I refer to the letter on Chee Soon Juan by the Consul-General of Singapore Toh Hock Ghim (South China Morning Post, March 20).
Mr Toh claims that Dr Chee was dismissed by the National University of Singapore 'because he had misused university research funds'. I was teaching at the National University at the time and I would like to question Mr Toh's version of the events.
Dr Chee was dismissed from his post as lecturer in neuropsychology two months after he ran for the opposition Singapore Democratic Party in a December 1992 by-election, allegedly for misusing S$226 (about HK$951) out of a $27,000 research grant. His departmental head Dr S. Vasoo, had endorsed the use of these 'misused' funds, but apparently had a change of mind following Dr Chee's decision to join the opposition. It is worth noting that Dr Vasoo is also a Member of Parliament for the ruling People's Action Party. Dr Vasoo dismissed allegations of conflict of interest with the declaration that 'I separate my duties as head of department from my role as PAP MP'.
The university did not appoint an impartial committee to decide on Dr Chee's alleged misdeeds before dismissing him.
In Hong Kong, academics, journalists, civil society activists, and opposition politicians would have been up in arms. In Singapore, the PAP's tactics helped to ensure that society was 'stable'.
DANIEL A. BELL