Malaysian MPs critical of MM Lee's remark

The Straits Times, April 26, 2007



KUALA LUMPUR - SEVERAL Malaysian lawmakers have reacted to a remark by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew that Singaporeans were mistaken to believe that the Republic was an ordinary country and could behave like other nations.

Mr Lee was speaking at a dialogue session with Young People's Action Party members on Saturday.

While explaining the need for Singapore to have an extraordinary government, he said: 'The biggest mistake any Singaporean can make is to believe that Singapore is an ordinary country and can behave like an ordinary country like Malaysia, like Indonesia, like Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark.'

MM Lee added that Singapore needed a government of capability and integrity or the nation would 'sink into nothingness'.

A senior backbencher in the Malaysian parliament, Datuk Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar, told Utusan Malaysia that it was clear that MM Lee's statement tried to cover up Singapore's inadequacy of being highly dependent on its neighbours, including for water from Malaysia.

'MM Lee should not compare Singapore with its neighbours because it can achieve all its progress as it is a small country with a small population,' the acting chairman for the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) Backbenchers' Club was quoted as saying by Utusan on Tuesday.

The Larut MP added that MM Lee's statement showed that he was insensitive towards neighbouring countries.

Opposition MP from the Democratic Action Party (DAP) Chow Kon Yeow said that MM Lee's remark was not unusual since everyone knew about the 'kiasuism' of the Republic and described it as a ploy to 'motivate Singaporeans by inciting fear'.

A BN MP, Dr Rahman Ismail, said that Mr Lee made the remark because Singapore felt it was superior to its neighbours.

'They think they are the best; that is why they talk like that. But they forget they may have to turn to their neighbours one day,' he said.

Datuk Idris Haron, also from the BN, said the statement by MM Lee breached the spirit of regional cooperation inspired by Asean leaders.