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