The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) has responded to blogger Leong Sze Hian's claims, calling them "deliberate untruths" and "half truths".

Leong, who joined the People's Voice party as its "Shadow Finance Minister", shared several screen shots on Facebook on Aug. 16 of what appeared to be an email from an SLA officer.

Leong then wrote in his post, which also served as a call for assistance from the public:

"Knock down & rebuild wall of 64-year old home - encroachment of state land 1.3 cm to 4.9 cm. Any advice, suggestions or help, would be greatly appreciated."

Leong was asked by SLA when he would be removing the encroachment.

You can see his post below:

SLA gives an answer

Leong's public post elicited a swift response from SLA, in the form of a Facebook post on Aug. 17:

SLA said in response to Leong: "The suggestion you make is that the request by SLA was unreasonable."

SLA then listed out the actual length of the encroachment to be between 13 to 49 cm, with photographic evidence:

"1. Your rear boundary fence has encroached between 13 cm and 49 cm onto the State land behind your property (i.e. 10 times the figures you posted).

2. A picture of the fence with concrete footing is enclosed. It is not a whole wall as you have suggested.

3. Since February 2018, for a period of 18 months, you have been asked to rectify this encroachment. You have refused to do so.

4. Your neighbours have also similarly encroached on State Land. Several have been contacted, and have been co-operative, and have taken steps/are taking steps to move their fences back, unlike you."

According to the SLA, the encroachment looks like this:

To round it off, the SLA added:

"The Singapore Land Authority respects private property but also has a responsibility to safeguard state land, which belongs to all Singaporeans.

You ought to know the law, and we expect you to keep within the legal boundaries of your own premises."

Background

Leong is currently being sued by the Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for defamation.

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