MM Lee: Singapore politics will “change”, not because I leave politics
From our Correspondent
Singapore’s octagenarian leader MM Lee Kuan Yew is in the news again two days after a photo of him and U.S. President Barack Obama was splashed across the front pages of the Singapore newspapers.
Asked during an interview with the PAP propaganda mouthpiece Petir on how Singapore will change when he leaves politics, Lee answered in a detached manner:
“Singapore politics will change, but not because I leave politics. It will happen because of significant changes in Singapore’s economic and social conditions.”
At 86 years of age, Lee must be one of the longest-serving parliamentarian in the world. Since winning his seat in Tanjong Pagar in 1955, Lee has been a MP for 54 years and as Singapore’s first Prime Minister for 25 years.
Lee ruled Singapore with an iron-fist during his reign. Political opponents were detained under the draconian ISD on charges on being “suspected” communists during the early days of Singapore while defamation lawsuits became the his favored “cul de sac” from 1980s onwards.
Singapore politics had been tainted by its litigious nature and numerous defamation lawsuits and it continue to deter aspiring young men and women from participating actively in politics so long as Lee remains involved.
Over the years, Lee had launched over 20 defamation lawsuits against his political opponents and critics and has never lost a single one in a Singapore court. A suit he filed against former Singapore President Devan Nair was thrown out of the Canadian court.
This unsavory fact was mentioned by an American lawyer during the recently ended meeting of the New York State Bar Association International Section much to the embarrassment of Singapore Law Minister Shanmugam.
The International Bar Association Human Rights Institute gave a damning indictment on the use of defamation lawsuits by PAP leaders to cripple the opposition in a comprehensive report released in 2008. (Download the report here)
During his observation of a case involving the late opposition leader J.B. Jeyaretnam, Queen Counsel Stuart Littlemore was provided with a list of all defamation actions heard to completion between 1959 and 1997:
[Source: IBAHI Report on Singapore, page 60]
As we can see from above, it is evident that in just six cases, PAP officials have been awarded over S$9 million in damages. This excludes those cases settled out of court.
Lee’s “penchant” for suing his opponents did not decrease with his age. During the last general elections in 2006, he sued the Singapore Democratic Party led by Dr Chee Soon Juan for an article in its newsletter which was alleged to be “defamatory” to the Singapore government.
Lee and his son were awarded by Judge Belinda Ang damages of more than S$600,000 via a summary judgement without the case going even to trial. The defendants were assumed guilty by “default”.
Though PAP leaders have always justified legal action on the grounds that they have to defend their reputations and integrity, the astronomical sums awarded inevitably send chills down the spines of most Singaporeans, who dare not comment on political issues in public.
Unless Lee leaves politics for good, Singapore politics will never change and remain adverserial and litigious in nature which will have a detrimental impact on its political development in the long run.
With the next elections due in 2012, Lee has not yet indicated if he will step down by then.
It is highly likely that he will relish the opportunity to continue “serving” Singapore for another 5-year term if his health permits.
As Lee’s successor Goh Chok Tong once said in Hokkien – “Pak4 See4 Bei1 Chao4″, Singaporeans will have no choice but to wait for Nature to “retire” him from politics forever.
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Old Guy on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 6:18 pm
LKY very old and longest in singapore history !!
from black and white tv to colour tv to computers..
He’s Still here and going strong !!
Mao died, kennedy died, LKY still alive !!
huray for singapore !!
LKY is a legend, really !!
cat on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 7:23 pm
more like a joke
Vincent Tan on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 7:28 pm
Dear Webmaster of Temasekreview,
You web servers is still working slow. It take a minute to
download a web page.
Hope speed can be improved to attracted more visitors.
with regard
Vincent Tan
3rd Class citizen on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 7:33 pm
“As Lee’s successor Goh Chok Tong once said in Hokkien – “Pak4 See4 Bei1 Chao4″, Singaporeans will have no choice but to wait for Nature to “retire” him from politics forever.”
即使他已走，那長久及永久的傷害(若有)已無法再彌補！！！
Poitical Salesman on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 7:38 pm
Singapore politics will change,not because I leave politics.
He is trying cover this backside, because this time round, the economic crisis hit them pants tight down.No way to escape.
