Why does Mrs Chiam persist in attacking the SDP?

Chee Soon Juan

Mrs Lina Chiam insists on continuing to attack the SDP and me on the issue of Mr Chiam See Tong leaving the party when there are a whole host of issues that she and the Singapore People's Party need to focus on with the PAP.

In her first interview with the Straits Times, Mrs Lina Chiam accused me of ousting Mr Chiam in 1993 and usurping his position.

I explained - providing detailed documentary evidence - how this was not true (read Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 below). It is indisputable that Mr Chiam resigned from the party on his own accord and that his resignation was precipitated by the acrimonious relationship he had had with the other party leaders began way before I had joined the SDP.

In a bizarre twist, however, Mrs Chiam now says that I "conveniently failed to mention that the motion by Mr Chiam was to censure Dr Chee for his hunger strike" in a letter she wrote to the Straits Times published today (see below).

What has this to do with my refuting her accusation that I was the one who had forced Mr Chiam out? I never disputed that there was a motion and that the motion was to censure me for my going on a hunger strike to protest my dismissal from the NUS.

In fact I had posted in Part 2 Mr Chiam's resignation letter which stated what the motion was about. The entire CEC rejected his motion.

Why does Mrs Chiam abruptly change the subject? I would be happy to address any dispute she wants to raise in my four-part series.

But rather than refuting what I wrote, she brings up another point which I have not disputed and which is totally irrelevant to the discussion.

More important, why does Mrs Chiam persist in wanting to dredge up a matter that happened 17 years ago? Why does she insist on attacking a fellow opposition party when there are so many other important national matters to take issue with the PAP such as the unaffordable HDB prices, ministers' salaries, Sheng Siong's raising of stall rentals, etc?

I have set out to expose the untruth that the PAP have been spewing about my so-called ousting of Mr Chiam. I am happy to let Singaporeans read the PAP's/Chiams' account versus what I have written and let readers draw their own conclusions about the matter.

I have no desire to let the PAP media continue to feed on this issue. The SDP has moved on and we will concentrate on speaking up on the weighty issues on behalf of Singaporeans rather than be mired in petty finger-pointing that serves only the PAP's interests.

Chee's Convenient Exclusion
Straits Times Forum
10 Apr 10

Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) secretary-general Chee Soon Juan's reply ('No one forced Chiam out: SDP chief', April 2) to my comments in a report ('Chiam's SDP exit: Wife speaks up', March 29) conveniently failed to mention what the motion was about, when no SDP central executive committee (CEC) member supported Mr Chiam.

The motion by Mr Chiam was to censure Dr Chee for his hunger strike. Dr Chee went ahead with the hunger strike on his own despite Mr Chiam's disagreement. The hunger strike was in connection with his sacking by the National University of Singapore.

Lina Chiam (Mrs)
CEC member
Singapore People's Party

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Comments (16)

Sun 11 Apr 2010 9:41 AM | BryanT - Same Bickering, Differing Benchmarks

It’s really laughable that when Lina Chiam writes in to the ST, CSJ accuses her of persist(ing) in wanting to dredge up a matter that happened 17 years ago.

But when CSJ writes in, such dredging accusations are not warranted.

Life’s little ironies that only SDP can produce.

Sun 11 Apr 2010 10:49 AM | jbeji - WHY?

u asked y BUT u are the first to throw stone! sometime SDP talks too much & acted like caring for Singaporeans BUT don't be the next 'PAP' thinking that u can & only act for us, we have brains too & what is to be shall be,don't keep defending and starting to write & win trying to win 'lost ground', let it be, i have respected & intend to support SDP all the way but hey look here, now u act like "holier then art..."SO, U ASKED WHY? THE ANSWER IS ALREADY THERE! NEED SAY MORE WELL, MRS CHIAM ONLY TALK ONCE BUT CSJ KEEP TALKING NON STOP & YET ACCUSE THEM OF 'PERSISTING'be real,be a man,& this way,u win respect & vote,if not, U ARE JUST A CLOWN!like the PAP have said,& i predict a great disaster as the like of the last for your election!

Sun 11 Apr 2010 12:48 PM | Robox

Re: "Mrs Lina Chiam insists on continuing to attack the SDP and me on the issue of Mr Chiam See Tong leaving the party..."

That's because this stinking PAP-serving woman cannot find the substance within herself as an 'opposition' candidate. She's doing this so as to be able to stake a claim on the Potong Pasir SMC that her almost-comatose husband wants to vacate.

And her almost-comatose husband wants blood. In revenge for Dr Chee showing up his own ineptitude as the leader - or so we are led to believe - of a political party.

