tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11031686007914774132024-03-20T00:14:44.005-07:00This Little Red Dot"We, the citizens of Singapore, ....."Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger730125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103168600791477413.post-2451541338478935402010-07-07T20:00:00.000-07:002011-03-26T01:47:01.649-07:00'This column on Singapore, are you sure you want it to run?'<strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;">In this excerpt from his new book, Confessions Of An American Media Man, veteran journalist Tom Plate writes about his first visit to Singapore in the 1990s, and his interview with then Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew at the Istana.</span></em></strong><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong><em>The Straits Times 15 January 2007.</em></strong><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MQ2EFQz-Iy_w16FqQxg_O_OE2cn_ZTwrM9yuYBeatzuOOhXm7Q7Q0SBj8IFfvRgjc0pV5KAiTX9ZFHHw2UeYOoB1G9soNUWmChlNQx3QpsOOhg_FjewL_frhqgzhRRIevnarURsWd_IG/s1600-h/PLATE.JPG"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MQ2EFQz-Iy_w16FqQxg_O_OE2cn_ZTwrM9yuYBeatzuOOhXm7Q7Q0SBj8IFfvRgjc0pV5KAiTX9ZFHHw2UeYOoB1G9soNUWmChlNQx3QpsOOhg_FjewL_frhqgzhRRIevnarURsWd_IG/s320/PLATE.JPG" border="0" /></a>I HAD been writing my Asia column for hardly more than a year when a bright student of mine named Gwendoline Yeo (now an accomplished actress in Los Angeles and occasional guest star on Desperate Housewives) suggested that I visit Singapore, where she had been born and raised until early adolescence.<br /><br />Initially, I scoffed at the idea. I'd only been to China once at that point and the young column was progressing just fine. Why should I waste a trip on tiny little Singapore? Who would care?<br /><br />But, being a bright young woman, and a trilingual one at that, Gwendoline justified her assertion in the language a political writer could comprehend: 'You should go to Singapore because you will meet a political genius named Lee Kuan Yew.'<br /><br />I was intrigued by her characterisation of the founder of modern Singapore. It was certainly true that the country had become a city state of extraordinary influence and success, especially considering its minute size and population. But it had a political system that ran things, shall we say, not exactly in the American way. It was a one-party goliath that squeezed out - or absorbed into the ruling party - all of the significant political opposition. That was the bad news (from the US political values perspective).<br /><br />The good news was this: Lee had built a top government team that single-handedly transformed impoverished Singapore, which was abandoned a half century ago as a lost cause by the ever-pragmatic British, into one of the most impressive little places in the world. But again, he did not do it the American way.<br /><br />The seeming duality of the place - the contrast between enviable achievements and questionable process - fascinated me; so did the political enigma of Lee Kuan Yew, who, to say the least, had not received a very good press in the United States, at least in the 1990s.<br /><br />I decided to call on the government of Singapore and phoned to ask for a journalist's visa so as to travel there for a column or two.<br /><br />Initially - and to my surprise - they were not enthusiastic. 'Oh sure, we know what you're going to do,' said the government official who handled the foreign press. 'You're going to come to Singapore, you're going to spend 2.1 days here, you're going to write 3.1 articles and you're going to mention that caning incident 17.6 times.'<br /><br />They had a point.<br /><br />The Singapore government had been keeping track of foreign journalists who parachuted in (and stayed for some time, then write the one dominant story on caning) for quite a long time. Indeed, before I left for South-east Asia, I had reviewed the Los Angeles Times (LAT) database of previous columns and stories, and found that the vast majority of those done in recent years (or ever!) had focused on Singapore's use of caning as criminal punishment and social deterrence, and about its first known American recipient thereof, the notorious Michael Fay.<br /><br />He was more or less a typical young irresponsible American goofball who decided to publicly display his spray-painting skills on walls and cars in a political culture whose entire goal was absolute public respect for authority - and control of deviance of almost all kinds. In such a small and well-policed city state, the young American was quickly arrested and promptly sentenced to a handful of whacks from the strict Singaporean caning rod.<br /><br />The US media outcry was instantly condemnatory. How primitive! How animalistic! But it never occurred to the American media so loudly lynching Singapore - and telling it how to run its affairs - that American public opinion was far more in favour of than against this practice, probably because we wish we could be at least a little sterner with our own errant children, perhaps even without getting slapped with an ACLU (American Civilian Liberties Union) lawsuit. More on the Michael Fay case <a href="http://www.corpun.com/awfay9405.htm">here</a> and <a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1130998/posts">here.</a><br /><br />But let's go back to my conversation with the Singapore government.<br /><br />'Okay, I'll make you a deal,' I said. 'I'll stay 5.0 days, a whole work week. I won't go to Malaysia, I won't go to Indonesia, I won't go anywhere else in Asia during that time. I'll look, I'll learn and I'll write one column in which I'll likely only bring up caning once because, as an American journalist, I'm going to have to mention your caning law at least once or I'll lose my journalistic licence!'<br /><br />I was joking, of course, or was I? Of course, American journalists don't have to be licensed, but should they be? Now, that's an interesting question; you might be surprised by my answer!<br /><br />The Singapore official threw my pitch right back at me: 'Okay, here is what you are proposing: you'll stay one week, you'll write one column, you'll keep an open mind, you'll observe, you'll listen, you'll look and you'll only probably mention caning once?'<br /><br />'Correct. But I will have to mention it once or I won't be able to get the column into the Los Angeles Times.'<br /><br />'There must be a catch.'<br /><br />'There is a catch.'<br /><br />'Uh-oh, right. What's that?'<br /><br />'Before I leave Singapore, I must have an interview with Lee Kuan Yew.'<br /><br />The media relations official said he would get back to me and hung up.<br /><br />I never thought I would hear from him again.<br /><br />Word came back from Singapore two days later. 'Okay, here's the deal as we understand it. You come, you stay a week, you see what you want. No one will follow you around. You write whatever you want, of course. We'll be helpful to you in any way we can, and at five o'clock on Friday, since we know you are leaving on Saturday on a Singapore Airlines flight 868 (Singapore's government officials, to generalise, are extremely precise and always do their homework better than you had done yours) to Hong Kong, you can have 45 minutes with Lee Kuan Yew in his office at the Istana.'<br /><br />The Istana was an old but lovely British colonial residence. It had its own nine-hole golf course. It was gorgeous. Lee Kuan Yew, as a proud ethnic Chinese Singaporean, may have been happy to have the British vacate the premises, but no one had ever said he was dumb. Istana soon became his government's equivalent of the White House.<br /><br />So off I went to Singapore, and, as I laughingly tell my students, as soon as I touched down at the airport, had gone immediately to the information booth and asked: 'Where does the caning take place? Where are the caning centres?' They looked at me like I was crazy. I was joking, of course.<br /><br />What I found in Singapore was a modern state with a high standard of living where roughly 90 per cent of all families own their homes. There is almost full employment; the place is as clean as a whistle; and many, if not all, government offices have air-conditioners - thank God - because the temperature in the country gives lit ovens a bad name!<br /><br />Sure, Singapore had its problems - ethnic tension, excessive political uptightness, constant worries about employment. But they've done one heck of a job in many respects and any fair-minded parachute journalist had to be duly impressed.<br /><br />The city state has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world. The environment is so clean that it is a Western environmentalist's paradise. There is no littering. On the ride from the airport, you look out from the car and search in vain for trash on the roadside. The public education system consistently rates as one of the best in the world.<br /><br />The Singapore Cabinet invariably fields a team whose collective IQ is at least equal to that of its neighbours' Cabinets combined; its civil servants are paid well and its appointment process is, by and large, merit-driven; and its much-maligned, if always pro-government, news media - while not a 'rock-'em-sock-'em' negativistic pile driver like its counterparts in America - serves all its ethnicities pretty well by not sensationalising frictions and counts one world-class daily newspaper, The Straits Times, among its holdings.<br /><br />This was not the Singapore I had read about in the Western press - a lifeless, uninteresting, robotic, hell-hole equatorial humidor of a place. On the contrary, it was something else and I rather liked it.<br /><br />Such was my general impression as the much-anticipated Friday appointment with the Senior Minister approached. Lee Kuan Yew took that invented title after stepping down as the founding prime minister a half dozen years before. (Lee later assumed the post of Minister Mentor in 2004.)<br /><br />Who was this man - so glibly portrayed in the US media as some kind of political control freak, as nothing more than a 'soft authoritarian' - who managed to engineer one of the most remarkable national development success stories in the post-war history of nation-building? The answer turned out to be anything but a disappointment.<br /><br />The interview was long and deep. Instead of the 45 minutes I was scheduled for, Singapore's founding prime minister laid out his views for nearly two pleasant but intense hours, replying to every one of my questions with astonishing precision, careful thoughtfulness and a charming British lilt acquired in his years as a Cambridge student in England.<br /><br />What was the biggest problem he faced when he and his People's Action Party began to piece Singapore back together in the 1960s? Surprisingly, Lee said it wasn't the economy, national security nor public schools, but rather the omnipresent, oppressive, lawless, marauding drug gangs who roamed the streets, terrorised the citizenry and kept the decent people of Singapore indoors at night.<br /><br />The British had largely ignored the gangsters during their reign. As a result of this debilitating carte blanche, the problem mushroomed into a living nightmare. Roaming gangs controlled the streets not only by night but also during the day, and the threat of being an innocent but dead bystander in a drug gang gun battle or drive-by was real. It was impossible to build a peaceful society with that kind of arrant misconduct, insisted Lee.<br /><br />I asked him what he did to combat the gangs.<br /><br />'We had the army arrest them and put them in jail.'<br /><br />'So, how did the trials go?' I said, reasonably.<br /><br />'We didn't have trials,' the senior statesman replied directly.<br /><br />'What?!' I tried to seem unruffled but I think I failed. My Americanness was shining through too obviously.<br /><br />'You see, Tom, we inherited the British system of justice which requires the first-person testimony of one gang member to convict another one. But the gangs would kill off anybody who talked, so what developed was a revolving door system in which an arrest would be made and there'd be a trial which hinged on the testimony of a witness who then would be killed by agents of the indicted gangsters, and out the door would go the criminals, back onto the streets.'<br /><br />'Why couldn't the police protect the witnesses?'<br /><br />'They weren't strong enough.'<br /><br />'So what did you do?'<br /><br />'We let the army round them up and put the gang members in jail,' Lee said.<br /><br />'So, where are they today?'<br /><br />'By and large, they are still in jail.'<br /><br />'But that's preposterous!'<br /><br />He looked me in the eye clearly and evenly, and said directly, without a trace of apology: 'Mr Plate, haven't you noticed? The streets of Singapore are safe.'<br /><br />He had me there. Years later, my spunky wife Andrea put this to me: I want to go away for a week, by myself, without obnoxious you or pain-in-the-neck child around me. I need a week all to myself. What, in your view, is the most interesting and safe place for a woman alone? Easy, I answered, Singapore. She went and mainly loved it. She went several times again, and again mainly loved the place, though she has been developing the very strong view that the former prime minister ought to lighten up a little and let his people enjoy themselves more. Then the place might be near-perfect.<br /><br />We switched to other topics. I asked him about dealing with China. He was of the emphatic view that the key to stability in Asia was the stability of China, and believed that to no little extent the stability of China was directly related to the state of its relationship with the US. If that relationship was 'gotten right', in the Senior Minister's phrase, or in other words, if it could be a civil one that minimised antagonism and maximised cooperation, China - and Asia - had a good future ahead of it. But if something akin to the Cold War erupted, Asia would become unstable since much of Asian prosperity depends on its political stability and lack of confrontation.<br /><br />I left the interview convinced that Lee Kuan Yew - love him or hate him - had an exceptional mind and a very steely will.<br /><br />I banged out my Singapore column from the gorgeous Shangri-La Hotel, faxed and e-mailed it to the LAT, and went to the airport for the long flight back to California. I slept like a puppy.<br /><br />When I arrived back in Los Angeles, an urgent phone call was waiting for me. It was from an editor at the LAT: 'Tom, this column on Singapore, are you sure you want it to run?'<br /><br />I said: 'Sure, what's wrong with it?'<br /><br />'Well, it's, um, how do I put it...it's kind of soft on Singapore.'<br /><br />'What do you mean?'<br /><br />'Singapore is a terrible place, Tom! You're too easy on them.'<br /><br />'Have you ever been there?'<br /><br />It was allowed that the editor had not ever been.<br /><br />'I just returned after a week of reporting and I do not think it is a terrible place at all. I think the column is quite fair. No one followed me around; I didn't see any caning; and Lee Kuan Yew is a helluva lot smarter than Dan Quayle.'<br /><br />'I don't know. There are some mumblings about this column from Higher Authority.'<br /><br />'Look, Singapore's press, whatever its strengths, is obviously not as free as a free press in the West. But isn't it one of our press' most revered calling cards that we're totally open and free, and thus any well-substantiated point of view can get into print?'<br /><br />I was inadvertently asking if we wanted the LAT to be as repressive as he was accusing the Singapore news media of being.<br /><br />The ploy worked. The LAT shrank back and the column ran, and there really was nothing in the piece that could be construed as blatantly anti-American. If anything, it revealed the many ways in which Lee looked favourably upon the US. It said, in part: 'Lee, like many Asian leaders, never permits his anti-Americanism to go more than a tenth of an inch deep. In fact...(he) views the US as the world's only credible guarantor of the nation-preserving principle of non-aggression - an important and much appreciated trait in the eyes of a tiny country wedged amidst a bevy of larger and more powerful ones. Lee even inadvertently forwarded the multi-ethnic values of the US by warning Japan 'to moderate its emphasis on its uniqueness if it (wants) to be fully accepted by the international community'.'<br /><br />Lee was equally pragmatic in his criticism of the US. He calmly pointed out that the US itself should be careful not to ignore festering domestic issues, especially inner city poverty and under-education, while experimenting too much with 'new lifestyles', because a domestically stable America 'is the keystone of the all-important triangular relationship with China and Japan'.<br /><br />That sounds more like the musings of a thoughtful statesman than some crackpot despot. (A few years later, I was to interview South Korean President Kim Dae Jung, who was awarded the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize. He enthusiastically characterised Lee as 'a political leader of insight' who single-handedly 'led a tiny country to a prosperous modern society amid the tidal waves of modern politics'.)<br /><br />Lee understands world politics to be an interrelated net of ideologies and practices, some of which correspond to the American way while others do not. Lee's own political leanings obviously fall into the latter category but I saw no reason to slam him for that, especially since he used his un-American beliefs to create a safe, prosperous and peaceful new country.<br /><br />A week or so after the column ran (which the LAT aptly titled <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/1996-10-08/local/me-52930_1_singapores-lee-china">'More Homeowners Than Hard-Liners'</a>), I got a phone call from the inimitable Dimitri Simes, director of the Nixon Centre in Washington, which was planning to honour Lee Kuan Yew as 'Statesman of the Year' at a dinner in November that year.<br /><br />He said, hilariously, that he had just gotten a telephone call from Henry Kissinger in New York, who had just read William Safire's column in the New York Times that excoriated Singapore and referred to Lee as a 'little Hitler'. An irate Kissinger had called Dimitri and said: '(Insert heavy German accent here) Dimitri! I am so angry with Bill. <a href="http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/1.04/gibson.html">His piece was garbage</a>. How could he write such junk? He's never been to Singapore. Lee Kuan Yew is one of the great statesmen of Asia and the world. In fact, that columnist 'Platt-ay' (he was mispronouncing my last name, which is really pronounced like dinner plate) in Los Angeles Times, he had a much more nuanced view.'<br /><br />Obviously, there was enjoyment in hearing this. My 'Higher Authority' of yesteryear, Bill Safire, had not only gotten the Singapore story wrong, but he had gotten it wrong because he violated his own essential first principle: Report, report, report. Safire was later to revise his view about Lee Kuan Yew, but only after spending some time with him, for the first time. Before that, the brilliant columnist had never visited Singapore. I had, many times. This was the difference.<br /><br />Always report. A journalist's first principle should always be: Report, report, report.<br /><br />In fact, Kissinger was so upset by Safire's uninformed column that he proposed to the Nixon Centre that he would delay his long-planned business trip to Turkey if the centre still wanted him to introduce Lee. The centre had proposed this several months before but Kissinger had politely declined due to the prior commitment.<br /><br />The Nixon Centre, of course, was not stupid. On hearing the offer, they were elated. 'Absolutely! We'd love to have you, Henry.' This was tough for Turkey but sweet for the Nixon people.<br /><br />Well, the Nixon Centre felt I had started the ball rolling by writing a column that not only unsettled the editors of the LAT but outright infuriated Bill Safire, who in turn wrote a column that outraged Kissinger. It then came to pass that I, too, was invited to the dinner and to the private reception before the main event. I was the delighted beneficiary of the ultimate political bank shot - how could I not go?<br /><br />On the day of the dinner, in a private downstairs reception room at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown, I sat meekly in the corner and watched the East Coast 'A' list enter the room, preening. This was the who's who in political Washington. There was also the 'B' list. This was the who's who from the Singapore diaspora (and who not coincidentally are also rich) from the Great Washington Area. Then, finally, there was the 'C' list - 'Platt-ay' from Los Angeles, with his guest, a Singaporean who was visiting relatives in Washington DC and whom Dimitri had said I could bring.<br /><br />Kissinger, of course, made his grand entrance - as did Newt Gingrich and Bill Bradley and many other big shots. I watched with fascination.