Lee apologizes for comments on 'notorious Johor'

Lee apologizes for comments on 'notorious Johor'

SINGAPORE (Reuter): Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew apologized yesterday for remarks that brought a storm of protest from neighboring Malaysia.

A statement from Lee's press secretary said: "The Senior Minister had no intention to cause offense and apologizes unreservedly for the offense he has caused the government and people of Malaysia by his statement on Johor."

Lee, Singapore's Prime Minister from 1959 to 1990, had said in a legal affidavit related to a libel case that Malaysia's Johor, separated from Singapore by a causeway, was "notorious for shootings, muggings and car-jackings".

The comments touched off a diplomatic row with Malaysia after they surfaced in the media on Wednesday.

Members of the youth wing of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's United Malays National Organization, at a demonstration in Johor, insulted Lee in terms unheard of in the normally circumspect ties among Southeast Asian nations.

The demonstrators called Lee "stupid" and "senile" and demanded he apologize.

The Malaysian foreign ministry asked for an apology and a retraction, and Mahathir yesterday said Lee should make amends for his comments.

Lee's comments about Johor were made in a sworn affidavit on Jan. 27 in proceedings against opposition politician Tang Liang Hong. Tang fled to Johor Baru immediately after the Singapore general elections on Jan. 2, in which he lost a bid for parliament.

Lee's affidavit had been offered as part of an argument disputing claims by Tang he feared for his life in Singapore.

"Had Mr Lee's attention been drawn to this, he would have tried to get his counsel not to have this affidavit taken into open court."

"He had no intention his affidavit made in support of court proceedings in chambers should affect the good relations between Malaysia and Singapore," the press secretary said.

The statement said Lee had not been to Johor since 1990 and the affidavit reflected "his perception based on reports he had read in the press. It was unfortunate that it subsequently became public."

The public apology was a rare act for the outspoken Lee, known for expressing strong opinions on controversial subjects.

Earlier yesterday, Malaysia's Mahathir said of Lee: "The feeling among a lot of people in Malaysia is that some way or another he should make amends."

Both Singapore and Malaysia are members of the ASEAN, which has practically made it a creed to avoid criticism of neighbors. The two countries are also major trading partners.

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