MM LKY ~~ " I'm Sorry. Still Friends?? "
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Lee Kuan Yew, the founding prime minister of modern Singapore, has apologised to Malaysia for comments he made about how Malaysia treats its minority Chinese, Singapore television said on Monday.
Its about time.
Singapore state-owned television Channel NewsAsia (CNA) said Lee -- who still has a powerful position in the cabinet of his eldest son, Lee Hsien Loong -- had sent a letter to the Malaysian prime minister in which he said he was "sorry" for the comments.
CNA reported that the letter said Lee "had no intention to meddle in Malaysian politics, nor does he have the power to influence Malaysian politics, or to incite the feelings of Chinese in the country".
Malaysian and Indonesia have both protested against Lee's comments made two weeks ago when he said the two predominantly Muslim neighbouring countries had "systematically marginalised" their minority Chinese.
Politics are so troublesome. Why can't they just pick up the phone and just say sorry. hahaha
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HAHA, son "kio" father's sai.
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Slick move..
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It's not the first time he has to apologise... When will he learn his mistakes?
Edit: grammer -
both countries suffer from the same problem ....
old political warriors who refuses to fade away and starts talking rubbish with age .... -
hiyah the letter is the LHL's press secretary write one under LHL's instructions. That time LHL say want to "fix" the opposition also his press secretary say sorry one.
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The damage has been done, as what was spoken before a seminar and heard by a large attendees of well established personnalities, was also printed in the Singapore Straits Times, distributed as standard fare to all the hotel rooms of the 16,000 delegates attending the IMF-World Bank Convention.
The decidedly false remarks was compounded by the fact that he is respected as a leading Statesman, a resputable authority with supposedly close insight to this Region.
Can his views be relied on in the future, or has he got things muddled up with his old political baggage from a by-gone era ?
Will he published his apology to all the World to know that what was spoken about Malaysia and Indonesia is false ?
He has demanded the same from those whom he has forcefully defeated for libel, and have extracted worst retribution from his opponents.
If Malaysia and Badawi accepts his apology with grace and let the matter lie, it will at least teach him to be more generous towards others, who may have 'inadvertently stepped on him on the wrong side'.
Sadly, it is unlikely that LKY will ever learn to be humble or generous towards those whom he has defeated, and grind into dust. -
the truth of the matter is quite another matter I think ...Originally posted by Atobe:
The damage has been done, as what was spoken before a seminar and heard by a large attendees of well established personnalities, was also printed in the Singapore Straits Times, distributed as standard fare to all the hotel rooms of the 16,000 delegates attending the IMF-World Bank Convention.
The decidedly false remarks was compounded by the fact that he is respected as a leading Statesman, a resputable authority with supposedly close insight to this Region.
are the minorities discriminated against in Malaysia ? ... there is no doubt in my mind that they are, there is no pretence that bumiputra policies are solely for the benefits of the majority, perhaps that's why it hurts all the worse ... in indonesia, whenever some political paroxysm occurs, the chinese gets it, shops burnt, men killed, women raped, eh ? ...
truth hurts ....
but yeah ... he has this tendency to offend other countries sensibilities, even if he speaks the truth ... -
Originally posted by Fatum:
The truth of the matter remains unchanged in history.
the truth of the matter is quite another matter I think ...
are the minorities discriminated against in Malaysia ? ... there is no doubt in my mind that they are, there is no pretence that bumiputra policies are solely for the benefits of the majority, perhaps that's why it hurts all the worse ... in indonesia, whenever some political paroxysm occurs, the chinese gets it, shops burnt, men killed, women raped, eh ? ...
truth hurts ....
but yeah ... he has this tendency to offend other countries sensibilities, even if he speaks the truth ...
However, when spoken in the light of 'CURRENT EVENTS' - under the present changed leadership (3 years in Malaysia under Badawi, and more then 9 years in Indonesia through 3 Presidents) - what LKY had spoken is no longer true, as the new Governments have made efforts to change the status quo for their respective Chinese Communities.
Indonesia Chinese always had difficulties in obtaining their Identity Cards, and even had a special marking to identify them as Chinese, and targetted for 'special treatment'. However, all these obstacles and administrative discriminations are being removed by the present Indonesian President.