<br /><br />The charismatic Lee and his wife (a Double First, signifying top academic honours at Cambridge) arrived to claim the spotlight. There was a sense of ceremony. Everyone bowed and scraped and congratulated. It was a largely Republican audience but as I looked at my guest for the evening - a Singapore-born student - I could easily understand that, even though she represented the younger generation of Singaporeans that viewed Senior Minister Lee with a combination of admiration and loathing (wishing for the day that a less rigid generation of leaders would come to power), there was also pride in her eyes that her own country's founding father was receiving such a high accolade in the capital of the world's only superpower.<br /><br />Lee saw me and dramatically pointed in my direction. 'Los Angeles Times!' he said in a strong voice. The reception room, packed to its edges, quieted a little.<br /><br />I thought to myself, laughing: 'Oh God, he can't remember my name but he's going to cane me anyhow!'<br /><br />Instead, he said: 'That column of yours ...I well know and appreciate the ideology of the American media. That column was brave of you.'<br /><br />This was an amazing moment. Sure, Lee would not be the first person to seek favour with a columnist by flattering him but I do not think that was his motive. He does not care that much what the Western press thought about him, unless Singapore's overall image was hurt.<br /><br />His point was that the American news media had an overarching ideology that is all but invisible to us, but extremely obvious to those outside our borders; he also implicitly understood that if the American journalist deviated from that ideology by too wide a margin, the journalist runs certain risks, especially professionally.<br /><br />I had deviated by not slamming Singapore; I had run some risks; and I don't think the LAT was ever happy with that column, nor with a lot of my columns about China which emphasised the tides of change sweeping that country rather than human rights abuses or outdated Chinese ways, nor even my columns about Japan, which preached understanding instead of condemnation.<br /><br />You see, in the American media, if you're not bashing, you're not a real macho journalist.<br /><br />I did say in the column that Lee is indeed 'another Asian authoritarian without remorse...whose flinty intolerance of such things as a vigorous free press seems buffered by (his) donnish accents of Cambridge'. That was balanced with the assertion that America 'doesn't have to agree with everything (Lee) says. But why not listen? We could learn something about Singapore (from him) - and about ourselves, too.'<br /><br />Well, a balanced perspective doesn't fly for very long in the American political press. As a journalist, you're considered bland, a milquetoast, a pushover. You're written off as a dork by those who long for the sharp teeth of the ever-hungry, self-appointed watchdog. Lee Kuan Yew had his faults, as do we all, and one must freely acknowledge that. But even his worst critics acknowledge that he is a man of superior intellect and extraordinary experience, and possessed an iron will put to the good use of his country. Yes, he did things the Singaporean way, and not the American way, but that's precisely what America needs to understand. It works.<br /><br /><br /><em><strong><a href="http://books.google.com.sg/books?id=GaIMgMsUbOYC&pg=PA52&lpg=PA52&dq=More+Homeowners+Than+Hard-Liners&source=bl&ots=6cFiMgBcHi&sig=ZSOYo0dvW5uaYTSVh2H9CTVlXzg&hl=en&ei=OpqNTaPsDo3CvQP-94CwDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCQQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=More%20Homeowners%20Than%20Hard-Liners&f=false">Confessions Of An American Media Man (page 52 for this story on Singapore)</a> is published by Marshall Cavendish Editions (2007). </strong></em><br /><br /><strong></strong><br /><br /><strong>REPORT, REPORT, REPORT</strong><br />My 'Higher Authority' of yesteryear, Bill Safire, had not only gotten the Singapore story wrong, but he had gotten it wrong because he violated his own essential first principle: Report, report, report. Safire was later to revise his view about Lee Kuan Yew, but only after spending some time with him, for the first time. Before that, the brilliant columnist had never visited Singapore. I had, many times. This was the difference.<br /><br /><br /><strong>BALANCE IS FOR DORKS</strong><br />Well, a balanced perspective doesn't fly for very long in the American political press. As a journalist, you're considered bland, a milquetoast, a pushover. You're written off as a dork by those who long for the sharp teeth of the ever-hungry, self-appointed watchdog.<br /><br /><br />Read Tom Plate & Jeffrey Cole's 2007 interview with <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/10/tom-plate-and-jeffrey-cole-interview.html">Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew</a><br /><br />and Tom Plate's 2004 candid conversation with <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2004/06/candid-conversation-with-future-pm-of.html">the Future Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore: Lee Hsien Loong.<br /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103168600791477413.post-8027829491079393382010-07-07T19:30:00.000-07:002007-03-07T03:51:03.510-08:00A Conversation with the Future PM of Singapore: Lee Hsien Loong<span style="font-size:78%;"><strong><em>Asia Media, June 15, 2004</em></strong></span><br /><br /><strong>A Candid Conversation with the Future Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore: Lee Hsien Loong<br /></strong><em>Tom Plate discusses social, economic, and political issues with current deputy prime minister Lee Hsien Loong<br /></em><br /><em>By <strong>Tom Plate</strong><br />Pacific Perspectives Columnist</em><br /><br />Sometime very soon, Singapore, the phenomenally successful little city state in Southeast Asia, is about to undergo its third peaceful handover of power at the very top in scarcely more than a dozen years. Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, the legendary political founder of modern Singapore, stepped down in 1990. Now successor Goh Chok Tong is but weeks away from making way for his successor: the Cambridge and Harvard educated Lee Hsien Loong, currently deputy prime minister.<br /><br />I recently called on the heir apparent (and son of Lee Kuan Yew) at the Treasury Building in Singapore. He strode into the meeting room in an exceptionally good mood. I had interviewed him two years ago; the intervening time seems to have mellowed him, made him more cheerful and pleasantly thoughtful. Interviews with officials at this level are not always so enjoyable or relaxing. This one was exceptionally so. (Sara Plummer, UCLA'04, transcribed and edited the interview which has been reviewed for accuracy by Singapore officials.)<br /><br />Plate: Do I have to stick to the same prepared questions I submitted last week?<br /><br />DPM Lee: (laughing) No! Ask anything you want!<br /><br />Plate: Thank you! So here’s the first question. What’s the number one thing on your mind right now?<br /><br />DPM Lee: Right now? Babies! We have quite a serious problem because our birth rate has become very very low. The rate has been coming down for some years and we are trying to see what we can do to bring it up.<br /><br />Plate: Well, this is quite your fault! (mockingly) You chose to educate your women…<br /><br />DPM Lee: That’s irreversible. But it’s not just a matter of education. You look at America. Your women are already educated but compared to other developed countries, your birth rates are high. You have women professionals and senior executives who take time out to have babies. Ours are not doing that. They say, “I have a lifestyle, I have a life… I enjoy my time. Having a baby is a big responsibility, if I have a kid I have to look after him or her for a long time. Life is uncertain, and do I want to make this decision?”<br /><br />That is our issue. We have some ideas on what we can change but we don’t know whether anything that we do will really, fundamentally turn around a long term trend. Of course, Europe has had some success - France, the Scandinavian countries have managed. But Italy has not managed. So there are some things you can do. But in the European case there is the whole welfare state structure behind it, putting billions of dollars towards it. I don’t know whether we can afford that.<br /><br />Plate: Is more immigration into Singapore some kind of an answer?<br /><br />DPM LEE: Immigration is part of the answer but it can’t be the whole answer. You have to reproduce some, and there has to be a balance. Otherwise it’s new generation that comes in from scratch. Right now we are bringing in some 30,000 permanent residents annually. And last year we only produced 37,000 babies. There is a limit to how much further we can go.<br /><br />Plate: As you say, the trend may be irreversible. Some of your most amazingly successful professionals are women.<br /><br />DPM Lee: I’m not sure this trend is totally irreversible. Part of it is the economy. The last few years’ economy performed poorly so that people controlled their fertility; and as the economy improves it will come back some. But it will still be very low.<br /><br />Plate: The economy is getting better right?<br /><br />DPM Lee: The economy is getting better, yes, but righting the birthrate will take some time.<br /><br />Plate: Right, it takes at least nine months longer.<br /><br />DPM: (laughs)<br /><br />Plate: How come the economy is better?<br /><br />DPM Lee: Well, the external conditions are better. The US has picked up. The region is not doing so badly. In our case, we had SARS last year, so this is a bounce back from SARS, partly. But it’s also a matter of confidence. A lot of it has to do with mood. If you feel better, you begin to make things better.<br /><br />Plate: You know, it’s funny you said that. I thought you delivered a very good speech some months ago on National Day. You know how important it is for leaders to stay away from public pessimism. Compare Reagan’s “Sunshine in America” with Carter’s “malaise.”<br /><br />DPM: But you have to follow up after that….<br /><br />Plate: Luck is important to a successful follow up…<br /><br />DPM: It’s partly luck, it’s partly also that we’ve been debating some fairly fundamental changes to our economy policies, structural ones. So it’s not just a cyclical change. We’ve been bringing our taxes down. Gone quite far. And shifting to consumption taxes, rather than direct income taxes. We’ve changed our state pension scheme so that the burden is less on people. We’ve changed our housing policies so that it is more in proportion to needs.<br /><br />Plate: I’ve often said that if the faculty of a first rate public policy school were actually to be given control of a country to manage, you might come up with something like Singapore.<br /><br />DPM: (laughs) Well that’s partly true, but if it’s not informed with real experiences, as you go along, you might go farther and farther out of kilter. And beyond finding sensible and rational solutions, we have to have people buying into them and supporting you. That is really the tough part. If the unions don’t support you and voters don’t agree, then you have a serious problem. Anybody can tell you that you need to balance your budget and the way to do it is to raise taxes but in California if you need to do that, you need to get someone like Arnold Schwarzneggar.<br /><br />Plate: It’s true. Many public policy schools don’t understand that. You can have the best theoretical public policies on the drawing boards but if you can’t convince constituents, people won’t buy into it and ….<br /><br />DPM: And it won’t work!<br /><br />Plate: Besides the media, what else do you do to achieve understanding and consensus?<br /><br />DPM: Well, the last exercise we did was last year. It was an Economic Review Committee. We spent more than a year working on it. We had a main committee and dozens of subcommittees and working groups. It covered the whole range: manufacturing, services, entrepreneurship, business costs, new growth areas. By the time we had finished we must have involved a couple of thousand people, discussed and thrashed some ideas, and floated others. Out of all this you need to sit down and decide a dozen key things you should do. … When we wanted to implement, we spent a lot of time talking to our grass roots, to the unions. When we changed the pension arrangements last year, the unions had thirty four dialogues with their own groups. Of course, we had discussed it with the union leaders beforehand but when the details were announced , they had to reach out to the members and make sure they understood how these would affect them. It was quite a major job to tell people who used to get 40% of their salary in their pension fund that now we are going to offer only 33%. And as you get older we are going to push it down to 27% to help you stay employed. If people do not understand you can get quite an explosive reaction.<br /><br />Plate: Leadership really can’t work without followship…You cannot have followship if the leaders are trying to lead you in ways you don’t understand.<br /><br />DPM: We have to have policies that can be boiled down to simple messages. Then they will get it. If you have a complex proposal three pages long, it won’t be understood, much less carried out.<br /><br />Plate: What often does worry me about Singapore is whether the internal debate can be vigorous enough. Can you really hash and thrash things out? How can this be?<br /><br />DPM: First of all, we have a lot of discussion amongst the MPs. We have a couple of opposition MPs. More importantly we have a good number of MPs who are independent people with their own standing. They make up there own minds. When they ask a question in Parliament we have to take them very seriously because they are not just asking for themselves, but reflecting the views of a group of people. Furthermore they probably have a point which you have to think about and address. It’s also the discussions we have with people on the ground and through many forums. There is vigorous debate, although it doesn’t come out the way that it would with nine democratic candidates at an American Presidential election.<br /><br />Plate: That’s good!<br /><br />DPM: (laughing) I don’t think there are any important issues which are excluded from debate. If the ground were unhappy, we would know it straight away.<br /><br />Plate: Going back to this fascinating low birthrate question again … do you look at other countries for suggestions?<br /><br />DPM: Yes we do, around the world. We’ve been to Europe. We are going to look at some of the Asian countries. I think Hong Kong has a problem even more serious than ours. Their average births per mother is less than one. But I suppose in their case, just turn on the tap and everyday pour in a few hundred more from China and they’re okay. That’s the answer in Hong Kong because they are part of China.<br /><br />Plate: That’s the answer for Japan if they would accept it<br /><br />DPM: But where’s the Japanese tap connected to?<br /><br />Plate: Right, where’s the tap?<br /><br />DPM: They have no solution. They know they need more immigration but it is just not acceptable to the population. Some Koreans might want to immigrate to Japan, but the culture doesn’t offer them status. I think there would be a lot of difficulty.<br /><br />Plate: Tell us more about the unintended consequences of liberating women?<br /><br />DPM: You have no choice but to do it. How can you not? You have half the population uneducated and their potential wasted. Economically and intellectually it is just unthinkable. It cannot be done. It would be a totally different kind of society.<br /><br />Plate: You say that America has done a pretty good job?<br /><br />DPM: Well, I don’t know whether you’ve done a job of it; but it so happened that your trends are so contrary to all the other developing countries. Contrary to Europe. Contrary to Japan. And somehow, it’s not just your immigration… it’s your social norms, your employers’ attitudes, and the personal values of your women. They feel it is part of them, they want to have children, otherwise they aren’t quite whole, they haven’t fulfilled their aspirations. And if they just did a business career, that’s not quite it.<br /><br />Plate: One thing in America is employee leave…<br /><br />DPM: Well, in America your mandated number of days of leave is actually quite few but employer attitudes are very hospitable and so employees get a lot of flexibility. Even the American multinational corporations here tend to be very reasonable. If someone wants to take four months off, arrangements can be worked out. So they have become used to making these adaptations… single mothers as well as married women.<br /><br />Plate: Can Singapore corporations move in that direction?<br /><br />DPM: I think we can, but it takes time. There’s a mind set issue, for the employers as well as the employees. Also, there is a certain trade off between bringing up a family and having a career. You can spend all of your time bringing up a family or all of your time having a career or somewhere in between. People have to be prepared to find something in between. The father too has to be prepared to make some adjustments and chip in. If you say I am not prepared to compromise, I must become a Senior Counsel or CEO and family comes second, something will suffer.<br /><br />Plate: American men on the whole are the most henpecked men in the world, you know!<br /><br />DPM: I wouldn’t dare to agree!<br /><br />Plate: So birthrate is a significant problem for you?<br /><br />DPM: That is a big problem. We were at 1.25 last year for the population as a whole and Chinese Singaporeans were at 1.19. So we are almost at the lowest.<br /><br />Plate: All that relates to making Singapore more dynamic and making it increasingly hospitable to non-Singaporeans. How are you doing with that?<br /><br />DPM: We have always maintained a very open door. You come with skills or talent, we are happy to accommodate you. The difficulty is that, once having brought people here, we have to get them to decide to anchor here, have a family here, take up citizenship and remain here. That’s more of a challenge because we’re talking about people of very high caliber. They have many options besides Singapore.<br /><br />Plate: Could a degree of additional dynamism of Singapore be possible with a reopening or rewarming with Malaysia?<br /><br />DPM: It will help certainly. Good relations with Malaysia will definitely be good for us. So far relations oscillate between getting warmer and colder but they stay within certain limits.<br /><br />Plate: You mean, these are neighbors whether they like it or not!<br /><br />DPM: You’re right, sort of like former partners!<br /><br />Plate: You talked about the women’s issue. What about the generation gap issue in Singapore?<br /><br />DPM: Younger generations are growing up in a different environment, very well educated, very talented, with many skills. Question is, have they got all of the exposure they need to cope with a new world, because Singapore is a very orderly environment in which to grow up in. The government works, the policemen are honest, people stop at traffic lights.<br /><br />Plate: Yes, it’s quite bizarre! I’m originally from New York, as you know, so an orderly environment is quite an alien, if delightful, experience.<br /><br />DPM: Exactly (laughs) … so are we equipping our young people to cope with different kinds of political and social environments?<br /><br />Plate: I have maybe sixty to eight students in my UCLA classes, and some of them are always from Singapore. In my teaching style, I try to involve students very directly in discussion, even asking them to help me work through a point or a problem….The Singapore students exceptionally, it seems to me, are quite taken aback when asked to help. They’re not used to being asked to help a professor!<br /><br />DPM: (laughs) That is something we are trying to change, too. We are trying to open up our school system and we’ve made some fundamental changes in the secondary schools, and we are in the process of doing more. We want them to have a wider range of options and not just follow the standard academic form. We’ve started a sports school, which is a secondary school where you also train seriously for professional/semiprofessional sports. We are going to start an art school, where music, dance and drama are highlighted. … We are going to start a math/sciences school, and we’ve got many interesting programs started in many secondary schools.<br /><br />So instead of doing only “O” levels and “A” levels, which is a lot of exams, you have a through train, you can go from 7th straight through to 12th grade. In the end, you have a wider range of things you can do and have time to explore new things and new projects in ways you couldn’t do if you just take exams.<br /><br />We are also trying to open universities, make admissions more flexible and contents more flexible. So we have many changes underway. It will take some time to work through them. The key thing is the quality of the teachers and the lecturers. We have some good young teachers and academics coming in and over the years we have managed to improve our student/teacher ratios so the burden on each of the teachers is not quite so heavy. And they have more time to deal with each student class. They can take more questions and encourage discussions. Whereas when there are 45 students in a class you really don’t have time to ask, “Would anyone like to put their hand up and make a contribution?”