Lee Kuan Yew Made A Sweeping Allegation:
UMNO Leaders Trying To Topple Abdullah
Singapore’s Minister Mentor, Lee Kuan Yew, was quoted by Bernama today as saying that “UMNO leaders, particularly from Johore” were trying “to topple” Malaysian Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
This is the full Bernama report from Singapore:
Don't Expect Special Treatment In IDR, Singaporean Investors Told
By Jackson Sawatan
SINGAPORE, June 30 (Bernama) -- Singapore companies intending to invest in the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) cannot expect privileged treatment from Malaysia just like the "generous treatment" accorded by China to investors from Hong Kong in Shenzhen province, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said.
"Singapore cannot expect the same treatment from Malaysia," he said in a special interview with Berita Harian to mark the daily's 50th anniversary tomorrow.
Lee, still an influential figure in the Singapore cabinet, said Singapore companies must evaluate whether their presence are welcomed at IDR as there are protests from among Umno leaders, especially from Johor.
"On one side Pas is trying to topple the prime minister but when Umno leaders, particularly from Johor, are also doing the same, Singaporean investors must seriously ask themselves when this attitude will change and whether they welcome us in IDR," he said.
The IDR, straddling 2,217 sq km in south Johor, is a massive project undertaken by the Malaysian government, which many observers say will complement its ultra-modern neighbour Singapore, just like Shenzhen to Hong Kong.
Lee said IDR could pose pressure to Singapore just like Shenzhen to Hong Kong.
The Singapore founding father said Shenzhen was wooing industries from Hong Kong to the province and to nearby towns.
"This has left Hong Kong with only a few manufacturing plants and with high unemployment rate. Hong Kong's economy is now dependent on the service sector," he told Berita Harian, the sole Malay newspaper in the republic.
"If Singapore loses many industries to IDR, we will face serious unemployment problem as not all factory workers can find jobs in the service sector," he said.
He, however, said Singapore would support IDR as the two countries are bound to gain from the multi-billion ringgit project.
"From a wider perspective, we believe it is good for the two countries, with Malaysia savouring the spin-offs from Singapore's economic growth, and similarly Singapore," he said.
Internal politics and protests to Singaporeans investing in IDR are to exploit the issues and to erode support to Abdullah's leadership and the co-operation in the development region, he added.
-BERNAMA
UMNO Leaders Trying To Topple Abdullah
Singapore’s Minister Mentor, Lee Kuan Yew, was quoted by Bernama today as saying that “UMNO leaders, particularly from Johore” were trying “to topple” Malaysian Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
This is the full Bernama report from Singapore:
Don't Expect Special Treatment In IDR, Singaporean Investors Told
By Jackson Sawatan
SINGAPORE, June 30 (Bernama) -- Singapore companies intending to invest in the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) cannot expect privileged treatment from Malaysia just like the "generous treatment" accorded by China to investors from Hong Kong in Shenzhen province, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said.
"Singapore cannot expect the same treatment from Malaysia," he said in a special interview with Berita Harian to mark the daily's 50th anniversary tomorrow.
Lee, still an influential figure in the Singapore cabinet, said Singapore companies must evaluate whether their presence are welcomed at IDR as there are protests from among Umno leaders, especially from Johor.
"On one side Pas is trying to topple the prime minister but when Umno leaders, particularly from Johor, are also doing the same, Singaporean investors must seriously ask themselves when this attitude will change and whether they welcome us in IDR," he said.
The IDR, straddling 2,217 sq km in south Johor, is a massive project undertaken by the Malaysian government, which many observers say will complement its ultra-modern neighbour Singapore, just like Shenzhen to Hong Kong.
Lee said IDR could pose pressure to Singapore just like Shenzhen to Hong Kong.
The Singapore founding father said Shenzhen was wooing industries from Hong Kong to the province and to nearby towns.
"This has left Hong Kong with only a few manufacturing plants and with high unemployment rate. Hong Kong's economy is now dependent on the service sector," he told Berita Harian, the sole Malay newspaper in the republic.
"If Singapore loses many industries to IDR, we will face serious unemployment problem as not all factory workers can find jobs in the service sector," he said.
He, however, said Singapore would support IDR as the two countries are bound to gain from the multi-billion ringgit project.
"From a wider perspective, we believe it is good for the two countries, with Malaysia savouring the spin-offs from Singapore's economic growth, and similarly Singapore," he said.
Internal politics and protests to Singaporeans investing in IDR are to exploit the issues and to erode support to Abdullah's leadership and the co-operation in the development region, he added.
-BERNAMA
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/printable.php?id=270520
June 30, 2007 13:10 PM
Comment:
The allegation made by LKY is extremely serious. What is he up to this time? To create chaos in UMNO? To cause instability in Malaysia? To shut up IDR’s critics? Or, is it just a reversed psychological warfare aimed at putting a gag on Abdullah’s critics?
So, what is UMNO’s response to it? How is Abdullah’s administration going to treat such a statement? What is Wisma Putra’s reaction going to be? – Ruhanie Ahmad
June 30, 2007 13:10 PM
Comment:
The allegation made by LKY is extremely serious. What is he up to this time? To create chaos in UMNO? To cause instability in Malaysia? To shut up IDR’s critics? Or, is it just a reversed psychological warfare aimed at putting a gag on Abdullah’s critics?
So, what is UMNO’s response to it? How is Abdullah’s administration going to treat such a statement? What is Wisma Putra’s reaction going to be? – Ruhanie Ahmad
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