Tag Archives: The Online Citizen

Singapore Daniel De Costa was selected by American grassroots to perform a Jewish ceremony and deliver a short message for the global Peaceful Warrior Day before inauguration.

Lawyer Lim Tean recently defended Leong Sze Hian and Terry Xu against Lee Hsien Loong over the 38 Oxley Road saga. Lim Tean shared how these defamation suits may have backfired against Lee Hsien Loong

I am rather surprised to find this line in the paper that states there was “corruption in the highest echelons” of the PAP leadership. That was never what I had written.

Lawyer and political veteran Lim Tean shared on his Facebook that he will be representing The Online Citizen (TOC) editor Terry Xu in his trial against a defamation suit filed by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

I refer to last Friday’s disastrous handling of an intoxicated man at the juncture of Collyer Quay that caused quite a stir on and offline which ignited a debate on police procedural tactics. It is a very curious case on why the 6 officers did not subdue the man much earlier and allowed the situation to escalate? Compare this with previous scenes of peaceful activists gathering for candlelight vigils and giving a non-violent address where hordes of officers would be dispatched to round and restrain them. It becomes very polarising when the public sees double standards for similar or worse situation.

The POFMA was issued to TOC due to them sharing the statement by Malaysia-based Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) in which they alleged stated "untrue, baseless and preposterous allegations about the use of unlawful methods in judicial executions conducted in Changi Prison" according to the MHA press release. Two others who shared the same LFL statement were also issued POFMA, according to the MHA press release. The two were another opposition voice Kirsten Han, and non-PAP controlled media, Yahoo Singapore Facebook.

POFMA was passed in parliament in May earlier this year. Despite what the government says about protecting citizens from fake news, it is all their way of pushing down a draconian law that has the potential to stifle and kill authentic contrarian views and any point of view that the government doesn't agree with. Here are what other prominent academics, human rights advocates and even a former PAP MP have to say about POFMA.

The Writ was served on 5 September at Terry Xu's house, which indicated that the article in question "contained statements that are false and baseless and were calculated to disparage and impugn PM Lee as well as his office as the Prime Minister.” Xu has 8 days to enter an appearance to defend the claim. This is also not the first time lawyer Davinder Singh has represented PM Lee in his defamation suits. He was involved when PM Lee sued Roy Ngerng in 2015, and most recently Leong Sze Hian, whose case is still ongoing.

Ok guys and gals, so all of you cheering the rediscovery of common sense in the judgement on the Protection from Harassment Act, remember that the case would never have come about if TOC had not published Dr Ting's side of the case. Free speech still costs money, so put your money where your mouth is and support independent media in Singapore by contributing to the running costs of TOC.

Mindef's appeals against Ting Choon Meng and the current and former editors of The Online Citizen will be heard in the Court of Appeal tomorrow, Court 9A of the Supreme Court at 2.30 p.m.