KL not envious of Singapore's progress: Najib

The Straits Times, February 17, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA has never been envious of progress made by other countries, as they have a right to develop, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak has said.

It is more important for Malaysia to focus on its own national development and strive to achieve greater progress, Utusan Malaysia yesterday reported him as saying.

'It is their right (to develop Singapore). We (Malaysia) will constantly strive to achieve greater progress in all fields to fulfil our vision.

'We have never been envious of any country, so no need to use envy as an excuse,' said Datuk Seri Najib, when asked by reporters on Thursday to comment on remarks made by a Singapore MP in Parliament on Monday.

Madam Ho Geok Choo (West Coast GRC) had asked if actions such as Indonesia's ban on sand exports to Singapore sprang from the 'politics of envy'.

Noting that Singapore's fast growth and success 'may be creating a lot of tensions with our neighbours', while its offer to 'help' may cause them 'loss of face', she asked if 'a different tactic and approach' would work.

To this, Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo had said: 'It is not for us to comment on the domestic politics of countries in the region.

'But our policy - and it is a steadfast one - is to have good relations with them and to build those relations on the basis of mutual benefit.'