PAP MP is not ruling out taking legal action against TOC

• Clivebenss

  3 Mar 12, 12:37

  Satish Cheney
  inSing.com - 17 hrs 46 mins ago

  Sembawang GRC MP Vikram Nair says he hasn't ruled out taking legal action against socio-political website, The Online Citizen (TOC), regarding a potentially libellous article about him.

  Referring to the article, written by Ng Ee-Jay and titled "Vikram Nair compares Chen Show Mao's proposals to a Nigerian scam," the MP said, "It is extremely deceptive of TOC to attribute lies to me."

  He said the article suggested that he considered investing in the elderly, the disabled, the poor and other needy Singaporeans as being "akin to a Nigerian scam."

  Writing on his Facebook page, he stressed that, "the insinuation that I do not care about these groups is totally false."

  He told inSing News, "I don't have any legal plans now. I hope not to take legal action but if there's lingering damage I might have to consider it. It also depends on what they (The Online Citizen) do and how they respond to the matter. I just want to clear my name."

  He added that his final decision will also depend if the website takes down the article and apologises.

  But he stressed that he hopes no legal action will be required.

  The MP also took issue with the quote that appeared beside his photo in the article, which read, "Investing in People = Nigerian Scam".

  He said that his joke about the Nigerian scam was taken out of context when he was responding to the Workers' Party's Chen Show Mao's views on investments in social capital.

  Chen had said that it was vital to invest in social capital and according to Nair, Chen had suggested that there is no need to make provisions for social capital investments in the Budget.

  Responding to the Aljunied GRC MP in Parliament, Nair had said, "Maybe even the Nigerian scheme required you to put $10,000 upfront. But Mr Chen's scheme does not even require a short-term provision. It is not even a deficit for one year. No, no, no. It will pay for itself because it is an investment. So I would like him to explain how he expects these schemes to pay for themselves because, if they do, I will wholeheartedly support it."

  The PAP MP reiterated he did not state that the notion of investing in vulnerable groups is akin to investing in a Nigerian scam.

  He added, "I pointed out that the investment concept Mr Chen proposed did not appear to be properly thought through because he did not explain how it was going to be paid for. I fully support the helping of vulnerable groups. In fact, I specifically said I agreed that we should invest in social capital. And that is what is being done now. But we should be clear as to how we are going to pay for it and not pretend that the money will materialise from nowhere."

  When approached by inSing news, TOC said that the article was by a contributor and the views are of the contributor.

  "It was not a TOC editorial, and hence does not reflect TOC's editorial or organisational position. Therefore, TOC does not see the need to reply to Mr Nair's Facebook note."

  The site added that they had not been contacted by Nair and that they do not have plans at the moment to take down the article in question.

• Clivebenss

  3 Mar 12, 12:38

  1st TRE

  now TOC

  Sgf next?

  

• Dalforce 1941

  3 Mar 12, 12:40

  PAP is getting more and more irritated with online media's attacks against them. So ungracious and thin skin. Pui. Worthless shit.

  Hougang by elections they will still lose one lah.

   

  Leaders should persuade, not silence, our critics

  MONDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2012

  Singapore Democrats
  

  The recent threats of defamation suits by PAP's leaders against Mr Alex Au and the editors of TR Emeritus (TRE) is another blow to freedom of speech in Singapore.
  
  For years, the Singapore Democratic Party has been the target of attacks from the ruling party and the media it controls. In addition, blogs and websites publish articles and comments from PAP supporters criticisng us in unreasonable, often defamatory, ways. But we have never threatened editors of such sites with legal action.
  
  We choose, instead, to publish our own website and put forward reasoned arguments to counter such views. More important, rather than silencing our critics through lawsuits the SDP responds to our detractors by demonstrating our capability and leadership qualities.
  
  Through the years we striven to be a competent and well-organised opposition party. We have consistently demonstrated that we are a party of ideas and alternative solutions. In other words, a constructive opposition party. We have crafted a vision of a compassionate, just and egalitarian Singapore that the people have welcomed. 
  
  As a result, more and more Singaporeans are beginning to understand what we are about and the values we stand for. And because of this, they are coming to join the party in unprecedented numbers.
  
  Such a turnaround has taken many years to establish and we are still in the process of building up. But if we aspire to lead this nation, there is no option: Leadership - sound leadership - takes time to develop and it comes from inspiring and persuading the people, not suing and silencing them. 
  
  We need to respect their views no matter how much we consider them to be wrong. Shutting them up through lawsuits and controlling the media may be the expedient thing to do but it harms the larger, and longer-term, good of society.
  
  It is important that leaders develop our character, not just protect our reputation. For, unlike reputation, character is permanent.
  
  In this age of the Internet, let Singapore's political leaders not continue with legal action. Let defamation suits, or threats of defamation suits, be a thing of the past. Let us have confidence that through debate and contention that a strong nation can be forged.
  
  To this democratic end, we call on the PAP to exercise quality leadership and leave the blogosphere and, in particular, the TRE to function the way they have in the past. 
  
