Blogger given until Friday to respond to PM’s letter of demand

SINGAPORE — Blogger Roy Ngerng Yi Ling has been given a two-day extension, until 5pm on Friday (May 23), to respond to the letter of demand issued to him by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s lawyer.

The 33-year-old healthcare worker in the public sector had been demanded to remove an article on his blog containing allegations against Mr Lee, apologise, and pay damages by yesterday, or face legal action.

But yesterday, he asked for an extension through his lawyer M Ravi, which Mr Lee agreed to, his press secretary confirmed yesterday, in response to media queries.

Mr Ravi did not say why his client needed more time to respond.

The letter of demand was issued after Mr Ngerng posted an article, “Where your CPF Money is Going: Learning from the City Harvest Trial”, on May 15 accusing Mr Lee of misappropriating money paid by Singaporeans to the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board. He removed the article on Monday night, but posted a new article on CPF interest rates the next day.

Meanwhile, Mr Ngerng revealed on his blog yesterday that he was proposed as a candidate for Nominated Member of Parliament by fellow blogger Han Hui Hui.

He has advocated on wage and labour issues, income inequality and poverty, CPF, healthcare and education issues via his socio-political blog over the past two years, Mr Ngerng posted. “I believe that it is a responsibility for me to speak up for my fellow Singaporeans.”