 The frequency of defamation suits brought by Government ministers and PAP MPs against critics , in particular political opponents , has been a cause for concern for organizations such as the International Bar Association and the United States Department of State . Amnesty International has referred to the use of civil defamation suits as a strategy by the government to inhibit the public activities of opposition politicians . This is due to how high awards of damages often cripple opposition politicians financially , causing them to become bankrupt and thus lose their parliamentary seats or become ineligible to run for elections . The resulting perception is that Singapore 's leadership has a long @-@ standing reputation for using defamation actions as a mechanism for removing opposition members from the Singapore Parliament or for inhibiting opposing political views . 
