Parliament has to clear PM over allegations or censure him: ESM Goh

A MINISTER who thinks that an allegation made against him is without basis has to sue, said Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong on Tuesday in Parliament.

There must also be a "clear conclusion" at the end of the two-day debate on the ministerial statements on 38 Oxley Road, he told the House.

"Either we clear (Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong) over the allegation on his abuse or power, or we censure him," he said.

Mr Goh, Singapore's second prime minister from 1990 to 2004, said he understands the dilemma that PM Lee is in, regarding the latter's decision not to take legal action against his two younger siblings.

"Being the eldest in the family, he must harbour hopes of reconciliation, however remote it seems now, even at a cost to his own political standing," said Mr Goh, urging PM Lee and Lee Hsien Yang to sort out their differences and reconcile.

Mr Goh also wondered about the agenda of Lee Hsien Yang and Lee Wei Ling in this entire episode.

"Are they whistleblowing in a noble effort to save Singapore, or waging a personal vendetta without any care for the damage done to Singapore?" he said.

"I have kept my ears open. From what Lee Hsien Yang and his wife are freely telling many others, it is clear that their goal is to bring Lee Hsien Loong down as PM, regardless of the huge collateral damage suffered by the government and Singaporeans."

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