By Philip Lim
SINGAPORE, Sunday 23 January 2011 (AFP) -- Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew has urged local Muslims to "be less strict on Islamic observances" to aid integration and the city-state's nation-building process.
Singapore has a predominantly Chinese population, with minority races including Muslim Malays and Indians, and Lee has always stressed the importance of racial harmony.
"I would say today, we can integrate all religions and races except Islam," he said in "Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going," a new book containing his typically frank views on the city-state and its future.
"I think we were progressing very nicely until the surge of Islam came and if you asked me for my observations, the other communities have easier integration -- friends, intermarriages and so on..." he stated.
"I think the Muslims socially do not cause any trouble, but they are distinct and separate," Lee added, calling on the community to "be less strict on Islamic observances."
During the book's launch on Friday, the self-described "pragmatist" warned Singaporeans against complacency, saying the largely ethnic Chinese republic was still a nation in the making.
Describing Singapore in the book as an "80-storey building on marshy land," Lee said it must contend with hostility from larger Muslim neighbours.
"We've got friendly neighbours? Grow up... There is this drive to put us down because we are interlopers," he said, citing alleged Malaysian and Indonesian efforts to undermine Singapore's crucial port business.
Singapore was ejected from the Malaysian federation in 1965 in large part due to Kuala Lumpur's preferential policies for ethnic Malays, and has since built up Southeast Asia's most modern military to deter foreign aggression.
Turning to local politics, Lee said the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), which has been in power since 1959 when Singapore gained political autonomy from colonial ruler Britain, will someday lose its grip on power.
"There will come a time when eventually the public will say, look, let's try the other side, either because the PAP has declined in quality or the opposition has put up a team which is equal to the PAP... That day will come."
"In the next 10 years to 20 years, I don't think it'll happen. Beyond that, I cannot tell."
Lee said that despite a survey showing the contrary, he believed Singaporeans were not yet ready for a non-ethnic-Chinese prime minister.
"A poll says 90 percent of Chinese Singaporeans say they will elect a non-Chinese as PM. Yes, this is the ideal. You believe these polls? Utter rubbish. They say what is politically correct," he stated.
He also defended the policy of promoting marriage between highly-educated Singaporeans, a policy seen by critics as a form of social engineering, and dismissed the notion of love at first sight.
"People get educated, the bright ones rise, they marry equally well-educated spouses. The result is their children are likely to be smarter than the children of those who are gardeners," he said.
"It's a fact of life. You get a good mare, you don't want a dud stallion to breed with your good mare. You get a poor foal."
People who are "attracted by physical characteristics" may regret it, he said.
Lee also revealed that he had donated to charity all his earnings of S$13 million ($10 million) since stepping down as prime minister in 1990 after 31 years in power.
Singapore's cabinet ministers are the highest paid in the world as part of a strategy to prevent corruption and attract talent from the private sector.
Lee, who holds the special title Minister Mentor, now serves as an adviser to his son Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who came to power in 2004.
Amid all the hard-edged talk, Lee showed his tender side when asked about his late wife Kwa Geok Choo, who died aged 89 in October last year.
"It means more solitude. No one to talk to when the day's work is done," Lee said in the book, the result of exclusive interviews with journalists from the country's leading daily, The Straits Times.
"A poll says 90 percent of Chinese Singaporeans say they will elect a non-Chinese as PM. Yes, this is the ideal. You believe these polls? Utter rubbish. They say what is politically correct," he stated.
David Marshall was a jew and you are a peranakan. Lee Hsien Loong is also peranakan.
You are the one that is rubbish.
He also defended the policy of promoting marriage between highly-educated Singaporeans, a policy seen by critics as a form of social engineering, and dismissed the notion of love at first sight.
"People get educated, the bright ones rise, they marry equally well-educated spouses. The result is their children are likely to be smarter than the children of those who are gardeners," he said.
"It's a fact of life. You get a good mare, you don't want a dud stallion to breed with your good mare. You get a poor foal."
hopeless racist and eugenicist bastard.
Singapore will be ruined by his racist bullshit.
Lee Kuan Yew urges Muslims to 'be less strict'
If the indian or malay PM has a track record which shows his impartiality, why not? haha let loose man. We are now in 2011, not 1955.
RACIST AH THIS
For years, no local will comment on Muslim things like this openly, this old man have lost his mind.
crossing lines
When Muslim had many intermarriage couple with chinese and malay and a new race is found. That where intergration is success. Our malay girls are very beautiful. Many in SIA
Originally posted by Itedino:When Muslim had many intermarriage couple with chinese and malay and a new race is found. That where intergration is success. Our malay girls are very beautiful. Many in SIA
i think many in SIA are PRC girls
those that are not are SPG girls
+ i think most muslims already practice what LKY said as most muslims i know eat pork and drink alcohol
I will definitely vote for PAP for as long as they continue with such terrific comments! Anyone with me?
Originally posted by PedoBear:
i think many in SIA are PRC girlsthose that are not are SPG girls
+ i think most muslims already practice what LKY said as most muslims i know eat pork and drink alcoho
there are malay catholics in singapore.
and truthfully i doubt many chinese in singapore will support the idea of having a non-chinese PM.
i hope people dont disagree with LKY just out of spite.
对事 ��对人!!
Originally posted by dragg:there are malay catholics in singapore.
and truthfully i doubt many chinese in singapore will support the idea of having a non-chinese PM.
i hope people dont disagree with LKY just out of spite.
对事 ��对人!!
i said muslims, not malays
In Malaysia, the malay holds on to their pm because of their majority in population, the chinese there can't even raise the debate of electing a non-malay pm,they will be firing back like crazy horses... So is there anything wrong by having a chinese pm here if the majority population here is chinese? Racist??? Which countries do not have this problem??? If you are good enough, then climb yourself up to become one (pm), and we do not endorse a non-chinese pm,simply because you are a non chinese and backup by some unauthentic data ( A poll says 90 percent of Chinese Singaporeans say they will elect a non-Chinese as PM. ). I reckon over 90% of chinese here will take this data as a rubbish, even an idiot will know that this is utterly fabricated by some racist groups. Come on, what era now???
Originally posted by PedoBear:
i said muslims, not malays
how do you know they are muslims?
many think malays = muslims.
Originally posted by dragg:how do you know they are muslims?
many think malays = muslims.
because on fridays they go mosque to pray
i know about the misconception of malays = muslims
reaally?
Originally posted by dragg:there are malay catholics in singapore.
and truthfully i doubt many chinese in singapore will support the idea of having a non-chinese PM.
i hope people dont disagree with LKY just out of spite.
对事 ��对人!!
maybe what you say applies to those born before 70s. Those after 70s may have a different view.
why not make singapore a muslim dominated contry?
then no need to think so much
ROC
dun talk stupid la.
Originally posted by Rock^Star:dun talk stupid la.
you scold LKY?
Originally posted by Not4rent:you scold LKY?
you :)
now that Harry Lee Kuan Yew is really near death, he is talking more and more rubbish from deep inside his heart.
He doesn't give a fuck now since these are his final rants.
Now please go and die now, Harry Lee Kuan Yew, fucker of Singapore for 50 years.
Originally posted by Rock^Star:you :)
i never sscold LKY
Originally posted by Not4rent:i never sscold LKY
why?