This is god creation.
cy on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 7:44 pm
to those who are worried whether democracy in singapore will degenerate into populist politics if pap’s powers are curbed.
if a person is skinny and malnourished, do you tell the person not to eat because you could become fat and sick?
we should only be worried abt populist politics after one-party rule ends and not now.
Time for Change on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 8:21 pm
Now MM Lee has said it himself. It is time for change. Singapore politics will change. We have to be part of that change.
Hopefully, the MIW will now accept that change is inevitable and accept the people’s right to vote for change.
It will be the start of a new dawn.
This is the only way for Singapore to meet the challenges that lie ahead.
fair and square on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 8:30 pm
If only politicians were more receptive of each others thoughts and ideas,singaporeans could have probably benefitted
from their synergy!
I am not discrediting -or in a position to do so,in my present
circumstance-the abilities or capabilities of our sinagporeans
in Government but i must sincerely add that some of the folks
are not doing justice to singapore for constantly taking the easy and safe way out to seemingly protect theri self-interest.
it is a sad thing for the nation and the government.
janetnt on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 8:36 pm
This has nothing to do with if i like LKY or I don’t but.. serious how dose the article related to the title??!
Anonymous on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 8:41 pm
Yes, the economic and social conditions have changed dramatically BUT EVEN MORE SO IS TECHNOLOGY AND CYBERSPACE – news information travelled MUCH FASTER and analysed more rigorously within the domain of electorates than the Government can re-package into propaganda hoaxes of lies and deception in subsequent publishing.
The electorates are NOW FAR MORE INFORMED, CYNICAL AND EVER MORE READY OF PUBLIC MOCKING OF OUTRAGEOUS POLITICAL DOGMA AND BEHAVIOUR.
The days of monopoly of media control and propaganda publishing is long dead and buried.
NO NEED TO PRETEND OTHERWISE.
Anonymous on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 9:42 pm
@ janetnt on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 8:36 pm
….”This has nothing to do with if i like LKY or I don’t but.. serious how dose the article related to the title??!…”
Perhaps, you can explain …serious how dose the article related to the title??!…” IS MYSTERIOUSLY LINKED TO YOUR ADMISSION AND DENIAL OF …….”This has nothing to do with if i like LKY or I don’t but..”?
Guilty act after unsolicited guilty mind?
wat? on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 10:53 pm
wat he trying to do? Downplay his influence? sounds fishy to me!
blackfeline on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 12:08 am
not downplay his influence…he’s too embarassed to admit he’s the cause of all the problems!
Dirty Old Man on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 3:48 am
LKY very old and longest in singapore history !!
from black and white tv to colour tv to computers..
He’s Still here and going strong !!
Mao died, kennedy died, LKY still alive !!
Hope he follows Kennedy and Mao soon…
Very very soon.
The sooner the better.
huray for singapore !!
Peter Su on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 6:09 am
The Americans have strong influence in Singapores future economic and political structure after MM steps down. In the recent visit to Washington, they could have assured MM of their commitments to Singapores stability in SE Asia over an unspecified period of time. MM will retire sooner.
cat on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 8:47 am
//Peter Su
aS if the American decides when LKY retires.
Neil Bishop on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 12:34 pm
Great Leader will leave politics when he dies or is permanently incapacitated. I remain unsure about whether he believes his son, Dear Leader, has the ability to govern without Great Leader being there to act as enforcer. There really are political risks in Singapore because Great Leader’s passing, particularly if accompanied by the revelation of the true size of Temasek and GIC losses, could see Singaporeans rising up in protest at the mammoth deception perpetrated on them. Let’s hope there are some non-Lee Family leaders waiting in the wings ready to lead this nation (or city, if your name is Shanmugan).
btan on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 5:40 pm
You forgot to mention launching of Operation Coldstore and Operation Spectrum to unfairly imprision breakaway PAP factions and opposition party members and supporters.
Muppet on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 8:05 pm
*Sigh* … he does not trust his son nor his son’s capabilities. So old still have to travel around the world to wipe the shit off his son’s backside.
bringingtoperspective on Thu, 5th Nov 2009 11:19 am
now is the time to 养精蓄锐….
yes…. Singapore politics will change. It will happen because of significant changes in Singapore’s economic and social conditions, as a result of someone leaving politics….
with internet and social network, it won’t be long before societal monentum takes form.
BTW… is teleconfercing of more than 3 people or gathering in social chat room against the law?