S'pore aid to KL 'not charity'

S'pore aid to KL 'not charity'

SINGAPORE (AFP): Singapore's agreement to help Malaysia raise
funds is a deal between the two countries and not an act of
charity, Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday.

On Thursday Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong made a surprise visit
to his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohamad in Malaysia, as
Kuala Lumpur sought its neighbor's help to raise funds amid the
economic crisis.

Mahathir did not disclose how much Malaysia plans to raise in
Singapore and Goh said details on Malaysia's proposed fund-
raising exercise in the republic would be discussed at a later
date.

Malaysia is mired in its first recession in 13 years, but the
government is hoping for a rebound and projects 1.0 percent
growth in 1999.

Relations between Singapore and Malaysia have hit a thorny
patch in recent months, but Goh and Mahathir pledged to narrow
the differences between the two countries and work together.