To the Editor:
William Safire (column, Feb. 12) says that when he asked Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore about nepotism, Mr. Lee "became flustered" but afterward "boasted to reporters" about an apology published by The International Herald Tribune on that subject.
Mr. Lee did not need to boast to reporters. An audience of 300 at the meeting in Davos, Switzerland, heard Mr. Safire's question and Mr. Lee's reply from that platform that if Mr. Safire cared to make the same allegation in Singapore, its truth could be tested in court; that Mr. Lee was elected by voters and appointed deputy prime minister by a new prime minister, not by his father; and that Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong had invited Mr. Safire to come to Singapore to debate him and enlighten Singaporeans on the follies of their Government, but Mr. Safire declined.
The audience applauded. Mr. Safire remained silent. Why did he again duck the opportunity of a public debate?
CHIA DER JIUN Press Secretary to Deputy Prime Minister Singapore, Feb. 15, 1996