It pays for leader to defend reputation

Letter to the editor: South China Morning Post. Oct 10, 1997.

THE agency report headlined, "Rights groups query PM's defamation win", which was published in the South China Morning Post, on October 4, quoted Stuart Littlemore of the International Commission of Jurists, claiming that a court attendant served Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong "when he was in the witness box under cross examination, with a pot of tea, milk and sugar, on a tray."

This is false. Mr Goh had checked with his counsel whether it was in order for him as witness to be served with water. His counsel, K. Shanmugam, confirmed that it was, and arranged for him to given warm water. It is not uncommon for witnesses to request and be served water in court. Mr Jeyaretnam also asked for water for his QC. It was provided.

As for Amnesty International claiming that the judgment is likely to have an inhibiting effect on freedom of expression, it is not a democratic freedom to defame another, destroying his reputation by falsehoods.

It is one thing to engage in robust debate, another to defame. Politicians who are afraid to clear their names in court after a defamatory charge lose the respect of the electorate.

Mr Jeyaretnam himself once sued Mr Goh for allegedly defaming him. Mr Goh successfully pleaded fair comment.

Another opposition politician, Chiam See Tong has recovered damages for defamation from government ministers. He also sued others who are not People's Action Party (PAP) MPs for libel.

Dr Chee Soon Juan, Secretary General of the Singapore Democratic Party, was called a liar and invited to sue. He did not. In recent elections he lost badly. In Singapore, it pays for a leader to defend his reputation.