Court orders Lee remarks deleted

Court orders Lee remarks deleted

SINGAPORE (AFP): Singapore's High Court ordered yesterday that remarks by Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew which triggered a bitter diplomatic row with Malaysia be stricken from a court document. The order was issued at Lee's request in a rare court appearance.

"The powers of the court must be used to maintain friendly relations between Singapore and every other country," Justice Lai Kew Chai said. "The statements are to be deleted," he added.

Following an uproar in Malaysia, former prime minister Lee apologized publicly twice for depicting a neighboring southern Malaysian state, Johore, as "notorious for shootings, muggings and car-jackings."

The remarks were contained in an affidavit filed in a defamation suit against a political opponent, Tang Liang Hong, who fled to Johore after last January's general elections in Singapore.

Lee spoke for almost one hour in court, stressing that he was carrying out an obligation he made to the Malaysian government.