Mahathir comments irk Singaporeans<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (Reuters): Singaporeans have reacted with irritation
\nat suggestions by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad that
\nthey were the source of negative rumors about Malaysia.<\/p>\n
\"Don't scapegoat us, Dr Mahathir\" was one headline on the
\nfront page of Singapore's pro-government Sunday Times.<\/p>\n
Mahathir said on Thursday many of the rumors swirling around
\nMalaysia's financial markets originated in Singapore.<\/p>\n
\"From Singapore you get at least three rumors a day and
\nMalaysians react completely (to them),\" he said. \"Malaysians are
\nvery good. They never start any rumors. But Singapore, they only
\nstart rumors about Malaysia.\"<\/p>\n
Malaysia's financial markets have plunged in recent months in
\nwhat the leading opposition party has called a \"crisis of
\nconfidence\".<\/p>\n
Singapore's Sunday Times quoted Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan
\nSeng telling reporters that Singaporeans should react calmly to
\nMahathir's allegations.<\/p>\n
\"I think many Singaporeans are probably very unhappy about
\nbeing blamed for problems in Malaysia. No doubt some of them are
\noutraged by these comments about Singapore,\" Wong said.<\/p>\n
\"But Singaporeans should take it in their stride, understand
\nthe difficulties that Malaysia is facing, and be calm about it
\nand not overreact,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Singapore's Business Times newspaper on Saturday quoted one
\nSingapore businessman as saying:
\n\"He's looking for a scapegoat, and traditionally Singapore has
\nbeen the whipping boy. First it was (George) Soros, then it's the
\nJews and the U.S. government, and now its our turn. Politically,
\nit goes down very well with his Malaysian audience.\"<\/p>\n
Singapore and Malaysia have had a love-hate relationship in
\nrecent times, despite their growing economic interdependence.<\/p>",
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