SINGAPORE: Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong sent a lawyer's letter to the editors of a sociopolitical website, which had alleged cronyism in the appointment of his wife Ho Ching as head of Temasek Holdings, local media reported on Monday. The website removed the post on Sunday evening, the Straits Times said, in an apparent effort to end the ordeal without further action. In the letter sent on Sunday, the prime minister asked for the post to be removed and the website Temasek Review Emeritus to post an apology by Feb. 24. The apology post must remain on the website for the same number of days as the offending post had. A local correspondent in Singapore told Bikyamasr.com that “this is about censorship. The article was proposing an idea of something and it should not have been an issue and still shouldn't if we are to have a free press.” The prime minister also asked the editors of the website to give a written confirmation by Feb. 23 that they would comply, and legal proceedings against them would be started if they fail to do so. Richard Wan, the editor to whom the letter was addressed, said on Sunday night that he was discussing the matter with other editors of the website and a statement is expected to be issued by “around lunch time” on Monday. Local daily Lianhe Zaobao quoted Wan as saying that an apology would be posted on the website. The website often carries comments or posts that are critical of the government and the ruling People's Action Party, but some of the posts are often deemed emotional. Wan is a 49-year-old information technology consultant who made his first public appearance last week at a public forum declaring himself as one of five editors of the website. Davinder Singh, the lawyer acting for the prime minister, said the letter had been served on Wan in person. The letter also defends the appointment of Ho as head of Temasek Holdings in May 2002, saying it was “on merit and through proper process.” BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/ER0tG Tags: Lee Hsien Loong, Letter, Report, Singapore Section: East Asia, Latest News, Media
