| Singapore Wins Again |
| Written by Our Correspondent | |
| Wednesday, 26 November 2008 | |
|
The court fined Dow Jones Publishing Co. S$25,000, said to be the highest amount ever levied for such a case, according to the Wall Street Journal. The 43-page judgment, written by High Court Judge Tay Yong Kwang, contains some startling language in its attempt to pin contempt charges on the newspaper, its editor, Daniel Hertzberg, managing editor Christine Glancey, and Dow Jones Publishing Co., now owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. In effect, Tay said, there were no actionable words in the articles. But, he wrote: “Words sometimes mean more than what they say on the surface. This proposition is a recurring theme in the present proceedings before me, which concerns an application for by the Attorney General for orders of committal for contempt against [the] three respondents...” And, as part of the background of the case, Tay wrote: “As will be demonstrated shortly, it is not the AG’s case that the publications contained passages or words that expressly scandalize the Singapore judiciary, but that they do so by implication, especially when the offending passages or words of each publication are read in the context of that individual publication.” In other words, any publication deemed by Singapore to have been hostile to Singapore in the past could find itself in the dock without using “passages or words that expressly scandalize the Singapore judiciary” or presumably the family of ageing patriarch Lee Kuan Yew, the country’s minister mentor. The court, however, is about as touchy as the Lee family. In October, three supporters of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party were promptly arrested when they turned up at Singapore’s Supreme Court wearing T-shirts depicting a kangaroo in judicial robes. The three, 19-year-old Muhammad Shafi'ie Syahmi Sariman, 33-year-old Isrizal Mohamed Isa and 47-year-old John Tan Liang Joo, were convicted and were to be sentenced November 27 for contempt of court. Reporters Without Borders condemned the Wall Street Journal ruling, saying that "Even if the fine is not colossal, the ruling very clearly shows that Singapore's judges have no intention of letting the foreign media express themselves freely about the country's judicial system, which is lacking in independence." As to the Journal case, it is hardly the first time Singapore has found the western press wanting, or used tortured language to go after them. The lawsuit-happy Lee family has filed a plethora of defamation lawsuits and contempt charges repeatedly against Dow Jones publications, particularly the Far Eastern Economic Review and the Asian Wall Street Journal, now known as the Wall Street Journal Asia, as well as Time Magazine, the Economist, the International Herald Tribune and many more. In 2007 for instance, the Financial Times issued a hasty apology and paid undisclosed damages for a story in which there appeared to be no libel. The article dealt with the growth of so-called sovereign wealth funds, particularly a new Chinese fund that was unveiled at the end of September, and referred to growing concern over the acquisition of strategic industries by funds controlled by governments in Asia and the Middle East. At the end of the piece, the author referred to Temasek, the increasingly troubled Singapore state investment fund, and described some of the problems Temasek has faced with the fallout from the fund's acquisition last year of Shin Corp, the Thai telecoms group owned by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, which ultimately contributed to Thaksin’s downfall. At the end of the article, the author referred to the fact that Temasek is run by Ho Ching, the wife of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and concluded with these words: “DBS Bank, whose biggest shareholder is Temasek, this week surprised many by announcing that US-born Jackson Tai would step down towards the end of the year. Mr Tai was said to be keen to ‘spend more time with his family.’ “Last week Jimmy Phoon, Temasek's chief investment officer, announced he was leaving ‘to take a break and spend some time with the family.’ “Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised at the reasons. Singapore, after all, is built on strong family values. Lee Kuan Yew, founding father of the city-state, must be proud to see Lee Hsien Loong, his son, occupy the role of prime minister. “Mr Lee (Jnr) himself will be pleased Ho Ching, his wife, has helped turn round the performance of Temasek after being appointed chief executive in 2002. The rumour mill now suggests Lee Hsien Yang, the younger brother, could replace Mr Tai at DBS. The younger Mr Lee earned his spurs as chief executive of SingTel, also part of the Temasek firmament.” That caused an apparent explosion among the Lees, and allegations of libel over charges of nepotism. The FT quickly complied with its public apology In 1994, the Lee family sued the International Herald Tribune, which also quickly issued an apology and paid damages, for a column in which the author wrote about dynastic politics in China and, in passing, mentioned Singapore,saying “Dynastic politics is evident in ‘Communist’ China already, as in Singapore, despite official commitment to bureaucratic meritocracy. Similarly with the Kuomintang inheritance in Taiwan, which won out until 1987, when lack of candidates and the pressure of opinion ended the Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek era". The courts awarded aggravated damages on the basis of Lee Kuan Yew’s claim (and similar claims by Lee Hsien Loong and Goh Chok Tong) that "The said words, in the context in which they were published, and in their natural and ordinary meaning, meant and were understood to mean" that Lee Hsien Loong was "appointed to various offices in the Singapore government on the basis of nepotism and not on the basis of merit." No member of the Lee family has ever lost a case in a Singapore court as far as can be determined. The Lees recently won damages against Far Eastern Economic Review for defamation and the government has banned the publication over a 2006 interview with Chee Soon Juan, the head of the Singapore Democratic Party, in which Chee said the authoritarian city-state would only change direction after the elder Lee’s death. At one point, Judicial Commissioner Sundaresh Menon refused to allow the Review’s lawyer, Australian Tim Robertson, permission to sit in on the hearing because Robertson had made comments critical of Singapore in 2005 over Singapore’s decision to execute a convicted drug trafficker.
