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Leong Sze Hian (born November 1953)<ref name=":02">"[https://www.onlinecitizenasia.com/2010/11/22/not-so-ordinary-ordinary-singaporean-leong-sze-hian/ Not-so-ordinary ordinary Singaporean – Leong Sze Hian]". ''The Online Citizen''. November 24, 2010. Accessed on 6 October 2020.</ref> is a Singaporean financial adviser and socio-political blogger who has written for the website, ''The Online Citizen''.<ref name=":3">"[https://www.onlinecitizenasia.com/author/leong-sze-hian/ Leong Sze Hian]". ''The Online Citizen''. Accessed on 6 October 2020.</ref> He was also a political candidate under the Peoples Voice party during the [[Singapore General Elections 2020: Constituency candidates|2020 Singapore General Elections]].<ref name=":1">Goh Chiew Tong and Co, Cindy. "[https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/ge2020-peoples-voice-pv-introduces-candidates-12895478 GE2020: Peoples Voice introduces 9 candidates, including blogger Leong Sze Hian and activist Gilbert Goh]". ''Channel News Asia''. July 2, 2020. Accessed on 6 October 2020.</ref> In 2018, Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong sued Leong Sze Hian over a defamatory article that he had shared on Facebook.<ref name=":2">Lai, Linette. "[https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/pm-lee-sues-financial-adviser-leong-sze-hian-for-defamation-contained-in-facebook-post PM Lee sues financial adviser Leong Sze Hian for defamation contained in Facebook post]". ''The Straits Times''. December 4, 2018. Accessed on 6 October 2020.</ref> As of October 2020, he has over 3,000 followers on his [https://www.facebook.com/laoliang/ Facebook page].
Leong Sze Hian (born November 1953)<ref name=":02">"[https://www.onlinecitizenasia.com/2010/11/22/not-so-ordinary-ordinary-singaporean-leong-sze-hian/ Not-so-ordinary ordinary Singaporean – Leong Sze Hian]". ''The Online Citizen''. November 24, 2010. Accessed on 6 October 2020.</ref> is a Singaporean financial adviser and socio-political blogger who was a contributor on the website, ''The Online Citizen''.<ref name=":3">"[https://www.onlinecitizenasia.com/author/leong-sze-hian/ Leong Sze Hian]". ''The Online Citizen''. Accessed on 6 October 2020.</ref> He was also a political candidate under the Peoples Voice party during the [[Singapore General Elections 2020: Constituency candidates|2020 Singapore General Elections]].<ref name=":1">Goh Chiew Tong and Co, Cindy. "[https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/ge2020-peoples-voice-pv-introduces-candidates-12895478 GE2020: Peoples Voice introduces 9 candidates, including blogger Leong Sze Hian and activist Gilbert Goh]". ''Channel News Asia''. July 2, 2020. Accessed on 6 October 2020.</ref> In 2018, Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong sued Leong Sze Hian over a defamatory article that he had shared on Facebook.<ref name=":2">Lai, Linette. "[https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/pm-lee-sues-financial-adviser-leong-sze-hian-for-defamation-contained-in-facebook-post PM Lee sues financial adviser Leong Sze Hian for defamation contained in Facebook post]". ''The Straits Times''. December 4, 2018. Accessed on 6 October 2020.</ref> As of October 2020, he has over 3,000 followers on his [https://www.facebook.com/laoliang/ Facebook page].


==Background==
==Background==

Latest revision as of 11:57, 7 October 2020

Leong Sze Hian
Leong Sze Hian.jpg
BornNovember 1953
Alma materRaffles Institution
Websitehttps://leongszehian.com/

Leong Sze Hian (born November 1953)[1] is a Singaporean financial adviser and socio-political blogger who was a contributor on the website, The Online Citizen.[2] He was also a political candidate under the Peoples Voice party during the 2020 Singapore General Elections.[3] In 2018, Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong sued Leong Sze Hian over a defamatory article that he had shared on Facebook.[4] As of October 2020, he has over 3,000 followers on his Facebook page.

Background

In a 2020 interview with Thum Ping Tjin, Leong Sze Hian shared that he has been analysing government statistics for about 20 years.[5] Apart from writing for websites, his letters concerning government policies and their impact on Singaporeans have been published by newspapers like TODAY.[6][7][8] Over the years, Leong Sze Hian has also spoken at Hong Lim Park, addressing issues relating to the Central Provident Fund (CPF)[9] while also pressing for accountability from the Singapore government.[10] According to several reports from The Straits Times, Leong Sze Hian was once an insurance agent with American International Assurance (AIA) in the 1980s.[11][12]

Leong Sze Hian speaking at a Hong Lim Park protest in 2019. Photo from YouTube.

