LKY labels Burmese junta as dumb
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Myanmar generals cannot survive indefinitely, says MM
MINISTER Mentor Lee Kuan Yew believes Myanmar's ruling generals, whom he described as being rather 'dumb' when it comes to managing the country's economy, will not be able to survive indefinitely.
But he says the army must be part of the solution to the problems facing their country, because if it is dissolved, all of Myanmar's administrative instruments will go with it, and the country will have nothing with which to govern itself.
Mr Lee made these points during a wide-ranging interview at his office in the Istana on Sept 27 with syndicated columnist Tom Plate of the University of California's Los Angeles Media Centre, and new-media expert Jeffrey Cole of the University of Southern California's Annenberg Centre.
Mr Lee said: 'These are rather dumb generals when it comes to the economy...How they can so mismanage the economy and reach this stage when the country has so many natural resources?'
He noted that Singapore hoteliers, who had sunk millions of dollars in Myanmar on his advice, have now found their hotels empty.
Mr Lee disclosed that he has tried to advise the generals to take Myanmar out of its isolation, referring specifically to former junta member Khin Nyunt, who is now under house arrest.
MM Lee said: '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 backtracked. Then they chucked Khin Nyunt out.'
Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt, as prime minister and head of military intelligence, was once part of a troika in the military junta, but apparently fell out with current regime chief Senior General Than Shwe, and was stripped of his posts after a purge in 2004.
The following year, then aged 64, he was sentenced to 44 years of house arrest on charges including corruption and bribery.
Mr Lee said he could not understand how the generals could believe they could let Myanmar remain isolated from the world indefinitely, noting that even medicines were being smuggled from Thailand.
He said: 'We will see how it is, but whatever it is, I do not believe that they can survive indefinitely.'
The Minister Mentor also decried recent excesses by the junta, saying they must have pushed 'a hungry and impoverished' people to revolt.
These excesses included moving to an entirely new administrative capital, Naypyidaw, complete with expensive buildings for military leaders and a golf course.
He also referred to the lavish wedding of Gen Than Shwe's daughter, a video of which was smuggled out of the country to be shown on YouTube on the Internet.
The video showed his daughter wearing a collection of diamond-encrusted jewellery and extravagant clothing - lit up 'like a Christmas tree', as Mr Lee put it.
Gen Than Shwe's daughter and her husband also received gifts reportedly worth more than US$50 million (S$73.6 million).
Asked if China could nudge Myanmar out of its isolation, Mr Lee said he was not sure if Beijing had that power. He said: 'They've tried and, in fact, we have tried to talk them out of isolation.'
During the interview, Mr Lee was also asked to comment on a wide range of other issues, including US-China ties, US presidential elections, the changing media in the age of the Internet, Singapore's long-term prospects and other regional issues.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_165519.html -
hey the man is in the league of his own.
I saw the CNN interview of LHL that really has no comparision. He did not do his home work at all regards to SG gov position. The gene didn't pass down to him.
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here, lau lee's right about the burmese military..
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The state media ST did it’s best impose a total blackout on the illicit love affair between the ‘dumb’ Burmese generals and Sgp’s govt. The secret was preserved until one side could no longer contain itself.
You know who has done it again! Sr Gen Than Shwe will be pissed. -
lau lee quite apologetic about him 'misleading' the Singapore hoteliers leh.Originally posted by the Bear:here, lau lee's right about the burmese military..
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Hmm...let's make a guess. Was it another GLC investment disaster? Hundred million down the drain?
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As far as economics is concerned.
Hopefully the Burmese generals reading LKY comments would wake up rather than be pissed off.
They have talents, and they are here (erm..except the monks ) . -
if they had talents..they wouldn't be labeled dumb in the first place..nor would the country be still in shambles..Originally posted by mancha:As far as economics is concerned.
Hopefully the Burmese generals reading LKY comments would wake up rather than be pissed off.
They have talents, and they are here (erm..except the monks ) .
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The old man is taking potshots at the military junta ... -
never take a dyslexic too seriously
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Opps syntax error.Originally posted by 4getmenot:if they had talents..they wouldn't be labeled dumb in the first place..nor would the country be still in shambles..
The talents I meant are in the Myanmar nationals who are here. -
If the old man likes to talk c*ck, just let him be.
He knows he doesn't have too much time. -
Is LKY turning into another Dr M? I hope not.
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He should have risen to speak against the admission of Burma as a member of ASEAN ten years ago as a well known statesman.
This time round, it could be the Spore hotelier's investment have gone awry resulting in the MM criticizing the junta. -
any takers for a wager to see how long before malaysia reacts to lky? in the interview he screwed malaysia for being stupid to sideline non-malays......
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Ah well, he still hasn't forgotten his dream of having the Dewan Negara in KL under his control, has he?Originally posted by countdracula:any takers for a wager to see how long before malaysia reacts to lky? in the interview he screwed malaysia for being stupid to sideline non-malays...... -
Lee Kuan Yew doesn't criticise USA or Israel, strange.
USA kills Iraqis, Israel kills Palestinians, Lee Kuan Yew no comment.
Criticise leh, Lau Lee. Let's be fair. -
In the article, he admitted to treaching Khint Nyunt to form a political party to make it look like a civilian rule like What former Indonesian President Suharto
has done but it was a mistake. Khin Nyunt got put under house arrest. -
After making a huge investment blunder in Burma, the Burmese generals are now to be blamed for being dumb?!
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SAF got huge debts to IDF. Can't openly sympathise with Arabs no matter how pitiful they are.Originally posted by Poh Ah Pak:Lee Kuan Yew doesn't criticise USA or Israel, strange.
USA kills Iraqis, Israel kills Palestinians, Lee Kuan Yew no comment.
Criticise leh, Lau Lee. Let's be fair. -
I guessed nobody in here has thought the situation in Burma has way goe out of control especially if u look at those leaders in the junta in uniformOriginally posted by googoomuck:After making a huge investment blunder in Burma, the Burmese generals are now to be blamed for being dumb?!
macam like cannot pass IPPT, To make thing worse, Than Swee's daughter marriage ceremony has seen nepotism if u look at the diamond being worn by the bride. -
"They have got all the resources. If they would just educate the Chinese and Indians, use them and treat them as citizens, they can equal us and even do better than us and we would be happy to rejoin them."Originally posted by countdracula:any takers for a wager to see how long before malaysia reacts to lky? in the interview he screwed malaysia for being stupid to sideline non-malays......
Lao Lee been there done that. During the IMF meetings he also test water liao, in the end Malaysia paiseh. Judging from past experiences though, first Keris will be waved today. Thereafter, other members of UMNO must KPKB for the next whole week and some will wave their Keris. They will demand for an apology. What if Lao lee apologise for causing discomfort and produce an annex again ? Anyway, next week things will die down. Some slow person who want to score point will come and talk about it the week after and such a person exists judging from history. -
To be fair, nobody asked Lao Lee to comment on Israel and USA in the interview so nothing strange. TO be fair also, even if asked i don't think he will have much criticism, if any at all. One question is, can we afford to offend the U.S and Israel ?Originally posted by Poh Ah Pak:Lee Kuan Yew doesn't criticise USA or Israel, strange.
USA kills Iraqis, Israel kills Palestinians, Lee Kuan Yew no comment.
Criticise leh, Lau Lee. Let's be fair. -
This may however be an attempt to stir controversy. Controversy to deflect our attentions to Malaysia rather than on recent domestic issues like the protests and compulsory annuity. Malaysia does this all the time.
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my opinon is that right or wrong LKY at least take a position. Try watch LHL I am not sure he express gov position at all.