Will PM Lee exercise leadership to correct MM's speeches?
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The following is a report in Malaysian newspaper which showed that MM Lee's speech to the IMF was rather racial and uncalled for.
Such speeches will not help Singapore to build better relations with its neighbouring countries.
QUOTE: BANGI: Malaysia can do without scathing comments from its neighbours, especially if the statements made are inaccurate and have political implications, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.
He said that a recent statement made by former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew on the status of the Chinese community in Malaysia and Indonesia was seen as “naughty.”
“I do not know the reason he made such a statement but it should not have been made at all. It’s a comment that we can do without and it is not appreciated at all,” he said after launching and presenting the Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) Sejahtera aid to the hardcore poor yesterday.
On Sept 15, Reuters quoted Lee, who is Minister Mentor for the island republic, as saying it was vital for the predominantly ethnic Chinese state to stand up to its bigger, majority Muslim neighbours, Indonesia and Malaysia.
OFFICE VISIT: Najib having a discussion with Wolfowitz at his office in Putrajaya yesterday.— Bernamapic
Lee, who was speaking at a forum on the sidelines of the World Bank-International Monetary Fund meetings, had also said the attitude of neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia towards Singapore was shaped by the way they treated their own ethnic Chinese minorities.
Lee had said that Singapore’s neighbours had problems with their Chinese communities because they were successful and hardworking and “therefore, they are systematically marginalised.”
Najib said LeeÂ’s comment, apart from having political implication, was also not accurate and did not represent the actual scenario in the country.
“We do not sideline the non-bumiputra in this country. What are in place are efforts to create a balance between the bumiputra and the non-bumiputra,'' he added.
Asked if Malaysia would send a diplomatic note to protest Lee’s statement, the Deputy Prime Minister said: “I don’t know about that. It is up to Cabinet to decide.”
On another matter, Najib, who met Paul Wolfowitz at his office in Putrajaya yesterday, said the World Bank president had asked what was the key to the nationÂ’s socio-economic and political success and had wanted Malaysia to share its success story and experience with foreign ministers of 18 African nations.
“We are glad to share our experience and impart the factors that have made us successful. But I informed Wolfowitz that Malaysia does not want to be seen as 'preaching' to them what to do.
“We will give the facts and it is up to them to consider what can be used, accepted, modified and implemented in their respective country,” he added. UNQUOTE
So will PM Lee exercise his leadership as PM to stop MM Lee from making similar speeches. -
Go ask the malaysian/indonesian chinese working here to find out the "real silent truth"
The truth which no one wants to talk about it
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correct MM Lee's speech?
He ownself also cannot take care of his own speech liao,still want to correct his father's
Buy votes and fix the opponent sia....... -
Try to think of it, their side also makes many radical comments against us. Recently Abdullah's son-in-law saying that the malays in s'pore are marginalised
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tat does not giv us the right to comment on their country.
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they have no rights to comment on our country also
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so lets say if some1 kick u, u mus kick back, knowing tat kicking other ppl is wrong?
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ever thought about a change in climate these days, where commenting on internal politics is not as taboo as before?
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If there is going to be a change for economic survival reason, then our leaders must first set their foreign policies right from the start which they can pass on to future generation of leaders.Originally posted by LazerLordz:ever thought about a change in climate these days, where commenting on internal politics is not as taboo as before?
It looks like eventually given this kind of off-the-cuff utterances, we will be enmeshed in religious and racial conflicts one day instead of working towards greater economic union and common understanding among Asean nations.
The fast-speed continental bullet train project is good but how to get all parties to work together requires strong people-to-people relation to support it.
Similarly, working towards the first set of common market principles should get started on people-to-people basis so that racial and other suspicious politics will take a temporary back seat to allow larger goals and objectives to be evolved for common good.
The EU has done these kinds of uniting different regions in europe into a more united economic cum political union to the benefits of many people.
Our leaders have distinguished themselves by their speeches and the way they run the local politics to be world-class leaders. On this rationale, they must outperform the narrow politicians elsewhere and be made more accountable and be questioned for their beliefs and philosophy.
So I would expect our leaders to have good thinking and Leadership in foreign policies is called for among our own leaders - not off-the-cuff comments which bring about more spats. -
LKY has made some retractions and apology before - 'remarks about JB being a cowboy town' - so it may not be necessary to embarass 'sonny boy', who may trip and make matters worse.
Then again, will LKY do so this time ?
His speech had indicated that Indonesia and Malaysia had marginalised their successful and hardworking Chinese Community; marginalising and then co-ercing them to be compliant towards their respective national objectives.
Any LKY's apology may simply make him look compliant too.
No, LKY may not apologise, as to do so will simply torpedo his own statement that "Singapore must have the gumption to say 'NO' to pressures from our bigger neighbors, without making them do silly things."
MM LKY should be given OB Markers in his speeches dealing with regional issues that affect the domestic politics of our neighbors; especially of his political stature, and spoken at a time when there is a major international event held in Singapore, in which his comments deriding our neighbors will put a bad light on their governments.
Does it make Singapore look better by making our neighbors look bad ?
His remarks simply exposes the insincerity of his relationship with the leadership of Indonesia and Malaysia; and further reinforce the suspicion of their leadership that Singapore - (with LKY around) - will always have a hidden agenda in dealing with neighbors even as expression of a 'win-win' relationship is made.
With friends like LKY, do our neighbors need any other enemies ? -
wat to do... our uncle lee wants to be uncle Sam of asia
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If someone poke your backside, you must poke back.Originally posted by RaTtY8l:so lets say if some1 kick u, u mus kick back, knowing tat kicking other ppl is wrong?
