Opposition leader Chee takes Straits Times to task

One would have thought that you would be more interested in the quality of the arguments in the letters you receive than merely the number of paragraphs it contains.

I can fully appreciate the constraints of space in your newspaper. However, as you will note, my reply is not overly long. It addresses the criticisms your columnist, Ms Chua Lee Hoong, has levelled at me. Even if we get down to the unintellectual argument of the number of paragraphs I am entitled to, you do realise that Ms Chua had five paragraphs commenting directly on me and you are only giving me two to reply. PAP control nothwithstanding, this is hardly the stuff one should tolerate in a newspaper.

Besides, you have published several letters on this subject of a speakers' corner which have certainly not been limited to two paragraphs. You seem to be rather eager to give the opposition as little opportunity and space to present our arguments in a reasoned manner.

Let me take this chance to remind you that many foreign publications have had their circulation curtailed in Singapore ostensibly because the PAP refused to let the editors edit their replies. In these cases only a few lines or words were in contention, and for that matter they did not compromise the integrity of the government's message. Yet, the Straits Times had then stoutly defended the PAP's actions. But now when it comes to giving the SDP its right of reply, you want me to delete three-quarters of my letter which would render it unreadable and unworthy! Why the hyposcrisy?

If you have any comments about the quality and/or relevance of the points I have made in my letter, I would be happy to discuss them. But for the sake of responsible and honest journalism, do not deny me my right of reply as you have so often done before.

As this matter is of public interest, I would like to let you know that our correspondence may be released for publication in other sources.