Early life & family

Leong Sze Hian was born in November 1953. Sharing more about his childhood in a 2010 interview with The Online Citizen, He said:

"There was a time when I had a driver send me to school in a Mercedes. I had unlimited pocket money. And I brought all my classmates out for lunch. Subsequently, my father became bankrupt. I didn’t even have pocket money to go to school."[1]

Leong Sze Hian got married to his wife, Lou Yong Wah in 1980.[13]

Education

Leong Sze Hian is an alumnus of Raffles Institution.[14] In a video interview published in 2014, Leong Sze Hian shared that he did not pursue a full-time university education directly after his pre-university studies.[15] Instead, he started working before completing a course for the Institute of Administrative Management (IAM) in 1976. In turn, he received two diplomas in Organisation and Methods and Administrative Management.[16] Since then, Leong Sze Hian has reportedly received 13 professional qualifications, two Bachelor's degrees in Economics and Insurance and three Master's degrees from schools such as the Harvard Business School.[17][18]

Socio-political blogger & writer

Leong Sze Hian is the main author of his eponymous website, leongszehian.com. His first article titled "PAP 2006 election manifesto promise – success or failure?" was published on 2 November 2010.[19] He has also written articles for the website, The Online Citizen (TOC) between 2009 and 2018.[2] According to the website's archives, his earliest article titled "PM Lee displayed false humility" was published on 13 June 2009.[20] In a 2011 news report by TODAY, Leong Sze Hian was named as one of the main volunteers for TOC alongside Ravi Philemon, Joshua Chiang and Siew Kum Hong.[21]

Politics

2020 General Elections

Leong Sze Hian joined the PV after being approached by the party chief, Lim Tean.[22] In July 2020, Leong Sze Hian was announced as a member of the Peoples Voice team that contested in Jalan Besar GRC.[3] In his candidate introduction video, he said:

"A good member of parliament must have the heart of the people. They must ensure that policies made by the government put people first... I have had a wonderful 66 years growing up in Singapore, but it pains me to see so many Singaporeans struggling to make ends meet... My experience, I hope, can bring more transparency and accountability in parliament."[23]

The PV team garnered 34.64 per cent of the votes, losing to a People's Action Party team that was led by Singapore's Minister of Manpower, Josephine Teo.[24]

Court case

Leong Sze Hian (right) and his lawyer, Lim Tean (left) outside the High Court in 2020. Photo from source.

PM Lee Hsien Loong libel suit

PM Lee Hsien Loong sued Leong Sze Hian in November 2018 over a defamatory Facebook post.[4] The four-day court hearing commenced on 6 October 2020.[25] PM Lee was represented by Senior Counsel Davinder Singh from Davinder Singh Chambers while Leong Sze Hian was represented by Lim Tean from Carson Law Chambers.[26][27]

False allegations (2018)

On 7 November 2018, Leong Sze Hian shared an article by the Malaysian news site, The Coverage that mentioned “secret deals” between PM Lee and Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Najib Razak to launder money from Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).[25] These allegations were seen as a malicious attempt to tarnish PM Lee’s reputation.

Leong Sze Hian’s countersuit

In December 2018, Leong Sze Hian filed a defence and countersuit against PM Lee on the basis that the latter’s libel suit was an abuse of the process of the court.[28] When this countersuit was rejected in March 2019, Leong Sze Hian submitted an appeal against the High Court’s decision.[29] His countersuit appeal was rejected on 27 September 2019 and he was ordered to pay S$20,000 in costs.[30]