Comatose Chiam's vote shares in Potong Pasir have been decreasing steadily over the last couple of elections. To better salvage his own political reputation, he linked arms with Kenneth Jeyaratnam who believes that there is absolutely no racism in Singapore but the politically naive believe to be a "breath of fresh air", to OUST the SDP from Bishan-Toa Payoh where the SDP has been working the grounds since 2007.

This is the "soft spot" that Lina Chiam thinks that she has found.

What has Lina Chiam done for any 'opposition' cause to deserve any seat in Parliament?

Did she, like her comatose husband previously had, receive a promise from the PAP that Potong Pasir's boundaries will not be redrawn so long as she promises to be as ineffective as her comatose husband was?

In the PAP-inspired personality-and'character'-based politics that this stinking woman, Lina Chiam has drawn her inspiration from - as oppposed to the law and policy-based politics that the SDP espouses - it would be in keeping with her low class character to indulge in character assasination coupled with smear campaigns.

That's exactly why she has written this letter.

Sun 11 Apr 2010 1:17 PM | NemoAlaska - Petty Finger-pointing?

I almost fall from my chair when I read till the last sentence that you did not want to mire in the petty finger-pointing.

After reading your four parts of "clarification" and this article that you had spent days and nights to put in front of the public, you are considering it as "petty finger-pointing"?

Sun 11 Apr 2010 2:15 PM | seebeng - What election?

What election? Is there any election in its true sense in Singapore? What we have is a PAP-orchestrated charade that the prime minister's office conducts once every four or five years. Nothing more.

What has Chiam done since getting elected in 1984? The Potong Pasir constituency is kept intact while other areas go drastic changes, a number of constituencies disappearing from the electoral map.

There are citizens, some even in their late 50s and early 60s, who have never voted in any election in a so-called electoral system that says voting is compulsory.

The PAP election is a fraud. It's not free and fair, period.

Sun 11 Apr 2010 3:57 PM | AnnA - jbeji

After producing and explaining what really happened, there shouldn't be anymore article relating this incident. Was quite surprised too, to see the title. In fact I got irritated at first and wondering why there is still a need to continue?

But then, we have to see the letter written by Mrs Chiam dated - 10th April 2010. It was her who has initiated SDP for another reply. She don't want to finish lah... zzzz She is in fact spoiling the image of the political party her husband has help build up, that is the SPP. Anyone, please tell her to shut up and focus on Singaporean daily issues which is affecting us not some petty old grudges....

Anyway, I trust the statement by SDP on the last paragraph - "I have no desire to let the PAP media continue to feed on this issue. The SDP has moved on and we will concentrate on speaking up on the weighty issues on behalf of Singaporeans rather than be mired in petty finger-pointing that serves only the PAP's interests." I am re-assured again :)

Sun 11 Apr 2010 4:56 PM | AhKow - Blame the victim

On the surface, BryanT comment sounds very reasonable. The logic goes, Chee wrote about the Chiam affair so he has cast the brick. But before one give credit to his "powderful" logic it is necessarily to see BryanT's logic for what it is: "Blame the victim".

Remember back in the SDP article: http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/3550-an-open-letter-to-all-opposition-supporters, this is what he says:

"CSJ uses the future tense “WILL”. After 17 years, we have yet to see any evidence that he can produce to conclusively show that he DID NOT oust CST. Since he mentioned that there records, we would urge him to produce them so before it drags on for another 17 years." -- BryanT

In other words, BryanT urged -- but in BryanT vocabulary it means challenged -- to produce the evidence.

So now that Chee has produced his evidence, BryanT now says that Chee is a fault for "wanting to dredge up a matter that happened 17 years ago".

Er what is it BryanT, you want Chee to talk about it or not. Or is it another case of, using BryanT own words, "agitating (read violent)" against SDP.

Sun 11 Apr 2010 5:52 PM | quantum

Will the real Mr Chiam please stand up and stop hiding behind your wife? Do you also want to call your mother to help? 婆婆妈妈

Sun 11 Apr 2010 8:56 PM | Jufrie - Let's focus on the real battle

Dr Chee has made his case and that of the SDP for all to see.

Unless and until the other side can produce real and documented evidence to counter what has been laid bare, right thinking and fair minded Singaporeans should be able to come to the right conclusion.

Adversaries and those who had formed their opinion on Dr Chee and SDP based on untruths should now get real. Stop slumbering in a state of denial.

This saga should end here and now. Let us focus on the real battle.

