Lee Kuan Yew denies reports

Lee Kuan Yew denies reports

SINGAPORE (DPA): Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew has
denied press reports that he predicted Malaysia would take five
years to recover from its economic crisis, a report said
yesterday.

"Mr. Lee has not made any such statement. He is not
responsible for any inaccurate reporting in the press,"
Singapore's High Commissioner to Malaysia, K. Kesavapany, said in
a statement quoted in the Straits Times newspaper.

Malaysian media had reported that Lee -- an elder statesman
whose opinions on Asian matters are often sought by world leaders
-- estimated Malaysia would need five years to recover from its
current turmoil.

Asked to respond to the reports, Malaysian Prime Minister
Mahathir Mohamad had said: "I don't know about that. He might be
an expert. We may take 20 years or just a few months to recover."