• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
    • Volunteer
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

Singapore consul-general rebuts SCMP's article on Catherine Lim's open letter to PM

by Howard Lee
13/06/2014
in Current Affairs
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0

The South China Morning Post (SCMP) had earlier published an article on the letter by writer Dr Catherine Lim to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong describing an “unprecedented crisis of trust” between his government and Singaporeans. This prompted the Singapore consul-general of Singapore in Hong Kong to respond, citing international studies that vouch for a high degree of trust in the government.
SCMP has described Lim’s letter as an open missive to PM Lee, extracting many segments from her letter that substantiated her claims.
“Lim, who is in her early 70s, said there were clear signs of a trust issue. She cited the recent case of graffiti at a public housing block that was targeted at the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) as well as the rising number of protests and the increased online criticism, among other examples.”
SCMP also drew attention to Lim’s point about the ongoing legal dispute between Lee and blogger Roy Ngerng. “She heavily criticised Lee’s recent defamation suit against Roy Ngerng, a young blogger who allegedly accused the prime minister of misappropriating state pension funds. While supporters say the defamation suit is crucial to ensure Singapore does not embrace a culture of slander and libel, critics insist it will harm the image and reputation of Lee and his party, especially since the case is being pegged as a David-vs-Goliath duel.”
As Lim elaborated in her letter, which TOC has earlier published in full, “What had worked well in the old era may no longer be relevant today, or worse, may even be damaging. When Mr Lee Kuan Yew liberally used the defamation suit against his critics, one of the reasons he gave (if I remember correctly) was that he wanted to punish them for implying government corruption, and thus eroding the trust of the people, which he said was necessary for the government to do its work.”
“Today, in a twist of supreme irony that would have incensed Mr Lee, Singaporeans see the defamation suit itself, and not the act that has entailed it, as the very cause of the erosion of trust. A few more applications of this once effective instrument of control, even if legally justifiable, would surely damage the PAP cause further, in the highly charged atmosphere of the new Singapore.”
In a letter to SCMP, Jacky Foo, the consul-general of Singapore in Hong Kong, cited international studies that prove contrary to Lim’s claim.
“There are international benchmarks of trust in government. For example, the Edelman Trust Barometer found only 37 per cent of respondents in the United States trusted their government. The UK scores 42 per cent, and Hong Kong 45 per cent. Singapore scored a respectable 75 per cent.”
Foo also took issue with Lim’s references to the 2011 General Elections, saying, “the ruling party has taken Singapore through a number of serious crises relatively unscathed – the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2003, and the 2008 global financial crisis. In addition, it has won four further general elections by healthy margins. But still Ms Lim continues to regularly bemoan a collapse of trust and respect for the government.”
Foo did not mention that the PAP has actually witnessed a gradual downward slide in votes in the past three general elections. He also did not make any reference to the party’s defeat in two by-elections following GE2011.
Foo also dismissed Lim’s supposed claim that PM Lee’s defamation suit against Ngerng will further erode trust. “On the contrary, Mr Lee acted because the government prizes integrity as the ultimate source of the trust it enjoys,” he wrote. “A leader who does nothing when he is accused of criminally misappropriating monies from the state pension system must engender mistrust in his honesty and leadership.”
“It is no coincidence that in countries where lies and false accusations are the stock in trade of public debate, people have a low opinion of all politicians, and a very low trust in their governments,” he added.
Image – screen capture from South China Morning Post

For just US$7.50 a month, sign up as a subscriber on The Online Citizen Asia (and enjoy ads-free experience on our site) to support our mission to transform TOC into an alternative mainstream press.

Related Posts

7.8-magnitude quake hits southern Turkey: USGS
AFP

7.8-magnitude quake hits southern Turkey: USGS

06/02/2023
Hong Kong’s largest national security trial opens
AFP

Hong Kong’s largest national security trial opens

06/02/2023
Venerable Master Hsing Yun passed away at age 97
Arts & Culture

Venerable Master Hsing Yun passed away at age 97

06/02/2023
No response from Josephine Teo on whether Mediacorp has been instructed to stop coverage of SMT circulation scandal
Singapore

No response from Josephine Teo over alleged blackout of coverage by Mediacorp over SMT circulation scandal

06/02/2023
Earthquake victims stage demonstration after Cianjur Regency Govt cancels temporary housing assistance of US$68 per family
Indonesia

Earthquake victims stage demonstration after Cianjur Regency Govt cancels temporary housing assistance of US$68 per family

06/02/2023
The uncomfortable past appointments by PAP members for CPIB in Keppel’s corruption scandal
Singapore

The uncomfortable past appointments by PAP members for CPIB in Keppel’s corruption scandal

06/02/2023
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect withD
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest posts

7.8-magnitude quake hits southern Turkey: USGS

7.8-magnitude quake hits southern Turkey: USGS

06/02/2023
Hong Kong’s largest national security trial opens

Hong Kong’s largest national security trial opens

06/02/2023
Venerable Master Hsing Yun passed away at age 97

Venerable Master Hsing Yun passed away at age 97

06/02/2023
No response from Josephine Teo on whether Mediacorp has been instructed to stop coverage of SMT circulation scandal

No response from Josephine Teo over alleged blackout of coverage by Mediacorp over SMT circulation scandal

06/02/2023
Earthquake victims stage demonstration after Cianjur Regency Govt cancels temporary housing assistance of US$68 per family

Earthquake victims stage demonstration after Cianjur Regency Govt cancels temporary housing assistance of US$68 per family

06/02/2023
The uncomfortable past appointments by PAP members for CPIB in Keppel’s corruption scandal

The uncomfortable past appointments by PAP members for CPIB in Keppel’s corruption scandal

06/02/2023
Not the first time, Tong Chong Heong, former KOM senior executive, was involved in corruption at Keppel

Not the first time, Tong Chong Heong, former KOM senior executive, was involved in corruption at Keppel

06/02/2023
Temasek and GIC reportedly in talks with Adani Group accused of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

Adani stock rout raises questions about India’s credibility even as S’pore becomes #1 investor in India

06/02/2023

Trending posts

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

by Yee Loon
30/01/2023
25

...

Cognizant India transfers staff to work in Singapore as recently as this year

Local IT grads can’t find jobs while engineers constantly transferred from India to work in SG under CECA

by Correspondent
05/02/2023
50

...

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

by Augustine Low
01/02/2023
47

...

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

by Correspondent
03/02/2023
26

...

Excessively charging for an essential need, and calling it affordable because people still can pay for it?

by Terry Xu
31/01/2023
40

...

Singapore Law Watch removes commentary on CPIB’s decision to not prosecute former Keppel executives

Singapore Law Watch removes commentary on CPIB’s decision to not prosecute former Keppel executives

by The Online Citizen
02/02/2023
19

...

June 2014
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30  
« May   Jul »

The Online Citizen is a regional online publication based in Taiwan and formerly Singapore’s longest-running independent online media platform.

Navigation

  • Editorial
  • Commentaries
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Community

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Letter submission
  • Membership subscription

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Fact Checking Policy
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

wpDiscuz