Dear ASS Editors,
After years brainwashing by the mainstream media, majority of Singaporeans believe that Dr Chee Soon Juan is a political gangster who breaks all rules to get his message out, to fight for liberal Democracy in Singapore. But things are not so simple and both men have a love-hate relationship.
Our founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew famously shared his disdain for Dr Chee. He said of Chee Soon Juan:
"I've had several of my own doctors who are familiar with such conduct... tell me that [CSJ] is near psychopath"
"[CSI is] a political gangster, a liar and a cheat"
"The SDP was doing very well under Chiam See Tong and at one time captured three seats and it became the de-facto leader. You [CSJ] came in and destroy the SDP... Low Thia Kiang has not defame anybody, not defame the government, neither has Chiam See Tong and they have won successive by-elections but you [CSJ] have lost successively because we have disproved to the people that you are not to be believed."
Despite LKY's obvious dislike for Dr Chee's petulant antics, for some strange reason, LKY ended up dishing out sound political advice for Dr Chee, his arch-nemesis during the Lee vs Chee 2008 defamation suit hearing.
LKY's advice for Chee was simple, he said in Court "I am suggesting to Dr Chee that if he follows the constitutional route, with his eloquence, if he can establish credibility with his eloquence, he has a better chance than Mr Low Thia Kiang or Mr Chiam See Tong."
In essence, Lee Kuan Yew felt that if Dr Chee mellowed down on his confrontational politics and played by the rules, he could become a politician more formidable than veterans like Low Thia Khiang and Chiam See Tong. In fact, Dr Chee could become the defacto leader of the Opposition if he could put his eloquence to credible use. From these exchanges, it is clear that both men have Singaporeans' interest at heart and had their own unique way of showing it.
Now at this Bukit Batok 2016 by-election, look at Dr Chee's demeanor, look at his firm standing on moral highground, his refusal to partake in gutter politics, has Dr Chee finally heeded the advice of the late Lee Kuan Yew and at long last fulfilled his political potential?
Majulah Singapura, Majulah LKY, Majulah Dr Chee!
Vasu
A.S.S. Contributor
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