<br /><br />Plate: Are your young people now being exposed to teachers versed exclusively in the Singapore style or do you send some abroad?<br /><br />DPM: We send some of them abroad. They go to Britain. They go to America. They go on scholarships. The numbers are not quite enough. But our young people are not squashed up. I judge by my children’s generation. They complain ceaselessly about how they have their own views and how their teachers don’t understand what they are talking about! So they are not that browbeaten!<br /><br />Plate: How old are your children?<br /><br />DPM: 23, 21, 17 and 14.<br /><br />Plate: Well, 17 and 14 are very interesting ages, to say the least, in America! Sometimes I do say in the States: On reflection, I think I would have preferred to raise my child in Singapore, at least the Singapore of two or there decades ago. My understanding was that in the Singapore of the 70’s, where a father saying no held much merit. I wish I could have raised my daughter then! Does father’s word still hold the same merit?<br /><br />DPM: It’s a new generation now. I don’t think there are the same authoritarian relationships. We are ALL live in the same world. There is global advertising. They are on the Internet. They know what is happening, or at least they think they do. You have to raise your children differently.<br /><br />Plate: I know you are super tough on drugs so I guess that’s not a serious problem.<br /><br />DPM: Drugs are not a problem, not a general problem. We have to keep holding the line. There is always some segment which is difficult. Teenage pregnancy is not a serious problem either.<br /><br />Plate: With your low birth rate, though, maybe you should encourage that!!!<br /><br />DPM: (laughs) I think I’ll stick with my current problems!<br /><br />Plate: Understood!<br /><br />DPM: It’s a bell curve. We have to accept that at the tail end of the bell curve you have people that drop out or want to drop out and you have to manage that. We have a large proportion in schools now but those at the tail end are a challenge for the teachers. You have to find ways to make contact with them and make sure they stay engaged. If not, they will drop out, and hang out with gangsters. Not in big numbers but it happens in every society.<br /><br />Plate: So, you have a little of that here?<br /><br />DPM: A little, yes.<br /><br />Plate: The outsourcing issue has become an issue in America… I suggest in my columns or in lectures reeducation over protectionism. Is Singapore’s education prepared for that?<br /><br />DPM: It’s not just the education system. You’re talking about people at an impressionable age. You give them what they need to grow up and do battle in the world. But what do you do with people who are already working and may lose their jobs? How to ensure that they learn new skills? We have set up a Workforce Development Agency to do this. I think they have their work cut out for them. I am talking about people in their late 30s, early forties. They are not young but they have 20 more years left to work before they retire. We’ve put a lot of emphasis on retraining them, giving them skills so that even if they can’t pass an exam they get some working skills which you can apply in a new job. We have some successes, but I think it is going to continue to be a challenge.<br /><br />Plate: Does Singapore have jobs that have been outsourced?<br /><br />DPM: Oh yes. Maybe not so many of the white collar jobs, though that will come. But the blue collar jobs have been a continuing process. Our manufacturing sector has been growing, but all of the jobs that we create are offset by the jobs which move elsewhere. It’s happening everywhere, in China too. Factories are moving from Shanghai up river, inland.<br /><br />Plate: Am I being unrealistic, saying protectionism is not the way to go?<br /><br />DPM: You’re right; you have to say that. America is the leader of the free world, and the largest economy in the whole world. Do you want a system based on trade or do you want one based on raw power? I don’t think you want one based on raw power. It is very bad when Congress passes legislation that says no jobs should be given to corporations who outsourced, then the US Trade Representative goes to India, the Indians protest against the hypocrisy, and the USTR has to say, “but it’s your fault, it’s because your so protectionist that I’ve had to do this.” I think that is a very poor show.<br /><br />Plate: What do we do with foreign companiesy’s that locate to America and create jobs… Do we give them a bonus?<br /><br />DPM: (Laughter) Some of your states do that. … But it’s election year politics. I hope it stays within bounds. Bush is holding the line. Kerry has not gone rabid yet.<br /><br />Plate: We’ll have to see on this issue. The problem with Kerry is that sometimes his stances on issue are more complex than the Pope’s sometimes, whereas Bush avoids nuances and subtleties to the extent possible.<br /><br />DPM: That may be in favor of President Bush. People know where he stands, and so they can decide whether to trust him or not.<br /><br />Plate: Are you as pessimistic about Iraq as the rest of the world? Does that look like as big of a mess to you as it does to us?<br /><br />DPM: I think it is a very difficult situation for you to solve. You knew it would be that way but decided to go in and deal with it when you got to that point. Now you are here.<br /><br />Plate: Of course the Japanese sent troops in…Is this a Rubicon for them? Does this worry you?<br /><br />DPM: They’ve been wanting to do this for a long time. I think they sent some to Kuwait too. It is an inevitable step that will happen at some point. It is the war generation that felt the need to maintain a pacifist posture, but the new generation want to move forward. America used to stop them but they are not doing so anymore. Now they have to deal with Iraq and they asked for Japanese troops. It is a different world. China is in a different position now so there are not the same concerns that might have been raised a generation ago. But China will still have grave qualms about Japan. You probably have to wait until the next change of Chinese leaders to get past this.<br /><br />Plate: If you are member of the truly older ethnic Chinese throughout the region… it would seem to be it is very difficult to accept..<br /><br />DPM: The people who have lived through the war will never accept. It is impossible and they are still there … But the next generation will be different. How they will work on their bilateral relationship, I don’t know. There will be room for economic cooperation but history cannot be erased overnight either. There is deep suspicion and a desire to keep the Japanese down and contrite.<br /><br />Plate: The Japanese evolution doesn’t have the feel of a joint co prosperity buildup but more the feel to me of Koizumi coming in and trying to make Japan into a more normal nation.<br /><br />DPM: I don’t really want to talk about whether they are becoming a more normal nation. But the prime minister’s visiting the war memorial shrine every year is just an unnecessary aggravation.<br /><br />Plate: You don’t accept that this is something the PM has to do for internal political affairs…<br /><br />DPM: It’s not whether we accept it or not. It’s how it is seen throughout the region and whether that is helpful to Japan? It riles everyone up … It doesn’t necessarily rile me up … but he’s made his calculations.<br /><br />Plate: Well, China has made its own calculations. Do you see mostly good in this new Chinese government?<br /><br />DPM: Oh yes, they are capable people, but they’ve got big problems. I think they recognize that. There is a certain hubris in their society right now because they are changing so fast. They believe they are going to continue at this pace. But they have some very big problems to overcome.<br /><br />Plate: Do you see the rise of large middle class in China starting to change their internal politics?<br /><br />DPM: It will have an impact. They are well informed, in contact with the outside world. Their Internet use has growing phenomenally, and they will have interests that will have to be accommodated. It doesn’t mean they will all get one vote each. But they cannot run the country and ignore these middle class interests at the same time. AndAt that’s why when Jianng Zemin came up with “The Three Represents,” you may think it’s just a new Communist slogan, but it’s really a profound change. All of a sudden the enemy of the proletariat (the capitalists) can join the Communist Party. He’s managed to turn the Marxist formulation inside out.<br /><br />Plate: It’s as if the Pope were to say you don’t have to be Catholic to be part of the Church.<br /><br />DPM: That’s right! … But he is being pragmatic. He’s trying to find a way forward without losing control.<br /><br />Plate: As I understand it, you have told them, don’t try to control Internet…. It’s not technically possible.<br /><br />DPM: It is not for us to tell them. I think they are still ambivalent about it. They want to use it for its economic value but they are still worried about the political impact. They are still trying to control inflow, blocking websites from abroad, and going about it more intelligently than we’d thought possible. But they can’t stop the flow totally. Even internally within China, stuff will be generated and will circulate.<br /><br />Plate: In the recent round of elections, look at unintended consequences in Taiwan (more trouble with the mainland), South Korea (an impeachment effort), Sri Lanka (the strengthening of the anti negotiation party), India (a seemingly competent government voted out that was trying to ramp back on the Hindu nationalism of its own party)…In some ways, elections can be more of a discomfort than an asset, no?<br /><br />DPM: You are sounding like a Singaporean! There is no magic solution in elections. You will have quite a time in Iraq trying to make elections have outcomes that are more or less acceptable…but what to do? You have to try.<br /><br />Plate: And globalisation is making more of these economies more like market economies and more transparent… this will change political policies, no?<br /><br />DPM: Look at Japan. Their economy is a western style economy but their policies are not quite western style. The forms are there but the power structures, the coalitions, they are quite un-American. Or the Philippines model. You had them as a colony for a hundred years to grow a Western style democracy and still the society is not like America either.<br /><br />Plate: I’d be worried about Indonesia.<br /><br />DPM: It’s a big factor in our lives. It’s gone through ups and downs since 1997 … but for the last four years things are heading in a more stable direction. We don’t really know how the elections will work out, but probably the winners will be nationalist and secular, not religious fundamentalist. If you look at the way the election game works, chances are that secular parties are the dominant players. But as far as Indonesian society is concerned, the drift toward a more politicized Islam or a more conservative Islam will have some impact down the road.<br /><br />Plate: We all saw the horror of Madrid- the retaliation: This is what you will get for playing nice with America. If I were the head of major company, with assurances to come to Singapore and develop a business…yet Singapore has been closely allied with America in the fight against the terrorists extremists. Safe to come to Singapore?<br /><br />DPM: You will be targeted wherever you are in the world. There is no place that is safe to run to. You could be in America on the day of 911. You could be in Middle East. You could be in Europe. Nowhere is safe. They will come look for you wherever you are. If you are in Singapore, what you will have going for you is, first, a population which is firmly supportive of peace and good sense, including the Muslim population. That’s a key requirement, because if the population is polarized you have a problem. Secondly, we take our security very seriously. If you drive around town you’ll see the police and fortifications that we have deployed. It all adds up to so many percentage points of GDP spent. But it’s absolutely necessary. Thirdly, the problem is being tackled in Southeast Asia. What governments have done against the JI terrorist group has had a substantial effect. In Malaysia they’ve picked up most of the members. In Singapore we’ve broken up most of their network. A few of the people are still running around. So the battle goes on and we are not losing.<br /><br />Plate: But, still, isn’t Singapore more of a target?<br /><br />DPM: Just because we stand with America and we are still at war with terrorism doesn’t mean we are more of a target. Look at Bali. Indonesia was not part of the coalition…<br /><br />Plate: Everyone knows that one obvious terrorist target would be the large commercial ships that come through the Singapore harbour as a trans-shipment stopover. I’m sure this question won’t give the terrorists any ideas they don’t alreadyalways have. A successful attack on such a ship could prove devastating…What is the government doing about that security issue?<br /><br />DPM: We’re working at it with other countries. It requires a multi-national response. It is not something any single country can do. We need to have intelligence and be able to preempt something that would happen.<br /><br />Plate: Do you have enough boats bobbing around, and under the water, and so on?<br /><br />DPM: (laughs) We are doing quite a lot. We take that threat very seriously.<br />People are thinking very seriously about how we can work together on port security, on sharing intelligence. We are working together.<br /><br />Plate: So the international cooperation on this issue has seriously improved?<br /><br />DPM: I am not sure about dramatic improvements. Whenever you get intelligence agencies together it’s always a question of how much you share but we’ve shared enough to have some successes.<br /><br />Plate: Do you have a view on the North Korean situation?<br /><br />DPM: I think that some sort of solution can in principle be worked out. Some guarantee of security in exchange for some restrictions on the North Korea nuclear program. How to do that? This depends on how much pressure you can bring to bear and how much the other countries are prepared to cooperate with the U.S. in order to bring pressure to bear on North Korea.<br /><br /><em>Date Posted: 6/15/2004</em><br /><br /><br />Read Tom Plate's 2007 <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/what-must-change-in-singapore.html">interview with PM Lee Hsien Loong.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103168600791477413.post-29457999015581632502010-07-07T19:00:00.000-07:002007-11-04T08:41:34.697-08:00What must change in Singapore<span style="font-size:78%;"><strong><em>The Sunday Times, March 4, 2007</em></strong></span><br /><br /><strong><em>American journalist Tom Plate, founder of the Asia Pacific Media Network, interviewed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at his Istana office on Feb 22. This is an edited extract from the transcrip.</em></strong><br /><br /><br /><strong>Tom Plate: Every time I come to Singapore, things seem to be moving on very nicely. I know there are small problems underneath, but what would be two or three things, or maybe more, that have to be changed within Singapore so that when, perhaps, Tom Plate comes back here 10, 15 years from now, it has still gone forward?</strong><br /><br />Mr Lee: The economy must continue to change. That means it has to be competitive and must grow and we must have the vibrancy and the dynamism to continue to reinvent ourselves, which means taxes have to come down, especially direct taxes. It means skilled talent has to be here. We have to educate our people, and to attract talent here. That means the whole business environment has to be favourable so that people come here and say this is where I want to live, this is where I want my business to be and I can do the business of business, which is to make money and the place can prosper. I think that's one major priority.<br /><br />The second one is education: to develop our people so that they are prepared for this brave new world. We have quite a good system. I think it needs to be further improved, both in the content of the schools and institutions which are there, and also beyond that so that people continue to be educated and learn, even into their working careers, more systematically and in a more flexible sort of way, because you can't quite decide exactly what are the skills needed for the future. If I train you as an engineer, you can do a lot of things but if I just train you to do a particular job and the world changes - the Chinese come along and do that better and cheaper, well, what will you do? So you have to learn to be flexible and our schools must get people into that mindset to know how to do this and to be prepared for this sort of world. That's a big thing.<br /><br />Thirdly, if you're looking at 10, 15 years, social cohesion is an important issue because with our incomes stretching out like everywhere else, you must make sure that the people who are at the lower end feel that they have something in this, they have a stake in this.<br /><br />We talk about free markets and free trade and it's the only way we can prosper - through free markets and free trade. But if free markets and free trade lead to half the population with stagnating incomes, which is what's happened in America and...<br /><br />And in China...<br /><br />In China, maybe less but still a significant number, and Japan is widening too, then you have a political problem. You can see the pressures in Congress now, particularly with a new Democratic Congress. Even the Republicans are talking like this. And nobody wants to support any free trade agreements or trade promotion authority for the President. So taking care of the lower end but also equipping them to look after themselves and motivating them to do well for themselves is a big issue. We haven't done badly because we've got public housing, which is a very big boost for the lower end. Our education system is a big help too, but in addition to that, we've just introduced what we call Workfare in our Budget last week, which is our form of what you call an Earned Income Tax Credit, but with not so much in cash. A big chunk of that goes into the Central Provident Fund savings for the future, for their pension, for their medical, for their housing. But basically it's still a transfer and I think it's something necessary to do.<br /><br />So, that's the third thing if you're looking at 10, 15 years. If you are looking beyond that, then the population is an issue. Procreation in young people, immigration and integrating the arrivals as well as the births, so that you have a cosmopolitan but cohesive and stable society. That's the challenge.<br /><br /><strong>Not much you can do about it?</strong><br /><br />You can make yourself attractive to people to come from the rest of the world - which we are doing and we are bringing big numbers in. We have about 35,000 births a year. We actually would like 50,000 births a year. We have about 30,000 people take permanent residence every year, almost as many as are born here. Of course, not all of them become citizens, maybe only 12,000 a year. Even that is not small in terms of needing to settle them and integrate them into our society and not have them become an enclave or a ghetto, or a separate group that generates new social problems. That you can do something about. Babies, well, we can encourage couples to have more, but we haven't been very successful.<br /><br />Very few governments have done that.<br /><br />The French have not done badly.<br /><br /><strong>...What are two or three things in this region that you'd like to see changed so that in 10, 15 years it is easier for Singapore to be Singapore?</strong><br /><br />Security is one issue - terrorism and terrorist groups which are in the region continue to be a threat. We're concerned about that, and I think so are the other governments although it's not easy to deal with. Whether it is Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines in the south, or Thailand in the south, we are in the middle of this. We need to deal with that effectively, not just operationally, not just tactically hitting the bad guys, but also at a strategic and philosophical level. Getting people not to want to become terrorists or think like them, but to live peaceful lives and to tackle the extremists who are purveying this poison.<br /><br /><strong>You know, in America when we use the term terrorism, a lot of people think one cohesive lethal empire - but each is a sort of sui generis. They have their own issues, and their own problems.