Mahathir: Being friendly towards S'pore didn't work
March 26, 2006
The Straits Times
KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA'S former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday that being friendly towards Singapore had failed to build relations and resolve bilateral spats.
He said only time would tell if the more conciliatory approach taken by Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi would yield results.
'When I first became Prime Minister in 1981, I went to Singapore to promote good relations with its Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, but it was clearly evident they weren't sincere in wanting to be friendly to us,' he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
He admitted that he had been unable to resolve a variety of disputes with Singapore during his 22-year tenure, but blamed the country for making demands that Malaysia would not accede to.
Negotiations are under way between the two countries over replacing the Causeway linking the two sides with a new bridge, an issue dating back to Tun Dr Mahathir's administration.
He said Singapore was asking for concessions for agreement to build a new bridge but offered nothing in return.
'Now they want sand and permission to use our airspace for their military aircraft to agree to the construction of a bridge to replace the Causeway. But what do they give us in return...nothing...zero,' he said. -- AFP, Bernama
In the politics world, if one ever speaks the truth, they are asking for trouble. Expect half truth only. Half of what Mahathir said will be right, the other half will be us.
Hmmmmmmmmmm. I agreed with small ant that what is said is usually the half truth. However it is Malaysia who wants to build the bridge by giving in to us they get the full bridge so The ex prime minister words dont stand they indeed got something back.