Don't get personal

13 February 2012 

Editor

Straits Times

Forum Page

I refer to Ms Christine Lim's letter in response to my statement about

the alleged affair of Yaw Sin Leong. It was not necessary for her

to pass her hasty judgement on me as a "former Presidential candidate".

As she has done so, I feel compelled to give this reply.

Yaw Sin Leong has resigned as Treasurer of the Workers Party. Ms Lim 

already said that this tantamounts to an admission of guilt. Most people 

would read it in this way. 

There is no need for Singaporeans to press this issue to the extreme and 

insist on a "transparent" statement. I wish to point out that two families are 

involved and their privacy of the innocent family members have to be 

respected.

The best person to judge Mr. Yaw is his own wife. I am encouraged by 

her support of her husband in this difficult issue. 

The other people affected are the constituents of Hougang. They will 

judge Mr. Yaw at the next general election. 

I know that many Singaporeans yearn for a better alternative to our

current system of governance. I hope that they will be realistic in 

their expectation of future political leaders.

I also agree with the approach taken by the leadership of the Worker's 

Party in handling this difficult issue. I have described it as 

"exemplary". Some people may disagree with this description, and they have 

the right to express their view, but they should refrain from attacking me 

personally.

May I politely point out that they is a past rumor of an extra marital affair 

involving another political leader, more powerful than Mr. Yaw, but the 

rumor did not surface in the mainstream media.

Tan Kin Lian


http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_766220.html

The Straits Times published my letter in their Online Forum, but remove the last paragraph about "the other rumor".