Singapore expects more 'RI accusations'<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (AFP): Elder statesman Lee Kuan Yew has warned
\nSingaporeans, labeled as \"real racists\" by Indonesian President
\nB.J. Habibie recently, to brace themselves for more accusations
\nand attacks due to Asia's economic problems.<\/p>\n
Lee told a Lunar New Year gathering late Saturday that the
\nregion was still in disarray amid a currency meltdown since mid-
\n1997 and \"when countries are under pressure, their leaders say
\nand do things that they normally would not,\" the local Sunday
\nTimes reported.<\/p>\n
Noting that there had been more accusations and threats
\nagainst Singapore during the present difficult times, the former
\npremier said: \"We must expect more of this.<\/p>\n
\"As the elections in Indonesia heat up, tensions and tempers
\nwill rise. We have been blamed for things that have nothing to do
\nwith us,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In a media interview with Taiwanese journalists recently,
\nHabibie accused largely ethnic Chinese Singapore of racial
\ndiscrimination against its Malay minority in military promotions.<\/p>\n
When asked whether there was discrimination against ethnic
\nChinese in Indonesia, Habibie had said: \"In fact, the situation
\nin Singapore is worse.<\/p>\n
\"In Singapore, if you are a Malay, you can never become a
\nmilitary officer. They are the real racists, not here. You can go
\nand check it out.\"<\/p>\n
His remarks were played up by the Singapore press, which
\npublished statistics and stories to refute Habibie's claims, seen
\nhere as an attempt to divert attention from Indonesia's own
\nracial problems.<\/p>\n
Periodic outbreaks of mob violence in Indonesia have often
\ntargeted ethnic Chinese, who make up less than 5 percent of the
\ncountry's 200 million people but control much of its wealth and
\ndominate the retail and trading sectors.<\/p>\n
Relations<\/p>\n
Lee, premier for about three decades until November 1990, said
\nSingapore continued to seek \"rational and stable relations\" with
\nits largest neighbor Indonesia \"on an equal basis as two
\nsovereign countries.\"<\/p>\n
\"We have to be patient. Indonesia is holding elections this
\nyear. We look forward to working with whoever is elected as
\npresident for good long-term relations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Some have traced Habibie's series of anti-Singapore remarks to
\nLee's unflattering remarks about possible market reaction to
\nHabibie's rise to the vice presidency in 1998.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian rupiah tumbled in value after word leaked of
\nthe imminent appointment of Habibie, a German-trained engineer
\nwho owed his rise to his predecessor Soeharto's patronage and
\nstill speaks fondly of his former mentor.<\/p>\n
Singapore had enjoyed generally good ties with Indonesia under
\nSoeharto who was at the helm for about three decades before he
\nwas forced to quit in May last year.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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