Mahathir slams S'pore rumors

Mahathir slams S'pore rumors

KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has accused Singaporeans of spreading negative rumors about Malaysia's economy because of trade competition between the two countries, news reports said yesterday.

"From Singapore, you get three rumors a day. And Malaysians acted in full faith on those rumors, but if the Malaysian prime minister told them the truth, they would say he is lying," Mahathir said.

Mahathir expressed unhappiness over rumors, said to be emanating from neighboring Singapore over the past few days, that he had fainted, that trading on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange would be suspended, and that there were runs on Malaysian banks.

The premier said the rumors may have started in Singapore because Malaysia and the island republic were competing economies.