Malaysia chides Singapore's Lee over race comments
Malaysia chides Singapore's Lee over race comments
Malaysia denied on Thursday that it mistreated its ethnic Chinese minority, responding to criticism from former Singapore leader Lee Kuan Yew.
"It's a comment that we can do without. It is not appreciated at all," Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said, referring to recent remarks made by Lee.
Lee told a forum in Singapore last Friday that it was vital for Singapore, a predominantly ethnic Chinese state, to stand up to its bigger, mainly Muslim neighbours, Indonesia and Malaysia.
"Our neighbours both have problems with their Chinese. They are successful. They are hard-working and therefore they are systemically marginalised," Lee said.
Singapore and Malaysia have deep economic ties, but diplomatic relations are often strained. The two countries briefly united as one country in 1963 but separated two years later in a falling out related to racial politics.
Indonesia and Malaysia "want Singapore, to put it simply, to be like their Chinese -- compliant", said Lee, who was Singapore's prime minister from 1965 to 1990.
Najib said Malaysia did not marginalise ethnic Chinese or Indians in favour of majority ethnic Malays, who are known as bumiputras (sons of the soil).
"Malaysia does not practise a policy of blocking opportunities for non-bumiputras to progress further," he said
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak described the statement as naughty, adding: "I do not know his real motive but his comment is something that should not have been made in the first place. It is a comment that we can do without and is not appreciated at all. It is not accurate, has political impact and is very misleading."
Najib said the government had no intention to sideline or marginalise non-Bumiputeras.(?)
The government, he added, had never adopted a policy which aimed at hindering the progress of the non-Bumiputeras as all it wanted was nothing but fairness and equal distribution of wealth for all races.(?)
He said it would be up to the Cabinet to make a stand on the matter.
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.
Najib said Lee’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.”
Just wait and see, the famous son-in-law. who repeatedly raised racial issues of late, making Chinese Malaysians the bogeyman, will now starts his Singapore bashing.
He is good in doing curry favor.
It was reported that 'Samy Vellu To Probe Irregularities In School Repairs'.
According to bernama report, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu will be in Penang Friday to investigate claims of irregularities involving financial allocations to two Chinese national type schools.
He said Chinese newspapers yesterday reported on the repairs to the Mah Hwa school in Kepala Batas and the Chung Hwa school in Butterworth.
"Repairs done on the schools were not proportionate to the value of the allocations approved. I informed the Cabinet of this yesterday," he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the MIC Central Working Committee, here.
He also said that the special Public Works Department (PWD) team formed to investigate the repairs to the Kung Yu school in Muar, Johor, would be recording statements from all officers involved in approving the repair job.
The team, led by PWD Director-General Datuk Wahid Omar, was also directed to investigate the contractor awarded the job.
Samy Vellu said those involved, such as technicians, the contractor and the district engineer, would give their statements.
The special team was formed last week on the instruction of the Cabinet, and was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak after he had received a report on the matter.
The report said some RM29,000 was approved for the repairs while the actual job done was valued at only RM3,000.
Replying to a question, Samy Vellu said he would not prevent Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) from lodging a report on the matter with the Anti-Corruption Agency.
"I am all for it. We too can make reports on what the PKR leaders did when they were in government," he added.
Thaksin to take "deserved rest" from politics, calling for election
Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra called here on Thursday for a new general election in Thailand quickly.
In a statement, he said "We hope the new regime will quickly arrange a new general election and continue to uphold the principles of democracy for the future of all Thais."
Thaksin, who arrived in London from New York in Wednesday evening for a "private visit," would take a "deserved rest" from politics, planning to carry out research, development and "possible charitable work for Thailand," the statement said.
"The event in Thailand during the last two days should not detract from my main aim of national reconciliation," the statement added. "Therefore (I) would like to urge all parties to find ways and means to reconcile and work toward national reconciliation for the sake of our king and country."
On Wednesday, a spokesman for British Prime Minister Tony Blair said there had been no requests from Thaksin or his entourage for any meetings with British government ministers or officials.
The spokesman was not aware how long Thaksin was expected to stay, but noted that he had relatives in Britain. One of Thaksin's daughters is studying at a university in London.
The Thai Army Commander, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, announced on Tuesday night that he had established a Reform Council to take over Thaksin-led administration of the country. A nationwide state of martial law has been declared.
Gen. Sonthi told a news conference in Bangkok that a new prime minister would be named within two weeks, and new elections would take place in a year's time, once a new constitution was written.
Blair's spokesman said the British government was concerned about developments in Thailand. "Our general approach would be that we want to see a return to democracy as quickly as possible," he said.
The 400 Richest Americans
William Henry Gates III
In June Microsoft's visionary announced his retirement from company he cofounded 31 years ago, he was named again as the richest American in the latest "Forbes 400 Richest American".
