Goh's comments taken out of context

Goh's comments taken out of context

SINGAPORE: Singapore is still bristling over a mini-furor that erupted after Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong spoke about Australia's links to Asia, with his spokesman repeating on Monday his comments were taken out of context.

A letter by press secretary Burhan Gafoor in the Straits Times newspaper clarified Goh's comments to a business forum on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Thailand last week.

Goh told the forum that he supported Australia's engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, but said there were two schools of thought on the issue.

"When there are more Asians going to Australia and the population is over 50 percent non-white and the rest white, then maybe you will be regarded as Asians," Goh said, while emphasizing this was not his view.

Some sections of the media reported Goh's position was the 50 percent criteria, which prompted Australian Prime Minister John Howard, who was also in Thailand for APEC, to respond. -- AFP