Lee apologizes for comments on 'notorious Johor'<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (Reuter): Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew
\napologized yesterday for remarks that brought a storm of protest
\nfrom neighboring Malaysia.<\/p>\n
A statement from Lee's press secretary said: \"The Senior
\nMinister had no intention to cause offense and apologizes
\nunreservedly for the offense he has caused the government and
\npeople of Malaysia by his statement on Johor.\"<\/p>\n
Lee, Singapore's Prime Minister from 1959 to 1990, had said in
\na legal affidavit related to a libel case that Malaysia's Johor,
\nseparated from Singapore by a causeway, was \"notorious for
\nshootings, muggings and car-jackings\".<\/p>\n
The comments touched off a diplomatic row with Malaysia after
\nthey surfaced in the media on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Members of the youth wing of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir
\nMohamad's United Malays National Organization, at a demonstration
\nin Johor, insulted Lee in terms unheard of in the normally
\ncircumspect ties among Southeast Asian nations.<\/p>\n
The demonstrators called Lee \"stupid\" and \"senile\" and
\ndemanded he apologize.<\/p>\n
The Malaysian foreign ministry asked for an apology and a
\nretraction, and Mahathir yesterday said Lee should make amends
\nfor his comments.<\/p>\n
Lee's comments about Johor were made in a sworn affidavit on
\nJan. 27 in proceedings against opposition politician Tang Liang
\nHong. Tang fled to Johor Baru immediately after the Singapore
\ngeneral elections on Jan. 2, in which he lost a bid for
\nparliament.<\/p>\n
Lee's affidavit had been offered as part of an argument
\ndisputing claims by Tang he feared for his life in Singapore.<\/p>\n
\"Had Mr Lee's attention been drawn to this, he would have
\ntried to get his counsel not to have this affidavit taken into
\nopen court.\"<\/p>\n
\"He had no intention his affidavit made in support of court
\nproceedings in chambers should affect the good relations between
\nMalaysia and Singapore,\" the press secretary said.<\/p>\n
The statement said Lee had not been to Johor since 1990 and
\nthe affidavit reflected \"his perception based on reports he had
\nread in the press. It was unfortunate that it subsequently became
\npublic.\"<\/p>\n
The public apology was a rare act for the outspoken Lee, known
\nfor expressing strong opinions on controversial subjects.<\/p>\n
Earlier yesterday, Malaysia's Mahathir said of Lee: \"The
\nfeeling among a lot of people in Malaysia is that some way or
\nanother he should make amends.\"<\/p>\n
Both Singapore and Malaysia are members of the ASEAN, which
\nhas practically made it a creed to avoid criticism of neighbors.
\nThe two countries are also major trading partners.<\/p>\n
Editorial -- Page 4<\/p>\n
Photo -- Page 6<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lee-apologizes-for-comments-on-notorious-johor-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }