA tells The Online Citizen to register under Broadcasting Act
Mothership.sg To Register Under Broadcasting Act
Blogger asked to remove defamatory post about PM Lee
Why is Facebook in trouble?
The 'Dr Mahathir-Activists KL Meeting' Saga
States Times Review to shut down
Thumping of PJ Thum over ‘fake news’ hearing
Parliamentary committee on Fake News
Law to combat fake news to be introduced next year
Combating fake news in Singapore
Fakes and Frauds
Singapore public servants' computers no Internet from May 2017
Blogger asked to remove defamatory post about PM Lee
Blogger to pay PM Lee libel damages over 17 years
A Butterfly On A Wheel
"Can we love our Country and fear at the same time?”
Facebook gives way to Singapore’s ‘fake news’ law
POFMA fake news law invoked for first time
PM Lee: “POFMA would catch you!”
K Shanmugam to ‘Ah Lian’: POFMA is like a Torchlight
Singapore's fake news law passed
Singapore introduces anti-fake news law
Singapore PM sues online editor
Singapore PM threatens online editor with libel
PM Lee sues Blogger for sharing article
MDA tells The Online Citizen to register under Broadcasting Act
Mothership.sg To Register Under Broadcasting Act
Blogger asked to remove defamatory post about PM Lee
Why is Facebook in trouble?
The 'Dr Mahathir-Activists KL Meeting' Saga
States Times Review to shut down
Thumping of PJ Thum over ‘fake news’ hearing
Parliamentary committee on Fake News
Law to combat fake news to be introduced next year
Combating fake news in Singapore
Fakes and Frauds
Singapore public servants' computers no Internet from May 2017
Blogger asked to remove defamatory post about PM Lee
Blogger to pay PM Lee libel damages over 17 years
A Butterfly On A Wheel