Singapore Malaysia Lee Kuan Yew Najib Tun Razak Malay Chinese Thaksin
Malaysia denied on Thursday that it mistreated its ethnic Chinese minority, responding to criticism from former Singapore leader Lee Kuan Yew.
"It's a comment that we can do without. It is not appreciated at all," Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said, referring to recent remarks made by Lee.
Lee told a forum in Singapore last Friday that it was vital for Singapore, a predominantly ethnic Chinese state, to stand up to its bigger, mainly Muslim neighbours, Indonesia and Malaysia.
"Our neighbours both have problems with their Chinese. They are successful. They are hard-working and therefore they are systemically marginalised," Lee said.
Singapore and Malaysia have deep economic ties, but diplomatic relations are often strained. The two countries briefly united as one country in 1963 but separated two years later in a falling out related to racial politics.
Indonesia and Malaysia "want Singapore, to put it simply, to be like their Chinese -- compliant", said Lee, who was Singapore's prime minister from 1965 to 1990.
Najib said Malaysia did not marginalise ethnic Chinese or Indians in favour of majority ethnic Malays, who are known as bumiputras (sons of the soil).
"Malaysia does not practise a policy of blocking opportunities for non-bumiputras to progress further," he said
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak described the statement as naughty, adding: "I do not know his real motive but his comment is something that should not have been made in the first place. It is a comment that we can do without and is not appreciated at all. It is not accurate, has political impact and is very misleading."
Najib said the government had no intention to sideline or marginalise non-Bumiputeras.(?)
The government, he added, had never adopted a policy which aimed at hindering the progress of the non-Bumiputeras as all it wanted was nothing but fairness and equal distribution of wealth for all races.(?)
He said it would be up to the Cabinet to make a stand on the matter.
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.
Najib said Lee’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.”
Just wait and see, the famous son-in-law. who repeatedly raised racial issues of late, making Chinese Malaysians the bogeyman, will now starts his Singapore bashing.
He is good in doing curry favor.
It was reported that 'Samy Vellu To Probe Irregularities In School Repairs'.
According to bernama report, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu will be in Penang Friday to investigate claims of irregularities involving financial allocations to two Chinese national type schools.
He said Chinese newspapers yesterday reported on the repairs to the Mah Hwa school in Kepala Batas and the Chung Hwa school in Butterworth.
"Repairs done on the schools were not proportionate to the value of the allocations approved. I informed the Cabinet of this yesterday," he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the MIC Central Working Committee, here.
He also said that the special Public Works Department (PWD) team formed to investigate the repairs to the Kung Yu school in Muar, Johor, would be recording statements from all officers involved in approving the repair job.
The team, led by PWD Director-General Datuk Wahid Omar, was also directed to investigate the contractor awarded the job.
Samy Vellu said those involved, such as technicians, the contractor and the district engineer, would give their statements.
The special team was formed last week on the instruction of the Cabinet, and was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak after he had received a report on the matter.
The report said some RM29,000 was approved for the repairs while the actual job done was valued at only RM3,000.
Replying to a question, Samy Vellu said he would not prevent Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) from lodging a report on the matter with the Anti-Corruption Agency.
"I am all for it. We too can make reports on what the PKR leaders did when they were in government," he added.
**********
Thaksin to take "deserved rest" from politics, calling for election
Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra called here on Thursday for a new general election in Thailand quickly.
In a statement, he said "We hope the new regime will quickly arrange a new general election and continue to uphold the principles of democracy for the future of all Thais."
Thaksin, who arrived in London from New York in Wednesday evening for a "private visit," would take a "deserved rest" from politics, planning to carry out research, development and "possible charitable work for Thailand," the statement said.
"The event in Thailand during the last two days should not detract from my main aim of national reconciliation," the statement added. "Therefore (I) would like to urge all parties to find ways and means to reconcile and work toward national reconciliation for the sake of our king and country."
On Wednesday, a spokesman for British Prime Minister Tony Blair said there had been no requests from Thaksin or his entourage for any meetings with British government ministers or officials.
The spokesman was not aware how long Thaksin was expected to stay, but noted that he had relatives in Britain. One of Thaksin's daughters is studying at a university in London.
The Thai Army Commander, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, announced on Tuesday night that he had established a Reform Council to take over Thaksin-led administration of the country. A nationwide state of martial law has been declared.
Gen. Sonthi told a news conference in Bangkok that a new prime minister would be named within two weeks, and new elections would take place in a year's time, once a new constitution was written.
Blair's spokesman said the British government was concerned about developments in Thailand. "Our general approach would be that we want to see a return to democracy as quickly as possible," he said.
The 400 Richest Americans
William Henry Gates III
In June Microsoft's visionary announced his retirement from company he cofounded 31 years ago, he was named again as the richest American in the latest "Forbes 400 Richest American".
Singapore Malaysia Lee Kuan Yew Najib Tun Razak Malay Chinese Thaksin
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