Goh and Lee, the influential former prime minister and founder of modern Singapore, pressed for damages during a hearing at the High Court over Chee's remarks while campaigning in last year's general elections.

At the hustings for the November polls, Chee confronted Goh at a food centre and aggressively questioned him on a S$17 billion (US$9.7 billion) loan by the government to former Indonesian president Suharto during the Asian financial crisis.

Goh and Lee have said the loan was never disbursed and are claiming damages, saying Chee's allegations dented their reputations.

Lawyer Davinder Singh, representing both leaders, told the High Court Tuesday that Chee's remarks implied that the prime minister was "dishonest" and "unfit for office".

Chee, leader of the Singapore Democratic Party, had earlier issued an apology in two local newspapers in accordance with the complainants' demands, which also included the payment of damages.

Singh argued that Chee had conceded wrongdoing when he apologized and should pay damages which the court would determine.

Chee, who lost in the elections, claimed he had made the apology under conditions of duress. The apology also only pertained to the manner he had spoken to Goh, Chee said.

Representing himself, Chee said in his affidavit, "I did not apologize for saying the words that the plaintiffs (Goh and Lee) have alleged are defamatory of them".

Chee's earlier applications for a Queen's Counsel to represent him had been rejected by the court.

Lawyer Singh said the High Court was expected to issue a written judgement next Monday on whether the case would go on trial or Chee will be required to pay damages.

Chee told reporters after the hearing that if he does not get a trial, he might have to pay damages running up to a million Singapore dollars including legal costs.

"If judgement is entered and I lose the case, I have to pay damages... which I can ill-afford at this time. Basically, I'll be bankrupted and as a bankrupt, then you're not able to stand for elections," he said.

It was the same fate that befell another opposition politician, J.B. Jeyaretnam, who lost his parliamentary seat after being declared a bankrupt for failing to pay damages to members of the ruling People's Action Party in a defamation case.

Last month, Chee was effectively disqualified from running for parliament in the next elections after he was fined S$3000 for speaking on religious matters without a permit.

Under the law, anyone fined more than S$2000 cannot run for office for five years. The next general elections are due in 2006.

Chee has paid a series of fines and served brief prison terms in his fight against the PAP. He has also been charged with organising an illegal May Day Rally.

Meanwhile, Ghandi Ambalam, a member of Chee's political party, also pleaded innocent to charges of trespassing and speaking without a license during a hearing at the Subordinate Court on Tuesday.

Ambalam was asked to post a S$6000 bail.

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