  In politics there will always be people who disagree with us and, for a time, we may be maligned and misunderstood. But let us not forget the wisdom of the late Martin Luther King Jr who said that "the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice."

  http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/5158-leaders-should-persuade-not-silence-our-critics

• Dalforce 1941

  3 Mar 12, 12:44

  Originally posted by Clivebenss:

  Sembawang GRC MP Vikram Nair 

  You are so good why never compete in SMC, why hide in GRC?

  I think Singaporeans should defend freedom of speech against the likes of Vikram Nair. 

  I completely reject Vikram Nair's use of legal action against TOC.

  Vikram Nair should learn how to resolve conflicts without using legals means and respect freedom of speech. His behaviour is very cocky and I totally disapprove of it.

  Suka suka want to sue, behave like that bastard Harry Lee Kuan Yew to silence his critics.

  That Lee Kuan Yew really gave one of the worst, most ungracious and shameful example to his PAP members.

  I urge Vikram Nair not to follow the poor example of Harry Lee Kuan Yew.

  Vikram Nair, reject Lee Kuan Yew, don't follow Lee Kuan Yew. You reject him, I will prasie you, you follow him I will despise you.

• Summer hill

  3 Mar 12, 13:15

  Whats next?

  Taking Jason our toilet cleaner to court 

• laurence82

  3 Mar 12, 13:25

  i knew they cant win over people heart online

  the only way is to start a rampage across the internet world

• 4sg

  3 Mar 12, 13:34

  cried croc tears that they will change.....

  wait until election over than cul de sal with knife......

  just like in the 60s, the way old man did right after g election ....

  history repeating itself......

• Clivebenss

  3 Mar 12, 20:58

  Is the 60% is still sleeping?

  

• Itedino

  4 Mar 12, 10:36

  Sore loser which scare of being pawned. QING CE ZI QING - confucious . One need not explains and will be always cleared

• lce

  4 Mar 12, 10:59

  evil people

• iveco

  4 Mar 12, 12:25

  Originally posted by Itedino:

  Sore loser which scare of being pawned. QING CE ZI QING - confucious . One need not explains and will be always cleared

  
  In the first place, VN open his big mouth like an idiot. Of course sue kena aim and shoot.

• iveco

  6 Mar 12, 09:33

  http://asingaporeanson.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/ah-nair-jester-of-parliament.html

• ditzy

  6 Mar 12, 09:37

  This is what happens when you drink from a contaminated water tank?

• Clivebenss

  6 Mar 12, 15:09

  

• winsomeea

  10 Mar 12, 13:54

  Wa, they are still on the go of getting more revenue thru sueing. Walalalalal, money money money. PAP seems the one and only govt in the whole world to be focusing on earning quick big bucks thru sueing this and that. Huat at all times for them ah!!!
• troublemaker2005

  11 Mar 12, 10:27

  i rather he focus his thoughts and efforts more worries on hoe to serve the people, then writing and thinking whetehr to hire lawyer sue people. if you are not guilty or is clear pure at heart, why worry about what others say or write? we don;t pay millions for people to sue here and there you know? go start working now and stop sue here and tehre

• winsomeea

  11 Mar 12, 14:30

  Originally posted by troublemaker2005:

  i rather he focus his thoughts and efforts more worries on hoe to serve the people, then writing and thinking whetehr to hire lawyer sue people. if you are not guilty or is clear pure at heart, why worry about what others say or write? we don;t pay millions for people to sue here and there you know? go start working now and stop sue here and tehre

  Threaten and sue to ease conscience.     you are right , I absolutely agree with you.

  Qua has no capability and sincerity in public service.   All it does is wayang wayang!~

• charlize

  12 Mar 12, 12:18

  If TOC and TRE close down, there will be nothing to read on the net.

• Clivebenss

  12 Mar 12, 20:41

  Originally posted by charlize:

  If TOC and TRE close down, there will be nothing to read on the net.

  If sgf closes...

  damn stress.

  

• charlize

  12 Mar 12, 20:55

  Originally posted by Clivebenss:

  If sgf closes...

  damn stress.

  

  Yes.

• DailyFreeGames.com

  12 Mar 12, 22:02

  Originally posted by Clivebenss:

  If sgf closes...

  damn stress.

  

  
  if sgf close, the most sianz is fireice, because she would from 24 hours in forum ban ban ban, lock lock lock, gossip gossip gossip, beo handsome man like me to become 24 hours nothing to do except beo handsome man like me...

• Fcukpap

  12 Mar 12, 22:52

  hahhaha... dun worry not easy for sgf to close la....the administrator would know and calculate the tides and times... one forum site down...then another come up....the internet is full of infinite possibilities...
• Summer hill

  12 Mar 12, 23:05

  Originally posted by charlize:

  If TOC and TRE close down, there will be nothing to read on the net.

  you can always read my lame blog 

• Clivebenss

  12 Mar 12, 23:30

  lain blogs.