There can never be progress w/o constructive criticism. However I believe that some things should never be spoken about publicly, especially on matters like this…

Off Bernama

September 23, 2006 20:09 PM
Abdullah Wants Kuan Yew To Clarify On Malaysian Chinese Issue

SEPANG, Sept 23 (Bernama) — Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Saturday he will write to Singapore’s Minister Mentor, Lee Kuan Yew, to ask for clarification on his statement concerning the Chinese community in Malaysia.

The Prime Minister said he wished to know the reasons why Lee had made such a statement.

“I will write to him to seek clarification why he had said it,” Abdullah told reporters upon arrival from a working visit abroad at the Bunga Raya Kompleks, KL International Airport.

Lee was reported to have said that Malaysia’s and Indonesia’s attitude towards Singapore was formed by the way they treated the ethnic Chinese minority in their respective countries.

Lee had claimed that Malaysia and Indonesia had problems with their respective Chinese communities because they were successful and worked hard and thus they were systematically marginalised.

Abdullah said he failed to see any justification for Lee to make such a statement.

“I concur with the statement made by (Deputy Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Najib (Tun Razak). It is a mischievous statement and can instigate the Malaysian Chinese,” he said.

Abdullah, who pointed out that such a statement should not have been made by a neighbouring country, said Singapore would also be affected if there was instability in Malaysia.

Furthermore, he said, Singapore too was facing internal problems with regard to its communities.

“We know that they too have problems, it’s not 100 per cent smooth sailing,” the Prime Minister said.

On Thursday, the Deputy Prime Minister had also commented on the matter, describing Lee’s statement as mischievous.

— BERNAMA