Yes, Malaysian Chinese had been disadvantaged and discriminated by Mahathir's affirmative policy throughout his term in office. However, since Badawi came into office 3 years ago, the Chinese community had decidedly been more optimistic with his moves.
LKY's speech that relied on historical events that overlooked current events - 9 years in Indonesia's case - is remarkable, considering his fastidiosness and meticulousness to accuracy and facts.
In his twilight years, he is still attempting to make himself relevant, and refuse to move off the center stage; while even in Mainland China, all their Octogenarians are legislated to retire from holding National Positions - even as a nominated delegate to the People's Congress.
What more can LKY contribute in public office, if he starts to make slip ups that embarrass himself and Singapore unnecessarily ? -
eh...
he got apologise to indonesia?
wah.. indonesia nvr make noise means no need apology la?
how can like that? -
If I remember correctly, Indonesia's lawmakers did angrily brand him a 'liar'....Originally posted by I.M.ME:eh...
he got apologise to indonesia?
wah.. indonesia nvr make noise means no need apology la?
how can like that? -
maybe LKY planning to sue the lawyers in indonesia for calling him a 'liar'..Originally posted by fudgester:If I remember correctly, Indonesia's lawmakers did angrily brand him a 'liar'.... -
LKY!!
No wonder he goes 2 hide now!!!
Next time we will call him not a founder but a destroyer of Spore!! -
He shd walk the talk and sue the indonesians for branding him "liar". Or take whatever possible action
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personally i felt what he said abt chinese in malaysia being marginalised as true. thats from some of the local malaysian chinese themselves. come on, the fact is clear for all to see, favoritism is rampant in malaysia and by voicing their displeasure, the MCA is either (a) lan lan no choice but to sing the same tune as the govt or (b) taking the ostrich mentality, pretending it does not exisit. All this for f**k ?
same for indonesia - the whole world know about the anti-chinese riots a few yrs ago and honestly, who actually believe that with this new president in place, things have changed ?
however, perhaps MM Lee could have just not talked about it and keep it to himself. why bother stirring up the issue again ? if the ppl there choose not to face it / do something about it, why shld we bother ? it doesn't really do us much help...we are happy that these chinese send their kids here for education, spend here for their medical care, invest, shop, etc....rather than back there. -
The following is the news item extracted from Channel NewsAsia.
Reading the apology note from LKY to Badawi, it raises additional questions as to the direction taken by LKY in his speech at the symposium.
MM Lee says sorry that recent comments caused discomfort to PM Abdullah
By Farah Abdul Rahim, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 02 October 2006 2204 hrs
Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew says he is sorry that his recent comments about Chinese Malaysians had caused Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi a great deal of discomfort.
Mr Lee had said during an international forum in Singapore more than two weeks ago that ethnic Chinese minorities in Malaysia and Indonesia are being marginalised.
In his letter to Mr Abdullah, Mr Lee said he had no intention to meddle in Malaysian politics.
Nor does he have the power to influence Malaysia's politics or to incite the feelings of Chinese in the country.
The remarks about Malaysia's ethnic Chinese minority were made at what Mr Lee called a 'free flowing dialogue session' with former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers.
Setting the context, Mr Lee explained he was speaking to a liberal audience of Westerners who wanted to see a stronger opposition in Singapore.
He reiterated that Singapore needs a strong government to maintain good relations with neighbours Indonesia and Malaysia and to interact with their politicians who consider Singapore to be 'Chinese'.
Mr Lee said he did not say anything more than what he had said many times before, and added he said less than what he had written in his 1998 memoirs.
Mr Lee said UMNO leaders, including former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamed and others, had on numerous occasions, publicly warned Malaysian Malays that if they ever lose power, they risk the same fate as Malays in Singapore, whom they allege are marginalised and discriminated against.
Mr Lee cited examples of such comments in the letter's annex, quoting Dr Mahathir and other leaders in media reports over the years about the "marginalisation" of Singapore Malays.
The Minister Mentor reiterated that Singapore understands the reality of Malaysian politics.
Singapore has never protested at such attacks on Singapore's multi-racial system or policies but merely clarified Singapore's position and explained to Singaporeans the root cause of such difficulties in bilateral relations.
