NMP Siew Kum Hong says it is not true and has made a Police
report.
http://siewkumhong.blogspot.com/2009/05/line-has-been-crossed.html
The line has been crossed
The attacks have continued since my last posting on this blog. In
particular, the latest attacks have alleged and/or insinuated that
(a) I asked for and am receiving foreign funding from a Swedish
politician, who allegedly funds the Singapore Democratic Party
(SDP) as well, and (b) I am involved or associated with the SDP and
may be their representative or “mole” in Parliament.
Both of these allegations are untrue and false. They are vile,
vicious and malicious attacks on me, and nothing short of character
assassination. I consider them extremely defamatory and criminal in
nature.
I did not at any time ask for, and have not at any time been
offered or accepted, any sort of funding from any local or foreign
entity, including the Swedish politician named in the latest
attack. The only sources of income (or funding) that I have, are my
employer and the Government of Singapore (in the form of my monthly
NMP allowance). Furthermore, I am not involved or affiliated or
associated, whether directly, indirectly or in any other way, with
the SDP, and am certainly not their representative or “mole” in
Parliament.
While I have not previously taken any action in response to the
attacks to me on the Internet, I feel that this latest attack
crosses the line and goes beyond any attacks that I am willing to
countenance as being fair game for a public figure. I do not think
that it is appropriate or acceptable for any MP, including an NMP,
to accept any funding, whether local or foreign.
Accordingly, I made a police report on this matter tonight. I
have also requested those forums that I am aware are currently
hosting these falsehoods, to take them down.
In the interests of full transparency, I did meet with certain
Swedish gentlemen recently. Details of those meetings are set out
in my statement to the police. I met them at their request, just as
I have met other foreigners from time to time, including staff from
the various High Commissions and embassies in Singapore (such as
from Australia, the US, the UK and other EU countries) and visiting
foreigners, such as academics doing research on aspects of
Singapore. At these meetings, we discuss matters related Singapore,
in particular current affairs and the political situation in
Singapore. From my perspective, these meetings are to help the
foreigners obtain a better understanding of Singapore. I do not
think that there was anything wrong with those meetings, and I have
nothing to hide.
While I continue to believe that it is, on the whole, beneficial
for Singaporeans to speak up for what they believe in, and I
certainly hope that this wish and desire will continue and extend
beyond the current discussions around the NMP re-nomination process
and homosexuality, I also do believe -- and have always believed --
that rights and freedoms have limits.
I have to date refrained from taking any legal action in
response to the lies and falsehoods that have been levelled at me.
But this latest attack goes beyond anything that a reasonable
person could possibly perceive as being a valid or legitimate
exercise of the right to free speech, and I certainly will not
tolerate the latest rounds of character assassination from cowards
hiding behind the perceived anonymity of the Internet.
