S’PORE ECONOMIST TOTALLY AGREES WITH CHIEF OF GOVT COMMS JANADAS DEVAN

I refer to the article “Lee Kuan Yew wanted house demolished but ‘nature of the project changed’, says Janadas Devan” (Straits Times, Jun 30).

It states that “Earlier in the morning, Dr Lee had posted a copy of an e-mail between her and Mr Devan, in which he appeared to affirm that Mr Lee wanted the house demolished after his death.

“We thought that Singaporeans should hear directly from Janadas Devan, chief of Government Communications at the Ministry of Communication and Information,” added Dr Lee.

In his reply to this, Mr Devan told Dr Lee: “Your latest post blares, tabloid-style, misleading information”.

For one thing, he clarified: “The email you quote was written when I was Associate Editor of Straits Times, not Chief of Government Communications.”

The e-mail that Dr Lee made public was sent to her by Mr Devan in 2011 after he had met Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who was then Minister Mentor.”

Comment: Agree absolutely with the Chief of Government Communications, as his role then as Associate Editor of the Straits Times, was very different from his current role as Chief of Government Communications.

“”My personal view remains that Mr Lee’s wish to demolish 38 Oxley Rd should be granted the moment you are no longer living in it, which may be 20, 30 or more years in the future,” added Mr Devan.”

Comment: To the Chief of Government Communications’ credit – he need not state his personal view (since he is the Chief of Government Communications now) to agree with Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang “that Mr Lee’s wish to demolish 38 Oxley Rd should be granted the moment you are no longer living in it, which may be 20, 30 or more years in the future” – he should be applauded for saying this now.

“But he added: “I am as baffled as most Singaporeans why Hsien Yang and you wish to consume all of us in your personal family matters. Please: Think of Singapore, and forget the rest.””

Comment: Agree absolutely with the Chief of Government Communications that everyone (including Lee Hsien Yang and Lee Wei Ling) should “think of Singapore (first), and forget the rest”.

“Dear Wei Ling:Your latest post blares, tabloid-style, misleading information. Having edited you for many years, I know this is not your style” (Facebook of the Chief of Government Communications)

Comment: Agree absolutely with the Chief of Government Communications that Lee Wei Ling’s “latest post blares, tabloid-style, misleading information … I know this is not your style” – since I understand that she has never written anything before on “abuse of power”, etc – subjects in which she arguably may have had little or no experience or knowledge about.

Leong Sze Hian