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southe east asia only lar.. we dun stand a chance against our north east giants - china..s.korea..japan..Originally posted by I.M.ME:wat to do... our uncle lee wants to be uncle Sam of asia
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But frankly, I have heard many atrocious stories related by people I knew who are Chinese Malaysians; they spoke of Malay oppression, how they (the Chinese) are always served last while Malays are given first priority. About how schools will fail certain Chinese students who are doing much better then their Malay students, basically MARGINALIZATION of the Chinese.
Isn't this TRUE in actual fact??
Personally, I too feel that it is so. -
For once our esteemed Minister Mentor seems to have said something which he really should not have said.
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It is true that we need to tell the Malaysians where they are wrong. It is a good policy that we need to build up our own defence capability and be strong before we could live in this part of the world.Originally posted by ShutterBug:But frankly, I have heard many atrocious stories related by people I knew who are Chinese Malaysians; they spoke of Malay oppression, how they (the Chinese) are always served last while Malays are given first priority. About how schools will fail certain Chinese students who are doing much better then their Malay students, basically MARGINALIZATION of the Chinese.
Isn't this TRUE in actual fact??
Personally, I too feel that it is so.
However as stateman and great leader, there is surely a certain finesse required of him.
He should not be seen as overly racial or protective of his multi-racial policy which he has introduced in Singapore.
That policy is good for Singapore and Singaporeans. But to make it appealing to Malaysians he has yet to exercise his leadership in building goodwill with neighbours for the larger objective of working towards an Asean Common Market based on people-to-people relation.
That is something which he has yet to do up to this date except in engaging in personality traits. -
del
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wow quite effective this kind of political strategy!!Originally posted by qpicanto:ruling party got a rare praise from a hardline opposing voice in the forum, look like veteran politician has acheived his objective already. suddenly got soft spot for ruling party!!!! -
As a MM in Spore,he is really making me worrying about our future!!!
How can we interfere with other country's internal affair ?? What rights do we hve ??? R we a part of Malaysia or vv???
This MM stupid remarks on recent TW's event also had made a lot of our frds in TW get angry with Spore!!!
Can he step down now!!! he is outdated n useless in this modern world!!!
I also feel he is very unfair 2 his son PM who shd know how th govern Spore alone at this age!!! -
luckily you not our leader.. or i will really have to consider migration...Originally posted by foomwee88:As a MM in Spore,he is really making me worrying about our future!!!
How can we interfere with other country's internal affair ?? What rights do we hve ??? R we a part of Malaysia or vv???
This MM stupid remarks on recent TW's event also had made a lot of our frds in TW get angry with Spore!!!
Can he step down now!!! he is outdated n useless in this modern world!!!
I also feel he is very unfair 2 his son PM who shd know how th govern Spore alone at this age!!! -
I fear he's becoming another Mahatir....
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This is absolutely true and there is no question about it!! whether it is our business or not is another matter. Ask any Malaysians in Singapore. Ask any ex malaysians in Australia and England. They won't tell you they din like Mahathir or UMNO or were afraid of PAS. Ask also the ethnic Indians in KL if how they are treated as a citizen compared to the Malays. They may not used words like marginalization, but more down to earth words.Originally posted by ShutterBug:But frankly, I have heard many atrocious stories related by people I knew who are Chinese Malaysians; they spoke of Malay oppression, how they (the Chinese) are always served last while Malays are given first priority. About how schools will fail certain Chinese students who are doing much better then their Malay students, basically MARGINALIZATION of the Chinese.
Isn't this TRUE in actual fact??
Personally, I too feel that it is so.
Ask the indonesian chinese about their position as citizens of Indonesia, if they are treated anywhere as equal as the minority in singapore, those singaporean who want to migrate should go there, things are cheaper, and they can say any damn thing against the government, against the leadership, can demonstrate on the streets, absolute freedom of expression, but only on politic, what we do not have here. -
Well, I feel that what we face here as citizens isn't racial outright, although some may say they felt marginalized by the large majority of Chinese, it's still isn't as obviously felt then say in Malaysia or Indonesia. What we face here is more of a political thing; what our gov says, we must accept without any arguments.Originally posted by sgdiehard:This is absolutely true and there is no question about it!! whether it is our business or not is another matter. Ask any Malaysians in Singapore. Ask any ex malaysians in Australia and England. They won't tell you they din like Mahathir or UMNO or were afraid of PAS. Ask also the ethnic Indians in KL if how they are treated as a citizen compared to the Malays. They may not used words like marginalization, but more down to earth words.
Ask the indonesian chinese about their position as citizens of Indonesia, if they are treated anywhere as equal as the minority in singapore, those singaporean who want to migrate should go there, things are cheaper, and they can say any damn thing against the government, against the leadership, can demonstrate on the streets, absolute freedom of expression, but only on politic, what we do not have here.
We have a different set of problems. And between us and them (Indonesia and Malaysia), our problems aren't any worse or better than theirs. It's just as much a problem. And will grow as years passes. -
Singapore Malays are hardly marginalised. They have free education all the way to A'Levels.
Yes, we don't have Malays in our key SAF regiments but that's a security issue. Nothing rascist.
Job ads also tend to advertise for people who are bilingual. If a Malay can speak Chinese, why not? Nothing rascist here too.
The "so-called" marginalisation is because the majority of them do not work as hard and strive as high as they should, thereby languishing in the lower rungs of society. -
hMz...don' think S'pore is a racist country....we promote racial harmony all the while...
Wasn't there a case when a chinese boy whom was sent to court n punished for his racism in a blog or something?
If racist, then our Spore idol won't be Taufik, it'll be a chinese then..be it whosoever talent is better..
Equality is what we're having in spore, among all races...