<br /></strong><br />You are right, but there is some collaboration. The Thais have a different separatist group. The MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) in the Philippines is a separatist group, but they have definite links with the jihadists. They collaborate together quite extensively and, in fact, they host the jihadists and provide training facilities and bring the jihadists on missions so that they can practise shooting at real soldiers. The Malaysians and Indonesians and us, well, the group which we broke up, the Jemaah Islamiah, that was one group which straddled all three countries. In Indonesia, of course, you're talking about many different outfits, different militias. It's a big country.<br /><br />The second thing is that we want to see a more cohesive Asean. We're talking about the Asean Charter, and working towards signing it this year. We're talking about Asean Community 2015. We say Asean will have two wings, China and India, which will help us to take off. But to have two wings, you need a strong body. Otherwise it's two wings without a body and we'll fall apart. That means you have to take political decisions to cooperate on economics, on security, on politics, on many issues. That's an urgent matter. It's not easy to put priority on that when you have so many other domestic priorities, but it's a matter of some concern.<br /><br />Thirdly, we would like to see America continue to play a positive role in the region. Security-wise, it's crucial. The Chinese cannot take over this role. Economics-wise, it's also crucial. The Chinese will be a very big trading partner and powerful economy. But in terms of powerful multinational corporations, using the technology and creating jobs and being able to project investments in the way HP or Motorola, or Exxon Mobil can do - that's some distance off. So we need the US for economics. In fact, the countries in this region are all very happy to be friends with China and also to have America continue to be in this region. So that's something we would like to continue but, of course, that will depend on the overall strategic trends - America's relations with China and Japan and also America's relations with Muslim countries and Muslim societies.<br /><br /><strong>Right. How do we handle this?<br /></strong><br />With China and Japan, I think things are going quite well, at least as far as the administration is concerned. The administration is doing the right things. The pressure is there from the ground and from Congress which reflects the ground. The trade deficit has become a political issue. It has been linked up with the exchange rate. Economically speaking, it doesn't follow but that's the politics and you can't unlink that, not even Hank Paulson (the US Treasury Secretary). So that is a problem and if Congress pushes the wrong way, you can have a lot of rough weather as you did with Japan in the '80s. But this will be much worse because China is much bigger and it's a completely different relationship. The US can fight with Japan and it's not going to be your enemy. But if you fight with China, that's very big trouble.<br /><br />With the Muslim countries, I think it has to be a long-term effort. The Bush administration now knows this - that you can't just fight Al-Qaeda. You also have to get the Muslim countries on your side, and at least not against you. If you look at the popularity polls of America in Muslim countries, it's almost uniformly unfriendly. Not good at all. The question is how you reach out to them. It's not just a charm offensive, it's also your policies in the Middle East, and particularly, on the Israel-Palestinian issue, where you have to be seen to be more even-handed and not against the Palestinians.<br /><br /><strong>I think the totality of that point that you made, I mean the sweep of that, is enormous - and I think it's often missed in the United States. Our position on the Middle East just waves right through.</strong><br /><br />Yeah. It used to be that the Middle East was far away from South-east Asia. If you have problems there, it's an Arab, Middle-Eastern problem. It was always an unstable part of the world. But today with Internet, with satellite TV, what happens in the Middle East immediately impacts all over the world, on Muslim societies everywhere. When the war happened in Lebanon last year, 200 people showed up in Jakarta volunteering to take the next plane to Lebanon to do jihad. I don't think they actually caught the plane but the temperature went up and the governments were under pressure. In Malaysia, Khairy Jamaluddin, who is the Umno Youth Deputy Leader, and also happens to be (Prime Minister) Abdullah Badawi's son-in-law, led a very fierce demonstration outside the American Embassy. Some of it is just because America is what it is, the sole hyper-power in the world, but some of it is also your policies and the attitude of 'I will go in right or wrong, whatever others say. I will do it alone.'<br /><br /><strong>Ten years ago when interviewing your father, then your government's Senior Minister, I asked him for one piece of advice to take back to America. He thought for a minute and said: "My hope would be that America would get its relationship with China right. I would make that number one. If you get that right, it's good for everybody to get along, good for everybody.' Have we gotten it right more or less?</strong><br /><br />Ten years ago would have been 1997, would have been Bill Clinton midway through his first term by which time he had learnt...he was gradually convinced and did the right thing, and George W. Bush after a rocky start has also been doing the right thing. Bush is quite clear on Taiwan. He's quite clear on China. He's got his plate full elsewhere in the world and he doesn't want another adversary. He knows that he needs to develop a constructive relationship, even if you don't call it a partnership across the Pacific. So I think that's good. But whether he can maintain that in the face of popular pressure and whether the next President can sustain that remains to be seen because when you had CNOOC bidding for Unocal, there was an emotional and irrational reaction in the US. The President had to go along with it. And you're just showing the Chinese how to break the rules of globalisation.<br /><br />Absolutely. That ended the collaboration right there?<br /><br />Yes.<br /><br /><br />Read Tom Plate's 2004 <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2004/06/candid-conversation-with-future-pm-of.html">candid conversation with Lee Hsien Loong.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103168600791477413.post-692316647479223422010-07-07T18:59:00.000-07:002007-11-04T08:59:54.491-08:00Tom Plate and Jeffrey Cole interview Lee Kuan Yew<strong>Singapore's first prime minister talks about China, the United States, and international politics as well as the future of media in Asian countries like Singapore and around the world</strong><br /><br /><br /><em>By <strong>Tom Plate</strong><br />Pacific Perspectives Columnist<br />Tuesday, October 9, 2007</em><br /><br />This is the complete transcript of Minister Mentor (as the founder of modern singapore is now known) Lee Kuan Yew's interview with syndicated columnist Tom Plate of the UCLA Media Center and new-media expert Jeffrey Cole of the USC Annenberg School Center for the Digital Future. It took place on Sept. 27, 2007 in the minister's private office at Istana, Singapore.<br /><br />Q: How are you?<br /><br />Lee: Ageing rather fitfully as we all do, but when you're past 80, it's a pretty steep climb.<br /><br />Q: The thing is you have not retired?<br /><br />Lee: I think if you retire, the idea of just reading books and playing golf ... you just disintegrate.<br /><br />Q: There's such a high correlation between people who retire and play golf and die, right? If you don't play golf and don't retire … follow the logic!<br /><br />Lee: You have to have something more than that. You have got to wake up every morning feeling there's something worth doing and you're not just lying back and coasting along. Once you coast along, it's finished.<br /><br />Q: It's great to be in Singapore right now because it's so bustling!<br /><br />Lee: It's partly just sheer luck. I would say 60 percent hard work, 40 percent luck. Sixty percent because we put ourselves into this position, went through some very hard times starting with the Asian crisis, SARS and so on -- but we have got onto the right track. We could see China growing, India coming on. We're just at the junction of the two and placed ourselves to take the tailwind of both of them -- but keeping all our other bases intact, our connections: U.S., Europe, Japan.<br /><br />Q: You even have good relations with Taiwan?<br /><br />Lee: That's crucial. That's part of the old -- our past.<br /><br />Q: But that's not all that easy to do?<br /><br />Lee: It's still tough, but it doesn't matter. The mainland knows these were the terms on which we established relations with them.<br /><br />Q: One of the first questions I asked you roughly 10 years ago when I started the column on Asia and America was what would be the one thing you would say to the American people about the United States' role in Asia. You thought for a few minutes and then you said: "Tell the American people that America must get the relationship with China right, because if that relationship is gotten right, it benefits everybody in Asia. And if it's not gotten right, it's going to create problems." Have we more or less got the relationship right?<br /><br />Lee: I think it's not bad. Congress is in a fractious mood looking for excuses for what's gone wrong, believing China's exchange rate offers unfair advantage. Yes, the Chinese should up the value of their yuan -- maybe 10 percent, 15 percent -- but it's not going to help you. It's not going to solve the problem. It might create problems for them if they do it so suddenly. But if they do it gradually, I think it shouldn't be a problem.<br /><br />Q: They probably will do it?<br /><br />Lee: They'll do it gradually. They're scared of unemployment. They're scared of what happened to Japan when the factories relocated. They need their low-end jobs, making shoes, garments, whatever. If these factories move, you have got unemployment -- that's a real problem for them. They're scared of it as they're moving up-market. It's a new game for them and they're nervous. Their legitimacy depends upon solving the economic problems and not having riots in the cities even as their old state-owned enterprises retrench.<br /><br />Q: What would you say to Americans who say if China rises, America has to fall?<br /><br />Lee: No, I do not see a win-lose, zero sum game here. It was the U.S. that brought China into the World Trade Organization (WTO). It was George W. H. Bush that opened the door, invited China to start selling to America. That was carried on by President Clinton. Clinton finally, with his then Treasury Secretary Rubin, got the Chinese into WTO.<br /><br />You have got two choices with China. Keep them out -- but the U.S. must have done its calculations, because if you keep them out, then you have them as a spoiler. They're going to do reverse engineering, steal your patents and where is the profit in that? You slow them down, there's no doubt about that. You slow down their transformation but at the same time, you are not benefiting from that transformation. If you go back and remember the 1980s and early 90s, you needed that market to grow but you never factored in the speed at which they would grow. That's scary. That's happened and I think they know that it's a difficult transformation for them. It's not easy. They have got enormous problems -- internal problems, disparity within the cities, between the cities and the countryside, and now with cell phones and satellite TV, they have to change track, instead of just going helter-skelter for gold … now they're talking about achieving a harmonious society.<br /><br />Q: Do we on the whole know pretty much what the real picture inside China is?<br /><br />Lee: I think your China-watchers are well briefed, they know.<br /><br />Q: There shouldn't be any big surprises? We pretty much know where the tensions are?<br /><br />Lee: [Nods affirmatively]<br /><br />Q: You mentioned Bob Rubin and Clinton. The genius of their approach was they convinced the Chinese that it was in their interest to join WTO. They weren't doing anybody any favors, was it going to be good for China?<br /><br />Lee: No, I think they had [Chinese Premier] Zhu Rongji to deal with and that made the difference. Zhu Rongji was the man who pushed the Chinese side. He was backed by [President] Jiang Zemin. He did the sums and decided that if China was going to catch up with the world, they had to open up and this will force a continual opening-up, joining WTO and having to abide by the rules -- and now they're in.<br /><br />Q: You see them still going there -- going in that same opening-up direction?<br /><br />Lee: Their problem now is convincing the world that they're serious about a "peaceful rise." These are thinking people. You're not dealing with ideologues.<br /><br />I don't know if you've been seeing this or heard of this series that [the Chinese] produced called The Rise of the Great Nations. It's now on the History Channel. I got our station here to dub it in English and show it. It was quite I would say a bold decision to tell the Chinese people this is the way the European nations, the Russians and Japanese became great. Absolutely no ideology and they had a team of historians, their own historians. To get the program going, they went to each country, interviewed the leaders and historians of those countries.<br /><br />You should watch the one on Britain, because I think that gives you an idea of how far they have gone in telling their people this is what made Britain great. I was quite surprised. The theme was [doing away with] the Divine Right of Kings, a Britain that was challenged by the barons who brought the king down to Runnymede and then they had the Magna Charta, and suddenly your "Divine Right" is based on Parliament and [the barons] are in Parliament. That gave the space for the barons to grow and the middle class eventually emerged. When the King got too uppity, Charles the First got beheaded.<br /><br />Now this series was produced in a communist state, you know. In other words, if you want to be a great nation, so, if the leader goes against the people's interests, you may have to behead him! They also said that because there was growing confidence between the people and the leaders, the country grew.<br /><br />It is in fact a lesson to support their gradual opening up and their idea of how they can do it without conflict -- the "peaceful rise." They have worked out this scheme, this theory, this doctrine to assure America and the world that they're going to play by the rules.<br /><br />Q: You think they'll be able to do that fast enough to accommodate the middle class who want clean air and so much else?<br /><br />Lee: I cannot say what they will do. I go there once in a year, I spend one week. I get reports, I read it but I'm not a China-watcher. I have got many other things to watch, I'm a Singapore-watcher! My guess is they're going to move pragmatically one step at a time and the first thing they are trying to do right at this moment is to get the succession to the next Standing Committee right. [The chairman will] have his team and the next five years will be his policy.<br /><br />I think the policy will be let's grow, let's have more equality in the country and keep the country as one. Let's have no trouble abroad, let's make quite sure that Taiwan doesn't do stupid things which will force the mainland to act. Let's have a successful Olympics and then we are into a new age, one step at a time.<br /><br />The first problem is blue skies for the Olympics, and the way to do that is the way they did it in 1999 when I went there for the 50th anniversary and I found blue skies. I asked our ambassador about this: He said they stopped all factories for the last two weeks. I think they're going to do that, maybe the last four weeks before and the cars will be cut down by half, odd and even numbers and so on. But to go and clean up properly will take umpteen years, retrofit coal mines and so on. That's a very costly and slow business.<br /><br />They are engaging us in Singapore, and we're going to do an EcoCity with them, choosing the site now. They have agreed. They've offered us several sites and we're choosing one where there can be sustainable growth. What we've done in Singapore, we recycle water, you keep your air clean, you do this, you do that, higher costs, more social discipline, more engineering, sewers, recycling water, et cetera and so on. It's a slow process but they want to learn how it can be done. That's important.<br /><br />Q: If we could move to the other superpower, the United States. I know you're reluctant to give out advice, unlike American journalists who always try to tell you what to do, but for America, since you've been a friend of America and you've seen it over decades, what are two, three things, that you worry about in America?<br /><br />Lee: I think in the next 10 years you have got to extricate yourself from these problems in the Middle East. It may take you five years to get it stabilized and then after that, you gradually have more time and energy to think about the other big problems in the world. This is sucking up too much of your resources. To solve this, you have got to tackle the two-state problem in Israel because as long as that's festering away, you're giving your enemies in the Muslim world an endless provocation from which they can get new recruits for crazy adventures to try and knock you down, to blow themselves up and blow the world up. How you're going to do that, I don't know.<br /><br />Q: Did you follow the Israeli lobby debate in the U.S.? Two professors -- from Harvard and the University of Chicago -- did this paper about the alleged extreme influence of the Israeli lobby in American foreign policy. Even if the paper overstated or used some unwise language in making its case, is there something to this?<br /><br />Lee: You have got to settle this issue with the Jewish lobby. If you have this as a festering sore, you get Muslims entangled in hate campaigns. I'm not saying if you solve this, everything will be sweet and harmonious -- but if you solve this you will remove a cancer in the [international] system. Then you can better tackle the other problems. You are alone in this [Middle East policy] because the Europeans are not with you. Nobody helps you, but everybody doesn't want to openly oppose you.<br /><br />Q: What about inside America itself? Do you see any indices that worry you, whether it's education?<br /><br />Lee: For the next 10, 15, 20 years what you have will keep you going as the most enterprising, innovative economy with leading-edge technology, both in the civilian and military field. You have got that already.<br /><br />You will lose that gradually over 30, 40, 50 years unless you are able to keep on attracting talent and that's the final contest, because what you have done, the Chinese and other nations are going to adopt parts of it to fit their circumstances and they are also going around looking for talented people and wanting to build up their innovative enterprising economies. And finally this is now an age where you will not have military contests between great nations because you will destroy each other, but you will have economic and technological contests between the great powers.<br /><br />I see that as the main arena of competition by 2040, 2050 and it'll be the U.S.; China for sure; Japan, keeping up with the U.S. and trying to retain its separate position from China, closer to the U.S. and hoping to maintain a special position; India, somewhat behind China, trying to catch up. I don't know about Brazil.<br /><br />Q: Charles de Gaulle had a great comment about Brazil. His advisers said to President de Gaulle that he had to go to Latin America -- Brazil. He said why? They said Brazil has great potential. De Gaulle said, "Ah, yes Brazil has great potential ... and always will."<br /><br />Lee: I put my money on China, India and Western Europe. If Western Europe can get past the welfare approach to society and get their unions modernized, I think they have got the technological basis and the talent to rise again, not as a military power because I don't think they got the stomach for that, but as an economic power which they can do. I think they'll give the world a run for their money.<br /><br />Can they do it? I don't know. Their history is so deep, you never know. Under pressure, as they feel they're being left behind by history, they may decide to do it. I mean, you look at [French President] Sarkozy, he may or may not succeed, but he's convinced himself and he's convincing quite a group of the French elite. The CEOs of the big multinationals in France don't need convincing. They know it. It's the broad think-tanks, the media, the intellectuals who still feel that they have a superior system. They loath having to give that [welfare approach] up, but they may, you know, because that's the only way to catch up.<br /><br />Russia may become a player if they are able to find a way to convert the oil and gas into a more enterprising economy. I don't know if they can get out of their corruption and the mismanagement of the resources, but they have got talented people.