Also in his letter, the Minister Mentor said relations between the 2 countries have improved since Mr Abdullah took the helm in November 2003 and that both Singaporeans and Malaysians appreciate this.
Mr Lee concluded that the last thing he wanted to do, after a decade of troubled relations with the former Prime Minister, was to cause Mr Abdullah a great deal of discomfort. - CNA/ch
While the historical contents is accurate concerning the interference by Malaysian Political Leaders and Politicians in the internal politics of Singapore, it does not provide Singaporeans with any satisfactory answer as to how did this fiasco developed and requiring him to back down with an uncharacteristic apology.
What relevance has his reply to "... a liberal audience of Westerners who wanted to see a stronger opposition in Singapore " got to do with his perception "that Singapore needs a strong government to maintain good relations with neighbours Indonesia and Malaysia and to interact with their politicians who consider Singapore to be 'Chinese' " ?
Does a stronger opposition in Singapore make for a weaker Singapore Government in handling the bilateral relations with our neighbors ?
It seems that in his attempt to befuddle the foreigners calling for a stronger opposition in Singapore, LKY had side-stepped obliquely into a 'Out-of-Bounds Area' of nipping at our neighbors, and done so without any careful consideration.
Age is certainly catching up in an otherwise sharp mind, do we need to think of any better reason for him to engage our tertiary level students, who has less political foundation ?
On Tuesday morning, the Malaysian Press will have a field day printing the contents of his letter of apology, and making snide remarks - unless Badawi will step in to soften the matter further with his characterisitic gentle ways, reaffirming his philosophy of being a 'Progressive Muslim'. -
Weird.... I thot it should be... "If not dont' say, but if say then don't say sorry".Originally posted by mhcampboy:Its about time.
Politics are so troublesome. Why can't they just pick up the phone and just say sorry. hahaha -
Sometimes the puppet master forgets himself. He can get away with these sorts of things virtually scot-free while he's alive, but who knows what future historians will have to say about that.
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Finally, I good gentlemanly move.
Make a mistake, waste no time and apologize.
I think apologizing within a week is really quite commendable of our LKY!
This, I respect very much..
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Was it an unconditional apology or one that was begrudgingly given?Originally posted by ShutterBug:Finally, I good gentlemanly move.
Make a mistake, waste no time and apologize.
I think apologizing within a week is really quite commendable of our LKY!
This, I respect very much..
Given the manner in which he still tried to justify his remarks before apologizing, it is clear as crystal that he is merely pandering to the reputation and wishes of Abdullah Badawi, rather than anything wholehearted.
I won't be surprised if his son wrote the letter and insisted that the Father SIGN it. The fact that he continues to be uncharacteristically insensitive to our neighbours in recent years after taking a backseat to governace raises question marks over his ability to hold office.
Stepping aside and retiring would probably be the best way forward for a man of his statue. -
No lah.. for once, I'd like to give the Old Lion benefit of the doubt.Originally posted by BillyBong:Was it an unconditional apology or one that was begrudgingly given?
Given the manner in which he still tried to justify his remarks before apologizing, it is clear as crystal that he is merely pandering to the reputation and wishes of Abdullah Badawi, rather than anything wholehearted.
I won't be surprised if his son wrote the letter and insisted that the Father SIGN it. The fact that he continues to be uncharacteristically insensitive to our neighbours in recent years after taking a backseat to governace raises question marks over his ability to hold office.
Stepping aside and retiring would probably be the best way forward for a man of his statue.
I mean, so long as one apologizes, the act of it is valid as redemption of one's character and mistake.
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Note that he didn't apologise for saying anything wrong. He just apologised for being insensitive to each country's policies.
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I wonder how many of u guys here actually read the letter and downloaded the annexes.
LKY..made a good move. His annexes , referenced to 1 whole list of incidents whereby M'sia government had openly commented on S'pore's Malay. -
Yeah, I heard about the annexes too.Originally posted by AMD2004:I wonder how many of u guys here actually read the letter and downloaded the annexes.
LKY..made a good move. His annexes , referenced to 1 whole list of incidents whereby M'sia government had openly commented on S'pore's Malay.
It's like telling the other side " Hey, you did that too. So why can't I?"