Set as favorite
Bookmark
Email This
Comments
(17)
 written by Jacob , December 05, 2008
I can speak for most of the intelligent and talented Singaporeans who have decided to emigrate, i.e. all my friends who have completely renounced Singapore. I have a degree from Princeton University, and was once one of those dreadful Gifted Education Program kids (don't even ask). I intend to be an academic and god knows there is no academic freedom in Singapore, let alone intelligence. The National University of Singapore is a typical Asian university: all memory work and exams, no creativity. Everyone with an ounce of intelligence is emigrating. Singapore is a terrible place to live if you want to have a mind and if you want to do something with your life. Kids: don't take a scholarship, there are many opportunities (like financial aid) these days... the world has moved into the 21st century, but Singapore is stuck in interwar fascism.
Votes: +1
report abuse
vote down
vote up
written by chirpy , November 29, 2008
No one disputes Singapore or LKY's achievments, Pete Wu, but is this necessary? What if the editorial was let go? It would have been forgotten about long ago. This defamation case has kept it alive and will further serve to tarnish LKY's legacy , uneccesarily. In fact, the Singapore judiciary's perfect batting average only reinforces the 'implication' levelled at it.
Votes: +0
There doesn't have to be a trade off between good governance and respectful press freedom. And of the hapless Dr. Chee? Let him alone, let him have his opinion and his soap box. If he is the real deal he will win the people's respect and if not he will fade. What about the people in t-shirts? Well punish them as well for expressing an opinion. So then LKY , you have a lot to be proud of and the rest of the world can learn a lot from Singapore's success so what are you so afraid of? The far more damning indictment of this environment is a cost you can't put a dollar figure on. It's a terrible thing to say when you think about it but Singapore is the only country I can think of that has no culture (just pick up a copy of Tattler). That and the fact that the coolest brightest Singaporeans are all abroad because, well you only live once don't you? report abuse
vote down
vote up
written by smiley , November 28, 2008
Great people do not need sycophants to rant for them. Their greatness stands out strong in spite of any rubbish you throw at them. The very fact that you need them shows the thickness of the armour cannot protect the greatness of the evil within - hence any "barb", verbal or otherwise must be suppressed at all costs. Anyone can see that no leader in the world(including present despots except Marcos, Suharto) has not followed the example of LKY. Why is it that only LKY needs to sue and sue only in Singapore? Is it to frighten his critics within the PAP? For the last 30 years no one in the PAP had the need to sue, except LKY. Is this a psychological need? Sure there are examples of good governance compared to Malaysia or INdonesia. But what has happened is NOT good governance. It is a reflection of an abnormal character. Don't forget that Goh Chok Tong in his last national day speech mentioned that the son had slapped his uncle. The next day, a sanitised version of that speech was broadcast. So don't be surprised by what has been happening. It needs to happen. That's the way to keep Singaporeans in check. "If people don't fear me then I am nothing"
Votes: -1
report abuse
vote down
vote up
written by Alexander , November 27, 2008
Happened to see this -
Votes: +3
written by Luke Hughes , November 27, 2008 Three people, an American, a Zimbabwean and a SIngaporean, were asked for their opinion about food shortages. The Zimbabwean asked "what's food?" The American asked 'what's a shortage?" And the SIngaporean asked 'what's an opinion?" You may be right with the Zimbabwean. But the American? He may soon be joining the Zimbabwean as well if he continues to eat & drink at someone else's expense. Well, for the rebutting Singaporean I guess he just won't have it lying down. report abuse
vote down
vote up
written by Luke Hughes , November 27, 2008
Three people, an American, a Zimbabwean and a SIngaporean, were asked for their opinion about food shortages. The Zimbabwean asked "what's food?" The American asked 'what's a shortage?" And the SIngaporean asked 'what's an opinion?"