<br />But long-term for America, if you ask me, say, project another 100 years, 150 years into the 22nd century, say, 2150, whether you stay on top depends upon the kind of society you will be because if the present trends continue, you'll have a Hispanic element in your society that's about 30, 40 percent. So, the question is do you make the Hispanics Anglo-Saxons in culture or do they make you more Latin American in culture."<br /><br />Q: That is exactly the right question.<br /><br />Lee: I mean, if they came in drips and drabs and you scatter them across America, then you will change their culture, but if they come in large numbers, like Miami, and they stay together, or in California, then their culture will continue and they may well affect the Anglo-Saxon culture around them. That's the real test.<br /><br />But on the [China] side, you can be quite sure that their numbers are so great -- the Chinese Hans -- they can take any number of new migrants, they will be absorbed. So, long-term, I think the Chinese have figured this out. Then, if they just stay with "peaceful rise" and they just contest for first position economically and technologically, they cannot lose. If they are not Number One, they will be Number Two. If they are not Number Two, they are Number Three. They have figured that out.<br /><br />Q: Singapore is one of the world's most wired countries, far ahead of the pack. How do you imagine over time that this will change Singapore? What will be your sense of what happens in an educated country with high standards, when anyone can get anything on the Web, videos and blogs so that the role of a centralized media become less and less dominant?<br /><br />Lee: Well, it is already on its way because the print media here is not growing the same way, they are stagnating. It's not declining as fast as, say, it is in America or Britain ... And this is happening here.<br /><br />The young, they read things on the Internet. I mean, I am part of the older generation. Yes, I read some stuff on the Internet, but at the end of the day, I say, well, let's see what the proper analysis is. So, I look up, I look at the editorial pages and the op-ed pages. I am not sure that the young will do that anymore, but the way the print media can stay in the contest is not to be the first with the news because that's not possible, but to be the first with the background and the analysis and the ones with the high credibility will stay in business.<br /><br />You must have credibility because you get so much on the Internet. Whom do you believe? Finally, you've got to say, who is saying this? And you don't know. But if you say, this is The New York Times, this is the Washington Post or the L.A. Times, then you say, well, that is the standard.<br /><br />I mean, that goes for every country, I think, but we have a different problem here because we are bilingual. English is our first language, well, for the younger generation. The older generation, Chinese was their first language, but the ones below 30 now, below 35, the majority, English is their first language and Chinese or Malay and whatever will be their second language. But with the rise of China, we are already seeing more and more going to China doing business and more Chinese coming here doing business. So, they are going to start reading the Chinese blogs, the Chinese news. It's already happening. So, the trend will be from print to screen.<br /><br />Q: China has not given up hope in terms of trying to control the content on the Internet. But my sense since the last time I talked with you and with some of your brightest people, is that you have a sense of inevitably, that this new technology is going to overwhelm efforts to control it, is that right?<br /><br />Lee: Right, it is not possible. Look, you are going to have a PDA that is also running video and you can have your servers blocked. But if you've got a 3G phone, you use another server, and so then you are through.<br /><br />No, it's not only going to happen, it's already happening. Otherwise, how do you get all these pictures of the monks in Myanmar or Yangon or Mandalay coming out? It's all on cell-phones. Now, there are areas which are blocked out now. They are blacked out, sure, but they are still coming out because you've got a 3G phone and I am quite sure Reuters or whatever news agency must have given their correspondents and stringers, saying, here, use this. You take it and you use this and you get it through. Otherwise, how can you get it through because the government is already blocking out [communication]. Many of the areas are now non-functioning, you can't use the cell-phone. But images are still coming through. I just saw something this morning. So?<br /><br />Q: Right. So, that the role of the centralized media is less important. Even if you can control the centralized media, that's less and less valuable than before.<br /><br />Lee: I don't know if you've caught up with this story. It's a bit of scandal going on. [Former Deputy Prime Minister] Anwar Ibrahim leaked a video, an old video, way back in 1980, of an Indian lawyer talking to a top judge about how he can arrange to get him promoted to be the "Number One" or whatever. I think it was an eight-minute video and Anwar has now put it on the Internet and it's on YouTube! So the Malaysian bar -- which have already been dismayed at the degradation of their judiciary and the corruption and judge-buying and case-buying -- they have demanded a royal commission to inquire into the facts.<br /><br />So, the government, under pressure now, has appointed a committee of judges and one eminent person, to check on the authenticity of this tape. So that's bought them some time, but in the meantime, 2,000 lawyers, following what the Pakistani lawyers did, have marched on to the prime minister's office to deliver a petition to investigate this matter. Now, this would not have happened without the Internet and without YouTube. I mean it is so simple, you see.<br /><br />Q: That's a changing world.<br /><br />Lee: But at the same time, there is the problem of credibility. So, you have a website called Malaysiakini. That means "Malaysia Now" and it's got some very good articles in it and some of them are signed regularly by the same person. So when we get that, we read it and then we say, okay, circulate it. But you get a lot of rubbish, too, and you have got to filter it. It's a waste of time.<br /><br />Q: Well, your earlier point about the credibility of serious newspapers and serious magazines is more important now than ever.<br /><br />Lee: You've got to go by them. You know, it's like the ratings agencies which put a lot of financial institutions down.<br /><br />Q: This is the future of professional journalism, if there is any?<br /><br />Lee: No, you'll always have it. But if we don't use this [new technology], then we are just one hand tied behind us: Should we allow our opponents to have that advantage? This is a highly competitive world. But the flood of information leads to overload. Therefore, you've got to have somebody filter it for you.<br /><br />Q: Can I go back to your comment about Myanmar and the video that's getting out from the hand-helds, where, unlike Tiananmen in 1989, you cannot just pull the plug on all visuals. With regard to Myanmar -- and I realize anyone's guess is as good as anyone else's -- but did you see that it's plausible to ask China, as it did at the Six-Party Talks, in some way to work skillfully and work behind the scenes to assume a role in moving Myanmar forward out of the Middle Ages and maybe into the real world?<br /><br />Lee: I'm not sure the Chinese have got that power. And in Myanmar, these are rather dumb generals when it comes to the economy.<br /><br />Q: They are!<br /><br />Lee: How they can so mismanage the economy and reach this stage when the country has so many natural resources?<br /><br />Q: It's a gift!<br /><br />Lee: It's stupid. So I'm not sure. The Chinese, they've tried, and, in fact, we have tried to talk them out of isolation. I tried through a general called Khin Nyunt. He's the most intelligent of the lot. I sold him the idea, or at least he bought the idea, that the way for them to go forward was to get out of uniform and do it like Suharto, form a party -- Golkar -- and then take over as a civilian party. But halfway through, Suharto fell. So, it ended up as the wrong advice, they back-tracked. Then they chucked Kyin Nyunt out.<br /><br />Q: Timing is everything!<br /><br />Lee: Meanwhile, I had advised several of our hoteliers to set up hotels there. They have sunk in millions of dollars there and now, their hotels are empty. But, you know, you've got really economically dumb people in charge. Why they believe they can keep their country cut off from the world like this indefinitely, I cannot understand. And you know, you need medicines -- they smuggle in from Thailand. It doesn't make sense.<br /><br />We will see how it is, but whatever it is, I do not believe that they can survive indefinitely. Look, the day they decided to close down the government in Yangon and go into this Pyinmana, or whatever the place is called where there's nothing and they are putting up expensive buildings for themselves and a golf course -- and the top general had a lavish wedding for his daughter which was then out on YouTube -- the daughter was like a Christmas tree! Flaunting these excesses must push a hungry and impoverished people to revolt. But what will happen, I don't know because the army has got to be part of the solution. If the army is dissolved, the country has got nothing to govern itself because they have dismantled all administrative instruments.<br /><br />Q: You have a candidate in the coming American presidential election that you prefer? You'd like to endorse whom? I have my candidate ...<br /><br />Lee: Who's your candidate?<br /><br />Q: You! but you've got to get American citizenship! You've helped run this country pretty well for so many years.<br /><br />Lee: You need to have an American who is not only good on television but he must have the networking that can raise him the funds and the grassroots support.<br /><br />Q: I notice you said "him".<br /><br />Lee: Well, her, him/her. No, [Hillary Clinton is] leading, she's leading. Will she be good for America?<br /><br />Q: I don't know.<br /><br />Lee: Sorry?<br /><br />Q: What do you think? I'm too close to her.<br /><br />Lee: What do you mean you're too close to her?<br /><br />Q: I'm right there. I'm American, I'm right in the middle of it. I don't like any of them. She may be good enough, though she's not the best that we've got.<br /><br />Lee: She's good enough?<br /><br />Q: She's probably good enough.<br /><br />Lee: Well, we have to live with whoever wins.<br /><br />Q: I read somewhere recently that you actually have a bit of a worry about your country's survivability over the long run? Are you serious?<br /><br />Lee: Singapore is not a 4,000-year culture. This is an immigrant community that started in 1819. It's a migrant community that left its moorings and therefore, knowing it's sailing to unchartered seas, guided by the stars, I say let's follow the stars and they said okay, let's try. And we've succeeded and here we are, but has it really taken root? No. It's just worked for the time being. If it doesn't work, again, we say let's try something else. This is not entrenched. This is not a 4,000-year society.<br /><br />Q: You really have a sense of the country's endangerment.<br /><br />Lee: Yes, of course.<br /><br />Q: It's amazing, you come in here and you walk around here in one of the great cities in the world. Yet you are worried about survival.<br /><br />Lee: Where are we? Are we in the Caribbean? Are we next to America like the Bahamas? Are we in the Mediterranean, like Malta, next to Italy? Are we like Hong Kong, next to China and therefore, will become part of China? We are in Southeast Asia, in the midst of a turbulent, volatile, unsettled region. Singapore is a superstructure built on what? On 700 square kilometers and a lot of smart ideas that have worked so far -- but the whole thing could come undone very quickly.<br /><br />For this to work, you require a world where there are some rules of international law and there is a balance of forces of power that will enforce that international law and the U.S. is foremost in that. Without that balance of power and international law, the Vietnamese will still be in Cambodia and the Indonesians will still be in East Timor, right? Why are they out? Because there were certain norms that had to be observed. You can't just cross boundaries. This little island with four and a half million people, of whom 1.3 are foreigners working here, has got to maintain an army, navy and an air force. Can we withstand a concerted attempt to besiege us and blockade us? We can repel an attack, yes. Given the armed forces in the region and our capability, we can repel and we can damage them. Three weeks, food runs out, we are besieged, blockaded.<br /><br />Q: Who will come after you? Who would come after you?<br /><br />Lee: There are assets here to be captured, right?<br /><br />Q: Some unnamed bad regime?<br /><br />Lee: When [Malaysia] kicked us out [in 1965], the expectation was that we would fail and we will go back on their terms, not on the terms we agreed with them under the British. Our problems are not just between states, this is a problem between races and religions and civilizations. We are a standing indictment of all the things that they can be doing differently. They have got all the resources. If they would just educate the Chinese and Indians, use them and treat them as their citizens, they can equal us and even do better than us and we would be happy to rejoin them.<br /><br />Q: Do you think it's healthy for the citizens of Singapore to feel that pressure, that tension that it all could change quickly? Do you think that makes them run this country more effectively, be better citizens by not getting complacent?<br /><br />Lee: My generation, the ones above 50, who have lived through the first part, they know. The ones under 30 ,who've just grown up in stability and growth year by year, I think they think that I'm selling them a line just to make them work harder but they are wrong. The problem is they don't believe. They think I'm wrong. That's a problem that all countries face. You look at the Japanese, I remember their parents. After their defeat, they had great leaders not just in politics but in business at every level. They travel, they work, and they sold their goods like mad to rebuild Japan. Now you look at them ... You look at the younger generation, will they work like some of the fathers did? I don't think so, but in a corner will they do it again? I think yes because it's a deeply-imbedded culture. They will fight. That's the difference between an ancient culture and a new one. Theirs is embedded, ours is not. At the same time that ancient culture is preventing them from making rational decisions about migration, immigration and meeting the problems of ageing.<br /><br />Q: Singapore's armed forces are in pretty good shape, right? So when are you all planning to invade neighboring Indonesia?<br /><br />Lee [laughing]: All we want is a quiet peaceful world. We have made something of our lives and we'll be quite happy to carry on like this and help them get along and do better. We started this LKY School of Public Policy, giving them scholarships to prove to them it's done by good governance. It's not by robbing you.<br /><br />Q: I (Plate) graduated from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton. And so I'm a big fan of public policy schools. I think you all are doing a great job at the Singapore policy school. I think you chose a wonderful dean [former U.N. Ambassador Kishore Mahbubani]. I was recently there to offer a humble seminar. The quality of the students knocked me out.<br /><br />Lee: I think that's an investment worth making because [students from the region] will go back and they will tell their media chaps and their leaders and say, look this country works because it's working like this: first, it's honest; second, it's rational; third, it makes decisions and follows through on those decisions. The decisions are made after very careful consideration of all options and consequences.<br /><br />Q: I agree with you and if you look at the course list, it's a very impressive course list. Now, you were educated in England and many of your top people were educated in America or England, so Western education for a long time has been the cutting edge, has been the leader, the place you wanted to go to. Is it your sense that American higher education is still terrific?<br /><br />Lee: It will stay like that for as long as you keep on getting talented people into your country and staying on, but will you do that? I think yes for 10, 20 years, but 30, 40, 50 years, I'm not sure because other countries will become more attractive or as attractive. It is the extra inputs you get.<br /><br />Let me explain how I see it. If Singapore depended on its own domestic talent, we wouldn't have made it, but we were the center for education in this region from British days and many came to be educated and many stayed behind. Our top layer was drawn from a larger base and in my first Cabinet of 10, there were only two of us who were born and bred in Singapore. The others came from Malaysia, China, Ceylon, from India and elsewhere. It's a talent pool that was drawn from a bigger region, and that's the secret of your success. You drew in first your talent from Europe because you offered them opportunities. In the last few decades, you've been drawing your talent from all over the world, including Asia. If you can continue to do that, you will continue to succeed.<br /><br />Not only must you attract them, you must get them to stay.<br /><br />Q: How are you doing on that?<br /><br />Lee: We give a lot of scholarships to Chinese and Indians. If one quarter stay on here in Singapore, we're winners, especially with the Chinese. They come in here, they get an English education, they get our credentials and they're off to America because they know that the grass is greener there. The Indians, strangely enough, more of them stay here in Singapore because they want to go home to visit their families, America is too far away. We are net gainers for how long? I think in the case of China, maybe another 20, 30 years and then the attraction is gone. We can't offer them that difference in opportunities and standards. India, maybe longer -- 50, 60 years before their infrastructure catches up. Anyway, this is not my worry anymore!<br /><br />Q: On India, there's been a lot of hype in America, in foreign affairs publications and so on, about India becoming the next superpower. I was in New Delhi about three months ago -- it seems to me India's got a long way to go.<br /><br />Lee: They are a different mix, never mind their political structures. They are not one people. You can make a speech in Delhi; [Prime Minister] Manmohan Singh can speak in Hindi and 30, 40 percent of the country can understand him. He makes a speech in English and maybe 30 percent of the elite understand him.<br /><br />In China, when a leader speaks, 90 percent will understand him. They all speak one language, they are one people. In India, they have got 32 official languages and in fact, 300-plus different languages. You look at Europe, 25 languages, 27 countries, how do you? The European Parliament? Had we not moved into one language here in Singapore, we would not have been able to govern this country.<br /><br />Q: Minister Mentor, thank you very much.<br />________________________________________<br /><em>The views expressed above are those of the author and are not necessarily those of AsiaMedia or the UCLA Asia Institute.<br />Date Posted: 10/9/2007</em><br /><br /><br />Read Tom Plate's 2004 candid conversation with <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2004/06/candid-conversation-with-future-pm-of.html">the Future Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore: Lee Hsien Loong.<br /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103168600791477413.post-9868887037007479142010-07-07T08:00:00.000-07:002007-10-31T22:26:57.221-07:00The Situation inside...