Malaysia to discuss ties with S'pore<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): The Malaysian cabinet is expected to take
\nup bilateral ties with Singapore at its weekly meeting today
\nfollowing Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's return from Japan.<\/p>\n
Sources close to the cabinet said Mahathir would ask his
\nministers for an explanation for the flap caused by reports --
\nleaked by some officials and later denied -- of a decision to
\nfreeze bilateral dealings during his absence.<\/p>\n
"As he has indicated in Tokyo, he would want to know what
\nactually transpired in the previous meeting," the source told
\nAFP.<\/p>\n
He said Mahathir "may also want to get feedback from the
\ncabinet" regarding Singapore Premier Goh Chok Tong's latest
\nstatement on bilateral links.<\/p>\n
The Malaysian media, quoting unnamed ministers, last week
\ntriggered diplomatic confusion and market jitters when they
\nreported that the cabinet had decided to suspend new bilateral
\ndealings with Singapore to show displeasure over disparaging
\nremarks by the island's Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew.<\/p>\n
Mahathir was on an official visit to Japan when the flak broke
\nout and returned home over the weekend.<\/p>\n
The Malaysian government officially denied the reported freeze
\nbut some ministers insisted that Kuala Lumpur intended to keep
\nties with Singapore "low key" amid lingering anger over Lee's
\nremarks on southern Johore state.<\/p>\n
Relations were strained last month after the publication of
\nremarks by former premier Lee that Johore state, bordering
\nSingapore, was "notorious for shootings, muggings and car-
\njackings."<\/p>\n
Malaysian Deputy Premier Anwar Ibrahim, who chaired last
\nweek's cabinet meeting, said the cabinet reaffirmed its decision
\nto normalize ties with Singapore and wanted Singapore leaders to
\nreciprocate such a gesture.<\/p>\n
Goh said on Sunday that Singapore wanted to" restore and
\nimprove cooperation at a pace that Malaysia is comfortable with."<\/p>\n
The source said the "wound" from the unpleasant row still
\nremained and that the Malaysian government was looking at
\nSingapore to set the pace for bilateral relations to be
\nnormalized.<\/p>\n
"Singapore's leaders must show their sincerity and be willing
\nto proceed without being so arrogant or looking down on its
\nneighbor," he said.<\/p>\n
"Although there may be some competition, it must be healthy.
\nSingapore must play its part as a neighbor," the source added.<\/p>\n
Singapore broke away from the Malaysian federation in 1965. In
\nrecent years they have become economic rivals with fast-
\nindustrializing Malaysia steadily closing the wealth gap with the
\nisland.<\/p>",
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