Votes: +2
report abuse
vote down
vote up
written by Pete Wu , November 27, 2008
This is a small little country with the second highest standard of living in Asia after Japan. This is a small little country that has a civil service that's almost free of corruption, a government system that rewards people based on merits (though the competition makes life stressful), this is a small little country that has successfully housed 70 - 80 % of its populace nicely (in government built flats), this is a small little country that has built an education system/standard that's an envy of those in Asia (if not the world), this is a small little country that has a University ranked No 1 in Asia...I can go with many more...But this small little country is not perfect (which country is, anyway)...the government at times can be very patriarchal, at times unsympathetic, at time can be a little ruthless in pursuit of social/economic/political objectives......BUT THEN, LET ME TELL THIS, IF I AM A SINGAPOREAN...I WONT TRADE THIS FOR ANYTHING!!! BTW, I AM A MALAYSIAN WHO HAS WORKED IN SINGAPORE. I have first hand experience of how the systems work.
Votes: +1
report abuse
vote down
vote up
written by Banny , November 27, 2008
Dissent, dissent . . .
Votes: -4
Fortunately, we ain't like Thailand. 45 good years to the envy of the world at large! After this US-ignited worldwide financial tsunami, we hope for another 55 more, making it a CENTURY of good times for this little red dot. Keep up the good work PAP. Pay and Pay so what? Even kids know there is no free lunch in this whole wide world. Pay peanuts, monkeys will pay with submarines, helicopters or Mongoloid, etc. report abuse
vote down
vote up
written by Noreen M , November 27, 2008
It's actually stories like these that makes me wonder how 'similar' is Singapore to Hong Kong.
Votes: -1
report abuse
vote down
vote up
written by Lee Quan Yew , November 27, 2008
I do not like criticism. I am proud. I am Chinese. I am rich.
Votes: +1
Please come and visit and spend your money. LQW report abuse
vote down
vote up
written by Whata load of PAP , November 27, 2008
I can't wait to see what happens when LKY dies. It will be interesting to see what happens to the PAP. More than likely there will be a power struggle inside the PAP. Maybe it will break up into factions after serious infighting.
Votes: +1
Pinky is definitely going to be under pressure. There must be so many people in the PAP who hate the sniveling little schoolboy who acts so tough when under the protective eye of lau lee. In singapore can you libel or slander the dead? Let's see when LKY dies As for Ho Jinx, she has to be made accountable, at some point for her actions. Wow it aint going to pretty.... I cant wait. report abuse
vote down
vote up
Bob Terwiliger,
Votes: +0
that is how Singapore grow rich, by been ridiculous to the world and to its citizen. The amount of follies in investment and action against those who blatantly speak against the government show the amount of ridicule in the country. report abuse
vote down
vote up
written by kiasugirl , November 26, 2008
Sounds like a civil servant wrote the above
Votes: +1
report abuse
vote down
vote up
written by kiasugirl , November 26, 2008
Sounds like a civil servant wrote the above?
Votes: +0
report abuse
vote down
vote up
written by smeee , November 26, 2008
and how did mediacorp report this ? because that is how singaporeans think.
Votes: +0
report abuse
vote down
vote up
Mr, Lowly rated comment [Show]
|
A high court judge reinvents Alice in Wonderland in a contempt case
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form
India's Thirst for EnergySiddharth Srivastava Coal surge is unabated, raising environmental concerns
Full Story |
| Other Articles |
How Many People is Enough in Singapore? And are the newcomers hammering the lifestyles of the locals?
Full Story |
| most read... |
Alice Poon
| Anti-Anti-Speculation ActionTuesday, 24 August 2010 | Alice Poon (潘慧嫻)
It seems that the SAR government finally decided to choose
the lesser of two evils: taking decisive, albeit belated, anti-speculation
measures in the hope of stabilizing prices, rather than... Full Story |
| Previous posts: |
John Elliott: Riding the Elephant
| From vultures in Delhi, to coups in Pakistan, a journalist's un-edited take on current events |
|
Donate to Asia Sentinel
