Minister says MM Lee's comments 'uncalled for'

The Straits Times, July 16, 2007


SARAWAK - SINGAPORE'S Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew should not make any uncalled-for statements on Malaysia's development and political affairs, said Deputy Information Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday.

Referring to MM Lee's remarks in a recent interview with Singapore's Berita Harian, Datuk Ahmad Zahid said they came from a 'senile' person, Bernama reported.

MM Lee's comments in the interview, which was conducted in English, have caused much anger in Malaysia after they were translated wrongly by the Malay press.

Speaking about Johor's Iskandar Development Region, MM Lee had said that it would put pressure on Singapore, just like how Shenzhen in China rivalled Hong Kong.

But while China helped Hong Kong coped with the competition, Singapore could not expect such treatment from Malaysia, he said.

He said in the interview: 'It is one thing for the opposition party PAS to knock the Malaysian Prime Minister down, but when Umno leaders, especially from Johor, hit out in the same vein, potential investors from Singapore must seriously ask themselves when these attitudes will change, and how welcome their investments will be.'

The Malay press in Malaysia translated 'knock...down' as menjatuhkan, which, when used in reference to leaders, can also mean 'topple'.

This prompted a wave of protests in Malaysia.

Datuk Ahmad Zahid told reporters at an event at Kampung Buntal yesterday: 'Lee Kuan Yew's recent statement was not only offensive to its neighbour Malaysia, but also an attempt to sabotage it. So, we tell him to mind his country's business and not to make uncalled-for comments about Malaysia.'

And Singapore did not have to be threatened by the IDR's implementation, as both countries could benefit from it, he added.

Datuk Ahmad Zahid said that it was not the first time MM Lee had attacked Malaysia and that he had a propensity to interfere in Malaysia's affairs.

BERNAMA