<a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/10/malaysia.html">MALAYSIA</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/10/indonesia.html">INDONESIA</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2010/04/thailand.html">THAILAND</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2010/03/philippines.html">PHILIPPINES</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2010/03/australia.html">AUSTRALIA</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2010/01/singapore.html">SINGAPORE</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/muslim-world.html">A MUSLIM WORLD</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103168600791477413.post-51129872812151364012010-07-07T07:59:00.000-07:002007-04-24T01:53:21.317-07:00A Muslim WorldApril 21, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/muslim-militants-behead-seven-workers.html">Muslim Militants behead seven workers on Jolo island </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103168600791477413.post-87000458576041038352010-06-06T23:00:00.000-07:002007-11-02T05:03:31.778-07:00Malaysia/Singapore1 . <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2010/06/water-agreements.html">Water Agreements </a><br /><br />2. <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/floods-in-south-malaysia-caused-by.html">Floods in south Malaysia caused by Singapore </a><br /><br />3. <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2010/06/pedra-banca.html">Pedra Banca </a><br /><br />4. <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2010/06/malaysia-against-singapores-land.html">Malaysia against Singapore's land reclamation works </a><br /><br />5. <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2010/06/others.html">An envious bully </a><br /><br />6. <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/10/malaysia.html">The situation inside Malaysia</a><br /><br />7. <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2010/06/all-above.html">All the above </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103168600791477413.post-36636124619394053922010-06-06T22:59:00.000-07:002007-10-31T22:19:00.606-07:00Malaysia1. <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/government-and-leaders-of-malaysia.html">The Government and Leaders of Malaysia </a><br /><br />2. <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2010/06/showcase-of-malaysian-government.html">Showcase of Malaysian Government </a><br /><br />3. <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/malaysias-plan-of-affirmative-action.html">Malaysia's Affirmative Action Plan for Malays</a><br /><br />4. <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2010/06/islamic-laws-are-above-civil-court-and.html">Islamic laws are above civil court and other religions </a><br /><br />5. <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2010/06/others_06.html">Others </a><br /><br />6. <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/malaysiasingapore.html">Malaysia/Singapore </a><br /><br />7. <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2010/06/all-above.html">All the above </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103168600791477413.post-88210125638473537842010-06-06T22:00:00.000-07:002007-11-02T05:20:55.949-07:00An envious bullyJune 1, 2007 - <span style="BACKGROUND: #ffff00"><a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/singapores-bilateral-relations-paranoia.html">Singapore's bilateral relations - The paranoia of suspicious minds</a></span><br />May 26, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/33-days-that-spell-new-regional.html">33 days that spell a new regional diplomacy</a><br />April 28, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/f1-in-singapore-one-up-for-bilateral.html">F1 in Singapore: One up for bilateral ties </a><br />April 26, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/malaysian-mps-critical-of-mm-lees.html">Malaysian MPs critical of MM Lee's remark </a><br />April 4, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/singapore-should-not-host-f1-race-msian.html">Singapore should not host F1 race: Malaysian minister</a><br />April 2, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/make-johor-trips-easier-for.html">Make Johor trips easier for Singaporeans: Malaysian Envoy </a><br />March 17, 2007 - <span style="BACKGROUND: #ffff00"><a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/new-york-times-march-17-2007-by-wayne.html">Singapore - the envied rich kid on the block </a></span><br />March 15, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/malaysia-to-singapore-investors-be.html">Malaysia to Singapore investors: Be early birds in Johor </a><br />March 13, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/vital-lessons-from-singapore-and-hk.html">Vital lessons from Singapore and HK </a><br />February 28, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/early-opening-of-kl-air-route-will.html">Early opening of KL air route 'will benefit Singapore more' </a><br />February 26, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/malays-told-to-stop-fearing-singapore.html">Malays told to stop 'fearing Singapore' </a><br />February 24, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/thinking-aloud-asean-not-yet-united.html">THINKING ALOUD : Asean not yet a united entity for Singaporeans </a><br />February 23, 2007 - <span style="BACKGROUND: #ffff00"><a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/green-with-envy-over-red-dot.html">Green with envy over a red dot </a></span><br />February 17, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/kl-not-envious-of-spores-progress-najib.html">KL not envious of Singapore's progress: Najib </a><br />February 16, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/nice-try-everyone.html">Nice try, everyone </a><br />February 10, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/lets-all-bash-singapore.html">Let's all bash Singapore </a><br />February 10, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/whats-behind-triple-whammy-attacks-on.html">What's behind 'triple whammy' attacks on Singapore? </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103168600791477413.post-47057699730147100332010-06-06T21:59:00.000-07:002007-11-11T08:39:48.388-08:00Water Agreementsundated - - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/summary.html">Water Agreements : A Summary </a><br /><br /><br />May 28, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/singapore-kl-water-pacts-more-than.html">Singapore-KL water pacts 'more than commercial contracts' </a><br />May 24, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/water-agreements-its-not-simply-matter.html">Water agreements: It’s not simply a matter of water price </a>(NSTOnline)<br />May 23, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/saying-goodbye-to-past-stresses-and.html">Saying goodbye to past stresses and strains </a>(NSTOnline)<br />March 27, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/no-decision-on-restarting-water-talks.html">No decision on restarting water talks with Singapore: KL </a><br />January 28, 2003 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2003/01/singapore-entitled-to-release-documents.html">Singapore entitled to release documents on water issue: Law expert </a><br />April 6, 2002 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2002/04/water-singapore-to-rely-less-on-kl.html">Water: Singapore to rely less on KL </a><br />April 6, 2002 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2002/04/high-time-for-new-approach-to-water.html">'High time for a new approach to water' </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103168600791477413.post-40083560849663780602010-06-06T21:58:00.000-07:002007-11-02T04:56:08.142-07:00Malaysia against Singapore's land reclamation worksMay 27, 2005 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2005/05/reclamation-works-experts-found-no.html">Reclamation works: Experts found no major impact on environment </a><br />April 27, 2005 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2005/04/reclamation-row-is-resolved.html">Reclamation row is resolved </a><br />January 16, 2005 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2005/01/reclamation-dispute-accord-is-fair-says.html">Reclamation dispute: Accord is fair, says Jaya </a><br />October 23, 2003 - <span style="BACKGROUND: #ffff00"><a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2003/10/cnn-interview-land-reclamation-by.html">CNN interview Prof Tommy Koh : Land Reclamation by Singapore </a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103168600791477413.post-64129066500674941732010-06-06T21:57:00.000-07:002007-11-18T04:19:15.502-08:00Pedra BancaDate unknown - <span style="BACKGROUND: #ffff00"><a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/claim-for-pedra-banca.html">The Pedra Banca dispute</a></span><br /><br />November 17, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/kl-wants-island-for-maritime-stability.html">KL wants island for 'maritime stability' </a><br />November 17, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/malaysias-counsel-collapses-hearing.html">Malaysia's counsel collapses; hearing halts for 15 minutes </a><br />November 16, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/singapore-acted-more-like-lighthouse.html">Singapore acted more like lighthouse operator, says KL </a><br />November 15, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/malaysia-cites-1824-treaty-to-back.html">Malaysia cites 1824 treaty to back Pedra Branca claim </a><br /><br />November 14, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/kl-accuses-singapore-of-trying-to.html">KL accuses Singapore of trying to 'subvert' the status quo </a><br />November 14, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/singapore-activities-on-island.html">Singapore activities on island irrelevant: KL </a><br />November 13, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/why-singapore-is-fighting-case-to-keep.html">Why Singapore is fighting the case to keep Pedra Branca </a><br />November 13, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/malaysias-case-history-to-be-cited-to.html">Malaysia's Case: History to be cited to back claims </a><br />November 13, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/souvereignty-over-pulau-batu-puteh.html">Souvereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh </a><br />November 13, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/kl-says-it-has-good-case-against.html">KL says it has good case against Singapore </a><br /><br />November 10, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/kls-claim-of-original-title-mirage-jaya.html">KL's claim of original title a mirage: Jaya closing speech </a><br />November 10, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/kls-claim-at-odds-with-its-actions-jaya.html">KL's claim at odds with its actions, Jaya argues</a><br />November 10, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/malaysian-maps-and-letters-show.html">Malaysian maps and letters show Singapore as owner </a><br />November 10, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/dispute-should-not-hurt-ties-syed-hamid.html">Dispute should not hurt ties: Syed Hamid </a><br />November 9, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/jaya-sums-up-singapores-stand-on-pedra.html">Jaya sums up Singapore's stand on Pedra Branca </a><br /><br />November 9, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/spore-highlights-kls-tactics-of.html">Singapore highlights KL's tactics of distorting quotes </a><br />November 9, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/glaring-gap-in-malaysias-actions-over-2.html">'Glaring gap' in Malaysia's actions over 2 islands </a><br />November 9, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/unlike-kl-singapore-has-shown-state.html">Unlike KL, Singapore has 'shown state authority' over island </a><br /><br />November 8, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/lawyers-for-singapore-liken-kls-case-to.html">Lawyers for Singapore liken KL's case to shooting blanks </a><br />November 8, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/britains-activities-on-islet-are-proof.html">Britain's activities on islet are 'proof of sovereignty' </a><br />November 8, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/malaysias-case.html">Malaysia's case </a><br /><br />November 7, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/malaysias-130-year-silence-speaks.html">Malaysia's 130-year silence 'speaks volumes' </a><br />November 7, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/malaysia-has-no-evidence-to-back-up.html">'Malaysia has no evidence to back up claim' </a><br />November 7, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/singapore-rebuts-kls-claim-of.html">Singapore rebuts KL's claim of historical ownership </a><br />November 7, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/what-case-is-about.html">What the case is about ship </a><br /><br />November 6, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/all-ready-to-present-singapores-case.html">All ready to present Singapore's case </a><br />November 6, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/pedra-branca-issue-gets-its-day-in.html">Pedra Branca issue gets its day in court </a><br /><br />November 5, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/court-hearing-on-pedra-branca-to-open.html">Court hearing on Pedra Branca to open </a><br /><br />November 3, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/kl-ready-for-tussle-with-singapore-over.html">KL ready for tussle with Singapore over Pedra Branca </a><br /><br />October 31, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/10/pedra-branca-court-hearing-starts-next.html">Pedra Branca court hearing starts next week</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103168600791477413.post-54142764393404589542010-06-06T21:00:00.000-07:002007-11-02T04:51:59.468-07:00Floods in south Malaysia caused by SingaporeFebruary 9, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/johor-mb-should-quit-for-blaming-floods.html">Johor MB 'should quit for blaming floods on Singapore'</a><br />February 4, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/kl-not-blaming-spore-for-kota-tinggi.html">KL 'not blaming Singapore' for Kota Tinggi flood </a><br />February 2, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/syed-hamid-technical-study-will-shed.html">Syed Hamid: Technical study will shed light on floods </a><br />February 2, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/najib-no-reason-to-blame-singapore-for.html">Najib: No reason to blame Singapore for floods </a><br />February 1, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/msia-downplays-claims-floods-caused-by.html">Malaysia downplays claims floods caused by Singapore </a><br />January 31, 2007 - <span style="BACKGROUND: #ffff00"><a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/01/comments-that-spore-land-reclamation.html">Comments that Singapore land reclamation caused M'sia floods "unfounded" </a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103168600791477413.post-76806780699154241932010-06-06T20:00:00.000-07:002007-11-03T06:05:35.381-07:00The Government and Leaders of Malaysia1 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2010/06/government-conspiracy-in-murder.html">Malaysian Government conspiracy in Murder </a><br /><br /><br />October 25, 2007 - <span style="BACKGROUND: #ffff00"><a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/10/prime-failure-to-inspire-people.html">A prime failure to inspire the people </a></span><br />May 21, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/mps-say-sorry-over-sexist-leak-remark.html">MPs say sorry over sexist 'leak' remark </a><br />May 16, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/cabinet-to-debate-mps-sexist-remark.html">Cabinet to debate MPs' sexist remark </a><br />May 12, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/minister-defends-lawmakers-sexist.html">Minister defends lawmakers' sexist remark </a><br />May 11, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/msian-law-minister-defends-alleged.html">M'sian law minister defends alleged sexist remark </a><br />May 10, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/from-malay-to-muslim-to-melayu-baru.html">From Malay to Muslim to Melayu Baru ...What next?</a><br />April 13, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/kl-is-winning-anti-graft-fight-says.html">KL is winning anti-graft fight, says Abdullah </a><br />February 17, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/wear-chastity-belts-to-prevent-rape.html">Wear chastity belts to prevent rape, says cleric </a><br />February 3, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/01/levy-on-spore-cars-kl-testing-system.html">Levy on Singapore cars: 'KL testing system now' </a><br />February 2, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/kl-ministers-clueless-on-foreign.html">KL ministers clueless on foreign vehicle levy </a><br />January 3, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/01/at-50-racial-lines-showing.html">At 50, racial lines showing </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103168600791477413.post-53654816707688969342010-06-06T19:59:00.000-07:002007-06-08T03:14:23.279-07:00Malaysian Government conspiracy in MurderJune 8, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/new-twist-in-murder-trial-of-model.html">New twist in murder trial of model </a><br />June 8, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/mongolian-murder-trial-could-become.html">Mongolian murder trial could become a political show </a><br />June 7, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/g-on-why-he-changed-team-of-prosecutors.html">A-G on why he changed team of prosecutors </a><br />June 6, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/prosecutors-changed-to-ensure-fair.html">Prosecutors changed to ensure fair trial, says A-G </a><br />June 4, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/mongolians-murder-trial-begins-today.html">Mongolian's murder trial begins today </a><br />June 2, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/msia-defends-prosecution-change-in.html">Malaysia defends prosecution change in Mongolian case </a><br />April 22, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/i-have-never-met-mongolian-model-najib.html">I have never met Mongolian model: Najib </a><br />April 20, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/najib-addresses-issue-of-models-murder.html">Najib addresses issue of model's murder, saying he has nothing to hide </a><br />April 20, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/conspiracy-theories-did-deputy-pm-najib.html">Did Deputy PM Najib Tun Razak order the murder of Altantuya? </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103168600791477413.post-23917294533568314672010-06-06T19:00:00.000-07:002007-11-04T07:42:15.121-08:00Showcase of Malaysian Government1 . <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2010/06/corruption-in-public-works-and.html">Corruption in public works and construction </a><br /><br />2 . <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/iskandar-development-region-idr.html">The Iskandar Development Region (IDR) </a><br /><br />3 . <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/malaysias-finest.html">Malaysia's Finest </a><br /><br />4 . <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2010/06/malaysias-volunteer-finest.html">Malaysia's Volunteer Finest </a><br /><br />5 . <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/judiciary-fair-and-just.html">The Judiciary - Fair and Just </a><br /><br /><br />May 11, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/immigration-dept-defends-volunteer.html">Immigration dept defends volunteer corps </a><br />May 3, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/singapores-gain-malaysias-loss.html">Singapore's gain, Malaysia's loss </a><br />April 28, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/spectre-of-phantom-voters-reappears.html">Spectre of phantom voters reappears </a><br />April 26, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/kl-in-bind-over-johor-oil-bunkering.html">KL in a bind over Johor oil bunkering facility </a><br />April 26, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/14-year-river-clean-up-flop-says.html">14-year river clean-up a flop, says minister </a><br />April 25, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/to-woo-singaporeans-kl-postpones-levy.html">KL postpones levy on foreign vehicles </a><br />April 22, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/malaysias-immigration-volunteers-to-be.html">Malaysia's immigration volunteers to be searched </a><br />April 18, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/schools-must-raise-proficiency-in.html">Schools must raise proficiency in English and IT, says Najib </a><br />April 13, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/kl-is-winning-anti-graft-fight-says.html">KL is winning anti-graft fight, says Abdullah </a><br />April 13, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/msian-teacher-caned-by-school-principal.html">Malaysian teacher caned by school principal </a><br />April 8, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/f1-boss-says-sepang-getting-shabby.html">F1 boss says Sepang getting 'shabby' </a><br />April 1, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/malaysias-anti-graft-chief-dumped.html">Malaysia's anti-graft chief dumped </a><br />March 27, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/are-singapore-cars-with-tinted-windows.html">Are Singapore cars with tinted windows allowed in Malaysia? </a><br />March 27, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/woman-filmed-naked-during-khalwat-raid.html">Woman filmed naked during khalwat raid </a><br />March 13, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/vital-lessons-from-singapore-and-hk.html">Vital lessons from Singapore and HK </a><br />March 5, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/volunteers-held-for-attack-on-migrants.html">Volunteers held for attack on migrants </a><br />March 3, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/kl-can-learn-from-singapores-river.html">KL can learn from Singapore's river clean-up </a><br />March 3, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/illegal-factories-given-amnesty-as-they.html">Illegal