Outrage over MM Lee's remarks on Johor IDR

Parliamentarians, editorial columnists and bloggers lash out at MM and Singapore

The Straits Times, July 4, 2007


KUALA LUMPUR - MINISTER Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's recent remarks about Johor's Iskandar Development Region (IDR) are causing a stir in Malaysia's Parliament, in its media and among its online community.

In the past two days, parliamentarians, editorial columnists and bloggers alike have lashed out at MM Lee and Singapore in reaction to his comments which suggested, among other things, that Malaysians were not keen on Singapore investing in the IDR, a 2,217-sq-km new economic zone in South Johor geared towards being Malaysia's turbo engine of economic growth.

On Monday, for example, Malaysia's Berita Harian quoted MP Mohamed Aziz as telling Parliament, in a reference to Singaporeans: 'If you go by the sentiments of Johor residents, they send gangsters to Johor Baru to make the IDR fail, as if the city were a gangster den.'

New Straits Times columnist Syed Nadzri echoed that allegation yesterday, citing an unnamed tourism official as saying that Singapore links 'had a hand' in stoking violent crimes in Johor Baru.

Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar had to calm fellow parliamentarians again and again on Monday over their perceptions of how Singapore felt about the IDR. He assured them that Singapore would have to abide by all the IDR conditions laid down by Malaysia.

'Singapore is definitely aware of this, and allegations that it pressures Malaysia does not arise at all,' he stressed.

MM misquoted
WHAT MINISTER MENTOR LEE KUAN YEW SAID:



'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.'
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MP Ronald Kiandee then queried him as to why Malaysia always seemed always to 'give in' to Singapore in discussions about the IDR.

To that, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid said: 'I don't think Singapore wants to belittle our abilities because it will bring negative consequences. We share Singapore's view that it is much better to co-operate for mutual benefit.'

In MM Lee's interview with Singapore's Berita Harian last week, he said the IDR will put pressure on Singapore, just as Shenzhen in China rivalled Hong Kong in business, but that while China helped Hong Kong cope with competition from Shenzhen, Singapore could not expect such generous treatment from Malaysia.

'But,' MM Lee summed up, 'we believe that from a broader perspective it is better for both countries that Malaysia benefits from Singapore's economic growth, and vice versa.

'Hence, Singapore supports the IDR, on a win-win basis.'

It did not help any that there was a varying translation of some of MM Lee's current remarks on the IDR.

In MM Lee's interview with Singapore's Berita Harian last week, which was conducted in English, he said: '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.'

But the Malay press translated the words 'knock...down' as 'menjatuhkan' or 'cause to fall'. The Malay word, when used in reference to leaders, can also have the meaning of 'topple' or 'overthrow'.

On Sunday, Bernama news agency reported MM Lee's remarks thus: 'On one side PAS is trying to topple the prime minister but when Umno leaders, particularly from Johor, are also doing the same, Singaporean investors must seriously ask themselves when this attitude will change and whether they welcome us in IDR.'

The mention of 'topple' sent PAS, Johor Umno and Malaysian bloggers into a tizzy, with many accusing MM Lee of pitting certain Malaysians against Datuk Seri Abdullah.

PAS' online newspaper Harakahdaily.net had its own take.

It quoted Johor PAS information chief Mazlan Aliman as saying that it was not true that Johor Umno did not welcome Singaporean investors in the IDR because 'Johor Umno is a stooge that always agrees to any government decision'.