References/ Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Not-so-ordinary ordinary Singaporean – Leong Sze Hian". The Online Citizen. November 24, 2010. Accessed on 6 October 2020.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Leong Sze Hian". The Online Citizen. Accessed on 6 October 2020.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Goh Chiew Tong and Co, Cindy. "GE2020: Peoples Voice introduces 9 candidates, including blogger Leong Sze Hian and activist Gilbert Goh". Channel News Asia. July 2, 2020. Accessed on 6 October 2020.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lai, Linette. "PM Lee sues financial adviser Leong Sze Hian for defamation contained in Facebook post". The Straits Times. December 4, 2018. Accessed on 6 October 2020.
  5. ↑ theonlinecitizen toc. "TOC GE2020 Livestream - Interview with Leong Sze Hian". YouTube. July 4, 2020. Accessed on 6 October 2020.
  6. ↑ Leong Sze Hian. "Huge MRT profits question fare hikes". TODAY. October 30, 2004. Accessed on 6 October 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  7. ↑ Leong Sze Hian. "Why not help protect that roof over their heads?". TODAY. January 28, 2009. Accessed on 6 October 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  8. ↑ Leong Sze Hian. "Peg aid for needy to inflation". TODAY. February 7, 2011. Accessed on 6 October 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  9. ↑ theonlinecitizen toc. "#ReturnOurCPF - Leong Sze Hian". YouTube. June 8, 2014. Accessed on 6 October 2020.
  10. ↑ theonlinecitizen toc. "Where is the accountability in Singapore?: Leong Sze Hian". YouTube. March 17, 2019. Accessed on 6 October 2020.
  11. ↑ "Page 42 Advertisements Column 2". The Straits Times. July 1,1981. Accessed on 6 October 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  12. ↑ "Page 7 Advertisements Column 2". The Straits Times. October 6, 1986. Accessed on 6 October 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  13. ↑ "Page 32 Advertisements Column 7". The Straits Times. December 15, 1980. Accessed on 6 October 2020.
  14. ↑ Stolarchuk, Jewel. "Leong Sze Hian says Raffles Institution alumni supports him in his legal battle against PM Lee". The Independent. May 30, 2019. Accessed on 6 October 2020.
  15. ↑ RealSGStories. "In Depth with Mr. Leong Sze Hian". YouTube. July 20, 2014. Accessed on 6 October 2020.
  16. ↑ Leong Sze Hian. "Leong Sze Hian: My 41 years’ private education experience". leongszehian. September 17, 2017. Accessed on 6 October 2020.
  17. ↑ "Financial Planning Conference Berita Harian 2006 Rancang Wang Cara Islam | Speakers' Profile". Singapore Press Holdings. Accessed on 7 October 2020.
  18. ↑ Chan, Russell. "11 Leong Sze Hian Facts To Better Know The Man Countersuing PM Lee". MustShare News. December 27, 2018. Accessed on 7 October 2020.
  19. ↑ Leong Sze Hian. "PAP 2006 election manifesto promise – success or failure?". leongszehian. November 2, 2010. Accessed on 6 October 2020.
  20. ↑ Leong Tze Hian. "PM Lee displayed false humility". The Online Citizen June 13, 2019. Accessed on 6 October 2020.
  21. ↑ Leong Wee Keat. "Ex-NMP volunteers at the Online Citizen". TODAY. January 25, 2011. Accessed on 6 October 2020.
  22. ↑ Wong, Cara. "Singapore GE2020: Peoples Voice introduces candidates". The Straits Times. July 2, 2020. Accessed on 6 October 2020.
  23. ↑ Lim Tean. "Leong Sze Hian". Facebook. July 1, 2020. Accessed on 6 October 2020.
  24. ↑ "2020 PARLIAMENTARY GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS". Elections Department Singapore. Accessed on 6 October 2020.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Lai, Linette. "PM Lee Hsien Loong in High Court for start of four-day defamation hearing against blogger Leong Sze Hian". The Straits Times. October 6, 2020. Accessed on 6 October 2020.
  26. ↑ Lam, Lydia. "Trial opens for Lee Hsien Loong's defamation suit against Leong Sze Hian". Channel News Asia. October 6, 2020. Accessed on 6 October 2020.
  27. ↑ Tean Lim. "Political Persecution of Lawyer for Leong Sze Hian". YouTube. October 3, 2020. Accessed on 6 October 2020.
  28. ↑ Lai, Linette. "Blogger Leong Sze Hian files defence and countersuit against PM Lee". The Straits Times. December 26, 2018. Accessed on 6 October 2020.
  29. ↑ Lim, Adrian. "Blogger sued by PM appeals against ruling dismissing countersuit". The Straits Times. June 11, 2019. Accessed on 6 October 2020.
  30. ↑ Lai, Linette. "Court of Appeal throws out blogger Leong Sze Hian's counterclaim against PM Lee". The Straits Times. September 27, 2019. Accessed on 6 October 2020.
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