PM Lee's lawyers take Temasek Review Emeritus
editor to task
By Ng Jing Yng, TODAY | Posted: 20 February 2012 0814 hrs
SINGAPORE: Four days after sociopolitical website
Temasek Review Emeritus (TRE) editor Richard Wan made a first
public appearance at a social media forum, he was served a lawyer's
letter on Sunday by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for carrying
allegedly defamatory remarks on his website.
This is the second time in the past week that a political leader
has sent a legal warning to a website regarding allegedly
defamatory comments.
In TRE's case, Mr Lee's lawyers are asking Mr Wan
to retract a Feb 16 post and to publish an apology on his website
within the next four days.
The five-page letter, which was sent by Drew and Napier's Senior
Counsel Davinder Singh, made reference to an excerpt of a post on
TRE which questioned Madam Ho Ching's position in Temasek
Holdings.
In the letter, Mr Singh said the excerpt "alleged that Prime
Minister Lee Hsien Loong secured or was instrumental in securing
the appointment of his wife, Mdm Ho Ching, as the chief executive
officer of Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited for nepotistic
motives".
"This is a false and baseless allegation. As is
publicly known, Mdm Ho Ching was appointed on merit and through
proper process."
The letter also outlined the circumstances behind Mdm Ho's
appointment and highlighted past instances where other media
outlets had to apologise for similar allegations.
Mr Singh also noted that Mr Wan confirmed his identity as TRE's
editor after attending a public forum on Wednesday.
Mr Lee has requested that TRE immediately remove the article and
all related comments as well as to publish an apology and the
undertaking. But Mr Singh added: "Although our client has suffered
damage and incurred costs as a result of the libel, he has not made
any demand for damages or cost." Legal proceedings and damages and
costs will nonetheless be pursued if TRE does not comply, he
added.
Mr Wan, who is one of the five editors behind TRE but is the only
one based here, told Today that the post was made by one of their
contributors.
He added that TRE is "very sorry for causing unnecessary duress to
the PM" and will comply with all the remedial actions.
Mr Wan said that TRE vets through all its articles before
publishing them but it is challenging to vet through the feedback
received each day. Going forward, Mr Wan said that they will be
"more careful" before any publication.
Last Tuesday, Foreign and Law Minister K Shanmugam sent a lawyer's
letter to well-known blogger Alex Au, asking him to remove from his
website allegedly defamatory comments about the minister. Mr Au did
so, saying he took Mr Shanmugam at his word.
Nominated Member of Parliament Eugene Tan, who is a law academic at
the Singapore Management University, said that the approach taken
by the political leaders has been consistent in protecting their
reputation especially when it comes to defamatory
remarks.
He noted that Mr Lee and Mr Shanmugam are not asking for damages
and costs. "This perhaps suggests that the political leaders have
recognised the new political environment we are in, and the need
and value of a greater diversity of views being expressed by
Singaporeans. Benefit of the doubt is extended in the first
instance but it is not to be regarded as a licence for defamation,"
he said. -TODAY
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1184021/1/.html
