Lee Kuan Yew Apologizes for Remarks That Angered Malaysia
International Herald Tribune
March 14, 1997
Michael Richardson 

Seeking to prevent a serious rift in relations with Malaysia, Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's senior minister, apologized "unreservedly" Thursday for remarks that brought a storm of protest from Malaysians.

The public apology was a rare act for Mr. Lee, a tough and often outspoken former prime minister from 1959 to 1990 who remains a powerful figure in Singapore.

"The senior minister had no intention to cause offense and apologizes unreservedly for the offense he has caused to the government and people of Malaysia by his statement on Johor," a statement from Mr. Lee's press secretary said.

Mr. Lee said in a recent affidavit for a libel case that the Malaysian state of Johor, which is linked to Singapore by a causeway, was "notorious for shootings, muggings and carjackings."

Analysts said that the strength of the protests in Malaysia threatened to damage relations unless an apology was forthcoming.

Most of Singapore's water and much of its food comes from Malaysia. Although the two countries have close ties and cooperate in some areas, there is increasing economic rivalry between them.

Analysts said that Mr. Lee's derogatory reference to Johor touched a sensitive nerve in Malaysia.

"Some Singaporeans feel themselves to be generally superior to Malaysians, and even if they don't, most Malaysians think they do and that is enough," said Bruce Gale, Singapore regional manager of Political and Economic Risk Consultancy Pte.

Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad of Malaysia said Thursday that many Malaysians felt that Mr. Lee should "make amends" for what he said about Johor. At a demonstration in Johor, members of the youth wing of the party Mr. Mahathir heads, the United Malays National Organization, brandished placards calling Mr. Lee "senile," "stupid" and a "pig" — terms that are almost unheard of in the normally smooth diplomacy between leaders of countries in the Association of South East Asian Nations. Mr. Mahathir said that Mr. Lee's comments revealed the difficulties in relations between the two countries.

Singapore was expelled from the Malaysian federation in 1965, partly because Malay leaders suspected that Mr. Lee wanted to win power in Malaysia and end the special privileges given to Malays.

Mr. Lee's libel case was one of 13 brought by members of Singapore's governing party against an opposition politician, Tang Liang Hong, who fled to Johor after general elections in January in which he failed to win a seat in Parliament.

The comment in Mr. Lee's affidavit about Johor was made as part of an argument disputing claims by Mr. Tang that he feared for his life in Singapore.

"Of all places, he went to Johor," Mr Lee said. "That place is notorious for shootings, muggings and carjackings. It does not make sense for a person who claims to be fearful for his life to go to a place like Johor."

The statement by Mr. Lee's press secretary said the affidavit was not intended to be made public. But Mr. Tang had asked for and gotten an open court hearing where it was discussed. The statement added that Mr. Lee had not been in Johor since 1990 and that the affidavit reflected "his perception based on reports he had read in the press."

"It was unfortunate that subsequently it became public by the way the litigation developed," it said.

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