Mahathir: LKY 'arrogant and not very clever'
Malaysiakini
Sep 23, 2006

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad rained criticism on Singapore’s Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, whom he said has been marginalised by the Chinese around the world.

Mahathir, who shared anything but a rosy relationship with the former Singapore premier during his 22-year tenure, described Lee as “arrogant and not very clever”.

According to Bernama, he was responding to Lee’s recent remark that the Chinese in Malaysia and Indonesia had been systematically marginalised.

The 81-year-old former premier said the 83-year-old statesman had no respect for his neighbours.

“He (Lee) thinks he is strong, he has become arrogant and he does not bother about his neighbours. That is why he raised the issue (of marginalisation) knowing it is a sensitive issue,” he told reporters after a function in Terengganu yesterday.

Singapore’s former premier ruffled feathers when he claimed that Malaysia and Indonesia had problems with the Chinese because the community was successful through hard work.

Malays in Singapore

Continuing his attack, Mahathir said Malaysia could also ask why the Malays in Singapore were marginalised.

“We can also ask what is the status of Malays in Singapore, why are they not allowed to carry arms in the army or be provided with firearms training. Why are Malays in Malaysia so skilled in the military field but in Singapore, they cannot hold high positions?

“Why are the Malays marginalised to the point that they have no standing at all. This is done deliberately by Singapore. No other country does this,” he added.

In Malaysia, Mahathir said Chinese officers in the army could reach high ranks.

“The Chinese here can hold positions such as General, Major-General and so forth. But (what about) the Malays in Singapore, what is their per capita income compared to the Chinese there.

“Have an independent inquiry, why are the Malays being left behind in Singapore. Not that they are any less than the Malays in Malaysia but they are pressured, marginalised and victimised. That is the government formed on the views of Lee Kuan Yew,” he added.

Mahathir had also criticised the minister mentor in his speech earlier.

“You (Lee) take care of your own rice bowl. You are not clever. In a small group, you may look clever. (But) when he goes to China. The Chinese there don’t listen (to him).

The Chinese don’t respect him because he has been marginalised by the Chinese around the world,” he said.