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Media Release: Lees reveal
their true selves in summary judgment application
2
Jul 06
Cowards,
Shakespeare wrote, die many times before their deaths. And
so it is that the Lees have yet again shown their true selves by
applying for summary judgment in the present lawsuit – just
as I had predicted.
I had forewarned when the Lees first
launched the suit: “The only worry is that the plaintiffs
will try to prevent the matter from going to trial and avoid
being cross-examined.”
I wrote this because I had
known that from the beginning the Lees, despite their show of
bravado, would ensure that they did not present themselves in
court for cross-examination. Their application for summary
judgment has proved this observation correct. It speaks volumes
of their real character.
It
is obvious that they cannot substantiate their accusations and
prove their case. Another reason, and perhaps a more important
one, is that the Lees are terrified of being cross-examined in
open court where the public can hear and see for themselves the
real facts.
Especially disconcerting is Mr Lee Hsien
Loong. As the new leader of Singapore, he ought to be able to
subject his statements and claims to scrutiny especially when he
takes out a lawsuit and makes allegations against his opponents.
But
instead of facing Ms Chee and I like a true leader, he now
backtracks and doesn’t want to go to trial and allow us to
cross-examine the truthfulness of his remarks. If this is going
to be the trademark of Singapore’s younger leadership, this
country is in a lot more trouble than we think.
Mr
Lee Kuan Yew for many years used detention without trial to
silence his critics. Mr Lee Hsien Loong now wants to use
defamation without trial for the same ends. This practice, while
protecting his regime, will ultimately ruin the future of
Singapore.
But why does the Prime Minister want to go for
a summary judgment when he has the perfect opportunity to prove
his case and avoid the odium of being labeled as a leader who
lacks courage to take the witness box? (Even the Straits Times
is trying to lessen the impact: Note the headline “PM
Lee's, MM's lawyers apply for summary judgment” when it was
clear that it was the Lees – and not their lawyers –
who applied for summary judgment.)
The answer is simple:
It’s the lesser of two evils. Going to court and testifying
under oath is worse, much worse, than having to die many times
before their deaths.
Chee Soon
Juan
Secretary-General
Singapore Democratic Party
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