6-10-2023 (SINGAPORE) Singaporean Cabinet ministers K Shanmugam and Vivian Balakrishnan have issued a response to a recent Facebook post by Lee Hsien Yang, in which he proposed an independent arbitration, alleging that what Lee truly seeks is “special treatment.”
In a joint statement published on their respective Facebook pages on October 5, 2023, Shanmugam and Vivian emphasised that Lee’s desire is to be treated differently from other Singaporeans and even foreigners who face defamation lawsuits in Singapore. The statement reads, “Lee should explain why he is entitled to make libellous statements, yet be exempt from the rules that apply to the rest of us.”
Lee Hsien Yang had earlier suggested on his Facebook post that he and the ministers should “mutually agree to an independent arbitration where we each choose an arbitrator of high international standing.” He also proposed that the ministers should file a lawsuit against him in the London courts, asserting that the statement they found offensive was made in the United Kingdom. It’s worth noting that Lee’s statements were primarily intended for a Singaporean audience.
However, Shanmugam and Vivian’s joint statement highlighted that Lee’s statements were related to events in Singapore and aimed primarily at a Singaporean audience. They pointed out, “We have sued Mr Lee for a libel that was published to the people in Singapore, which concerns Singaporeans and is based on the laws of Singapore.”
The statement further asserted that Lee should embrace the opportunity to defend himself in an “open Court” where he can cross-examine the two ministers, and they can cross-examine him, all in full view of the Singaporean public.
