The AIM saga – lawsuits don't answer questions

There is much unhappiness that has resulted from the sale of Town Council computer systems to AIM, a private company owned by former PAP MPs. In responding to critics, Dr Teo Ho Pin, the coordinating MP for PAP-held Town Councils, issued a statement which has raised more questions.

The attempt to clarify his party's position over the matter has backfired. The situation is exacerbated with Mr Lee Hsien Loong now taking Mr Alex Au to task by sending the blogger a letter to cease and desist.

(Acting Minister for Manpower has also demanded, and received, an apology from Dr Vincent Wijeysingha over the latter's posting of an article on the SMRT bus drivers episode.)

This is not the way to deal with the situation.

The Government must be patient and go that extra mile to explain matters of public interest in a calm and rational manner without resorting to legal action.

The best way to respond to critics is to present reasoned arguments based on factual statements. These arguments may have to be repeated over and over. But if they are credible and factual, Singaporeans, being a reasonable people, will eventually come to the right conclusion. The use of lawsuits will only stymie the debate and stoke the ire.

In this regard, Mr Lee has much to learn from US President Barack Obama. Mr Obama has been accused of not telling the truth about his place of birth, that he was not born in America. He went to the trouble of producing his birth certificate and, yet, his opponents, for years, continued to question his birthplace. President Obama fought his critics with facts, not threats. Today, his critics have been discredited and their accusations relegated to the irrational and the ridiculous.

Similarly, the SDP has had much criticism leveled at us for many years – some justified, others quite over the top. Our response has been one of listening and discernment, to separate those who make salient points (from which we can learn) from those who are misinformed.

To those with whom we disagree, we persuade with rational and reasoned arguments. If we do a good enough job, we win the argument and, more importantly, the support and respect of the people. For those, who cannot or will not concur with us, we accept the parting of minds.

Education, persuasion, and acceptance of differences – in other words, a mature and First World political culture – is the way forward, not defamation suits.
We need a new politics in Singapore, and we cannot achieve this with the old PAP way.

Singapore Democrats