SINGAPORE: Kenneth Jeyaretnam, secretary-general of The Reform Party (RP), confirmed on 18 September that he will contest a defamation lawsuit filed by former Nominated Member of Parliament Calvin Cheng.
Jeyaretnam stated in a Facebook post that he “vigorously refutes” the allegation and has formally given notice of his intention to defend against the claim.
Lim Tean, leader of the People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR), will represent Jeyaretnam, with additional legal assistance from the United Kingdom.
Dispute triggered by Gaza comments
The case originates from a Facebook post published by Cheng on 13 March 2025.
In that post, he mocked activists attending Meet-the-People Sessions (MPS) to press lawmakers on Singapore’s position towards the Israel-Palestine conflict.
He sarcastically suggested funding their relocation to Gaza, writing, “Expenses paid by me. But only if they never come back.”
He added that he was willing to provide business class tickets for the leaders and walking shoes for their followers.
The remarks drew strong criticism, with many accusing him of inflaming racial and religious tensions.
Jeyaretnam’s response to Cheng
On 27 March, Jeyaretnam publicly criticised Cheng’s comments, arguing they posed a serious threat to Singapore’s racial and religious harmony.
He argued that suggesting the deportation of citizens based on religion or ethnicity should be treated as a crime.
He also claimed Cheng’s “offer” could be interpreted as a veiled threat, given that Gaza remains an active war zone.
According to Jeyaretnam, Cheng’s remarks disproportionately targeted Malay Singaporeans, thereby constituting incitement to racial hatred and potentially breaching the Racial Harmony Act.
He also questioned the involvement of People’s Action Party (PAP) ministers who had briefly engaged with Cheng’s post before withdrawing their “likes.”
He argued that such behaviour should still be subject to accountability.
Jeyaretnam urged the authorities to invoke the Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act 2019 (MRHA), calling for a Restraining Order against Cheng.
The MRHA permits action against individuals whose statements are deemed harmful to Singapore’s racial or religious fabric.
He also called on PAP leadership to clarify the actions of cabinet ministers Vivian Balakrishnan and Tan See Leng, emphasising that public officials must be accountable for their online engagement.
Cheng rebuts accusations
In early April, Cheng issued a detailed statement rejecting accusations of Islamophobia and clarifying the context of his Facebook remarks.
He highlighted a police report filed against him by Mohamed Jufrie Mahmood, former chairman of the Singapore Democratic Party, who alleged that Cheng was Islamophobic.
Jeyaretnam and activist Martyn See were among others who expressed similar concerns.
Cheng described these claims as “false and inflammatory,” stressing he had never said anything prejudicial about any race or religion.
Calvin Cheng expresses remorse for Gaza post while threatening legal action against critics and media
Cheng addressed specific allegations in his statement.
First, he denied ever making derogatory remarks about Madrasah students, explaining that such comments were attributed to another individual in 2011. He said this false attribution was wrongly repeated by Jufrie Mahmood.
Second, Cheng clarified that his Gaza comments were directed at three activists who disrupted a Meet-the-People Session.
He emphasised that the group itself was multiracial and multireligious, and his remarks were not aimed at any specific community.
He also defended his position by stating that his past criticism of ISIS terrorists had been misconstrued as a religious attack, which he maintained was not the case.
Following the accusations, Cheng said he had sought legal advice from Senior Counsel, who confirmed to him that the statements made by Jeyaretnam and others were defamatory.
As a result, Cheng instructed his lawyers to demand retractions and apologies from Jeyaretnam, Martyn See, Mohamed Khair, Jufrie Mahmood, and The Online Citizen.
On 10 April 2025, Cheng expressed remorse over his Facebook comments. Meeting senior religious leaders Ustaz Pasuni Maulan and Ustaz Mohamad Hasbi at Yusof Ishak Mosque, he acknowledged that his remarks had “caused hurt and anger.”
Cheng clarified that his words were intended as criticism of disruptive activism rather than targeting any religion or ethnicity. He said he “should have been more sensitive” in expressing his views.
Lim Tean’s perspective
Jeyaretnam’s legal representative, Lim Tean, highlighted the significance of the case in a Facebook post.
He noted his experience in two of Singapore’s most high-profile defamation cases: Lee Hsien Loong v Leong Sze Hian and Lee Hsien Loong v Terry Xu. Lim described those cases as “cornerstones of modern defamation law in Singapore.”
He asserted that Jeyaretnam’s case “promises to be no less important,” stressing that defamation trials in a multicultural society must balance free expression with the need to maintain harmony.
According to Lim, the lawsuit’s outcome will not only shape Singapore’s defamation jurisprudence but also reflect national values of tolerance, dignity, and accountability.
Cheng and Jufrie Mahmood settle dispute amicably in August
In August, Calvin Cheng dropped his defamation lawsuit against former SDP chair Jufrie Mahmood after both men resolved their differences.
On 12 August, they posted on Facebook that they had met for a frank discussion and “agreed to disagree” over Gaza. Jufrie said Cheng was insensitive but accepted he was neither racist nor Islamophobic, retracting earlier comments suggesting otherwise.
Cheng shared a photo of their meeting, stressing that while Gaza is divisive, “as Singaporeans, we can agree to disagree and want the best for Singapore.”
The post Lim Tean to represent Kenneth Jeyaretnam to contest against Calvin Cheng’s lawsuit appeared first on The Online Citizen.