Sun 11 Apr 2010 10:12 PM | tewniaseng

I look at Lina Chiam,she looks like a witch.She is not a real politician.Chiam is good only in Potong Pasir.After 25 years,SPP is still an empty shell party,a one man show.You know why ? Chiam can't trust anybody.So he has to pass the baton to his wife,to defend PP

Sun 11 Apr 2010 11:02 PM | chua q m - 鹤蚌与PAP

鹤蚌相争，PAP得利。
反对党在这时候不能对抗，团结才能进入国会。

Sun 11 Apr 2010 11:28 PM | joanna - Time for Mr and Mrs Chiam to retire

Actually, should these two senior citizens (Mr and Mrs Chiam) retire? Or are they becoming like SM Lee and SM Goh?

Since the subject of SM Lee and SM Goh is raised, why are these two senior citizens still in office? Is it because they have not collected enough millions in salaries? Our PM being paid millions and still cannot do the job?

Mon 12 Apr 2010 5:22 AM | ashinigami

To be honest, I don't think Singaporeans are interested in some lone opposition member using his wife to rehash his supposed days of glory. But when faced with an alleged accusation in our national press no less and given credibility by our "very own" PAP no less, Dr Chee has to speak up. If anything, his error was keeping silent all these years. Staying mum on a lie only allows it to flourish.

After all the PAP use this very same reasoning/brainwashing when they indulge in their hobby of making civil suits against the opposition. After decades, it's inevitable that the Singaporean populace will believe that silence equates guilt.

Those who wish to know the truth will discover the truth on their own. I came across the SDP website years ago because I decided that enough was enough, I refused to listen to only one side of the story any longer.

Mon 12 Apr 2010 9:57 AM | quantum - Old blood

joanna : The answer is simple: singaporeans like new handphones but old blood. lol
ashinigami: Falsehoods, lies and propaganda must be ridiculed immediately.

Mon 12 Apr 2010 11:06 AM | johntoh

My dear Chiams

It's so obvious.

You guys are dictators in your own party just like LKY.

After a lifetime of politics, you guys still have not got any capable party members, younger than you to take over as SPP leader. The very best you can offer to take over from him in Potong Pasir is Mrs Chiam?!?

This comes across loud and clear that you (Chiam ST) is ineffective, incapable and impotent as an opposition party leader and MP but a dictator as well.

In your nearly 17 years in parliament, you and your party members in party SPP have done nothing, nothing at all to stop, voice out or even vigorously bring to public attention, PAP's blatant abuses of the constitution, democractic and humam rights and freedom.

NOTHING AT ALL!!

You really really think that providing lift upgrading and covered walkways in Potong Pasir is sufficient in your role as opposition MP? Job well done as opposition MP leader in parliament?

Now your offer your wife, a housewife, to shoot off her mouth and hope that she can be an MP?. To do exactly what you have been doing for the last 17 years?

C'mon wake the hell up! STOP WASTING PUBLIC TIME AND MONEY!

You are the kind of opposition any Government around the world would dearly love to have. No threat at all. Not effective. Virtually impotent.

Mon 12 Apr 2010 6:17 PM | quantum - Party leaders face TV debates

Lets look at the UK standard of politics:

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/World/Story/STIStory_513469.html

Apr 12, 2010
Party leaders face TV debates

LONDON - BRITAIN'S knife-edge general election is set to come alive this week after a lacklustre start, with the three main party leaders going head-to-head in a TV debate and launching their manifestos.

Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown will face Conservative leader David Cameron, whose is ahead in opinion polls, and Nick Clegg of the third Liberal Democrat party on Thursday in a one-hour live debate, the first of three.

The US-style debates, the first of their kind ever to be held in Britain, could make or break the election hopes of each man and particularly Mr Cameron, who is tipped to make the strongest performance.

'David Cameron will enter the television studios on Thursday with the weight of expectations on his shoulder,' John Curtice, a leading politics expert from Strathclyde University, wrote in the Sunday Telegraph. 'The Tory leader might need to be seen to have won if he is to achieve his ambition of winning an overall majority.' Opinion polls in the Sunday papers again suggested the race was too close to call, with three-and-a-half weeks to go until election day.

Although most polls show the Tories leading Labour by around eight points, that may not be enough to give Mr Cameron's party an overall majority after 13 years in opposition. Britain could instead end up with a hung parliament.

The Tories have mostly been ahead of Labour since PM Brown took over from Tony Blair in 2007 but the gap narrowed after Britain emerged from recession at the end of last year, promising one of the tightest races in decades. -- AFP