factories given amnesty as they contribute to economy </a><br />February 17, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/malays-must-pledge-not-to-sell-govt.html">Malays must pledge not to sell govt contracts </a><br />February 6, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/kls-public-sector-growth-unwieldy-and.html">KL's public sector growth: Unwieldy and unjustifiable </a><br />January 3, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/01/at-50-racial-lines-showing.html">At 50, racial lines showing </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103168600791477413.post-19509274933145099332010-06-06T18:59:00.001-07:002007-11-09T23:14:07.713-08:00The Iskandar Development Region (IDR)October 31, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/10/pas-calls-on-johoreans-to-block-idr.html">PAS calls on Johoreans to block IDR project </a><br />October 12, 2007 : <span style="BACKGROUND: #ffff00"><a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/10/idrs-success-will-depend-on-singapore.html">IDR's success 'will depend on Singapore role' </a></span><br />July 23, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/07/idrs-msia-spore-joint-committee-hold.html">IDR's Malaysia-Singapore joint committee hold 1st meeting in JB zone </a><br />July 23, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/07/kl-pledges-to-tackle-investor-issues-on.html">KL pledges to tackle investor issues on IDR </a><br />July 23, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/07/joint-committee-on-idr-to-hold-first.html">Joint committee on IDR to hold first meeting </a><br />July 23, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/07/idrs-msia-spore-joint-committee-hold.html">IDR's Malaysia-Singapore joint committee hold 1st meeting in JB </a><br />July 16, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/07/minister-says-mm-lees-comments-uncalled.html">Minister says MM Lee's comments 'uncalled for' </a><br />July 12, 2007 : <span style="BACKGROUND: #ffff00"><a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/07/does-kl-need-to-listen-to-mm-lee.html">Does KL need to listen to MM Lee? </a></span><br />July 9, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/07/jb-umno-youth-wants-mm-lee-to-retract.html">JB Umno Youth wants MM Lee to retract remarks on IDR support </a><br />July 7, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/07/feeling-that-singapore-investors-are.html">Feeling that Singapore investors 'are not welcome in IDR'</a><br />July 4, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/07/outrage-over-mm-lees-remarks-on-johor.html">Outrage over MM Lee's remarks on Johor IDR </a><br />July 4, 2007 : <span style="BACKGROUND: #ffff00"><a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/07/mm-misquoted.html">MM misquoted</a></span><br />July 3, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/07/kl-cant-focus-on-singapore-alone-in-its.html">KL 'can't focus on Singapore alone in its foreign relations'</a><br />July 2, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/07/johor-umno-welcomes-singapore-investors.html">Johor Umno 'welcomes Singapore investors' </a><br />June 28, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/singapore-looking-at-terms-for-idr.html">Singapore looking at terms for IDR joint ministerial committee </a><br />June 22, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/kl-to-give-its-proposal-on-joint.html">KL to give its proposal on joint ministerial group soon </a><br />May 26, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/abdullah-allays-fears-of-meddling.html">Abdullah allays fears of meddling </a><br />May 26, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/rumbling-on-ground-over-idr.html">Rumbling on the ground over IDR </a><br />May 25, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/najib-leads-roadshow-to-raise-malaysias.html">Najib leads roadshow to raise Malaysia's profile </a><br />May 23, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/joint-panel-to-focus-on-fuss-free.html">Joint panel 'to focus on fuss-free access' to IDR </a><br />May 22, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/singapore-clears-air-on-iskandar.html">Singapore clears the air on Iskandar cooperation with Malaysia </a><br />May 17, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/iskandar-as-shenzhen.html">Iskandar as Shenzhen </a><br />May 17, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/mixed-reaction-to-plan-for-joint.html">Mixed reaction to plan for joint Singapore-KL committee </a><br />May 16, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/joint-panel-wont-look-at-singapore.html">Joint panel 'won't look at Singapore investment' </a><br />May 15, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/singapore-pledges-to-help-msia-on-johor.html">Singapore pledges to help M'sia on Johor project </a><br />May 15, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/singapore-malaysia-to-cooperate-on.html">Singapore, Malaysia to cooperate on Johor projects </a><br />May 14, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/leaders-to-discuss-cooperation-in-idr.html">Leaders 'to discuss cooperation in IDR' </a><br />March 24, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/malaysian-govt-defends-incentives-for.html">Malaysian Govt defends incentives for Johor growth zone </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103168600791477413.post-24640571336583092192010-06-06T18:59:00.000-07:002007-06-09T08:01:09.533-07:00Corruption in public works and constructionJune 6, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/ceiling-collapses-at-johors-syariah.html">Ceiling collapses at Johor's Syariah Court complex </a><br />May 26, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/anti-graft-agency-probes-contractors.html">Anti-graft agency probes contractors over court building flaws</a><br />May 24, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/stop-passing-buck-pm-tells-minister.html">Stop passing the buck, PM tells Minister Samy Vellu </a><br />May 21, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/works-minister-samy-vellu-gives-150.html">Works Minister Samy Vellu gives 150-year warranty for Parliament House </a><br />May 21, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/parliament-house-leaks-najib-wants.html">Parliament House leaks: Najib wants answers </a><br />May 12, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/works-minister-asks-for-10m-to-conduct.html">Works Minister asks for $10m to conduct checks </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103168600791477413.post-15206338181366354832010-06-06T18:57:00.000-07:002007-11-04T07:45:59.562-08:00Malaysia's Volunteer FinestOctober 12, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/10/malaysian-volunteer-corps-chief-defends.html">Malaysian volunteer corps chief defends action against illegals</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103168600791477413.post-2595527191679610942010-06-06T18:56:00.000-07:002007-11-04T06:53:55.371-08:00Malaysia's FinestNovember 4, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/dark-days-for-kl-cops-but-morale-high.html">Dark days for KL cops but morale 'high' </a><br />November 3, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/kl-cops-and-judiciary-getting-bad-name.html">KL cops and judiciary getting a bad name </a><br />November 2, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/malaysian-top-cop-accused-of-hiding.html">Malaysian top cop accused of hiding assets worth $430K </a><br />November 1, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/anti-graft-officers-grill-top-cops.html">Anti-graft officers grill top cop's sisters </a><br />November 1, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/malaysia-charges-top-police-official.html">Malaysia charges top police official with corruption </a><br />October 31, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/10/malaysian-top-cop-accuses-police-of.html">Malaysian top cop accuses police of fixing him </a><br />October 28, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/10/kls-men-in-blue-under-fire-again.html">KL's men in blue under fire again </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103168600791477413.post-27520817680491572932010-06-06T18:55:00.000-07:002007-11-04T07:35:10.332-08:00The Judiciary - Fair and JustNovember 2, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/kl-to-move-fast-to-fill-chief-justice.html">KL to move 'fast' to fill Chief Justice post </a><br />November 2, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/straits-times-november-2-2007-kuala.html">Controversial video shown at law meet </a><br />November 1, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/malaysias-cj-retires-successor-not.html">Malaysia's CJ retires; successor not named </a><br />October 30, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/10/perak-ruler-former-chief-justice-calls.html">Perak ruler - a former chief justice - calls for judicial reforms </a><br />October 19, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/10/no-witnesses-yet-to-video-controversy.html">No witnesses yet to video controversy </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103168600791477413.post-81945584256943715942010-06-06T18:00:00.000-07:002007-06-08T00:03:36.264-07:00Malaysia's Affirmative Action Plan for MalaysMay 10, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/from-malay-to-muslim-to-melayu-baru.html">From Malay to Muslim to Melayu Baru ...What next?</a><br />March 17, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/affirmative-action-led-to-bloated.html">Affirmative action led to bloated bureaucracy </a><br />March 3, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/will-malaysia-dare-to-scrap-bumiputera.html">Will Malaysia dare to scrap bumiputera policy? </a><br />February 18, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/new-economic-policy-wont-go-on-forever.html">New Economic Policy 'won't go on forever' </a><br />February 17, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/abdullah-says-affirmative-action.html">Abdullah says affirmative action programme for Malays not permanent </a><br />February 17, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/malays-must-pledge-not-to-sell-govt.html">Malays must pledge not to sell govt contracts </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103168600791477413.post-737577223627814152010-06-06T17:00:00.000-07:002007-06-09T08:15:11.907-07:00Malaysia belongs to the Malays; and Islamic laws are above civil court and other religionsJune 2, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/man-given-to-wrong-parents-at-birth_02.html">Man given to wrong parents at birth files suit </a><br />June 1, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/strong-reactions-in-malaysia-to-lina.html">Strong reactions in Malaysia to Lina Joy verdict </a><br />May 31, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/life-as-secret-christian-convert.html">Life as a secret Christian convert </a><br />May 31, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/religion-in-malaysia.html">Religion in Malaysia </a><br />May 31, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/shadow-cast-over-similar-cases-of.html">Shadow cast over similar cases of apostasy </a><br />May 30, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/malaysia-rejects-christian-appeal.html">Malaysia rejects Christian appeal </a>(BBC News)<br />May 30, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/federal-court-dismisses-lina-joys.html">Federal Court dismisses Lina Joy’s appeal to drop “Islam” in IC </a><br />May 30, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/kl-court-rules-on-apostasy-case-today.html">KL court rules on apostasy case today </a><br />May 14, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/msian-islamic-body-says-right-to.html">Malaysian Islamic body says right to separate couple </a><br />May 4, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/civil-court-lets-hindu-man-have-kids.html">Civil court lets Hindu man have kids back </a><br />May 3, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/msian-hindu-gets-custody-of-children.html">M'sian Hindu gets custody of children from Muslim wife </a><br />April 21, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/islamic-officials-seize-hindu-mans.html">Islamic officials seize Hindu man's family </a><br />April 10, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/anwar-dont-force-syariah-court-on-non.html">Anwar: Don't force Syariah Court on non-Muslims</a><br />April 3, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/court-fight-stirs-up-anxiety-over-non.html">Court fight stirs up anxiety over non-Muslim rights</a><br />March 31, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/converts-wife-succeeds-in-appeal.html">Convert's wife succeeds in appeal </a><br />March 27, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/woman-filmed-naked-during-khalwat-raid.html">Woman filmed naked during khalwat raid </a><br />January 3, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/01/at-50-racial-lines-showing.html">At 50, racial lines showing </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103168600791477413.post-69518544455347271182010-06-06T16:00:00.000-07:002007-06-09T05:24:43.334-07:00OthersJune 6, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/proton-dealers-bear-brunt-of-carmakers.html">Proton dealers bear brunt of carmaker's slump </a><br />June 1, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/proton-posts-266m-loss-talks-with-vw.html">Proton posts $266m loss; talks with VW collapse </a><br />March 29, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/no-decision-yet-on-bullet-train-says.html">No decision yet on bullet train, says Malaysia </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103168600791477413.post-40991631771715668882010-06-06T15:00:00.000-07:002007-11-18T04:22:21.044-08:00All the aboveNovember 17, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/kl-wants-island-for-maritime-stability.html">KL wants island for 'maritime stability' </a><br />November 17, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/malaysias-counsel-collapses-hearing.html">Malaysia's counsel collapses; hearing halts for 15 minutes </a><br />November 16, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/singapore-acted-more-like-lighthouse.html">Singapore acted more like lighthouse operator, says KL </a><br />November 15, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/malaysia-cites-1824-treaty-to-back.html">Malaysia cites 1824 treaty to back Pedra Branca claim </a><br /><br />November 14, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/kl-accuses-singapore-of-trying-to.html">KL accuses Singapore of trying to 'subvert' the status quo </a><br />November 14, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/singapore-activities-on-island.html">Singapore activities on island irrelevant: KL </a><br />November 13, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/why-singapore-is-fighting-case-to-keep.html">Why Singapore is fighting the case to keep Pedra Branca </a><br />November 13, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/malaysias-case-history-to-be-cited-to.html">Malaysia's Case: History to be cited to back claims </a><br />November 13, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/souvereignty-over-pulau-batu-puteh.html">Souvereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh </a><br />November 13, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/kl-says-it-has-good-case-against.html">KL says it has good case against Singapore </a><br /><br /><br />November 10, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/kls-claim-of-original-title-mirage-jaya.html">KL's claim of original title a mirage: Jaya closing speech </a><br />November 10, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/kls-claim-at-odds-with-its-actions-jaya.html">KL's claim at odds with its actions, Jaya argues</a><br />November 10, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/malaysian-maps-and-letters-show.html">Malaysian maps and letters show Singapore as owner </a><br />November 10, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/dispute-should-not-hurt-ties-syed-hamid.html">Dispute should not hurt ties: Syed Hamid </a><br />November 9, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/jaya-sums-up-singapores-stand-on-pedra.html">Jaya sums up Singapore's stand on Pedra Branca </a><br />November 9, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/spore-highlights-kls-tactics-of.html">Singapore highlights KL's tactics of distorting quotes </a><br />November 9, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/glaring-gap-in-malaysias-actions-over-2.html">'Glaring gap' in Malaysia's actions over 2 islands </a><br />November 9, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/unlike-kl-singapore-has-shown-state.html">Unlike KL, Singapore has 'shown state authority' over island </a><br />November 8, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/lawyers-for-singapore-liken-kls-case-to.html">Lawyers for Singapore liken KL's case to shooting blanks </a><br />November 8, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/britains-activities-on-islet-are-proof.html">Britain's activities on islet are 'proof of sovereignty' </a><br />November 8, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/malaysias-case.html">Malaysia's case </a><br />November 7, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/malaysias-130-year-silence-speaks.html">Malaysia's 130-year silence 'speaks volumes' </a><br />November 7, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/malaysia-has-no-evidence-to-back-up.html">'Malaysia has no evidence to back up claim' </a><br />November 7, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/singapore-rebuts-kls-claim-of.html">Singapore rebuts KL's claim of historical ownership </a><br />November 7, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/what-case-is-about.html">What the case is about ship </a><br />November 6, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/all-ready-to-present-singapores-case.html">All ready to present Singapore's case </a><br />November 6, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/pedra-branca-issue-gets-its-day-in.html">Pedra Branca issue gets its day in court </a><br />November 5, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/court-hearing-on-pedra-branca-to-open.html">Court hearing on Pedra Branca to open </a><br />November 3, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/kl-cops-and-judiciary-getting-bad-name.html">KL cops and judiciary getting a bad name </a><br />November 2, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/kl-to-move-fast-to-fill-chief-justice.html">KL to move 'fast' to fill Chief Justice post </a><br />November 2, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/straits-times-november-2-2007-kuala.html">Controversial video shown at law meet </a><br />November 2, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/malaysian-top-cop-accused-of-hiding.html">Malaysian top cop accused of hiding assets worth $430K </a><br />November 1, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/anti-graft-officers-grill-top-cops.html">Anti-graft officers grill top cop's sisters </a><br />November 1, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/malaysia-charges-top-police-official.html">Malaysia charges top police official with corruption </a><br />November 1, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/malaysias-cj-retires-successor-not.html">Malaysia's CJ retires; successor not named </a><br />October 31, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/10/malaysian-top-cop-accuses-police-of.html">Malaysian top cop accuses police of fixing him </a><br />October 31, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/10/pedra-branca-court-hearing-starts-next.html">Pedra Branca court hearing starts next week</a><br />Date unknown - <span style="BACKGROUND: #ffff00"><a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/claim-for-pedra-banca.html">The Pedra Banca dispute</a></span><br />October 31, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/10/pas-calls-on-johoreans-to-block-idr.html">PAS calls on Johoreans to block IDR project </a><br />October 28, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/10/kls-men-in-blue-under-fire-again.html">KL's men in blue under fire again </a><br />October 30, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/10/perak-ruler-former-chief-justice-calls.html">Perak ruler - a former chief justice - calls for judicial reforms </a><br />October 25, 2007 - <span style="BACKGROUND: #ffff00"><a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/10/prime-failure-to-inspire-people.html">A prime failure to inspire the people </a></span><br />October 19, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/10/no-witnesses-yet-to-video-controversy.html">No witnesses yet to video controversy </a><br />October 12, 2007 : <span style="BACKGROUND: #ffff00"><a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/10/idrs-success-will-depend-on-singapore.html">IDR's success 'will depend on Singapore role' </a></span><br />July 23, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/07/idrs-msia-spore-joint-committee-hold.html">IDR's Malaysia-Singapore joint committee hold 1st meeting in JB zone </a><br />July 23, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/07/joint-committee-on-idr-to-hold-first.html">Joint committee on IDR to hold first meeting </a><br />July 23, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/07/idrs-msia-spore-joint-committee-hold.html">IDR's Malaysia-Singapore joint committee hold 1st meeting in JB </a><br />July 23, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/07/kl-pledges-to-tackle-investor-issues-on.html">KL pledges to tackle investor issues on IDR </a><br />July 16, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/07/minister-says-mm-lees-comments-uncalled.html">Minister says MM Lee's comments 'uncalled for' </a><br />July 12, 2007 : <span style="BACKGROUND: #ffff00"><a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/07/does-kl-need-to-listen-to-mm-lee.html">Does KL need to listen to MM Lee? </a></span><br />July 9, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/07/jb-umno-youth-wants-mm-lee-to-retract.html">JB Umno Youth wants MM Lee to retract remarks on IDR support </a><br />July 7, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/07/feeling-that-singapore-investors-are.html">Feeling that Singapore investors 'are not welcome in IDR'</a><br />July 4, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/07/outrage-over-mm-lees-remarks-on-johor.html">Outrage over MM Lee's remarks on Johor IDR </a><br />July 4, 2007 : <span style="BACKGROUND: #ffff00"><a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/07/mm-misquoted.html">MM misquoted</a></span><br />July 3, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/07/kl-cant-focus-on-singapore-alone-in-its.html">KL 'can't focus on Singapore alone in its foreign relations'</a><br />July 2, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/07/johor-umno-welcomes-singapore-investors.html">Johor Umno 'welcomes Singapore investors' </a><br />June 28, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/singapore-looking-at-terms-for-idr.html">Singapore looking at terms for IDR joint ministerial committee </a><br />June 22, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/kl-to-give-its-proposal-on-joint.html">KL to give its proposal on joint ministerial group soon </a><br />June 8, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/new-twist-in-murder-trial-of-model.html">New twist in murder trial of model </a><br />June 8, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/mongolian-murder-trial-could-become.html">Mongolian murder trial could become a political show </a><br />June 7, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/g-on-why-he-changed-team-of-prosecutors.html">A-G on why he changed team of prosecutors </a><br />June 6, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/proton-dealers-bear-brunt-of-carmakers.html">Proton dealers bear brunt of carmaker's slump </a><br />June 6, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/prosecutors-changed-to-ensure-fair.html">Prosecutors changed to ensure fair trial, says A-G </a><br />June 6, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/ceiling-collapses-at-johors-syariah.html">Ceiling collapses at Johor's Syariah Court complex </a><br />June 4, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/mongolians-murder-trial-begins-today.html">Mongolian's murder trial begins today </a><br />June 2, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/man-given-to-wrong-parents-at-birth_02.html">Man given to wrong parents at birth files suit </a><br />June 2, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/msia-defends-prosecution-change-in.html">Malaysia defends prosecution change in Mongolian case </a><br />June 1, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/proton-posts-266m-loss-talks-with-vw.html">Proton posts $266m loss; talks with VW collapse </a><br />June 1, 2007 - <span style="BACKGROUND: #ffff00"><a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/singapores-bilateral-relations-paranoia.html">Singapore's bilateral relations - The paranoia of suspicious minds</a></span><br />June 1, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/06/strong-reactions-in-malaysia-to-lina.html">Strong reactions in Malaysia to Lina Joy verdict </a><br />May 31, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/life-as-secret-christian-convert.html">Life as a secret Christian convert </a><br />May 31, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/religion-in-malaysia.html">Religion in Malaysia </a><br />May 31, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/shadow-cast-over-similar-cases-of.html">Shadow cast over similar cases of apostasy </a><br />May 30, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/malaysia-rejects-christian-appeal.html">Malaysia rejects Christian appeal </a>(BBC News)<br />May 30, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/federal-court-dismisses-lina-joys.html">Federal Court dismisses Lina Joy’s appeal to drop “Islam” in IC </a><br />May 30, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/kl-court-rules-on-apostasy-case-today.html">KL court rules on apostasy case today </a><br />May 28, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/singapore-kl-water-pacts-more-than.html">Singapore-KL water pacts 'more than commercial contracts' </a><br />May 26, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/abdullah-allays-fears-of-meddling.html">Abdullah allays fears of meddling </a><br />May 26, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/rumbling-on-ground-over-idr.html">Rumbling on the ground over IDR </a><br />May 26, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/33-days-that-spell-new-regional.html">33 days that spell a new regional diplomacy</a><br />May 26, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/anti-graft-agency-probes-contractors.html">Anti-graft agency probes contractors over court building flaws</a><br />May 25, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/najib-leads-roadshow-to-raise-malaysias.html">Najib leads roadshow to raise Malaysia's profile </a><br />May 24, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/water-agreements-its-not-simply-matter.html">Water agreements: It’s not simply a matter of water price </a>(NSTOnline)<br />May 24, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/stop-passing-buck-pm-tells-minister.html">Stop passing the buck, PM tells Minister Samy Vellu </a><br />May 23, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/saying-goodbye-to-past-stresses-and.html">Saying goodbye to past stresses and strains </a>(NSTOnline)<br />May 23, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/joint-panel-to-focus-on-fuss-free.html">Joint panel 'to focus on fuss-free access' to IDR </a><br /><br />May 22, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/singapore-clears-air-on-iskandar.html">Singapore clears the air on Iskandar cooperation with Malaysia </a><br />May 21, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/mps-say-sorry-over-sexist-leak-remark.html">MPs say sorry over sexist 'leak' remark </a><br />May 21, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/works-minister-samy-vellu-gives-150.html">Works Minister Samy Vellu gives 150-year warranty for Parliament House </a><br />May 21, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/parliament-house-leaks-najib-wants.html">Parliament House leaks: Najib wants answers </a><br />May 17, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/iskandar-as-shenzhen.html">Iskandar as Shenzhen </a><br />May 17, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/mixed-reaction-to-plan-for-joint.html">Mixed reaction to plan for joint Singapore-KL committee </a><br />May 16, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/joint-panel-wont-look-at-singapore.html">Joint panel 'won't look at Singapore investment' </a><br />May 16, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/cabinet-to-debate-mps-sexist-remark.html">Cabinet to debate MPs' sexist remark </a><br />May 15, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/singapore-pledges-to-help-msia-on-johor.html">Singapore pledges to help M'sia on Johor project </a><br />May 15, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/singapore-malaysia-to-cooperate-on.html">Singapore, Malaysia to cooperate on Johor projects </a><br />May 14, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/leaders-to-discuss-cooperation-in-idr.html">Leaders 'to discuss cooperation in IDR' </a><br />May 14, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/msian-islamic-body-says-right-to.html">Malaysian Islamic body says right to separate couple </a><br />May 12, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/minister-defends-lawmakers-sexist.html">Minister defends lawmakers' sexist remark </a><br />May 12, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/works-minister-asks-for-10m-to-conduct.html">Works Minister asks for $10m to conduct checks </a><br />May 11, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/immigration-dept-defends-volunteer.html">Immigration dept defends volunteer corps </a><br />May 11, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/msian-law-minister-defends-alleged.html">Malaysian law minister defends alleged sexist remark </a><br />May 11, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/msian-law-minister-defends-alleged.html">M'sian law minister defends alleged sexist remark </a><br />May 10, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/from-malay-to-muslim-to-melayu-baru.html">From Malay to Muslim to Melayu Baru ...What next?</a><br />May 4, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/civil-court-lets-hindu-man-have-kids.html">Civil court lets Hindu man have kids back </a><br />May 3, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/msian-hindu-gets-custody-of-children.html">M'sian Hindu gets custody of children from Muslim wife </a><br />May 3, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/05/singapores-gain-malaysias-loss.html">Singapore's gain, Malaysia's loss </a><br />April 28, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/f1-in-singapore-one-up-for-bilateral.html">F1 in Singapore: One up for bilateral ties </a><br />April 28, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/spectre-of-phantom-voters-reappears.html">Spectre of phantom voters reappears </a><br />April 26, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/malaysian-mps-critical-of-mm-lees.html">Malaysian MPs critical of MM Lee's remark </a><br />April 26, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/kl-in-bind-over-johor-oil-bunkering.html">KL in a bind over Johor oil bunkering facility </a><br />April 26, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/14-year-river-clean-up-flop-says.html">14-year river clean-up a flop, says minister </a><br />April 25, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/to-woo-singaporeans-kl-postpones-levy.html">KL postpones levy on foreign vehicles </a><br />April 22, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/malaysias-immigration-volunteers-to-be.html">Malaysia's immigration volunteers to be searched </a><br />April 22, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/i-have-never-met-mongolian-model-najib.html">I have never met Mongolian model: Najib </a><br />April 21, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/islamic-officials-seize-hindu-mans.html">Islamic officials seize Hindu man's family </a><br />April 20, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/najib-addresses-issue-of-models-murder.html">Najib addresses issue of model's murder, saying he has nothing to hide </a><br />April 20, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/conspiracy-theories-did-deputy-pm-najib.html">Did Deputy PM Najib Tun Razak order the murder of Altantuya? </a><br />April 18, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/schools-must-raise-proficiency-in.html">Schools must raise proficiency in English and IT, says Najib </a><br />April 13, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/msian-teacher-caned-by-school-principal.html">Malaysian teacher caned by school principal </a><br />April 13, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/kl-is-winning-anti-graft-fight-says.html">KL is winning anti-graft fight, says Abdullah </a><br />April 10, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/anwar-dont-force-syariah-court-on-non.html">Anwar: Don't force Syariah Court on non-Muslims</a><br />April 8, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/f1-boss-says-sepang-getting-shabby.html">F1 boss says Sepang getting 'shabby' </a><br />April 4, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/singapore-should-not-host-f1-race-msian.html">Singapore should not host F1 race: Malaysian minister</a><br />April 3, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/court-fight-stirs-up-anxiety-over-non.html">Court fight stirs up anxiety over non-Muslim rights</a><br />April 2, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/make-johor-trips-easier-for.html">Make Johor trips easier for Singaporeans: Malaysian Envoy </a><br />April 1, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/04/malaysias-anti-graft-chief-dumped.html">Malaysia's anti-graft chief dumped </a><br />March 31, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/converts-wife-succeeds-in-appeal.html">Convert's wife succeeds in appeal </a><br />March 29, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/no-decision-yet-on-bullet-train-says.html">No decision yet on bullet train, says Malaysia </a><br />March 27, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/no-decision-on-restarting-water-talks.html">No decision on restarting water talks with Singapore: KL </a><br />March 27, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/are-singapore-cars-with-tinted-windows.html">Are Singapore cars with tinted windows allowed in Malaysia? </a><br />March 27, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/woman-filmed-naked-during-khalwat-raid.html">Woman filmed naked during khalwat raid </a><br />March 24, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/malaysian-govt-defends-incentives-for.html">Malaysian Govt defends incentives for Johor growth zone </a><br />March 24, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/malaysian-govt-defends-incentives-for.html">Malaysian Govt defends incentives for Johor growth zone </a><br />March 17, 2007 - <span style="BACKGROUND: #ffff00"><a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/new-york-times-march-17-2007-by-wayne.html">Singapore - the envied rich kid on the block </a></span><br />March 17, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/affirmative-action-led-to-bloated.html">Affirmative action led to bloated bureaucracy </a><br />March 15, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/malaysia-to-singapore-investors-be.html">Malaysia to Singapore investors: Be early birds in Johor </a><br />March 13, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/vital-lessons-from-singapore-and-hk.html">Vital lessons from Singapore and HK </a><br />March 6, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/jakarta-mps-talk-tough-on-intrusions.html">Jakarta MPs talk tough on Malaysian intrusions </a><br />March 5, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/volunteers-held-for-attack-on-migrants.html">Volunteers held for attack on migrants </a><br />March 3, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/illegal-factories-given-amnesty-as-they.html">Illegal factories given amnesty as they contribute to economy </a><br />March 3, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/will-malaysia-dare-to-scrap-bumiputera.html">Will Malaysia dare to scrap bumiputera policy? </a><br />March 3, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/03/kl-can-learn-from-singapores-river.html">KL can learn from Singapore's river clean-up </a><br />February 28, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/early-opening-of-kl-air-route-will.html">Early opening of KL air route 'will benefit Singapore more' </a><br />February 26, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/malays-told-to-stop-fearing-singapore.html">Malays told to stop 'fearing Singapore' </a><br />February 24, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/thinking-aloud-asean-not-yet-united.html">THINKING ALOUD : Asean not yet a united entity for Singaporeans </a><br />February 23, 2007 - <span style="BACKGROUND: #ffff00"><a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/green-with-envy-over-red-dot.html">Green with envy over a red dot </a></span><br />February 18, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/new-economic-policy-wont-go-on-forever.html">New Economic Policy 'won't go on forever' </a><br />February 17, 2007 : <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/abdullah-says-affirmative-action.html">Abdullah says affirmative action programme for Malays not permanent </a><br />February 17, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/kl-not-envious-of-spores-progress-najib.html">KL not envious of Singapore's progress: Najib </a><br />February 17, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/malays-must-pledge-not-to-sell-govt.html">Malays must pledge not to sell govt contracts </a><br />February 17, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/wear-chastity-belts-to-prevent-rape.html">Wear chastity belts to prevent rape, says cleric </a><br />February 16, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/nice-try-everyone.html">Nice try, everyone </a><br />February 10, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/lets-all-bash-singapore.html">Let's all bash Singapore </a><br />February 10, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/whats-behind-triple-whammy-attacks-on.html">What's behind 'triple whammy' attacks on Singapore? </a><br />February 9, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/johor-mb-should-quit-for-blaming-floods.html">Johor MB 'should quit for blaming floods on Singapore'</a><br />February 6, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/kls-public-sector-growth-unwieldy-and.html">KL's public sector growth: Unwieldy and unjustifiable </a><br />February 4, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/kl-not-blaming-spore-for-kota-tinggi.html">KL 'not blaming Singapore' for Kota Tinggi flood </a><br />February 3, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/01/levy-on-spore-cars-kl-testing-system.html">Levy on Singapore cars: 'KL testing system now' </a><br />February 2, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/kl-ministers-clueless-on-foreign.html">KL ministers clueless on foreign vehicle levy </a><br />February 2, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/syed-hamid-technical-study-will-shed.html">Syed Hamid: Technical study will shed light on floods </a><br />February 2, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/najib-no-reason-to-blame-singapore-for.html">Najib: No reason to blame Singapore for floods </a><br />February 2, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/syed-hamid-technical-study-will-shed.html">Syed Hamid: Technical study will shed light on floods </a><br />February 2, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/najib-no-reason-to-blame-singapore-for.html">Najib: No reason to blame Singapore for floods </a><br />February 1, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/02/msia-downplays-claims-floods-caused-by.html">Malaysia downplays claims floods caused by Singapore </a><br />January 31, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/01/comments-that-spore-land-reclamation.html">Comments that Singapore land reclamation caused M'sia floods "unfounded" </a>January 3, 2007 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/01/at-50-racial-lines-showing.html">At 50, racial lines showing </a><br />May 27, 2005 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2005/05/reclamation-works-experts-found-no.html">Reclamation works: Experts found no major impact on environment </a><br />April 27, 2005 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2005/04/reclamation-row-is-resolved.html">Reclamation row is resolved </a><br />January 16, 2005 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2005/01/reclamation-dispute-accord-is-fair-says.html">Reclamation dispute: Accord is fair, says Jaya </a><br />October 23, 2003 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2003/10/cnn-interview-land-reclamation-by.html">CNN interview : Land Reclamation by Singapore </a><br />January 28, 2003 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2003/01/singapore-entitled-to-release-documents.html">Singapore entitled to release documents on water issue: Law expert </a><br />April 6, 2002 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2002/04/water-singapore-to-rely-less-on-kl.html">Water: Singapore to rely less on KL </a><br />April 6, 2002 - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2002/04/high-time-for-new-approach-to-water.html">'High time for a new approach to water' </a><br />undated - - <a href="http://thislittlereddot.blogspot.com/2007/11/summary.html">Water Agreements : A Summary </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0